NEWSLETTER 2 – AUTUMN 2012

CLARENCE ENVIRONMENT CENTRE

31 Skinner St, South Grafton 2460

Phone / Fax 66 43 1863 Email admin@cec.org.au

Website www.cec.org.au

Secretary's Message to Members

Dear members At our regular ordinary meeting in April, the matter of dwindling attendance was discussed. These regular meetings have traditionally been held at the Environment Centre at 4.30pm on the third Thursday of each month, and have been attended by the same handful of participants, month in – month out for some considerable time. We all know that meetings are pretty boring and time for most of us is precious. However, we would like to see a greater interest shown, not to mention getting some new ideas put forward, so we are considering changing the meeting time to midday, possibly on a Wednesday, and still in the third week of each month. This would not only 'capture' the greatest number of regular volunteers, but would possibly allow working members to attend at least part of the meeting in their lunch hour (bringing your lunch with you is fine, and make it a working lunch). It was agreed to circulate this message to members for consideration and comment, with a view to introducing the changes with the new financial year in July. Hope to hear from you.

Regards John Edwards Honorary Secretary.

A Fishy Smell in Macquarie Street

Readers may recall last year's controversial actions by the O'Farrell Government to reverse some marine park zoning changes, place a moratorium on marine parks, and remove the fishing restrictions from around aggregations sites of the critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark. At the time, motivated by political expediency to gain legislative support from the Shooters and Fishers Party, and the loud protestations of some extremist recreational fishing organ-isations, the science behind the need for marine protection was questioned, with one right wing politician famously describing it as “voodoo science”. As a result, the government ordered an independent scientific audit, the results of which were released in mid February, confirming previous scientific opinion that, “the current system of marine parks as established in NSW be maintained and mechanisms be found for enhancing the protection of biodiversity in the identified gaps, namely within the Hawkesbury and Twofold Shelf marine bioregions”. While the audit report does make the statement that: “The recommendations made in this report do not in any way preclude the possibility of new marine protected areas being proposed in NSW”, it will clearly suit the Government's agenda, recommending a plethora of reviews and scientific surveys that

1

will allow the Government to put off any decisions for years. Already Minister Hodg-kinson has announced (DE February 18) that the Government stands by its decisions, so once again the environment gets a raw deal. J.E.

Our forests up in flames

As if our state forests are not in enough trouble from over logging, a recent Parliamentary inquiry into forestry, which admitted to ignoring all submissions that were critical of the industry, recommended the burning of native forest waste for electricity generation, and be made eligible for credits under Australia's Renewable Energy Target, in direct competition with solar, wind or other non-polluting energy sources.

Initially, the Federal Government decided that burning of native forest timber would not receive renewable energy credits. However, a motion to overturn that decision was put to Parliament by Independent, Rob Oakeshott, and seconded by fellow Independent, Tony Windsor.

If all that surprises you, consider this - Boral Timber's executive general manager Bryan Tisher, recently announced that Boral has sold a mix of plantation and native forest woodchips to Japanese power stations to be burned on a trial basis as a “precursor to a tender for three-year supply”.

What on Earth is going on?

On a brighter note, faced with a barrage of letters from all manner of scientific-based

sources, lobby groups like Getup, environ-mentalists, and concerned citizens, the Oakeshott motion was defeated, but only just, requiring the deciding vote of the Speaker, Peter Slipper.

John Edwards

Forestry and its care of threatened species

How about this for supporting the objective to maintain or enhance biodiversity as outlined in Forests NSW “Native Forest Silviculture Manual”.

According to the Operational Harvest Plan for Compartment 50 of Ellis State Forest, the endangered Black-striped Wallaby has been recorded in that compartment. This is an animal that, according to the TSC Act is facing extinction because:

Its population and distribution have been reduced to a critical level

It faces severe threatening processes It is an ecological specialist (it depends on

particular types of diet or habitat), and It has poor recovery potential

Among the severe threatened processes identified in the determination are:

“Clearing, fragmentation and isolation of habitat for agriculture and forestry”,

“Too-frequent burning associated with forestry and grazing resulting in simplification of habitat with loss of mosaic of dense understorey areas and open grassy areas”, and

“Weed invasions”.

In a caring gesture towards the Ellis State Forest population, and following the directives of FNSW's Threatened Species Licence, FNSW will ensure the "removal of no more than 50% canopy cover in the net harvest area" (logging more than 40% of basal volume, is not allowed); will "protect ground cover to the greatest extent possible", and "incorporate the area as a priority site for the regional pest control program". Whoopee bloody doo! John Edwards

2

More bad news on mining

The O'Farrell Government's illogical gung-ho approach to mining has once again been confirmed with the release in early March of its promised review into coal seam gas (CSG) mining, which pretty much allows business to continue as usual.

Chinchilla Qld - This is what a Coal Seam Gas Field looks like

When Minister Hartcher introduced the 'fear' element the day before the report was released, claiming that the price of gas to householders would triple if CSG mining was halted, it was clear the government wouldn't act to stop this dangerous, and toxic industry. The vast majority of gas mined in Australia today is natural gas, and mostly exported at give-away prices. This is expected to continue well into the future; with the recently exhibited Energy White Paper predicting Australia will soon become the world's second largest exporter of gas. Mr Hartcher should explain exactly why he thinks costs to local consumers would triple if CSG mining was banned. What we do know is that CSG mining, through the process of hydraulically fracturing underground rock strata ('fracking') has caused major problems in Australia and across the world. Fugitive methane emissions, something that is unmeasurable and mostly goes undetected, escapes to the earth's surface through the fissures created by fracking, and simply adds to atmospheric greenhouse gasses that are already out of control.

Fracking has also allowed methane to enter bores and domestic water supplies with both able to be set alight. The process has been found to allow underground water to travel via the fissures it creates in the rock strata, allowing contamination of potable water with saline or toxic water that occur at various depths. As well as being linked to an increase in local seismic activity, fracking is known to have caused the diversion and drying up of aquifers, and of polluting waterways. The big worry is that, like the asbestos health problems, it could be decades before these problems emerge, but it stands to reason that blasting apart underground rock layers cannot occur without consequences. The disposal of toxic “produced water” is also a major problem, with reports of spills and overflowing holding ponds regularly released every time we have a flood, or even heavy rain. Despite all this, and the knowledge that the combined greenhouse gas emissions from CSG mining and burning to produce electricity are as great as coal-fired power generation, this State Government has failed to protect the environment, or grant any rights to landowners to reject these activities on their land. Simply providing a few extra hoops for the mining companies to jump through, also fails to protect prime agricultural land, and there is absolutely no protection provided for urban drinking water catchments. It is no wonder that people across the country are so concerned, and the groundswell of opposition is bound to increase.

John Edwards

Planning to plan for action

I have just been involved in writing another submission on what appears to be an endless stream of planning papers. This latest is a Regional Action Plan. Makes you feel invigorated doesn't it?

3

Having read the Discussion Paper however, I experienced a distinct feeling of de-ja vu. This Paper calls for endless plans and strategies that appear to mirror similar plans and strategies that have been developed by successive administrations for the past 25 years and possibly beyond. How many Catchment Action Plans have we seen? How many coastal zone strategies, strategies for adaptation to sea level rise, waste and recycling, or weed and pest management strategies, are needed before we actually get some action on these problems? We can only assume that each successive administration finds itself in a position where, either it cannot afford to implement the plans developed by its predecessors, or it wishes to belittle those plans to embarrass their political opponents. Whatever the real reason, these consultation processes appear to be repeated with a view to creating a perception that the current administration is actually doing something to address the problems. Nevertheless, we have made a submission, pointing out that the greatest regional asset is its biodiversity, and scenic beauty. This is reflected in the large percentage of the area that is now declared World Heritage, Wilderness, National Parks, Nature, Flora, and other conservation reserves. It is also reflected in the Discussion Paper's vision (page 3) which calls for the protection of the region's “spectacular natural environ-ment”, identifying its “magnificent coastal plains, broad rivers and estuaries, coastal lakes and lagoons and mountain ranges”, with an assurance that these natural assets “will be protected for future generations to experience and enjoy”. We pointed out that as a result the hospitality industry, driven by tourism, both local and international, is by far the largest employer and revenue generator, not only for the local region, but also contributes to the national economy as well. The native forests of the region provide eco-

services, clean air and water, that if costed against what it would take to mechanically produce oxygen, filter water and store carbon, would likely dwarf Australia's Gross Domestic Product. We asserted that this natural asset must be protected against the ravages of mining, particularly those minerals that pose a threat of toxic pollution, and the continued over-logging of native forests that is currently occurring. Over time, we believe these natural assets must be allowed to increase to provide an effective buffer against climate change.

Let's hope the powers that be listen to our call. Our New DVD showcases significant

Clarence Valley plant species

Boronia hapalophylla – 3 whorled leaf

The Clarence Environment Centre has compiled and produced a new educational DVD providing details of over 300 significant flora species that can be found growing in the Clarence Valley, and is now available at the Environment Centre in Skinner Street, South Grafton at little more than the cost of production.

4

Chamaecrista biddulphiana “Significant Flora of the Clarence Valley” was compiled and produced entirely by volunteers, with printing and packaging costs partially funded by a Clarence Valley Council community grant. The North Coast botanical region of New South Wales is internationally recognised as one of the world's biodiversity hot-spots, thanks in part to a variety of geographical and geological features, these provide a range of habitats from coastal heath and wetlands to the rainforest covered mountains of the Great Dividing Range. In determining whether a species' occurrence is significant, we have included those that are listed as threatened, and some that are protected under the National Parks and wildlife Act, along with those considered rare, regionally uncommon, endemic species, and species that reach the southern or northern limit of their distribution within the Clarence Valley.

Dodonaea hirsute - mature fruit

A word of warning though, that not all significant species are listed. Since compiling this list, another half dozen or more rare or newly described species have been identified, a process that will be ongoing, and hopefully be covered in future productions. The DVD provides a PDF fact sheet for each species with a photograph or image, and provides scientific and common names, family name, protection status, a brief description, localities and range of occur-rence, and threats faced. Many of the photo-graphs were donated by Centre members, while the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust kindly allowed the reprod-uction of its images for the remainder.

Calichilus paludosus – Brooms

The Clarence Environment Centre's Committee extends its appreciation to all those who assisted in producing this DVD, particularly Chris Johnson-Walker and Kurt whose IT skills proved invaluable, and sincerely hopes the general public will find this a useful guide and research tool.

John Edwards. Honorary Secretary.

5

Is recklessly contributing to Climate Change a case of Ecocide?

In April 2010 British barrister, international lawyer, and author, Polly Higgins, moved to put the case for Ecocide to the United Nations Law Commission, to stand alongside other crimes against peace like genocide. This bold move has given fresh hope to environ-mentalists, and all others around the world concerned about the ongoing ecological consequences of pursuing economic growth at all costs. Those concerns are nowhere more evident than in Australia where the mining boom in fossil fuels appears endless, causing enormous environmental damage, with investors and governments seemingly blinded by the prom-ised personal wealth, economic growth, and jobs creation. Under the proposed law of ecocide, company executives, and government ministers can be held personally responsible. No longer would they be able to hide behind clean-up and abatement orders levied on the corporate body which, if excessive, would see parent companies walk away while a cash-strapped subsidiary is 'sacrificed' into bankruptcy. Essentially, the law of ecocide: “Imposes an International and trans-boundary duty of care on any person or persons exercising a position of superior responsibility, without exemption, in either private or public capacity to prevent the risk of, an/or actual, extensive damage to, or destruction of, or loss of ecosystems”.

The damage caused by the Gulf oil spill, Canadian tar sand mining, and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of underground rock strata for coal seam gas extraction, has already been identified as ecocide, and Polly Higgins' team has held a mock trial of company executives, using real barristers, a real judge in a real court, which actually found them guilty of ecocide. Earlier this year, the previously conservative International Energy Agency (IEA) delivered a stark warning in its “World energy outlook – 2012”, identifying that the world is on track for a 6 degree warming by the end of this century. That is just 88 years away when many people alive today would normally be expect-ed to still be alive, and who will be forced to experience the catastrophic climate change that will result from that rate of warming. The IEA goes further, flagging that the situation is so dire that, under the 450 scenario (limiting greenhouse gas emissions to 450 parts per million), the global carbon budget will jump from 80% to 95% in just 5 years. This means that only emissions-free generation plants should be built after 2017, with a need to reduce coal-fired electricity by 60%, and gas-fired by 4% by 2035. Ms Higgins' “Eradicate Ecocide” movement submitted a Concept Paper for all Governments on March 21, 2012, clearly identifying that: “Not one Member State can justify putting humanity at risk when the whole of civilisation stands on the brink of disaster”. So where does Australia, the world's largest exporter of coal, stand in all of this? The answer to that question is contained in Australia's “Energy White Paper”, placed on public exhibition in January of this year. The opening paragraph confirms the Australian Government has no plans for significant change. After explaining that a secure and reliable energy source, “... is fundamental to our modern economy and society”, it then continues with the statement that, “competitively priced energy has been a cornerstone of Australia’s economic and

6

social development”, and that: “In this context, it is critical that energy policy continues to strike an appropriate balance in delivering energy security, facilitating economic development and meeting clean energy goals”. Those goals are currently aimed at providing 20% renewable energy by 2020, and reducing emissions levels by 2020 to a pathetic 5% below 2000 levels, which is clearly unach-ievable given that emissions have already risen some 40% above 2000 levels, with no signs of dropping in the immediate future. A further comment that: “Around 60% of Australia’s greenhouse gas reductions in 2020 could come from purchasing inter-national abatement”, confirms that the Government also realises that its proposed energy policy cannot achieve those emissions reduction targets. Coal burning for electricity production is undeniably the greatest single contributor to atmospheric greenhouse gas build-up, and therefore to climate change. However, from the outset the White Paper makes it clear that Australia has no plans to stop or even slow the growth of mining and export of coal and gas, openly boasting that: “At current rates of depletion, Australia has many decades worth of known gas and uranium reserves, and at least a century of coal.” Those predictions are followed by the assertion that: “Australia is currently the world’s largest coal exporter, and in future years will be the world’s second-largest liquefied natural gas exporter”, with the justification that, “these exports will continue to support improved living standards for billions of people in our region”. The burning of that coal will contribute to a planet that is at least 6ºC hotter (refer IEA Outlook 2012), a climate change level that is described as “catastrophic”, yet Australian politicians regard that as someone else's problem. The minute these massive coal a gas shipments leave our shores, our leaders wash their hands of any culpability, hand-balling

the responsibility for those subsequent emiss-ions to the buyers in developing countries. There is little doubt that these actions, by world leaders that are fully informed about the consequences on their actions, represent a huge failure in their duty of care, and a prosecutable offense under the proposed law of ecocide. We believe the world needs to get behind Polly Higgins' proposal, and we wish her and her team every success in their endeavours.

Opposition to coal seam gas builds

The opposition to coal seam gas CSG mining is rising rapidly. In March the newly-formed Clarence Valley Coalition against CSG held a series of community information sessions across the valley from Whiporie to Wooli, from Copmanhurst to Nymboida. These culminated in a peaceful, non-violent protest instruction day, and a 3 hour information seminar at the South Services Club on March 30, where as many as 200 people listened to President of the “Lock the Gate” organisation, Drew Hutton, Senior Solicitor with the Environmental Defenders Office, Sue Higginson, local Greens' candidate, Janet Cavanagh, and CSG refugee from Queensland, Hundreds of “Lock the Gate” signs have been distributed and the demand is growing, as landowners realise the extent of the disruption and destruction they are facing.

The Clarence Valley now joins other regions

7

across eastern Australia prepared to blockade gas drilling sites and calling on government to stop the industry. The Onshore Petroleum Act was put in place to allow the government of the day to collect royalties for the benefit of the people of NSW. From the fact that the NSW Government has waived all royalties for the first 5 years of CSG extraction, and not requiring full royalties for 10 years, it could be argued that CSG will not benefit the people of NSW.

John Edwards

Complaint against Red Sky Energy.

Red Sky Energy is the coal seam gas (CSG) mining company currently seeking approval to undertake the second stage of its exploration for CSG just north of Whiporie. Part of that approvals process was the preparation of a Review of Environmental Factors which was so weak that we were prompted to write to the Premier in early January setting out a wide range of concerns about the proposal, not the least of which was the fact that the site is in the catchment of the important Bungawalbin Wetland complex. Subsequent to that letter, which has yet to receive a response, we were alerted to Red Sky's “Activities Report for the Quarter Ended 31 December 2011”, to the Australian Stock Exchange claiming its Review of Environmental Factors for the drilling operation at the Talma #1 Well, was “comprehensive and included extensive stakeholder consultation and a rigorous assessment of impacts”. As a result of this “extensive consultation” claim, and knowing of no environment group that had been consulted over the project, we wrote to Red Sky's Manager, Rohan Gillespie, pointing out it is standard procedure to consult with environment groups, and requested a list of stakeholder groups that had been a part of this “extensive stakeholder consultation, process. We received no response to that letter, or to a follow-up email

a month later. We also passed on these additional concerns to Mr O'Farrell in late February. However, that letter too has not received any response as yet. Since then we have learned that at least some relevant Land Councils have also knew nothing of the proposal, so we have sent a complaint to the Australian Securities Exchange, alleging misconduct by releasing misleading information to investors and shareholders.

John Edwards

Styx River State Forest Investigation into the removal of

threatened species records

The dodgy practices of Forests NSW never seem to cease. The latest we have uncovered is an attempt to remove threatened Rufous Scrub-bird records from the Styx River State Forest. Unbeknown to them however, the sightings that were first recorded by one of their staff in a 2007, pre-harvest survey, were also lodged with the NSW Wildlife Atlas, which remained in place even after they were deleted from the Forests NSW data base. This discrepancy was picked up by one of our members, and NEFA investigator, Joe Sparks, when assessing the Styx River harvest plan, prior to leading State Opposition Environ-ment Spokesman Luke Foley there on a fact finding tour of north coast logging operations. As it happens there were 6 records in all, extending right along the compartment boundary on Styx River Forest Way, a distance of about 2km (see map below). This

8

means that had those records remained in place, a 300m wide strip along the boundary would likely have been excluded from logging, along with any other modelled habitat within the compartment.

Styx River State Forest - Regeneration Habitat When Joe visited the site, he discovered that there had been a very unusual pre-harvest burn off, which had damaged much of the ground cover and understorey vegetation, and heavy logging was already under way in the eastern half of the compartment. When questioned about the deleted records, and the failure to protect the Scrub-bird's habitat, Forests NSW's response was that when the marking up for the logging was being undertaken, the foresters involved could not find any modelled habitat for the birds (probably because it had been burned before hand), which led to their questioning the original records. They claim a follow-up interview with the original recording ecologist found that one of the records was a visual sighting when a bird flew into a tree. This is very unusual behaviour for the species, though not altogether unprecedented, so they determined the identification was an error, and promptly deleted the records. As a result, we undertook our own investigation, and were ably assisted by Dr Greg Clancy and Russell Jago, two highly experienced and respected ecologists. Both have extensive bird experience, being members and regular participants in Gould League activities, with Greg regularly organising their annual bird camps across the

state, and both regular participants in twitch-a-thons conducted by Bird-life Australia. Unfortunately the weather on the day, intermittent showers with cold wind, was not ideal for such a survey, while logging activity was in full swing meaning the access to the public picnic area, which was closed as a result. However, we assessed the sites of all five Scrub Bird records along the Styx River Forest Way and determined that all contained, or in the case of the two easternmost sites where logging has occurred – would have contained, ideal habitat for the species. Despite extensive soil disturbance where the logging has been undertaken, and which had previously been burned, remnant fern thickets, and regenerating ferns and other ground cover species, provided sufficient evidence to suggest these areas also had contained Scrub Bird habitat. Dr Clancy had previously reported a Scrub-bird record in the Styx River State Forest at Petroi and his personal records show this was entered on the Atlas on 6th February 1992. Greg cannot recall exactly where the sighting was, but Petroi trail branches off Styx River Forest Way, less than 2 km from the compartment in question, and at the time it was the first sighting of the species there in over 50 years. As it happened, while lunching on the roadside we heard a bird call which sounded very like a Scrub-bird, but was unclear because of our talking. A second call was also indistinct, and the bird never cooperated a third time despite 'call playback'. It is fair to say that if there had been no existing controversy over the previous records, both ecologists would have accepted it as a Scrub-bird call. As it is they are only prepared to say it was 'probably' a Rufous Scrub-bird. In summary, we believe there is a good argument to support a call for a cessation of

9

logging until an independent audit/ecological assessment is undertaken, preferably in Spring, to clear up this matter one way or another. Both the relevant ministers have received strong complaints from NEFA and the North Coast Environment Council as a result of our work. Hopefully logging will be stopped, but that would be something of a precedent. Even in Grange State Forest 2 years ago when we discovered Forests NSW illegally logging rainforest, the work was not stopped, and instead they completed the job and were fined a pitiful $3,000 as a result.

John Edwards.

Threatened Species Habitat Destruction

Forests NSW's ongoing crusade to destroy hollow-bearing trees

Cut down Habitat Trees – Styx River Forest

Forests NSW's ongoing crusade to rid State forests of hollow-bearing trees has reached a new low, with the cutting down of more than a hundred old-growth trees on a crown road reserve along the Styx River Forest Way, south west of Dorrigo. Clarence Environment Centre investigators, looking into the scandalous removal, by Forests NSW, of threatened species records from their data base, visited the Styx River State Forest in mid April and discovered further evidence of that agency's seemingly fanatical desire to destroy threatened species habitat. Hollow-bearing trees provide crucial habitat for a range of threatened fauna including over a third of the more than 90 threatened land-based fauna in northern NSW.

After observing the destruction of roadside vegetation along public roads for some 10km leading to the Styx River State Forest, undertaken by Forests NSW to allow trucks to travel faster, we also observed areas where trees had been cut down seemingly to allow the roads to dry out faster following rain. However that environmental vandalism was nothing compared to what we found at the forest in question. Literally dozens of large old-growth trees cut down for no sane reason. Older trees, that have passed their use-by date in terms of timber supply, have long been a target for destruction by foresters that see them as something that is taking up space which could be growing younger timber trees. Hollow-bearing trees are protected under the Threatened Species Conservation Act where their destruction is listed as a Key Threatening Process. Unofficially however, the destruction of habitat trees by forest workers continues unabated, using excuses like, “there were more than the required 10 hollow-bearing trees per 2 hectares” or, the most popular excuse, “it was dangerous, and had to be knocked down for occupational health and safety reasons”. Many of these trees, even those that were chopped down near the road, had healthy trunks, with little sign of rot that might cause the tree fall onto the road and injure someone.

Stump of cut down roadside tree

It is an established fact the Eucalyptus species will not form substantial hollows for at least 200 years, and with solid trunks like those pictured, we estimate they would have remained standing, to provide prime nesting

10

and roosting sites for native fauna, for another hundred years. We learned that the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) was aware of the incident, and we contacted their Dorrigo office to ask what action would be taken over the destruction. As usual the response was disappointing and proved once again that, when it comes to the crunch, there is little protection for habitat trees. In this case it was explained that the land in question is along a gazetted forest road. Therefore, while being crown land and under the auspices of the NSW Department of Lands, the responsibility for day-to-day management of the road, and the road reserve, falls to Forests NSW. We are seeking legal advice as to whether the destruction of hollow-bearing trees on a crown road reserve is covered by the Native Vegetation Act, or the Threatened Species Conservation Act, and we will keep you informed of any outcomes.

Seeing the Light

It is good to learn that the majority of Americans are finally agreeing that climate change is happening. Researchers from Yale and George Mason Universities, released the findings of a survey that shows 69% of respondents believing that climate change is already occurring.

With headlines such as: “120 tornadoes touch down in Oklahoma over a 5 hour period: - 6,000 records broken in an historic run of record warmth in March, from Minnesota and Michigan to Tennessee and Georgia: - and Texas under 4 feet of hail”, all within the last month or so, this sudden enlightenment is hardly surprising. Admittedly the 4 feet of hail headline was a tad misleading, with some 80mm of rain washing the ice into 4-foot deep drifts. Nevertheless, the storm was reported as “unprecedented”, and followed an “unprece-dented” drought in that state. It's a pity that Australia's political leaders who, despite our own record-breaking floods, cyclones, droughts, heat waves, and bushfires, have not been struck by similar elucidation. In the face overwhelming evidence that atmospheric carbon dioxide caused by burning fossil fuels is the problem, they continue to support the expansion of the coal and gas industries. Metgasco moves its Coal Seam Gas

closer to Grafton

Metgasco's Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for gas exploration wells at Lawrence, Tullymorgan and the Coaldale – Copmanhurst areas deserves some comment, and we have written to the relevant agencies making our concerns clear. Metgasco has produced what can only be described as a 'generic' document to cover a series of proposed drilling operations across all its exploration licences in the Clarence Valley, without actually assessing the ecological impacts of individual sites on the ground. They blandly claim the 4 main sites, whose exact locations will be provided at a later date, are on cleared grazing land, when at least one site is clearly bushland. The lack of transparency is glaring. The document is filled with uncertainties such as “Due to the nature of the drilling activities, it may be necessary for a small compound to remain at the wellhead”. Why might this be

11

necessary? If there is the possibility that the well head will have to be fenced off, shouldn't the proponent be required to explain the reasons? There are also statements that are deliberately false and misleading, such as the claim that: “Although it is flammable, methane (the principal component of natural gas) is not poisonous...” which we challenged. We do not know how many impurities are contained in the unrefined gas that might be mined from these so far unidentified locations, and to intimate that they are extracting “natural gas” is a deliberate attempt to mislead. That lie is perpetuated throughout the document with comments like the claim that CSG is “... an alternative to less greenhouse friendly energy sources”. Metgasco is exploring for “unconventional gas” which, when burned, has now been proved to have a carbon footprint at least equal to, or greater than, coal.

One of our greatest concerns is the failure to consult with the community. The REF admits this “has been limited to consulting with landowners”. Their failure to consult with neighbours, indigenous groups and environmental NGOs, is explained by: “At this early stage of activity and considering the distance from other properties and dwellings, only the immediate properties are likely to be affected...”, and then they magnanimously concede that they intend: “Subsequent to approval being granted to undertake a drilling program, local landowners on

adjoining properties and council officers will be advised of the activities to take place.” This is sheer arrogance because the current laws allow it. Metgasco's Ecological assessment is a joke, apparently compiled with no on ground flora and fauna surveys being undertaken. They claim there is no threat to endangered populations, and communities, or to critical habitats, and no and key threatening processes will occur, but do not mention threats to threatened species themselves. They have put together a ridiculous downloaded list of threatened species for the region that includes whales, Dugongs and turtles, species that have no relevance to the proposed gas wells (although perhaps they envision the potential for massive pollution into the ocean). However, we noted that the list fails to include numerous species that do have relevance. The frequent reference to “Recognising the relatively temporary nature of the activities on-site” is the most misleading statement of all. If a resource is found, there will be an expectation that they will be allowed to extract that resource, and extraction will lead to a gas field, so the potential impacts of that gas field are enormous. Instead we have the comment that “The cumulative environmental impacts on the biodiversity of the area are considered insignificant”. It is unacceptable that these exploration licences are being granted without the proponent being required to reveal the total impacts from the subsequent extracting of those resources which, given the investment made during the exploration phase, they have every expectation of being able to mine.

John Edwards

12

Government Standing Committee releases findings on coal seam gas mining

Overall we believe the Standing Committee's report to be well considered and comprehensive, and would have been responsible had a basic premise been in place. That premise is the accepted fact that burning fossil fuels is changing global climates, and business as usual will lead to catastrophic climate change, and a planet upon which humans will struggle to survive. The Standing Committee agrees that: “While it is impossible to reach a definitive conclusion, the Committee considers that at worst the greenhouse gas emissions of energy produced from coal seam gas are likely to be equal to those from coal.” However, even though it is clear that the burning of that coal and gas will contribute to catastrophic climate change, the Committee's conclusion that: “The Committee believes that the dispute around greenhouse gas emissions should not prevent the development of the industry in New South Wales”, is disappointing in the extreme, and makes absolutely no sense whatever. We appear to hold an opposing view to the NSW Coalition Government, in that we believe that climate change is real, it is human induced, and that greenhouse gas emissions from the worldwide burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation is a major contributor.

John Edwards

A Presence at the Grafton Show, and the Sydney protest.

News that Metgasco, the largest coal seam gas company operating in the Clarence Valley at the present time, has been wining and dining members of Grafton's Chamber of Commerce, and were to have a booth at the Grafton Show, prompted the CV Alliance against CSG to set up our own display to distribute materials and information identifying the alternate point of view.

Setting up the Anti-CSG display at the Grafton Show in May 2012

I'd like to express my thanks to all the volunteers, particularly Janet, that helped organise, set up, and man the booth, selling dozens of 'Lock the Gate' signs, and handing out information material over the two days. The wave of opposition to CSG mining reached a new high with an estimated 7,000 people marching on Parliament House in Sydney on May 1. The Northern Rivers was well represented, with a number of Environment Centre members present. Well done Guys.

Part of the Northern Rivers contingent at the State Library, prior to the CSG protest

The crowd heard passionate addresses by the Farmers Federation President, Fiona Simpson, and Lock the Gate's Drew Hutton, along with the President of the Country Women’s Association, a Mayor of a Hunter Valley Shire, and a Hydrologist. I have to give the National Party leader, Andrew Stoner, a mention as the only member of the Government to have the fortitude to address the gathering. However, the moment he started talking about “achieving a balance”, he received a somewhat negative response. It is clear that,

13

so far at least, the Government has no intention of putting the brakes on the coal seam gas industry.

John Edwards

Lock The Gates

Lock the Gates, Keep them out. Stand firm if they’re about.

Keep our coal seams undisturbed. Water spoiling must be curbed. And we’ll make it crystal clear

We don’t want no fracking here.

Pass the word, Tell your mates. Be sure to lock the gates.

Big miners wanting cash Will turn our planet into ash.

Ruin land that grows our food And frack the common good

So lock your gates against the foe Save your country from this woe Show you care about our land, Join our ranks and lend a hand.

Raise your voices in a shout

“LOCK THE GATES AND KEEP THEM OUT”

Dorothy A Hillis We are always looking for suitable material to include in the Newsletter, so if you have anything that you can contribute – an article, poem, photo, cartoon or story, please feel free to send it to the Clarence Environment Centre for inclusion. There is a pigeonhole at the Environment Centre where you can leave your contribution. The Editor

14

Crystal Shower Falls – Dorrigo National Park (Photo Michael)

15

Red Cedar Falls – Dorrigo National Park (Photo Michael)

To :

16