Antinuclear

Farmers and irrigators up in arms about Santos radiation leak near Lismore, NSW

Santos uranium scare raises tensions with farmers GRAHAM LLOYD THE AUSTRALIAN APRIL 28, 2014 
A LEAKING waste-water pond that has caused a uranium scare in an underground aquifer at NSW’s biggest coal-seam gas project would be empty within two weeks, project operator Santos Ltd has said.

The company is nearing completion on the construction of a major new dam at the Pilliga project as it prepares to seek approval to move from exploration to production drilling.

But confirmation of the leak has increased tensions between Santos and farmers concerned about the long-term threat to the productive agricultural region. Tensions are also building at Bentley, near Lismore in the Northern Rivers region, where a large protest camp is expecting strong police action this week to allow site entry for junior miner Metgasco to drill an unconventional gas-exploration well…….confirmation of the leak has angered local farm and water groups. Jon-Maree Baker, from Namoi Water, which represents 3000 water licence holders in the Narrabri region, said the spill raised significant concerns.

“The question for us is can the risks be managed adequately by the regulatory process and are the unintended risks something that can be mitigated?” Ms Baker said.

Santos plans to drill 850 gas wells throughout the Pilliga ­forest and across private farmland as part of the Narrabri Gas Project, before expanding across northwest NSW. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/santos-uranium-scare-raises-tensions-with-farmers/story-e6frg9df-1226897706487#

April 28, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized