farmers banned form selling cattle in kingaroy

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201007/s2960396.htm


Uunderground coal gas causes further angst

Wednesday, 21/07/2010

Farmers say they're unsure if it's okay to sell their produce for human consumption, following a water contamination scare in the South Burnett.

A trial coal project in Kingaroy has been put on hold after traces of dangerous chemicals were found in bore water supplies.

Cougar Energy's underground coal gasification plant remains shut down, but locals aren't sure what impacts there are on primary production like dairy, pork and beef businesses.

Department of Environment and Resource Management tests last week confirmed levels of benzene and toluene in water near the UCG plant.

Subsequent tests have shown the levels are lower than first thought and are below Australian drinking guideline standards.

But people with beef cattle, dairy cows, horses and pigs still have concerns, especially if their produce goes into the food chain.

One farmer has confirmed to the ABC that a Queensland biosecurity officer has collected tests from his cattle. He's within a two-kilometre radius of Cougar's pilot plant.

The farmer, who wishes to remain anonymous, says blood and fat samples were taken and he hasn't been given the results.

Another farmer told a public meeting last night in Kingaroy that he has been told not to sell his animals until further results are back.

Wendy Buttsworth lives near the site and hasn't been given any official information.

She says her animals are right next door to the Cougar plant.

Mrs Buttsworth says she hasn't been approached for official advice on stock sales, nor has anyone talked to her about testing her cattle and horses.

The head of Biosecurity Queensland, Dr Ron Glanville, says there's no clear advice yet for livestock producers with cattle or horses who have consumed water within the two-kilometre radius of the Cougar Energy pilot plant.

He says this a type of chemical contamination that they have never dealt with before, and his department is still collating all available information to allow them to give solid advice.

"All we're asking livestock producers to do at this stage is to hold off selling livestock if they can, until we can get a better handle on the situation and give them better advice," Dr Glanville says.

"Certainly one producer did need to send their cattle off, and they've gone to a feedlot instead of directly to an abattoir."

"We know that this chemical is excreted pretty quickly, so provided there's some period off contaminated water, there shouldn't be a problem.

"We haven't got any test results yet on the animals that have been drinking the contaminated water, because we haven't had to deal with this sort of chemical issue before, and there's no developed test for animals at this stage, but we're working on that at this stage as well."