Never a dull moment in Ashgrove

                                 Bob Irwin in Ashgrove?

 

"Concern about coal seam gas is already being given the higher profile it deserves in the electorate of Ashgrove by Bob Irwin's announcement that he is considering running for the seat." said Dr Sandra Bayley Greens candidate for Ashgrove.  While The Greens address policies across the board, we share Bob's alarm about coal seam gas rush.  Ashgrove is an educated electorate and his involvement will highlight how important it is that they look more carefully at the decisions that are being made on their behalf.

 

It is critically important for city people to understand the risks of this burgeoning industry which threatens both our food bowl and the Great Artesian Basin.  The people of Ashgrove have a timely opportunity to be collectively Queensland's Erin Brockovich.

 

"I understand the economic appeal of this industry, but ultimately we can't eat money.  I am very concerned that the safety aspects have not been given the attention they require" Dr Bayley said.  The Greens support a moratorium on coal seam gas mining until critical safeguards have been ensured.  Thinking at a deeper level, we are at a point in history where we surely must start moving towards an energy future based on renewables rather than dirty gas or coal.  The mythology that coal seam gas is a lower greenhouse gas emitter than coal is already being challenged.

 

"The coal seam gas development in Queensland is an unseemly grab for easy money, but will have ramifications for every generation to come", she said.   The government acknowledges the potential damage as they are putting in place adaptive management procedures.  Dr Bayley points out however, that once the damage is done to the basin, no amount of mitigation measure can fully restore it to its former state.   As stated by The Water Advice Group to the federal Environment Minister, the artesian basin could take 1000 years or more to recover from the extraction of water through mining coal seam gas, let alone water contamination by the chemicals released.  

 

Campbell Newman has publicly declared his support for the expansion of the coal seam gas industry.  He did add as an aside that of course agricultural land and the artesian basin will be protected, without actually indicating how this would be achieved. "Given the warnings of The Water Advice Group this is likely to be an impossible task, even for a CAN DO man." Dr Bayley said.