Family cross at Arrow’s road use

LIVING on a rural back road at Rangers Bridge on the Western Downs, the Matthews family never dreamt their home would be at the forefront of a billion-dollar coal seam gas project and cordoned off by barricades.

The home is nestled by farmland and located on the Daandine Nandi and Dalby Kogan Road intersection.

The location became a major point of interest for Arrow Energy as the road is the mouth to a major coal seam gas operation leading to 89 new wells.

Homeowners Shane and Katlin Matthews said they had been through hell trying to navigate life at home with a baby and toddler while living in a noisy construction zone, with thick dust and houseshaking vibrations.

“We don’t mind them doing it as long as it’s done respectfully but they just walk all over us and do what they want,” Ms Matthews said.

“I can’t get the children to sleep during the day, which has been really hard, and I can’t afford to leave home every day and go to town. I’m too scared to let the children play in the yard because I’m worried they might get hurt.”

Mr Matthews said the house was a fuel station in the 50s and the excessive vibrations from the roadworks was a major concern as sitting below them were several fuel tanks, two of which contained almost 700 litres of petrol each.

“We’re worried the tanks might cave in or ignite and it’s really concerning because they’re right near the children’s bedrooms,” he said. “We’re also worried about the fuel getting into the groundwater.”

An Arrow Energy spokesman said when the couple raised concerns about the fuel tanks, Arrow “attempted to address this issue with the landholder and arrange a dilapidation survey”.

The spokesman said Arrow contacted Mr Matthews in early June and was given permission in late August.

“Data from monitoring demonstrates that all activities have been compliant with the project’s noise and vibration management plan,” he said.

Arrow said the intersection upgrade would offset the impacts of increased traffic and, weather-permitting, would finish in September-October.

The family said since Arrow started using the dirt road for the Surat Gas Project, excessive amounts of dust had been kicked up, filling their water tank.

Arrow declined to answer questions about tank water, if a risk assessment was carried out in relation to the project’s closeness to the home, and if Arrow had been working to mitigate negative effects.