Environment Minister Moss: Reject Origin’s 12 well fracking application

Origin Energy have submitted an application to the Northern Territory Government to drill and frack 12 new gas wells east of Daly Waters.*

The project is massive in scale and if permitted would release a whopping 535,651 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over a 3 year period and pose unacceptable risk to water security.

Despite holding only an exploration licence (which does not allow sale of gas), Origin is proposing to pipe and sell the gas they find to Macarthur River mine for 2 years.

Origin know that selling gas under an exploration licence is not permitted under NT ...

Origin Energy have submitted an application to the Northern Territory Government to drill and frack 12 new gas wells east of Daly Waters.*

The project is massive in scale and if permitted would release a whopping 535,651 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over a 3 year period and pose unacceptable risk to water security.

Despite holding only an exploration licence (which does not allow sale of gas), Origin is proposing to pipe and sell the gas they find to Macarthur River mine for 2 years.

Origin know that selling gas under an exploration licence is not permitted under NT law but they are trying it on to see how far the government will bend the rules for them.

This is production by stealth and it must be stopped.

If this application is approved it will permit an unprecedented level of fracking activity in the NT. We need to show the NT government that we are watching their every move and that’s where you come in.

Have your say by editing and sending the template submission we have made here before August 15th. If you put it in your own words it will have a lot more impact.

* The full document of Origin’s application is available here - and submissions can also be emailed to origin.ep98&[email protected]

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Send a message to the Environment Minister below and have your say before August 15th.

If you put it in your own words it will have a lot more impact.

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Hon Minister Lauren Moss
GPO Box 3146
Darwin NT 0801
 
Dear Hon Minister Lauren Moss,

I am writing to express my concern regarding the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the Origin Energy Amungee NW Delineation program.

Please reject this EMP and refer it to the Environment Protection Authority for a full Environmental Impact Assessment to ensure the risks are adequately evaluated.

I am particularly concerned by the following:

Production by stealth
Origin is proposing to keep the 12 wells in this EMP open for 730 days and sell gas (under an exploration licence) to Macarthur River Mine.

This amounts to production by stealth and contravenes the government’s commitment to complete scientific baseline assessment of the region (SREBA), water allocation plans, and other crucial Pepper Inquiry recommendations prior to the production phase of fracked gas.

Bending the rules to allow Origin to sell gas without a production licence would set a terrible precedent and undermine the integrity of our regulatory system.

Climate impacts

535,651 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions would be released under the proposed exploration licence putting Origin well and truly over the large emitters threshold.  Origin plan to keep these wells open more than 5 times the usual period for appraisal, thus increasing the emissions substantially.

Biodiversity
Origin’s proposal does not adequately consider the risk to threatened species. The proposal includes clearing 60km of seismic lines and an additional 111 hectares in an area where 15 threatened species are potentially present, including the Gouldian Finch, Grey Falcon, Painted Honeyeater and Yellow-spotted Monitor.

Request to Minister
Given the scale of potential direct and cumulative impacts on water, biodiversity (including threatened species) and the climate, I call on you as Minister for the Environment to ensure this project is referred to the EPA for a full Environmental Impact Assessment by the EPA, and to refuse Origin’s application for an Environmental Management Plan.

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