Gas protest heating up Outcry over water fears
PROTECTING the Territory’s water supplies was the main argument behind an anti-fracking protest.
Held outside Parliament yesterday, hundreds of people gathered to voice their concerns over fracking in the Northern Territory.
However, gas organisations have called the protests “exaggerated claims”.
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association NT director Matthew Doman said the industry recognised there were genuine questions and concerns in the community.
“These should be addressed in the upcoming report of the fracking inquiry,” he said.
“There are also those who pedal false and exaggerated claims and are simply not interested in the facts – and it’s hard to see what meaningful contribution they can make to decisions on the development of the Territory’s natural resources.”
Don’t Frack Katherine spokeswoman Samantha Phelan said she was concerned for the water suppy of the Territory, if any fracking went ahead. “It threatens our water resources, our underground water resources,” Ms Phelan said. “I’ve come from Katherine. We’re living the reality of a contaminated water aquifer now. We know what that looks like now. It is a tragedy for that town and there’s no need to not learn from that.”
Among the crowd were members from many different communities across the Territory, including Mataranka and Yuendumu. “I’m really impressed with the bush mob that have come in,” Ms Phelan said.
“It doesn’t matter what colour your skin is, all of us are 70 per cent water. And this is a point where we all come together.” A number of farmers from Victoria flew to Darwin to attend the protest.
The NT has a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing until an independent inquiry into the gas extraction technique completes its findings.
The final report’s final draft is expected to be released in mid-December, and the final report is due to be handed down in March.