July 30 2010

Concerns by local Kogan farmers that Carbon Energy's underground coal gasification (UCG) plant is responsible for elevated mercury levels in local creeks exposes the state government's recklessness in approving a dangerous experimental industry, which has failed and should be banned, say the Greens.

“There's now been reports of pollution at all three UCG plants on the Downs – that should be three strikes and you're out for this experimental industry,” said Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland, environmental lawyer Larissa Waters.

“There is now no confidence that this technology can operate without contaminating water supplies. Any amount of contamination shows the process does not work – so why gamble with the precious little good quality agricultural land that Queensland has.

“If the state government is too hooked on coal royalties and donations to ban the underground coal gasification industry, the federal government must step in to protect human health and the ground and surface water of the Darling Downs.

“The people and farmland of the Darling Downs should not be used as lab rats while the coal industry experiments with coal seams too uneconomical to mine to increase their super profits.

July 30 2010: “The federal Environment Minister must immediately list underground coal gasification as a trigger under the federal environment laws so that he can ban any new coal gasification projects," said Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland, environmental lawyer Larissa Waters.

“As the first Greens Senator for Queensland I will move amendments to strengthen our federal environmental laws to protect people and farmland from carcinogenic water pollution by dirty, risky underground coal gasification.

“All three UCG companies have shown they cannot operate within environmental and health requirements so should have their licences immediately revoked by the state government.

“No further licences should ever be issued for this polluting, fossil fuel-based, failed technology.

“Renewable energy is the way to safely and cleanly power this state into the future, protect our food security and our Reef, and keep our rural communities alive,” said Ms Waters.

Larissa Waters – Lead Senate Candidate
For comment 0421 844 280
www.greens.org.au