Metgasco is rejecting claims by an anti coal seam gas group that it’s been illegally operating two wastewater ponds near Casino.
The company has conceded its development consent technically expired late last year, but says it HAS been operating within the boundaries of the law.
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Expired authorisation = NO AUTHORISATION / NON COMPLIANCE with local Government authority. Get out of Northern Rivers Metgasco -> we are not for sale. We want renewable energy. We want retention of our picturesque region. We want food and water security. We want our children to inherit the beauty that is the Northern Rivers. We have Country here that is not yours for the taking. .. We do NOT want pipelines, contaminated acquifers, de valued farm lands, leaking gas wells, fracking related damage, heavy machinery compessor stations, compromised health of our beautiful children, questionable fertility rates of our animals, fly in fly out workers who care not about our lands, rental hikes, alcohol related incident spikes and pollution. WHY DOESNT METGASCO INVEST in wind, hydro, solar and Tesla derived energy devices …
Metgasco operates as do all the other big mining companies. They are a law unto themselves. They are so rich, it gives them power to do as they please, devastating and contaminating farms, forests, and especially water resources their sloppy and illegal practices spilling their chemicals continually. They are arrogant and flagrantly flaunt the law doing as they please and simply buying off politicians and anyone who tries to make them do the right thing. God help the future health of Australians and the rest of human race as is the same elsewhere in the world.
I understand Richmond Council gave consent for one Metgasco TEMPORARY holding pond on 21.9.2007, for a 3 year term. Simple maths here…so in Sep 2010, that approval for ONE holding pond measuring15 x 15 meters (council minutes) expired, and was never renewed. A further consent for a second holding pond had also been sought by Metgasco and was rejected by council. Metgasco ignored council directives and legislation and made themselves the 2nd pond site. Metgasco continues to use the 2 illegal temporary holding ponds. Reports indicate on February 1st 2011, Richmond Council gave Metgasco 7 days to respond to concerns they were using the site illegally. I would be interested to know the actual size of these illegal holding ponds.
Was there a site management plan? Who has been monitoring the site and how often? Who made the holding pond bigger and proceeded to develop a second one without consent? There’s no denying Metgasco are responsible for this and should be held accountable.
This level of noncompliance should incur penalties and jeopardise any further development applications. It displays a lack of concern for safe management, storage and disposal of their highly toxic byproducts.
Once again, coal seam gas mining and it’s associated practices demonstrate their lack of commitment to operate safely and compatibly in rural and coastal communities.
Watchdogs should be barking! Where are they?