Narromine Shire became the subject of a Petroleum Exploration Licence Application (PELA) last month when CEEMAC Pty Ltd applied to explore for coal seam gas (CSG) in 9400 square kilometres in the Central West.
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CEEMAC Pty Ltd submitted a PELA with the NSW Trade and Investment’s Resources and Energy Division on February 17, and it is currently under consideration.
The application affects Narromine, Gilgandra, Warrenbungle, Dubbo and Mid-Western Local Government Areas.
Macquarie 2100 chair, Col Hamilton, said he strongly opposed coal seam gas exploration.
“In my research I haven’t seen anywhere in the world where it doesn’t impact on town water,” he said.
“Ground water irrigators would be against it as well. It not only impacts on the water quality it also affects water availability which would impact a lot of farmers in dry times when ground water is the only source.”
Mr Hamilton believes there is cause for concern, especially as Narromine water is bored from the ground.
“Once the water is buggered, it’s buggered forever,” he said. “A few million in the Government pocket and it will sacrifice a huge area of Australia.”
State Member for Dubbo, Troy Grant said no decisions would be made until the community was consulted.
“Any applications are in the interests of our economic, environmental and social interests. The NSW Government has introduced and delivered the strictest regulations around CSG activity in the country,” he said.
Mr Hamilton said the community consultation process would be very significant.
“We need to see what provisions there are for water before they start the work,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Office of CSG told the Daily Liberal last week it was in the process of setting the dates for public comment.
“Advertisements informing the community of the public comment period will then be placed in statewide and local newspapers,” she said. “The community will have 28 days to make any submissions from the date the advertisements appear.”
The spokesperson said the turnaround for applications could take up to 12 months with the Minister of Resources and Energy holding the power to approve or refuse.
Mr Grant has told people in his electorate there is a slim chance this area will be explored.
He said he has seen resource mapping which indicates a very low likelihood of CSG being likely and profitable.
“I highly doubt the Dubbo LGA will become the new frontier for CSG activity. Residents should not be concerned regarding this application and are best placed to ask for the facts and ignore the hype,” he said.
