Tender to study Beetaloo

AN investigation will be held to establish the “baseline” settings of the Beetaloo Basin before it is fracked.

The NT government has released a tender for an “environmental health scope”, which will look to establish whether there are environmental and health risks to fracking.

The SREBA Environmental Health Scope will investigate population health, air quality, soil quality and water quality.

Exploratory drilling to determine the viability of fracking is under way in the Beetaloo Basin, however a moratorium on commercial fracking remains in place.

The study into environmental health is one of six studies that must be completed before the approval of fracking activities.

Environment Minister Eva Lawler said the study was a recognition that a “strong economy relies on a healthy environment”.

“The release of the SREBA environmental health studies tender is a positive step forward. Territorians entrust this government to fulfil their social obligations before allowing onshore processing,” Ms Lawler said.