anna blight may fine cxy as investigation

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Updated 1 hour 12 minutes ago


The Government says the Cougar Energy took too long to report the test results at its Kingaroy plant. (Damien O'Sullivan)

Video: Underground gas feared to contaminate water (7pm TV News NSW) Map: Kingaroy 4610

Cougar Energy's pilot gasification project near Kingaroy was ordered to shut down after carcinogenic chemicals were found in water supplies.

Testing by the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) found bores at the Cougar Energy site had traces of the chemicals benzene and toluene, but no trace on nearby properties.

But Cougar Energy said last week the results of bore water tests on its site were incorrect, but a DERM spokesman said that was being investigated.

DERM director-general John Bradley said on Friday the company had taken too long to report the test results.

Residents were not told until last Thursday night and Mr Bradley said an officer from DERM was stood aside on Friday for not acting sooner.


'Small area'

Mr Robertson says tests over the weekend show the contamination is confined to a small area.

"The levels of benzene and toluene are localised to those bores on Cougar Energy's project," he said.

"That is good news for the surrounding landholders around Kingaroy.

"Testing will continue to ensure that this remains localised importantly the exceedences on Cougar's site are way below Australian drinking water guidelines.

"Whilst we are pleased with the results achieved over the weekend, the testing doesn't stop there.

"As we go through a longer term testing that will inform us as to what is required in the weeks, months and possibly years, ahead."

South Burnett Mayor David Carter says Mr Robertson needs to meet with residents.

"Something that should have happened right from the word go," he said.

"The community should have been informed and there should have been a process where the community could have had input into the approval of the project.

"Just being part of that information would probably alleviate a lot of peoples fears, so I think this can be the start of a process where people are fully informed."

Councillor Carter says it is important the Minister personally hears the community's concerns.

"There's a lot of angst out in the community," he said.

"I'd want to see it as getting an information flow between the community and the Government and particularly the department and making sure that they understand what the community's concerns are and then actually act on them."


'Stiff fines'

Premier Anna Bligh has threatened to fine the mining company and says an investigation is underway.

"This company in my view has failed to act appropriately and we are looking at every possible course of action against them," she said.

"The people of Kingaroy can certainly be certain that this company will be required to meet the highest standards and if there's any action that we can take against them - and there are very stiff fines available - we will be taking that action."

But the Queensland Opposition has condemned the Government's handling of coal-related contamination concerns in the South Burnett.

Deputy Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg says Mr Robertson and his department must be held accountable.

"There's no doubt that there needs to be some looking at the testing procedures," he said.

"It should never have taken so long for the company to actually report those results and it should never have taken so long for the department to actually respond to what were concerning results, so there certainly needs to be some review of that."

- Reporting by Fidelis Rego, Sam Burgess and Francis Tapim

Tags: business-economics-and-finance, industry, mining, oil-and-gas, environment, mining, pollution, government-and-politics, public-sector, rural, mining, environmental-impact, qld, bundaberg-4670, kingaroy-4610, toowoomba-4350