Newman government must act on Western Downs health crisis

Press Release: Newman government must act on Western Downs health crisis

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.

Ian Gaillard of Northern Rivers Lock the Gate Alliance  said  Northern Rivers residents will be exposed to the same public health risks as Tara Estate residents.

"With temperature inversion a regular feature of our climate, gases from venting and flaring are held in valleys  and close to the ground by such inversions. If gas exploration and production is allowed to go ahead in our region, those living nearby will be forced to breathe the toxic byproducts of this so called clean natural energy source."

"This is a particular issue with already approved projects such as Metgasco's Casino Gas Project adjacent to the RV village in Casino, and Red Sky's Talma pilot production well which is right next to a dwelling on the Summerland Way south of Casino. Arrow/Shell/Petrochina still looms with a planned core well  between Casino and Kyogle.

"The air pollution hazards of this industry need to be urgently considered by the NSW government following these latest reports from Queensland."

"This polluting industry should not be allowed to go ahead in closely settled areas like the Northern Rivers," he said. Contact: Drew Hutton 0428 487 110  Ian Gaillard 0431 108 784

Tara resident Brian Monk who says his family is suffering from health issues as a result of nearby coal seam gas activities (CSG Free Northern Rivers - Supplied)

6.         AN exclusion zone has been set up following a leak at a coal seam gas drilling site near Chinchilla. Queensland Gas Company says it suspended operations on a drilling rig in the Surat Basin after detecting the gas leak overnight, but it could be days before the problem is solved.

http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2012/05/06/gas-leak-may-take-time-fix/

7.         Coal Seam Gas blamed for health problems

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/07/06/3540381.htm?site=northcoast

 

8.         Queensland Greens spokesperson, Dr Libby Connors says 19 families at the Tara Residential Estate on the western Downs are experiencing serious health problems

http://qld.greens.org.au/content/more-families-ill-coal-seam-gas-fields

 

9.         Red Sky Energy: New partner to ramp up Clarence Moreton gas exploration and development

http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/30876/red-sky-energy-new-partner-to-ramp-up-clarence-moreton-gas-exploration-and-development-30876.html

10.       Carlos would like to remind everyone to keep collecting signatures for the petition. We currently have about 4,000 and are aiming for at least 10,000. If you have petitions to be returned please send them back to PO Box 38 Lismore NSW 2480

11.       THE Federal Coalition is calling for a national scheme to help farmers bargain with gas companies over access to their land, raising the prospect of a public register to reveal the millions of dollars flowing to landowners.

Coalition resources spokesman Ian Macfarlane is advocating the national approach after a series of deals to compensate farmers for the "fracking" used to extract coal-seam gas from beneath their land.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coalition-wants-farm-gas-register/story-fn59niix-1226418336344

12.       Drilling may affect farm insurance.

http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2012/07/07/drilling-may-harm-farm-insurance-warning/

6 July, 2012 11:16AM AEST

Coal seam gas blamed for health problems

By Samantha Turnbull and Joanne Shoebridge 

 

Queensland doctors have reported seeing patients with health problems believed to be related to coal seam gas activities

The Australian Medical Association's incoming president in Queensland has confirmed several of its member doctors have raised concerns that residents living near coal seam gas mining operations may be showing symptoms of gas exposure.

Queensland Health has issued a statement saying there 'hasn't been an unusual increase in patients with those symptoms' and they're 'working with GPs to establish any patterns of illness.'
AMA-Queensland president elect Dr Christian Rowan said the association was concerned by the reports.
"We've received some anecdotal reports in relation to symptoms that would be consistent with gas exposure like nausea and vomiting, dizziness, throat and nose irritation those type of things," he said.
"Members of our organisation are general practitioners and some of those members have reported back to us having had patients present with these types of symptoms who are living near areas where there's CSG exploration occurring.
"We believe the public needs to have confidence in this industry, so that is concerning from our perspective."

Sick families

Brian Monk is a land owner from Tara in southern Queensland and believes health problems in his family are a result of coal seam gas activities near his property.
He said they've experienced nose bleeds, burning and irritated eyes, skin rashes, headaches, coughs, difficulty breathing and dermatitis.
One of his grandsons has also had inexplicable seizures.
Mr Monk said more than 20 families who live near him said they had been affected in the same way.
"Wherever this industry has been done over the world these are the same symptoms that people have complained about and it's interesting that none of these symptoms existed prior to coal seam gas ramping up out here," he said.
Mr Monk said he had reported the symptoms to relevant authorities, but had not heard of any investigation into the link between coal seam gas and health issues.
Dr Rowan said he believed the Queensland Government began investigating the issue in June.