Western Downs AlliancePeoples Blockade- Day 71
Our crew has braved the chilly morning to head out bright and early to disrupt QGC pipeline operations again.
News soon came in of the gas well blow out near Dalby, which happened around 9am Sunday morning, and the landowner Tom O’Connor was not notified until around 2:30pm Sunday.
This is the fourth time such an incident had occurred on his farm, the latest being only 5 kms from his homestead.
The O’Connor family, farm cattle and grow grain while raising four kids, and are understandably concerned about this industry and angry that the Government has allowed them onto his property.
‘We wish the company and their wells weren’t here,” he said. ”Someone’s going to get hurt or worse if this continues.”
Arrow Energy vice president of exploration Tony Knight said the incident had been an unusual one the company had never encountered before. Mr Knight conceded Arrow had been at fault in similar previous incidents on Mr O’Connor’s property “We have been working on this property for more than 10 years and during that time period there have been various things that have gone on that probably shouldn’t have and we acknowledge that,” he said………….(All the more reason to NOT allow this industry anywhere near homes!….it is totally unpredictable, how can they say its safe if these sorts of things happen??? and if they have never encountered this sort of thing before, then how do they know what to do, or what will happen???)
………I think perhaps its time for Mr O’Connor to “Lock the Gate’ on this industry!………..surely he cant be expected to put up with any more of this???……..Surely any LANDCOURT would not uphold this contract given everything that has happened on this property??? Surely this would come under the catagory of reasoable excuse for impeding a mining activity???
Is the risk to human life……..(yes people, thats HUMAN LIFE……NOT sensitive receptors as the Government and CSG industry prefer to call us) seriously worth the $$$ being bought in by the CSG industry to benefit greedy corporations and Government???
Shouldnt WE the PEOPLE have a say in the risks imposed on us and our families??? Should the Government and these CSG industries be able to sacrifice us and our families for the sake of the mighty $???
We noticed good old Ray CSG Brown still wont come out in support of residents. He’s still happy for the Government and CSG companies to put these wells and pipelines near our homes.
If this situation were to happen at one of the gas wells in the Tara Estates, that are sometimes placed within100 metres from roads, the 100 metre exclusion zone imposed would have people either unable to leave their homes, or unable to return to homes.
And what would happen if it were to catch fire? 24 hours is a long time to not have control of a situation without fire, how much longer would it take to get expert crew in to deal with a burning gas well/pipeline, especially in an area surrounded by bushland.
The CSG industry is a catastrophe waiting to happen!
Isnt it time Ray you start supporting residents who are concerned over these same issues happening close to their homes, we are talking 200 metres close to homes, not even the 5 kms as is the incident with Mr O’Connell. What is it going to take to make the Australian Government WAKEUP??? Residents to be killed as a result of a gas well/ pipeline blowout???
C’mon RAY its time to support residents and put an end to this stupidity! No mining activity in residential areas!
The Queensland Greens have said the incident is further proof that gas drilling should not take place close to residential estates or farming properties.
The press release by Libby Connors:
23 May 2011
Tara landholder removed from well site: Darling Downs residents’ civil rights further curtailed
A Tara resident who went to witness the gas blow-out at one of Arrow Energy’s gas wells near Dalby has been thrown off the property and told that an exclusion zone has been imposed.
‘If this was imposed for safety reasons it would be reasonable but given that political figures such as Mayor Ray Brown have been given access to the site that doesn’t seem to be the case,’ Queensland Greens spokesperson Libby Connors said today.
‘The residents of Tara have a right to know what is going on since the government has repeatedly claimed that the wells, pipelines and compressor stations dotting their district are safe.
‘Dayne Pratsky, a Tara landholder went to film the blow-out so he could report back to his neighbours and friends on the estate, but was removed from the site an hour or so ago.
‘He was also told that there is a 5 km exclusion zone on the air space above the gas well so he cannot film from the air either.
‘It seems that as well as having their landholder rights severely curtailed by the industry the government is also going to limit their freedom of movement around the district.
‘It is time for a moratorium so the people of Queensland can debate this industry and the many disadvantages it brings to the residents on whom it has been imposed.’
Contact: Libby Connors 0429 487 110
I have received disturbing news today that a company called Quadrilla has started CSG activiteis near Blackpool in the UK. A radio feature on UK news programme Jeremy Vine SHow on radio 2 had people backing the industry saying it was a modern day miracle for energy and that the problems surrounding water exploding into flame etc was down to an odd renegade company in the USA, I have contacted the show directly asking them if British Gas are also a cowboy company themsleves being the primary adversary in AUstralia.
Arkansas – need I say more? When will we get our own class action?