CSG Drilling to start Monday at Putty Valley threatening the Wollemi National Park and Hawkesbury Oyster Farmers

An exploration core hole for coal seam gas will start on Monday 15 August at Putty, 500 metres from the World Heritage Wollemi National Park.

The small rural community were informed today by Dart Energy when someone phoned them on another matter. They were told at a meeting in Leichhardt Town Hall on 1 August 2011 that drilling would not commence until mid to end of September. At the same meeting Robbert de Weijer from Dart Energy continually told the meeting about his company’s policy of transparency and their belief in community consultation.

The Review of Environmental Factors states “2.7 Stakeholder Consultation -

Macquarie Energy will continue with the previously initiated program of community and stakeholder engagement until all works have been completed.” “Macquarie Energy will inform nearby affected residents of the proposed drilling works via a letter box drop.”

‘The only community consultation Dart Energy has had with the people of Putty is at our instigation,’ said Kathy McKenzie, chairperson of the Putty Community Association CSG Subcommittee. ‘I write a community newsletter and they have my contact details, but I was only informed about drilling starting on Monday when I called Jason Needham this morning on another matter. When asked if the neighbouring landholders had been informed I was told that someone was at Putty today informing them.’

The community is outraged and plans to protest at a neighbouring property “Wheeny” 85km from Windsor and 86km from Singleton on the

Putty Road

from 11am to 2pm on Sunday 14 August. Protesters are advised to bring their own food and refreshments. Some protesters will also be there to greet the drillers when they arrive on Monday.

‘We understand that an exploration core hole should not require fracking, does not usually extract production water and will therefore cause less environmental damage than a pilot or production well,’ said Kathy. ‘We also know that exploration approvals are given with fewer controls than for production to make it viable for mining companies to assess an area’s potential. However, if commercially viable quantities of gas are identified during exploration, there will be pressure to turn the entire area into industrial production facilities to the detriment of the Hawkesbury River catchment area and the National Parks.

The core hole is located on Long Wheeney Creek which runs through the national park into the Colo River before joining the Hawkesbury River.

The Colo River was declared a ‘Wild River’ in 2008 and is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. ‘Wild rivers are rivers that are in near-pristine condition in terms of animal and plant life and water flow, and are free of the unnatural rates of siltation or bank erosion that affect many of Australia's waterways.’

Putty is surrounded by the Wollemi and Yengo National Parks, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Wollemi National Park is especially significant for the opportunity of protecting the largest wilderness area remaining in New South Wales, home to the world-famous Wollemi Pine.

‘The extraction of coal seam gas and the consequent release of contaminated water and other toxic by-products near a national park risks contamination of that ecosystem,’ said Kathy McKenzie. ‘Additionally there is, to date, no way of assuring that any extraction is limited to the areas outside the protection of the park. Arguably any company undertaking any level of extraction near a national park risks adversely impacting upon the protected areas above and below the ground. Gas wells in Putty can be no further than approximately 10km from a National Park

Links

Putty Valley Online http://www.puttyvalley.com.au/ – community website

Dart Energy now owns Macquarie Energy http://www.dartenergy.com.au/

Macquarie Energy’s Review of Environmental Factors PEL 460 http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/minerals/environment/nod/notices-for-exploration-2010/20101216-REF-PEL-460-Putty-Core-Hole_Drilling-Operations.pdf

Addendum to original Review of Environmental Factors http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/minerals/environment/nod/2011/20110627-ADDENDUM-of-Putty-Core-Hole-REF_Drilling-Operations.pdf

Kathy McKenzie

Ph: 02 6579 7047

Email: kmckmedia@gmail.com