Packed audience for Mudgee screening of Gasland
26 Jan, 2011 09:13 AM
Seventy-six people attended a screening of the documentary Gasland, hosted by the Mid-Western Community Action Network (MWCAN), on Monday evening.
The 2010 documentary shows the effect of coal seam gas mining across the United States, where coal and oil exploration is exempt from the Safe Water Drinking Act and other laws protecting the environment.
After his own home in Pennsylvania was threatened by coal seam gas mining, filmmaker Josh Fox travelled across the country, meeting people affected by coal seam gas mining.
The film focuses on the process known as hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in which a mixture of chemicals is injected into the coal seam, cracking the rock and releasing the gas.
Although gas companies are not required to release information on the chemicals used, analysis of “frack fluid” has identified 596 chemicals including some known to cause cancer, birth defects and brain damage.
Residents have suffered health problems and pets and wildlife have died as a result of drinking contaminated water and breathing in toxic vapours.
Tap water and well water has become undrinkable in many areas and Gasland shows water from household taps and even springs bursting into flames when a match is held near.
However gas company executives have stated that there is “no real credible threat to underground water from hydraulic fracturing”.
Before the screening, Bylong Valley Protection Alliance (BVPA) interim secretary Craig Shaw outlined plans by Leichhart Resources to explore for natural gas in an area covering 1736 square kilometres of the Bylong Valley.
MWCAN secretary Rob Binks said viewers were “horrified” by the possibility that the Gasland experience could be repeated in Australia.
“People didn’t realise that what is happening there might happen here,” she said.
“Most people were shocked and horrified.”
The NSW State Government last month announced revised legislation for coal seam gas exploration including “more rigorous” community consultation and tighter environmental controls for new drilling applications.
New exploration proposals must be considered by four state departments and the government must also examine banning the use of chemicals at sites where they could threaten groundwater purity.
However, Mrs Binks said she did not believe Australian legislation went far enough.
“With natural gas mining cutting a swathe through Queensland at the moment, what happened in the USA is already happening here,” she said.
MWCAN has invited speakers from BVPA, Running Stream Water Users Association and Great Artesian Basin Protection Alliance and others to address a public meeting at Club Mudgee on Tuesday, February 16, at 6pm.
After his own home in Pennsylvania was threatened by coal seam gas mining, filmmaker Josh Fox travelled across the country, meeting people affected by coal seam gas mining.
The film focuses on the process known as hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in which a mixture of chemicals is injected into the coal seam, cracking the rock and releasing the gas.
Although gas companies are not required to release information on the chemicals used, analysis of “frack fluid” has identified 596 chemicals including some known to cause cancer, birth defects and brain damage.
Residents have suffered health problems and pets and wildlife have died as a result of drinking contaminated water and breathing in toxic vapours.
Tap water and well water has become undrinkable in many areas and Gasland shows water from household taps and even springs bursting into flames when a match is held near.
However gas company executives have stated that there is “no real credible threat to underground water from hydraulic fracturing”.
Before the screening, Bylong Valley Protection Alliance (BVPA) interim secretary Craig Shaw outlined plans by Leichhart Resources to explore for natural gas in an area covering 1736 square kilometres of the Bylong Valley.
MWCAN secretary Rob Binks said viewers were “horrified” by the possibility that the Gasland experience could be repeated in Australia.
“People didn’t realise that what is happening there might happen here,” she said.
“Most people were shocked and horrified.”
The NSW State Government last month announced revised legislation for coal seam gas exploration including “more rigorous” community consultation and tighter environmental controls for new drilling applications.
New exploration proposals must be considered by four state departments and the government must also examine banning the use of chemicals at sites where they could threaten groundwater purity.
However, Mrs Binks said she did not believe Australian legislation went far enough.
“With natural gas mining cutting a swathe through Queensland at the moment, what happened in the USA is already happening here,” she said.
MWCAN has invited speakers from BVPA, Running Stream Water Users Association and Great Artesian Basin Protection Alliance and others to address a public meeting at Club Mudgee on Tuesday, February 16, at 6pm.
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