The Queensland Greens say that as the clean-up begins in southern Queensland from February flooding, we may have to wait months for information on damage from breached csg dams and holding ponds.
"The LNG Enforcement Unit's report to June 2011 noted 4 instances of discharge of coal seam gas (csg) water, 3 instances of discharges above government set limits and 6 instances of Transitional Environment Programs to allow releases of water from csg dams during last year's January flooding," Queensland Greens state spokesperson Libby Connors said today.
"They promised another report in September 2011 but we are still waiting for it.
"Now that Andrew Brier, the head of the LNG Enforcement Unit has gone to work for Santos, who knows how long we may have to wait for an update.
"Essentially what happened in last yearÂ’s floods on the Darling Downs and central Queensland was that DERM gave TEPs so that the companies could release water from dams that were about to breach.
"So they authorised water that was known to be high in salts and other contaminants including heavy metals to be released into the floodwaters.
"The floods this year extended from the Condamine-Balonne west to the Roma and Mitchell regions, areas where Santos operates the majority of wells.
"The discharge of their highly saline water will flow with the floodwaters into New south Wales.
"As the waters evaporate they will leave behind a damaging legacy of salt and heavy metals which may bio-accumulate.
"At the moment there are about 4 000 wells in operation in southern Queensland.
"The load of salt will rise ten-fold when the expected 40 000 wells come into operation in the next few years.
"Salt is the enemy of the Murray-Darling system and it is madness to let this industry operate within its catchment."
Contact: Libby Connors 0429 487 110