Coal seam gas on session agenda

ENVIRONMENTAL scientists and farmers with CSG experience will speak at an information session in Gympie tomorrow about the planned expansion of coal and coal seam gas in the Gympie region.

The session, which gets underway at 2pm at Kingston House in Channon St, will include the screening of short films made recently about rapid CSG expansion in southern Queensland and New South Wales.

A spokeswoman for the organisers said the recently released Regional Development Strategy and Draft Gympie Region Community Plan had revealed Gympie Regional Council’s plans to advocate for an extended reticulation of natural gas in this area.

“This area has also been proposed for a gas pipeline for coal seam gas north from Gatton,” she said. “Most of the Gympie region has been granted licence for coal mining, right along the Mary River catchment.

“Opponents say there is nothing natural about the way this gas is extracted, refined and condensed.

“They say vast areas of countryside as well as waterways are poisoned and turned into wasteland by its extraction.

“Coal seam gas and coal mining have disastrous toxic impacts on good farming land, precious waterways, and the health of whole communities.”

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Adele Coombs, 0427 839 165 or email fairlierose@yahoo.com.