There could be coal seam gas mining across the whole of the Northern Tablelands
TENTERFIELD and the whole of the Northern Tablelands could soon become the next area to be brought into debate over coal seam gas.
Late last week, a community group in Armidale said it had found a major application for special petroleum prospecting in the local area.
The application has been lodged by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and covers the area from Tenterfield to Port Macquarie and included Armidale, Glen Innes, Coffs Harbour and Walcha.
Spokeswoman for the Armidale Coal Seam Action Group Carmel Flint said the news had come as a big shock to local communities.
“There has been no consultations, we don’t know how much of the area will be included in this and just exactly what the risk is going to be,” she said.
“It is really hard to know what the impacts will be on communities but we believe that this is just the beginning and that is a real concern”
According the 1991 Petroleum Act, special petroleum prospecting involves “speculative geological, geophysical or geochemical surveys or scientific investigations on and in respect of the land”.
Ms Flint said she did not think the initial application would allow for drilling to take place on properties, but said impacts to the local environment, land values and agriculture could still be extensive.
Tenterfield Star
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