Matters of Interest

Unconventional Gas

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (15:23): In question time earlier today, I asked a question of the Minister for Water in relation to fracking for unconventional gas in the South-East. The basis of my question was the concern that has been expressed to me and to the government by local communities and, in particular, local councils in the South-East.

Last Friday, I attended a number of meetings down in Mount Gambier and at Kalangadoo with elected local members, including mayors, and also with local farmers. I attended with Senator Penny Wright because, clearly, there are both state and federal regulatory issues involved with the debate over unconventional gas.

I want to put on the record some of the views of the councils, as expressed through formal motions they have passed in the last couple of months. There are seven local councils that make up the South East Local Government Association. The first council to express a view on this was, as I understand it, the District Council of Robe, and they have called for a moratorium. They want a two-year moratorium for all hydraulic fracturing for unconventional gas. I refer to their background information to their successful motion, where they say:

Council believes that a moratorium on further exploration for unconventional gas deposits is required to ensure the economic viability and the social fabric of the South East region of South Australia is not adversely affected by this industry.

The City of Mount Gambier, similarly, wants a moratorium. They have written a letter to the Premier, and they have provided copies to other members of parliament, in which they state:

There has been considerable community concern and unrest about the commencement of exploratory drilling by Beach Energy for unconventional gas in the South East. All South East regional Councils, including the City of Mount Gambier, have received a significant amount of correspondence from residents expressing their concern regarding the risks to the environment and community resulting from the drilling process, particularly hydraulic fracturing (commonly referred to as 'fracking').

The letter goes on:

The South East relies almost completely on groundwater; there are no significant bodies of surface water that are not connected to an aquifer. This includes the city of Mount Gambier (the largest city outside of Adelaide) that derives its drinking water from the local aquifer via the Blue Lake.

The biggest risk of hydraulic fracturing in the South East is the contamination of groundwater, a process that could not be reversed.

The district council of Kingston has called for a proper inquiry. In fact, in their letter to Premier Weatherill they basically say that they want a parliamentary inquiry into 'the impact and interaction of unconventional gas mining on other industries within the state's more intense agricultural districts'.

The next council is the district council of Tatiara. They also want a parliamentary inquiry, as does Kingston, and they resolved that at their meeting in April. Wattle Range Council want tougher federal and state controls. At the federal level, they recognise that the EPBC Act (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act) does not adequately deal with the impact of shale gas on groundwater. At the state level, they want to ensure that gas companies obtain both a water licence and the permission of local landholders. They also want adequate separation distances from townships, dwellings and tourism facilities, none of which currently exist.

Naracoorte Lucindale is still debating whether to call for a moratorium or even a complete ban on unconventional gas, and I expect that will be dealt with by council later this month. One local councillor, Malcolm McLean, says:

The trouble with a moratorium is that it only delays the fracking, whereas we don't want it at all. It should stay away from the [South East] in my view.

Last, but not least, the District Council of Grant on Monday night backed Mount Gambier's call for a two-year moratorium, and I know that some members of that council would have liked to have gone further.

So, there you have it, Mr President: the people of the South-East (whom we all represent in the Legislative Council) are calling for our help. They want to maintain their economic base, which is reliant on groundwater. They want to protect their community health. They want to protect their environment. People in the South-East are paying attention. They are telling us what they think and they deserve to be listened to.