The owner of the cattle station neighbouring Origin's latest Northern Territory frack site has called out the company for contamination and failure to indemnify the risks, calling for fracking licences to be removed altogether due to the risks.
Origin is today reporting more than a billion dollar loss in the first half of this financial year, and is facing serious allegations of major management cover-ups of environmental incidents, including contamination, leaks of oil and gas, and failure to maintain wells at its Queensland coal seam gas operations.
Rod Dunbar owns Nutwood Downs Cattle station in the Roper River region and has been pressured for years by Origin oil and gas to access his property for fracking.
"My family-owned cattle station is in the firing line by Origin, a company that is crowing about their gas find while being accused of serious contamination and cover ups in the state next door,” said Rod Dunbar.
“A report, commissioned by Origin itself, found that fracking on my Nutwood Downs Station location will contaminate our ground water, yet Origin in their negotiations with us have never disclosed this evidence.
"My neighbours have already been fracked and Origin is licking their lips wanting to access my property and spread fracking gasfields across the Roper River region while covering up the facts on contamination risks.
“I have been demanding both Origin and the NT Government provide Indemnity Insurance to safeguard my family business from loss and damages resulting from the activities of Origin Energy, which include environmental damage to groundwater, surface water and property infrastructure.
“Origin refuses to contractually guarantee and indemnify us, therefore I am calling on the NT Government to remove the fracking licences over my property immediately.
“I won't be bullied into living in a gasfield. We must protect water and agriculture,” he said.