THE State Government has been called on to follow-through with $10million of promised research into the potential impacts of gas developments on Gippsland’s aquifers.
Victorian Farmers Federation’s Gippsland Mining and Gas taskforce is asking the government to deliver on the research funding which was allocated by the then Premier Ted Baillieu after the State signed on to the National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development, in June last year.
Under the National Agreement the former Labor Federal Government will reimburse the Victorian Government $10.13 million for research into aquifers, regulatory reform and the development of protocols on CSG and coal developments.
VFF Gippsland Mining and Gas Taskforce Chairman Bill Bodman said it was crucial Gippsland’s aquifers and the potential impacts from unconventional gas are well understood before these developments go ahead.
“It’s about ensuring there are no long-term impacts from onshore gas on our groundwater and surface-water systems,” Mr Bodman said.
“These are complex aquifers that are often connected to surface water systems and stretch out under the Bass Strait seabed.”
Mr Bodman welcomed the Government‘s commitment to spend $1.5m towards a benchmark study of all the State’s aquifers.
“It’s a good first step, but from what the VFF understands this is not specifically focused on Gippsland and is not part of the $10 million agreement signed off with the Federal Government last year,” hesaid.
“We need more work done to understand the Gippsland aquifers, which the coal seam gas industry wants to tap into.
“We know the Government has access to funding for this work, and we’re calling on them to use it to improve our understanding of Gippsland’s aquifers and improve regulation of the industry.
“The VFF believes on-shore gas developments should not go ahead until this research has been completed.
“In the meantime the Government must deliver on the VFF's demand for legislative reform that gives farmers the right of veto on mining and gas developments on their land,” Mr Bodman said.
