Residents on the western Darling Downs last night were lodging bitter complaints with the Queensland Environment Department after a temperature inversion on the Downs brought gas from local coal seam gas operations into their community, making people ill.
Residents of the Tara residential estate are complaining this morning of having spent the night with severe headaches and nausea and are directing their concern at the nearby Kate coal seam gas field.
Lock the Gate Alliance president, Drew Hutton, said residents in the area were attempting to work cooperatively with government to address the health issues associated with living in the middle of a gas field but were becoming increasingly desperate as they watch members of their families experiencing chronic health problems such as nose and ear bleeds, headaches, nausea and sleeplessness.
The noise from nearby machinery was also causing many to lose sleep at night.
"The Health Minister, Lawrence Springborg, must immediately order a health study into these issues," Mr Hutton said.
"Residents no longer believe a word the companies say to them and are desperate for help.
"The State Government needs to ask if coal seam gas activities can safely be conducted close to residential areas."