The Wilderness Society Newcastle released the statement below on November 28.
***
Concerned residents packed Newcastle City Chambers [on November 27] 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.”
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 said it 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 it is still awaiting the determination of a court case challenging the state approval for the project.