WA MPs unite to ban fracking in the South West

Collie Preston MP Mick Murray and South West MLC Sally Talbot launched a campaign to help protect the region’s agricultural land, tourism and water resources from hydraulic fracturing.

Mr Murray said people in the South West had convinced them they do not want a gas industry in the region and believed 75 per cent of the population were against it.

He also did not believe a fracking industry would bring as many jobs to the South West as the tourism, agriculture and beef industries.

“Those sort of jobs certainly will not be in the fracking industry, once they drill the hole and they pipe up, there is hardly anyone there,” he said.

Mr Murray was also concerned previous attempts to extract gas at Whicher Range near Busselton had failed and begged him to ask the question, why try again.

“They know the gas is in there but even their last time round they tried fracking and buggered it up,” he said.

“They are now saying there is new technology but fracking is fracking, there might be better chemicals and those sort of things but it still shatters the earth.” 

Ms Talbot said she believed it was time to take action for the South West so it could create certainty for industry and businesses.

She said the area was rich in water and everything was in place for expanding food production and agriculture.

“Those two things are not compatible with the fracking industry,” she said. 

“It is about what industry you have and it is quite clear throughout the South West that the two industries Labor should be supporting are tourism and food production.”

Bunbury Energy is the preferred tenderer to start gas exploration in the South West and have a lease application which is undergoing native title negotiations.

Bunbury Energy chief executive officer Wal Muir said he would not support a ban on fracking in the area even though his company did not have a proposal to perform hydraulic fracture stimulation in the South West.

Mr Muir said there were some objections to their plans while they were undergoing native title talks but expected an agreement to be signed within the next two months.

He said it would not be an easy process to extract gas in the region and while the chances were low they should begin low impact seismic surveying on road verges in the summer of 2017/18 after environmental plans were approved.

“What we are trying to do is find a local supply of gas for the domestic market because there are a lot of big users in Bunbury,” he said.

“The gas used at the moment comes from Dampier if there are any major problems like a cyclone which affects the integrity of the gas line people are cut off and out of work, similar to what happened in 2008.”

The Department of Mines and Petroleum executive director of petroleum Jeff Haworth said petroleum exploration in the South West had been ongoing for more than 50 years.

Mr Haworth said hydraulic fracture stimulation operations (fracking) in the region since 1980 had failed to increase gas flows from deep hydrocarbon reservoirs.

He said a detailed CSIRO, UWA and Curtin University study, published in 2012, found that hydraulic fracture stimulation was not recommended in the South West due to incompatible geology. 

“DMP appreciates the level of concern some community members have in regard to the use of hydraulic fracture stimulation, which is why the department has developed an extensive range of fact sheets and the comprehensive WA Regulatory Framework for Shale and Tight Gas,” he said. 

Lock the Gate Alliance and Gasfield Free South West congratulated the two MPs who showed support for a ban on fracking in the South West.

The calls follow last month’s National Highway Action organized by Lock the Gate that saw residents in the turn out in big numbers to call for an end to gas exploration in the region.

Gasfield Free South West spokesperson Carly Stone said the fracking ban was a good start but residents wanted a complete no go zone for industrial gasfields to ensure that the agriculture and tourism industries were not damaged and the health of communities protected.

Ms Stone said it was a sign of the strength of community concern that some MPs had started to listen and urged Nationals and Liberal representatives to do likewise.

Lock the Gate WA Coordinator Boudicca Cerese said the move should stand as a warning to all political parties in the run up to the state election that fracking and unconventional gas exploration had become a major issue across the state.

Ms Cerese said marginal seats such as Collie-Preston would be hotly contested in March and the various party’s positions on fracking and gas activities looked likely to play a significant role in election outcomes.

“In the South West and Mid-West there is mounting pressure on Terry Redman and the Nationals from farmers and landholders who are demanding proper protections for important water resources and the right to veto gas operations on their land,” she said.

“WA’s regional communities are demanding action from all political parties to protect our important rural industries and vital water resources and will be looking for solid commitments in the lead up to election.”

WAFarmers spokesperson said they represented the voice of farmers throughout WA and said their members had not indicated strong opinion in favour or opposition to fracking in the South West,

“We do not currently have a position on calls to ban fracking in that region,” they said.

For more than two years of, WAFarmers, alongside oil and gas and other farming industries, endorsed a new framework for coexistence in WA late last year.

WAFarmers believed the agreement demonstrated a desire for oil and gas operators to establish positive relationships between their companies, regional communities, farmers and other agricultural industries.

“While WAFarmers was disappointed that the agreement was not accepted during the state government’s review, we welcome the recommendation that WAFarmers should be involved in a consultative committee on fracking and gas legislation,” they said.

“This involvement would enable WAFarmers to directly communicate any issues our members may have on fracking, including the position of those who may not want to negotiate land access with mining companies.

“WAFarmers will continue to advocate for the rights of farmers and land-owners on this issue, especially if there are concerns around any potential risks to agriculture.”

Liberal candidate for Bunbury Ian Morrison said he was deeply concerned about fracking because of the danger to the water supply and believed there was a long term danger to subsidence.

“But has far as I am aware the application on the lease concerning the Bunbury gas exploration area has no plans for fracking,” he said.

​WA Labor Leader Mark McGowan said Mr Murray had expressed serious concerns about the potential impacts from fracking in the South West, particularly the impact on the Yarragadee aquifer, as well as agricultural and urban land.

“Mr Murray has always been a strong voice for the South West and it is only right that he seeks the community’s views on this important issue,” he said.

“I am looking forward to hearing from Mr Murray about the feedback he receives from the community during this campaign.”