Metgasco Aarow boundaries affecting the Jiggi Valley map

Hi all,

We were going through the latest Kyogle GAG and item  12. Chris Hartcher on the dangers of Coal Seam Gas in 2005.... is worth looking at if your interested in the Metgasco /Arrow boundaries.... splits the valley in two........ the link is  http://www.jeremybuckingham.org/chris-hartcher-speaks-out-on-dangers-of-coal-seam-gas/   ..... then click to view map...... when looking at the zoomed in map use the hybrid version it gives you road names as well as satellite......

When we first became involved with CSG we were led to believe the Jiggi Valley was Arrow..... but  the maps that are out are showing otherwise....

Goolmangar, Koonorigan and Rock Valley are all in the same boat..... please have a look.....

I have attached three maps of gas leases - PEL 445 owned by BNG Ltd; PEL 16 owned by metgasco; and the whole lot over the Northern Rivers Region. These were obtained from the attached  NSW Coal-Seam Gas map.kmz.
If you have Google Earth on your computer and you click to open this file, it will open in Google Earth.

Click on the menu to get the PELs (petroleum leases) and note that it is the lower-listed "Northwest" that is actually the Northeast of NSW!

Click on each PEL to bring up the details - PEL 16 certainly appears to encompass Goolmangar, Jiggi Rock Valley etc. as well as Casino, and to be owned by Metgasco.

Nimbin and Lismore generally are in PEL445 owned by BNG.

With this active version you can zoom in to get precise details - eg., ,Leigh's property etc.

I got to all this courtesy of Don Hall bringing it to my attention, and from Buckingham's web-page.

Further good news will be added soon in shape of damning report on adverse economic effects of CSG export industry in today's SMH.

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Map of Northern Rivers PELs.jpg 157K   View   Share   Download

Map of BNG PEL 445.jpg 166K   View   Share   Download

Map of Metgasco PEL 16.jpg 185K   View   Share   Download

NSW Coal-Seam Gas map.kmz 1213K   Download

Jiggi Valley Against CSG

Disappointing News of the NSW government giving the go ahead for the CSG industry.

Adam Guise has kindly prepared this response to the latest sad CSG news. Well, we knew it wasn't going to be easy to stop this thing- but please don't
be disheartened-we are clever, respurceful, patient and persistant and we are NEVER giving up- we will stop them if we stay strong, and stay together.

This just makes me more determined, how about you?
Ollie.
Now, over to Adam......
Dear All,

You may be aware of the disappointing news of the NSW government giving the go ahead for the CSG industry.

Here's the official government media release here: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "wlmailhtml:{31170eb2-ef37-415d-a139-2de2e117e627}mid:" claiming to be http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/443123/Proposed-petroleum-exploration-licence-offers-of-renewal.pdf

Here's media reports:

Echonetdaily report: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "wlmailhtml:{31170eb2-ef37-415d-a139-2de2e117e627}mid:" claiming to be http://echonetdaily.echo.net.au/metgasco-gets-production-licence/

Northern Star: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "wlmailhtml:{31170eb2-ef37-415d-a139-2de2e117e627}mid:" claiming to be http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2012/09/11/nsw-govt-gives-metgasco-green-light/

The Australian: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "wlmailhtml:{31170eb2-ef37-415d-a139-2de2e117e627}mid:" claiming to be http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/barry-ofarrell-opens-the-door-to-csg-industry/story-fn59niix-1226472155218

ABC: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "wlmailhtml:{31170eb2-ef37-415d-a139-2de2e117e627}mid:" claiming to be http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-12/coal-seam-gas-green-light/4257320?section=business

Sydney Morning Herald: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "wlmailhtml:{31170eb2-ef37-415d-a139-2de2e117e627}mid:" claiming to be http://www.smh.com.au/environment/entire-state-up-for-grabs-in-coal-seam-gas-and-mining-rules-20120911-25qnj.html

Metgasco announcement: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "wlmailhtml:{31170eb2-ef37-415d-a139-2de2e117e627}mid:" claiming to be http://www.metgasco.com.au/files/1145729.pdf

The most significant outcome is the decision to renew 22 coal seam gas licences, including Metgasco's PEL 13 & 16, and issue a production licence (PPL) which will allow Metgasco to go ahead with extensive drilling operations to supply its proposed power station.

Coupled with this is the release of the government's proposed policies to regulate the industry: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "wlmailhtml:{31170eb2-ef37-415d-a139-2de2e117e627}mid:" claiming to be http://www.nsw.gov.au/strategicregionallanduse

Key critiques of these policies remain:

> it ignores the 87% poll vote opposed to coal seam gas in the Lismore LGA and other actions throughout the State, significantly the Fullerton blockade

> it does not provide for "no go zones", therefore leaving most land open to coal seam gas mining through a gateway process

> fracking ban has been lifted

> leaves proposed strategic agricultural land unmapped

> policies are not legislation, so are therefore not mandatory

For Lock the Gate’s response, see this media release: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "wlmailhtml:{31170eb2-ef37-415d-a139-2de2e117e627}mid:" claiming to be http://coalseamgasnews.org/2012/nsw-goverment-throws-the-northern-rivers-communities-to-the-csg-wolves/

I encourage you to phone and email the following politicians and voice your opposition to this industry going ahead in the Northern Rivers:

Premier Barry O’Farrell   office@premier.nsw.gov.au     9228 5239

Minister for Resources and Energy, Peter Hartcher       office@hartcher.minister.nsw.gov.au  

9228 5289

Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard     office@hazzard.minister.nsw.gov.au   (02) 9228 5258

Minister for Primary Industries,   Katrina Hodgkinson   burrinjuck@parliament.nsw.gov.au, office@hodgkinson.minister.nsw.gov.au

Thomas George, State Member for Lismore  02 6621 3624    lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Don Page, State Member for Ballina   Ministerial Office (02) 9228 3403  office@page.minister.nsw.gov.au     Electorate office  (02) 6686 7522   Don.Page@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Andrew Stoner    Deputy Premier (02) 9228 5209   office@deputypremier.nsw.gov.au

Chris Gulaptis Member for Clarence    clarence@parliament.nsw.gov.au   (02) 6643 1244



Points worth mentioning:



Ø  the decision to renew Metgasco’s PEL 13 & 16, and issue a production licence fly in the face of this government claiming they haven’t issued any exploration licences since coming to power, when they clearly intended to continue “business as usual”

Ø  the decision to allow Metgasco to go ahead with its operations ignores Metgasco’s previous breaches and unlawful activities (dumping wastewater into Casino sewage treatment plant)

Ø  decision ignores the democratic voice of the Lismore poll showing 87% opposition to CSG

Ø  our landscape, farmlands, roads and towns will become industrialised mining towns bringing all the negative impacts that come with it – high prices, pollution, social division, health impacts



Cheers,

Adam

Local Newsletters

Important blog message about the current situation  http://aidanricketts.com/nsw-government-mere-puppets-of-gas-industry/http://aidanricketts.com/nsw-government-mere-puppets-of-gas-industry/

Regional Day of Action at Murwillumbah - It's important we maximise numbers at this event. 

We need to help them surpass Lismore! Please set yourself a challenge of seeing how many people you can get from your locality to Murwillumbah for this event.

It will be fun.

Emails Sent In By

From: Boudicca Cerese

Sent: Friday, September 14, 2012 1:13 PM

To: undisclosed-recipients:

Subject: Northern Rivers Gas Action Now

Dear Friends,

As most of you would be aware the state government this week announced a range of new policies relating to coal and coal seam gas in NSW. These policies fail categorically in their stated aim of providing a balance between mining and gas extraction and other land uses, and the protection of farmland and water resources.

The government has also offered renewals on three exploration licenses in the Northern Rivers- two held by Metgasco and one by Clarence Moreton Resources, and approved the petroleum production lease which allows Metgasco to proceed with their gas field development near Casino.  This action came just days after the Lismore community voted overwhelmingly in opposition to this industry.

It is vital that we let our politicians know how we feel about their capitulation to corporate interests and their abandonment of the people of NSW and our vital land, water and natural areas. Please take the time to write, or even better, ring our local MP’s and government Ministers to let them know how you feel. Please also pass this email on to your networks to maximise the response.

We have included some potential points to include and MP’s addresses and phone numbers below. Please use your own wording and add some of your own additional concerns if possible to make your communication more personal.

Writing and ringing today is the first step in an escalation of our activities to force the government to take notice and act on the concerns of the community. We must continue to do all that we can until they can no longer continue to ignore us.

Working together for a CSG free Northern Rivers,

Boudicca Cerese & Ian Gaillard

Co-ordinators, Lock the Gate Northern Rivers.

Key issues with licence renewals/lease approval:

·         They ignore the range of failings and breaches in Metgasco’s exploration operations to date including: wells leaking methane; drilling fluids dumped in unlined ponds, holding ponds operated under an expired consent; wastewater carted illegally to the sewage works; several fines for non-compliance with their exploration licence; breach of their exploration licence by undertaking exploration operations without an approved Wastewater Management Plan.

·         They ignore the 87% poll vote opposed to coal seam gas in the Lismore LGA and the 30 + local communities across the Northern Rivers that have declared themselves Gasfield free following door to door community surveys of residents.

·         The renewals/approval have been granted before the government has made a formal response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into CSG and addressed all the recommendations in the final report.

·         CSG production has been approved prior to any application of the strategic land use policy in the region, including mapping of strategic agricultural lands.

 Key issues with the policies:

·         The fracking moratorium has been lifted even though the Parliamentary Inquiry Report (Recommendation no. 9) recommended it remain in place until all fracking chemicals had been properly assessed by the national chemical assessor.

·         The concept of 'no-go' zones has been abandoned.

·         Mapping of Strategic Agricultural Land has increased but the gateway process has been weakened.

·         The Aquifer Interference Regulation has been downgraded to a policy with no legal teeth.

·         There is no Aquifer Interference Approval required for CSG activities.

·         The Minister for Primary Industries and the NSW Office of Water have been relegated to a purely advisory role in the Aquifer Interference Regulation.

·         Requirements for cost-benefit analysis and a public interest test have been made voluntary

·         Mapping of high conservation value areas has been dropped.

·         There is no certainty for communities affected by CSG exploration.

·         There is no protection for drinking water catchments.

·         Water resources, farmland, natural assets and communities are all at risk from this policy.

·         They break key election promises from the government to protect land and water from mining, undertake  cumulative impact assessments, ensure triple bottom line assessments, and mandate public interest tests and cost-benefit analyses.

Politician’s Contact Details:

Premier Barry O’Farrell 

office@premier.nsw.gov.au     ph. 02 9228 5239

Andrew Stoner    Deputy Premier

ph. 02 9228 5209   office@deputypremier.nsw.gov.au

Chris Hartcher, Minister for Resources and Energy,

office@hartcher.minister.nsw.gov.au     ph. 02 9228 5289 

Brad Hazzard, Planning Minister,

office@hazzard.minister.nsw.gov.au   ph. 02 9228 5258

Don Page, State Member for Ballina, Minister for the North Coast and Local Govt. 

office@page.minister.nsw.gov.au   Ministerial Office 02 9228 3403

Don.Page@parliament.nsw.gov.au   Electorate office 02 6686 7522 

Katrina Hodgkinson, Minister for Primary Industries, 

 office@hodgkinson.minister.nsw.gov.au  02 9230 3540

Thomas George, State Member for Lismore

lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au  ph. 02 6621 3624  

Chris Gulaptis Member for Clarence  

clarence@parliament.nsw.gov.au   ph. 02 6643 1244

Jeff Provost Member for Tweed

tweed@parliament.nsw.gov.au ph. 07 5523 4816