GREEN activist groups have accused coal seam gas companies of “getting away with blue murder” in the face of the latest $3000 fines levelled for breaking environmental laws in the Pilliga forest.
The fines imposed on Santos and Eastern Star Gas for polluting a local creek system with coal seam gas waste water have variously been described as “inadequate”, “a slap on the wrist”, “chickenfeed”, “pathetic” and “like being hit over the face with wet lettuce”.
The Lock the Gate Alliance, The Greens and the Wilderness Society have joined the chorus of complaints begun by the Northern Inland Council for the Environment over last Friday’s news of the pollution penalties issued to the two companies over a spill in the Pilliga last year.
The Lock The Gate Alliance says there’s mounting evidence from across the country of the environmental damage coal seam gas companies are causing.
“The pattern of environmental damage, blanket denial by gas companies, government inaction and then weak and inadequate penalties that has occurred in the Pilliga is being repeated in coal seam gas operations across the country,” alliance president Drew Hutton said.
Northern Daily Leader
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