mayor blasts kingaroy

Mayor blasts Kingaroy groundwater contamination results in coal seam gas row

THE Mayor of South Burnett has lashed out at new bore test results from Kingaroy's trial underground coal gasification plant, angrily describing "any quantity" of toxic chemicals in the area's ground water as "unacceptable".

"The levels previously were zero, so these (detected) levels are obviously from the (USG) process," Cr David Carter said yesterday.

"It doesn't matter how low the levels are, the environment and the people of South Burnett are more important than anything else and we don't want any contamination of the ground water."

His comments followed the release yesterday of test results of eight "priority" bores in and near Cougar Energy's Kingaroy plant by Department of Environment and Resource Management director-general John Bradley.

Mr Bradley said neither benzene a known carcinogen nor toluene had been detected in three bore sites in the outer radius of a 2km zone around the plant, while three others within a 1km radius indicated results "at or below the limit of detection".

However two company monitoring bores next to the plant had showed traces of benzene and toluene, although the results were below the Australian Drinking Water Guideline standards.

Mr Bradley said further testing would continue as a precaution.

"These eight locations will be sampled with additional frequency and a wider selection of bores will also be sampled this week as a precautionary measure," he said.

In an earlier statement Mr Bradley said Queensland Health had advised that, at the levels detected, no adverse health effects would be expected.

Mr Bradley said the maximum level of benzene detected at the Cougar Energy plant site was 0.7 parts per billion compared to an Australian Drinking Water Guideline standard of 1.0ppb.

"Although it is difficult to compare exposures from drinking water to those in the air, by comparison, this is less than 10 per cent of the benzene level in the air of a city street and up to 600 times less than the air at a suburban petrol station," he said.

"The maximum level of toluene detected was 4.3ppb at the Cougar plant compared to the ADW guideline standard of 800ppb."

Residents within a 2km radius of the Cougar plant were still advised not to use bore water for human consumption or stock.

Cougar Energy's Kingaroy trial operations would remain suspended, pending an environmental evaluation.

Cougar managing director Dr Len Walker said the company appreciated the prompt release of the new test results.