Prior to the last election, LNP member for Condamine Pat Weir promised that the incoming LNP government would implement protections for the precious Condamine Alluvium, an invaluable water resource in the Darling Downs relied upon by irrigators and regional communities.
Yesterday the Queensland LNP government introduced new laws purporting to implement that commitment which in fact weaken existing protections and make it easier for gas companies to drill on priority agricultural land. Gas companies extract billions of litres of groundwater with their gas and compete with farms and regional communities for water resources.
South Burnett farmer and Lock the Gate spokesperson Nick Holliday said,
“We’re very angry at what we’re seeing from the LNP. They’ve broken their promise to keep gas off farmland and instead are making it easier for Arrow Energy to drill for gas on prime agricultural land having removed a key protection.
“Coal seam gas induced subsidence, caused by the extraction of vast quantities of gas and water from beneath the surface, is causing fertile cropping country on the Darling Downs to sink, adversely reducing crop production and causing a totally unjust economic blow to farmers. These new laws do nothing to stop subsidence.”
“The LNP government has today made it easier for gas companies to drain precious groundwater relied upon by farmers and regional communities.
“What’s worse is that farmers have been completely shut out of this process, with confidential briefings held behind closed doors with the gas industry and handpicked stakeholders. The LNP government has locked out the impacted farmers who have worked so hard to protect their farms for future generations.
“These reforms will mean the drill rigs are still rolling onto Queensland’s prime farms causing havoc.
ENDS