Fullerton Cove residents have echoed the concern raised by the NSW Health Department regarding the potential risks to human health from coal seam gas wells just hundreds of meters away. The residents are waiting for a court outcome to determine whether Dart Energy will be allowed to drill in Fullerton Cove just a few hundred meters away from a number of residential properties.

Dart Energy the proponent were only required to complete a Review of the Environmental Factors rather than a full Environmental Impacts Assessment. The REF did not assess the potential health impacts of the proposal.

“There is evidence of major health impacts from CSG. In Queensland, residents near CSG projects have suffered nose bleeds and skin rashes, and other symptoms. Surely, we deserve a study on the health impacts of CSG. We need some answers.”

Lindsay Clout of the Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group stated “Everyone in Fullerton Cove relies on the local groundwater for our domestic use. If Dart are allowed in Fullerton Cove, they would be drilling so close to us that we have huge fears about our water being contaminated. There has been no assessment of these risks, and no guarantee it won’t happen.”

“What would happen to our air quality? There is strong evidence in Queensland of major methane leakage from CSG mines. During westerly winds we would be directly downwind of flared gas wells.”

“The NSW Government needs to freeze on this proposal until the comprehensive health study recommended by NSW Health is completed. There is just too much at stake.”

For further comment or interview please contact: Lindsay Clout, Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group, 0437 300 377.

Concerned residents packed Newcastle City Chambers last night and faced a heavy police presence at a meeting where coal seam gas drillers Dart Energy presented their case to Newcastle City Council.

“Tonight’s Newcastle Council meeting saw a shaky performance by coal seam gas drillers Dart Energy, under the pressure of local community members who filled the council chambers to show their concern,” said Naomi Hogan of the Wilderness Society Newcastle.

“Dart Energy gave unclear responses and avoided answering simple questions about the risks to our water supply, earthquake shocks and well casing.”

“The site where Dart wants to begin drilling is only 500 metres from our internationally listed Ramsar wetlands – a place that should be protected from becoming a polluting industrial gas field.”

“Coal seam gas drilling in NSW and in the Pilliga Forest has shown to pollute waterways, spill toxic wastewater, kill vegetation and drown native animals.”

“Coal seam gas industrialisation is not a vision shared by the Newcastle and Fullerton Cove communities.”

“The heavy police presence at the meeting is a clear indication that Dart does not have a social licence to operate here.”

“Dart spruiked their community consultation, yet failed to mention they set the riot squad on local Fullerton Cove residents when peacefully protesting earlier this year.”

“On the one hand Dart said 72 wells have been sunk in Fullerton Cove since 1989, but on the other hand they said they have no information and need to drill to find out about gas supply, water quality and if there will be any impacts.”

“The Newcastle community doesn’t want Dart Energy experimenting with our water supply. Dart’s drill now and figure out the answers later approach will not fly in our community and is not appropriate for our internationally listed wetlands,” she said.

In response to a question by Councillor Nuatali Nelmes about environmental impact studies and subsidence, Dart said, “We haven’t done any extra studies”.

After questioning by Councillor Therese Doyle, Dart could not guarantee the gas drilling in Fullerton Cove would not impact on water.

Immediately following the Dart Energy presentation and question time, council voted unanimously to support a motion put forward by Councillor Osborne for an alternate presentation to hear from the local impacted communities and members of the Lock the Gate Alliance.

Dart Energy cannot drill currently at the Fullerton Cove site, as they are still awaiting the determination of a court case challenging the state approval for the project.

For more information: Naomi Hogan, The Wilderness Society Newcastle, 0401 650 411

• Court resumes at 9:30am today for the final day of the coal seam gas case
• Objections from Dart Energy’s legal team to any evidence going before the court have been rejected

Residents from Fullerton Cove attending the second day of the court hearing that challenges the legality of the Dart Energy coal seam gas project in Fullerton Cove were told that the objections from Dart Energy’s legal team to any evidence going before the court were rejected and the court would hear from their two expert witnesses.

The court heard evidence from the experts on the adequacy of the groundwater assessment. The court challenge will determine whether Dart Energy will be required to undergo further environmental assessments for the Fullerton Cove coal seam gas proposal.

Earlier this year the Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group won an injunction to prevent any drilling from occurring on site until the outcome of court case.

This week, dozens of Fullerton Cove residents have attended the court hearings at the Land and Environment court in Sydney, watching with interest the proceedings that are to decide whether Dart Energy will be required to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Justin Hamilton of the Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group said, “This court challenge came about because residents are concerned that the impacts of drilling for coal seam gas in Fullerton Cove are still unknown and have the potential to cause irreversible damage”.

“The Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group would also like the effects on shore birds and amphibian species considered in the environmental assessment.”

“The aquifers that underlie Fullerton Cove supply our drinking water as well as the Ramsar listed wetlands located just 500m away from the proposed drilling site.”

“It shouldn’t be left up to local residents to ensure that this coal seam gas project is safe, it should be the job of our governments – that is after all what we elected them to do,” he said.

The case is continuing regarding the adequacy of ecological assessment. Court resumes at 9:30am today. A number of Fullerton Cove residents will be present for the final day in court today and are available for interview.

Contact: Justin Hamilton 0413 245 777 or Sue Walker 0402 857 888

Court photo album:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockthegatealliance/sets/72157631773325273/

Dozens of Fullerton Cove residents attended the first day of court hearings at the Land and Enviornment court in Sydney yesterday. Local residents watched with interest the proceedings that are to decide whether Dart Energy will be required to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment. Residents heard from the applicant that Dart Energy had failed to consider the environmental impact guidelines.

Justin Hamilton of the Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group said “Today’s attendance by more than 20 local residents, many of whom took the day off work and organised baby-sitters, shows the level of concern about the impacts of drilling for coal seam gas in Fullerton Cove.”

“Unfortunately, several aged residents were forced to sit in the corridor as the Dart Energy entourage took up the majority of seats in the court room.”

“The aquifers that underlie Fullerton Cove supply our drinking water as well as the Ramsar listed wetlands located just 500m away from the proposed drilling site.”

“It shouldn’t be left up to local residents to ensure that this coal seam gas project is safe, it should be the job of our governments – that is after all what we elected them to do” he said.

A number of residents will remain in Sydney for the duration of the hearing.

For interview or comment contact: Justin Hamilton: 0413 245 777 or Sue Walker 0402 857 888

Photos from the first day of the hearing can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockthegatealliance/sets/72157631773325273/

Ten people have now been fined for refusing to move from the Fullerton Cove blockade, including three generations of women from one family: 95 year old Linda, her daughter Robyn and daughter Lisa, who remains locked-on to a tractor.

“We have over 70 community members on site to support the blockade currently, with more streaming in all the time,” said Linsday Clout, spokesperson for the Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group.

“Police on site are issuing $200 dollar fines to those who refuse to move from the blockade site.”

Police rescue squad have arrived to cut off local Fullerton Cove residents Julie Wood and Lisa McDonald from the tractor, where they have been locked-on since last Wednesday. They will be arrested.

“After over a week of blockading, Dart Energy has still not contacted local residents to discuss our concerns, continuing their trend of extremely poor community consultation,” he said.

“We are simply requesting work is paused at the site until the government undertakes full environmental impact assessments and can prove this proposed coal seam gas drilling poses no risk to the internationally significant wetlands, local community health or our water supply.”

“We’re asking both state and federal governments to intervene and prevent this dangerous experiment on our water supplies until further scientific evidence has been collected.
A case is also pending in the Land and Environment Court, questioning whether all the appropriate approvals have been met.”

“Premier Barry O’Farrell and Energy Minister Hartcher are playing hard ball with our community by refusing to support our reasonable request for an injunction on the coal seam gas drilling at Fullerton Cove until the case has been heard in the Land and Environment court.”

“Our efforts will not end with today’s police action. Hundreds of people have visited this blockade over the past week to join in our defence to protect this local community, the internationally significant wetland and our drinking water supply from coal seam gas drilling. We will continue to stand firm,” Mr Clout concluded.

Information or comment: Lindsay Clout 0437 300 377