08/08/2024
MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed until 8am (ACST) Friday the 9th of August
The Northern Territory’s peak conservation body has filed proceedings in the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) challenging Minister Worden’s decision in May 2024 to approve Tamboran Resources’ Shenandoah South E&A Programme, the largest fracking proposal ever approved in the Northern Territory.
This is the first challenge to a fracking environment management plan under new third party merits review provisions enacted under the Petroleum Act following the recommendations of the Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing.
ECNT is seeking orders that the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) set aside the approval for the environment management plan, which activities include the drilling of up to 15 new wells at four exploration locations in the Beetaloo Basin. The grounds for review include that the approval has not adequately assessed contamination risks to surface water and aquifers, including because key recommendations of the Pepper Inquiry have not been met.
ECNT is represented by environmental lawyer, Elaine Johnson of Johnson Legal in these proceedings.
Quotes attributable to ECNT Executive Director Dr Kirsty Howey:
“Territorians won’t stand for risks of damage to our precious water. We’ll do everything we can to protect our ancient underground aquifers, and the incredible springs and rivers that they feed.”
“This is the largest fracking proposal ever approved in the Territory, and it’s crucial it gets the scrutiny it deserves.”
“We will argue that the approval should be set aside due to unacceptable risks and impacts on surface water and groundwater, including Cambrian Limestone Aquifer, which sustains flows to iconic waterways like Bitter Springs and the Roper River.”
Ends.
About us:
Background
● Tamboran Resources lodged the Shenandoah South application for the drilling of 15 new wells in December 2023.
● On the 23rd of April the NT government signed a gas supply agreement with Tamboran Resource for 40 terajoules of gas per day for nine years with the option to extend for a further six years. The Shenandoah South project is intended to service this agreement however the deal was signed before environmental approvals had been given.
● The Environment Minister Hon. Kate Worden approved the project on the 23rd of May.
● There has been strong community opposition in the NT to fracking for over 10 years and a key concern for Territorians has been in relation to impacts on water resources.
● Contamination of groundwater from stimulation fluid, flowback water or chemicals is a significant, well-known risk of fracking, and was a key concern outlined in the Pepper Inquiry Final Report
● ECNT’s submission on the EMP in January 2024 raised serious concerns about contamination to groundwater, and pointed to dangerous lack of adequate baseline data by which to understand the risks.
● There are strong public calls to have the Shenandoah South project referred to Minister Plibersek under the expanded water trigger.
Contact details:
Elliot Hughes (0413740016)
Amy Russell (0422944688)
