kccg continuing pressure

The KCCG continues to keep UCG in the news.

This story is taken from today's edition of the South Burnett Times (06.08.10.

First there is a photo of the protest in Brisbane on Wednesday. Below the photo is the following wording:-

"IN PROTEST: Hundreds of people, including Kingaroy residents, protested against underground coal gasification and coal seam gas mining at Parliament House in Brisbane on Wednesday. Two men were arrested for climbing onto the roof to hang this sign. PHOTO BY: Shana Miller".

(The sign reads)

Don't undermine our farms

www.sixdegrees.org.au

Now the story.


Quote

Gary Tessmann remains unconvinced Cougar Energy's underground coal gasification (UCG) plant is safe despite government test results coming back "safe".

The Coolabunia farmer and Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Action Group chair said it took a three day burn to contaminate groundwater supplies around the site which was closed last month. He is worried the contamination could become much worse if it were to be re-opened.

The Department of Environment and Research Management (DERM) released the latest groundwater test results this week with seven of the 10 sample sites within a 2km radius of the plant recording no detectable levels of benzene or toluene.

However low levels of benzene and toluene were found in two bores on the Cougar site with toluene also being detected in a bore outside the plant.

"The government is now saying the water isn't contaminated but it's still a problem," Mr Tessman said.

"If they didn't burn the coal in the first place there wouldn't have been contamination.

"We certainly hope they don't re-open."

DERM director-general John Bradley said the levels were consistently in the "safe range" and within Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

But Kingaroy mother of two Shana Miller said that wasn't good enough. On Wednesday she and hundreds of other concerned residents protested against UCG and coal seam gas mining across Queensland.

They called for Premier Anna Bligh to come outside and listen to their concerns but she failed to appear.

"I went down because now the government is playing down contamination and saying it's safe," Ms Miller said.

"We'll all be affected if it starts up again."

ENDS



Now guys to type up your letters to the Editor in defence of Cougar's operation.


"............................."

Yep that's right, there are none!!!

Why do we continue to let the KCCG keep centre stage whilst we sit on the sidelines? It's rather disallusioning to me.