It is reported that the board of the Sydney Catchment Authority is pushing to strengthen its powers to control coal seam gas exploration.
Documents obtained by the ABC reveal increasing concern among board members about the impact of coal seam gas wells on water quality in special protected catchment land in the Woronora and Illawarra areas.
The board has decided the full impact of coal seam gas projects needs to be spelled out before exploration can start. The documents show it was only after Apex Energy exploration wells were approved by the state's Primary Industries Department that the authority board asked if access to protected drinking water catchments could be withdrawn.
The board has decided it will not approve access for a new well in
protected land which is about to be referred to the NSW Planning Assessment Commission.
Apex says the well is crucial for its USD 7 million project, and the company will appeal if it is refused.
(Sourced from www.abc.net.au)
0 comments:
Post a Comment