Darling Downs farmers fighting Arrow Energy’s expanding coal seam gas project have marched on Queensland Parliament, demanding the Crisafulli Government make good on its election promise to protect a vital underground water supply from gas drilling.
Farmers and their supporters rallied outside Parliament House before driving a tractor and mobile billboard to 1 William St, where impassioned speeches were made.
With Arrow Energy drilling ever closer to their land, the farmers are demanding the Crisafulli Government make good on its promise to protect the Condamine Alluvium and the foodbowl above it from expanding coal seam gas. The promise was made in the leadup to the 2024 election however the government is yet to act.
Fifth generation Cecil Plains farmer Russell Bennie said, “We’ve been threatened with gas for a long time now - it’s getting closer and it’s getting worse.
“We’re finding out there is connectivity on parts of our property, we’ve got gas in our water and it’s a whole big mess. We’re here to let the Queensland Government know that it’s not acceptable and they are threatening the food security of all Queenslanders and Australians while letting multinational coal seam gas companies destroy our country."
Cecil Plains farmer Melinda Commens, who with her family lives next to one of Arrow Energy’s drilling operations said, “We grow food and fibre and we are here to talk to the Queensland Government. We’re very upset with what’s happening with the Condamine River. If we don’t have water, we can’t grow your food.”
South Burnett grazier and Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson Nick Holliday said, “Farmers from the Darling Downs have rallied outside Queensland Parliament House today because we can’t wait any longer for the Crisafulli Government to enact its promise to protect the Condamine Alluvium from coal seam gas drilling.”
Coal seam gas drilling threatens the Condamine Alluvium, an extremely important underground water source that underpins agricultural production in the Cecil Plains district, west of Toowoomba.
Arrow Energy, a joint venture between Shell and PetroChina is expanding its massive Surat Gas Project which involves the drilling of more than 6000 CSG wells.
The Crisafulli Government recently approved Arrow’s Lynwood gas compressor project to the west of Cecil Plains, raising concerns Arrow is preparing to commence drilling on petroleum titles covering prime agricultural land in the district.
The vast majority of the coal seam gas Arrow Energy extracts from beneath Queensland farms is exported overseas as liquified gas.
ENDS