The Grafton Nannas have written to their State Member of Parliament, Chris Gulaptis, calling on him to urge his Government to halt immediately all unconventional gas mining in NSW. The letter was delivered to his office on Thursday 13th March. A similar letter from the Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition was also delivered at this time.
Below is the text of the KNAG letter.
Following
the recent contamination to the groundwater in the Pilliga State Forest , The
Knitting Nannas Against Gas – Grafton Loop are calling on the State Government
to put a stop to all unconventional gas mining in NSW.
It
is time our MPs took the step to protect the land and water supplies of the
people in their electorates.
It
is unacceptable that communities have to live with the threat of contamination
from this invasive industry.
Below
are quotes from the EPA and Public Health:
"On Friday, EPA chief environmental regulator
Mark Gifford confirmed the contamination was caused by water leaking from the
pond and that lead, aluminium, arsenic, barium, boron, nickel and uranium had
been detected in an aquifer at levels ''elevated when compared to livestock,
irrigation and health guidelines''.
SMH, 8th March 2014
SMH, 8th March 2014
“The heavy
metals in the water and particularly the high levels of aluminium are certainly
a concern if this industry is going to spread. I’m not confident the EPA
has the appropriate testing methodology to deal with or prepare for such a
contamination situation and the ongoing repercussions.”
Dr Con Costa, public health physician and GP, media release 12th March 2014
Dr Con Costa, public health physician and GP, media release 12th March 2014
The
industry has now been proven to be unsafe and as such should be halted
immediately.
The delegation presenting letters at the office of Chris Gulaptis
