Calls for coal seam gas mining halt

CONFIRMED coal seam gas leaks on two wells near Casino have prompted Greens MP and mining spokesperson Cate Faehrmann to call for an immediate halt to all gas projects.

Ms Faehrmann said due to the leaks there should be moratorium on the controversial issue.

“Coal seam gas wells cannot be turned off.,” she said.

“Once a well is drilled and ‘fracced’, the gas will continue to flow to the surface through cracks in the earth and water until the source is exhausted.”

She said misinformation by mining companies and inaction by the Coalition and Labor could lead to contamination of farmlands and communities.

“There is more and more information coming from contaminated sites in the US, Queensland and now NSW, to suggest that all gas wells leak to some degree,” she said.