ENVIRONMENTAL activists in Western Australia and the Northern Territory are stepping up their campaign against fraccing following state and Territory government decisions to relax moratoria on operations.

Following yesterday's announcement that the Territory government had granted Origin Energy and venture partner Falcon Oil & Gas permission to finally drill and frac the Kyalla 117 N2 appraisal well, Lock the Gate hit out at Origin calling them a "dodgy gas company" which showed ‘total disregard" for the health and safety of Territorians.

The JV was in fact granted permission August 13 but the news onl;y made public yesterday. 

"Many of the data sheets for the chemicals Origin plans to use are data deficient, stating there is ‘no data available'," Lock the Gate spokesperson Graeme Sawyer said.

"There are also a number of threatened and endangered bird species, such as the Gouldian Finch, that could inadvertently drink from open air toxic sludge ponds - the so called mitigation measures put forward are not enough."  

"The Pepper Inquiry recommended that these pits be covered, yet the government has caved to industry lobbying and allowed Origin to leave them open anyway."

In Perth, veteran Frack Free campaigner Jane Hammond hit the streets of the CBD with a small group of activists to gather signatures on a petition that called on the WA McGowan government to reinstate a complete moratorium on fraccing.

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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