AGL will relinquish its Petroleum Exploration Licence for the Gloucester region (PEL 285) to the NSW Government.

MEDIA RELEASE
AGL WEBSITE

Thursday, 4 February 2016

AGL Energy Limited (AGL) today announced that following a review, it has taken a strategic decision that exploration and production of natural gas assets will no longer be a core business for the company due to the volatility of commodity prices and long development lead times.

There is no change to AGL’s commercial or retail gas activities. AGL is confident that it has sufficient gas for its residential and small business customers following the recent contract with the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture and the planned expansion of the Eastern Gas Pipeline. Incremental future gas requirements are likely to be sourced from the southern markets.

AGL expects to recognise an impairment charge of $640 million after tax ($795 million pre-tax) against the carrying value of its gas exploration and production assets including an increase in rehabilitation provisions. This charge will be recognised as a significant item in the financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2015. The impairment has minimal impact on FY16 Underlying profit.

The FY16 cash impact of this strategic decision, excluding potential sale of assets, is expected to be less than $10 million and relates to rehabilitation, redundancy and other associated costs.
The two major drivers of the impairment charge have been the fall in global oil prices with consequent effect on long-term Queensland gas prices and Waukivory Pilot well data indicating lower than expected production volumes for the Gloucester Gas Project.

Managing Director and CEO, Andy Vesey, said AGL would focus on its core competencies, transforming the business to capitalise on the evolution occurring in the energy sector and to meet its customers’ rapidly changing needs and expectations.
Queensland

Primarily due to the fall in long-term Queensland price forecasts, AGL has impaired its Queensland natural gas assets at Moranbah, Silver Springs and Spring Gully. Apart from gas storage and related plant at Silver Springs, AGL expects to sell these assets. Due to difficult market conditions this may take some time. It is likely that the sale of Moranbah will require a cash payment in relation to onerous contract provisions previously booked.
New South Wales

In New South Wales, AGL will not proceed with the Gloucester Gas Project and will cease production at the Camden Gas Project in South West Sydney in 2023, twelve years earlier than previously proposed. Resulting impairments for both projects have included additional provisions ensuring rehabilitation costs have been appropriately provided for.

AGL has completed the business case for the Gloucester Gas Project which incorporated disappointing gas flow data from the Waukivory Pilot wells and economic modelling of the gas resource. Unfortunately, the economic returns to support the investment of approximately $1 billion were not adequate. Consequently, in the interest of our shareholders and customers, this is the most responsible course of action.

AGL will relinquish its Petroleum Exploration Licence for the Gloucester region (PEL 285) to the NSW Government and will now commence a comprehensive decommissioning and rehabilitation program for its well sites and other infrastructure in the Gloucester region.

“Exiting our gas assets in New South Wales has been a difficult decision for the company. AGL has invested significantly in these projects and communities over the past seven years for the Gloucester Gas Project, and ten years in the case of the Camden Gas Project.

“We are proud of the dedication and professionalism of our employees and contractors in their efforts to get to this point and our work to bring benefits to the communities in which we operate. We remain committed to leaving a positive legacy in these regions,” said Mr Vesey.

AGL will establish a $2 million Independent Trust Fund and will work with the Gloucester community to identify investment options to deliver ongoing economic benefit to the region and its communities.

Without the Gloucester Gas Project, there are limited opportunities for scale and efficiency across projects, so at Camden, AGL will extract gas from its existing wells enabling closure in 2023. The Camden site and wells will be progressively decommissioned and the sites rehabilitated.
Impairment summary

The carrying value assessment of the Group’s assets will be finalised in conjunction with the interim financial results to be released on 10 February 2016, and is subject to final audit review.
The expected impairment by project and remaining book values are shown in the tables below.
160204_ASXTable2

Conference call

AGL will host a conference call later this morning. Dial-in details for this call are shown below. Questions will be taken at the conclusion of the call.
Time: 9.30am (AEDT)
Dial-in details: Toll Free (Australia): 1800 558 698 (quote “AGL”) International: +61 2 9007 3187 (quote “AGL”)

About AGL

AGL is one of Australia’s leading integrated energy companies. It is taking action to responsibly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while providing secure and affordable energy to its customers. Drawing on over 175 years of experience, AGL serves its customers throughout eastern Australia with meeting their energy requirements, including gas, electricity, solar PV and related products and services. AGL has a diverse power generation portfolio including base, peaking and intermediate generation plants, spread across traditional thermal generation as well as renewable sources including hydro, wind, solar, landfill gas and biomass.
Further Enquiries

Nicole Rizgalla
Investor Relations Manager
Direct +61 2 9921 2691
Mobile +61 (0) 400 488 836
Email nrizgalla@agl.com.au

Kathryn Lamond
Media Manager
Direct +61 2 9921 2170
Mobile +61 (0) 424 465 464
Email klamond@agl.com.au

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

AGL causes a tear in the Fabric of Gloucester NSW.

The following is an open letter to Andrew Vesey, chief executive of AGL.

Dear Mr Vesey,
Re: Gloucester Gas Project

My name is Brad Bowden, I am a 41-year-old resident of the small community of Gloucester.

Firstly I would like to congratulate you on your first few months at the helm of AGL.
You are correct that the energy market is rapidly changing and faces significant challenges.

I am particularly excited by the battery technologies and solar farms you are investing in.
Having moved to Gloucester and experienced the warm welcome this small country town offered myself and my partner, it has been simply devastating to see the town being ripped apart by AGL’s coal seam gas project over the past few years.

It has split this town in so many ways, friend against friend, neighbour against neighbour.

But what is worse to see is that so many family or friends feel intimidated, bullied and unable to express their true feelings towards this risky project.

Your gas project has unleashed an ugly side to Gloucester, where the bullies rely on personal attacks rather than calmly discussing the concerns.

I am totally against coal seam gas development in all of Australia, especially NSW and of course Gloucester.

I believe coal seam gas is too risky to water, that it will worsen climate change from methane emissions, and that there is still no acceptable way to deal with the enormous amount of toxic waste that coal seam gas extraction produces. Tipping millions of tonnes of salt into landfill simply leaves the problem to be cleaned up by future generations. I feel you are risking AGL’s reputation in Australia if you continue to pursue coal seam gas.

All the recent positive publicity about AGL’s solar farm at Nyngan must surely indicate to you a better way forward for AGL.

It is my hope that you and the AGL board decide that coal seam gas is not a good investment for the health of your brand, nor for the health of future generations.

Until that time I will continue to march against coal seam gas, to protest at the AGL gates at Gloucester, to write letters and to promote cleaner and more ethical companies to my friends and family. Like many others already, I have minimised my exposure to your company by changing super funds, changing energy providers and asking my friends and family to do the same.

Sincerely,
Brad Bowden

Brad Bowden is a Gloucester resident.
Andrew Vesey, chief executive of AGL.

This story appeared in the OPINION

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

AGL Leaking Gas Wells.

AGL - Australian Gas Light - Head Office Miller Street North Sydney,  a half decent company going down the tubes because of Coal Seam Gas.  I am sure the share holders are not made aware of the risks of their investment portfolios run to the environment.   Gloucester and Camden are shining examples of the lies the Upstream Gas division of AGL are willing to propagate.

"AGL's Camden coal seam gas claims spark transparency fears"

The amount of coal seam gas thought to have gushed from a well near homes at Camden last year was up to 10 times more than the figure energy company AGL later made public, government documents show, prompting claims the public was kept in the dark.
Read Full Story Here

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

Stop Fracking in Gloucester Petition & Facts.

GetUp 

Gloucester Knitting Nanas

Hi Mary .....   (if they send it to me - I send it to the world)

We've got exciting news -- and a big opportunity.

After a spate of environmental breaches and cover-ups, GetUp members and local groups asked AGL's new CEO Andrew Vesey to shut down the dangerous Gloucester coal seam gas project.

Just days later, Mr Vesey has announced a 'comprehensive review' of the company's gas operations, including CSG. The General Manager who oversaw their gas extraction sector immediately retired.¹

This is a significant win and a testament to everyone working to protect our land and water, but it's far from a knockout blow. But it does mean right now AGL is deciding whether to continue fracking for CSG in NSW.

Can you add your name and ask AGL to walk away from their dangerous CSG projects?

AGL's CSG projects have been plagued by a string of breaches and disasters, proving beyond doubt that they cannot be trusted. Just to recap what AGL have been up to in the last few months;

1: AGL's CSG drilling in Gloucester has been suspended by the NSW Government after finding hazardous BTEX chemicals in the water of two of its wells²
2: AGL has been drilling for CSG under people's homes in Sydney, and residents had no idea³
3: AGL's said its gas wells 200m away from homes were fine. An EPA report showed one-in-ten were leaking.⁴
4: Hunter Water refused AGL permission to dump wastewater in the sewer system, but AGL did it anyway⁵
5: There have been huge fluctuation levels in the groundwater table near AGL's CSG wells⁶

With a track record like that it's no wonder people don't trust AGL, and now's our chance to make it count.

Just today, leading analyst Citi said, "It's not worth risking AGL's brand for a Gloucester development." They noted the strength of public opposition, and warned AGL that if the negative connotations surrounding the Gloucester project become too mainstream it could end up jeopardising their entire brand and earnings.⁷

The pressure is already building, thanks to you and to our friends at organisations like Groundswell Gloucester, Land Water Future and Lock the Gate. Their tireless campaigning against AGL's dangerous project means that community opposition to CSG is already mainstream.

Can you sign the petition to stop CSG in Gloucester?

Over 20,000 GetUp members have already signed the petition to Mr Vesey. Of those people there were 6004 AGL customers, 515 AGL shareholders, and 105 AGL employees.









Click here to sign the petition against AGL's dangerous CSG projects: http://www.getup.org.au/agl-suspended.

The news is great, but we've got so far to go. Thanks to you, we know this massive corporation is taking our message very seriously.

Let's use this window of opportunity to protect our land and our water for good.

Thanks for everything that you do,
Sam R and Adam, for the GetUp Team

PS - If you're an AGL customer and you're unhappy about the company's contaminations, breaches and cover-ups, you can switch your power away from AGL to renewable energy in less then ten minutes! Join almost 6,000 Australians who've moved away from the dirty power companies to a green energy future. If you're in Victoria, you can do it right now. If you're elsewhere, you can pledge to switch now and we'll contact you when we're ready to go.

No CSG Welcome.

http://getup.to/X4PYGUO24IrowiVPZ

References:
[1] AGL to review coal seam gas business in wake of Gloucester toxic chemical leak controversy, ABC News Online, February 19 2015
[2] AGL faces delays, additional conditions after BTEX chemicals detected, SMH. January 28, 2015
[3] Proof of CSG drilling under family homes in Sydney Yahoo News, January 22, 2015
[4] Leaks found at almost one in 10 AGL CSG wells at Camden, SMH, October 14, 2014
[5] EPA investigation into discharge of treated flow back water into Hunter Water sewer network, Hunter Water, January 22, 2015
[6] Shifting ground water levels add to AGL's CSG doubts, SMH, January 27, 2015
[7] Upstream gas restructure, a material prize worth chasing, Citiresearch, February 18 2015

"GLOUCESTER GAS PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN"

GLOUCESTER GAS PROJECT STAGE 1 CENTRAL PROCESSING FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION

AGL are at it again with trying to sneak things over the line before the jury is back in with a verdict.  This hurried behavior by AGL shows that the consultation process is a farcical  as it should not be allowed to occur before

email : gloucester@agl.com.au

Access the CEMPs here :  agl.com.au/gloucester

DRAFT PLAN access here :

GLOUCESTER GAS PROJECT STAGE 1 CENTRAL PROCESSING FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIO

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

HALLIBURTON BTEX in flowback water at Gloucester NSW.

Photo from Flickr

AGL (Australian Gas Light)  advised the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) that ground and surface water monitoring data from the Gloucester Gas Project logged during November shows detected traces of a chemical used in the fracking process. 

This is a BTEX Chemical cocktail.  Halliburton patent this chemical cocktail of environmental death and destruction.  Halliburton did the Frack at Gloucester NSW.  The workers were ferried in  buses under police guard.

Read Sledge's take on Halliburton and co... HERE

Halliburton along with BP  also caused one of the biggest Gas disaster in the planets living history to date and were involved in the Marcellus Shale Gas rush in Pennsylvania.  They changed the towns they went into from quiet idyllic places to absolute bedlam.  People  were reported to have said if the trucks were painted green you would think you were being invaded.

Death threats were rife against people who refused access.  In one town a the Ecologist reports:

In 2010 alone, it was reported that more than a dozen children around the small town of Towanda had been put into foster care, their families turfed out of low-rent accommodation by unscrupulous landlords to make way for gas-industry employees who are able to offer higher rents. 'The feel of the place has just changed,' remarked Tom and Amy, a couple from Towanda, lifelong local residents who have recently put their house on the market and are looking to move away. 'Greed is ugly and greed is rampant in Bradford county today.'
Things changed dramatically for the fracking industry when the so called loophole was born in politics in the USA.

Halliburton loophole
http://www.theecologist.org/trial_investigations/687515/us_natural_gas_drilling_boom_linked_to_pollution_and_social_strife.html

Fracking involves the use of huge volumes of water and a potent cocktail of chemical ingredients that are pumped underground to assist with the process.

What isn't known, however, is exactly which chemical combinations are actually being used, a confidentiality that is enshrined in national law.

Referred to affectionately as the ‘Halliburton loophole’, in 2005 the Bush administration effectively exempted the gas industry from a number of federal acts that would have enabled critics to clamp down, regulate and scrutinise the gas industry; and specifically, understand the precise nature of the chemicals being used in fracking processes.

It is a situation that exasperates healthcare professionals and local citizens alike.

‘Am I comfortable with an industry that won't disclose and tell me, as an American citizen, what they're putting underneath my feet?’ asks John Lykens, an engineer from Bradford county. ‘Absolutely not. They're exempt from the Superfund Act, the Safe Drinking Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act... environmental acts that were put down to protect everyday citizens.’

Fracking fluid shows up in water monitoring | Gloucester Advocate

I am beginning to feel that because Halliburton are so entrenched in the Fracking process at Gloucester and Mark Vaille was responsible for Queensland company getting the Halliburton war contracts that there is some sort of shady connection with this deal as well.

AGL - Aussie Gas Lairs  - we don't care.  That should be their Motto (pictured AGL Frack Gate)

Considering Mark Vaille was the deputy Prime Minister at the same time and participated in all of the other Halliburton War contracts which were handed out to Australian contractors eager to profit from the war in Iraq.   Halliburton opened their futuristic offices in Canberra.   This grand entrance and "Opening" in Canberra leaves me thinking there is more to look at regarding Mark Vaille.  

He should be looked at concerning all things Halliburton.  Considering that AGL's Frack farm is in his former electorate seemingly is too close to be a mistake.  But hey these are just all suspicions to be looked at.  I would look at them more closely if I was on a panel for example.

Given that the Nationals bloke Dr David Gillespie (Gastroenterologist, Port Macquarie) is now sitting in the seat of Lynne (Mark Vaille's former seat) and this is traditionally the seat of the Deputy Prime Minister, it did make me think that he had that one in the bag if he could keep us all quiet perhaps.   So far this has not reared its ugly head to happen.

Both Dr Gillespie and his wife are shareholders of AGL Energy, according to his "Register of Public Interests".   How wonderful for them to have wasted their money because AGL will not profit from being involved with Halliburton either.  It does not seem to be the way they work.

Just before the election this is what he was quoted saying:

"I am very concerned about coal seam gas development and its potential effect on water but the federal government doesn't have the power to ban coal seam gas development.

What it can do is provide environmental protections such as the 'Water Trigger' amendment to the Environmental Biodiversity and Conservation Act, which The Nationals supported.

Our policy is quite clear on coal seam gas.

I do not support coal seam gas development where it poses a significant risk to the water, prime agricultural land or the wider environment.

I do not support coal seam gas development close to existing residential areas and I believe that landholders and communities should get a fair return from coal seam gas development on their land and in their towns.

Dr David Gillespie

I am absolutely committed to seeing that our environment is preserved for the benefit of our future generations.

GILLESPIE Parliamentary speeches.  In his maiden speech to parliament he ignores the important issues and does not mention Gloucester's GAS INVASION,

"And our other regional transport links that we have committed to, like the Bucketts Way that will link the Manning Valley and Gloucester primary and secondary industries".
....A secondary mention is not a MENTION. 
This alerts me his is well aware of what is going on with the Gloucester Gas Project.  His idea must be to ignore it and hope it goes away because he is probably a good guy in over his head here with Halliburton in charge of things.  They US cannot fight a war without them, and AGL could not frack without them.

Dr David Gillespie on twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveGillespieMP

The  predecessor, independent Rob Oakeshott fought hard for the issue and he was voted in after the rampant Vaille built his outrageous mansion in the Taree area.  It is the most in your face house.  It is not what I call an ordinary person's house.

CONTACT DETAILS
Parliament Office
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 4960
Fax:(02) 6277 2856.

Electorate Office
75-77 Clarence Street
Port Macquarie, NSW, 2444

Postal address
PO Box 1112
Port Macquarie, NSW, 2444
Telephone: (02) 6583 2077
Fax:(02) 6584 1022

> http://www.coal-seam-gas.com/politics/gillespie.htm#.U1Tk15V_W00

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

WARDS RIVER from AGL Now!!

Today at WARDS RIVER...  AGL are running one of their infamous information (spin) sessions at 3PM till 7PM. 

This is Gloucester NSW's hellish nightmare starting all over again a few kilometers away from the Tiedimans Land Frack at Gloucester / Forbesdale down at Wards River now.

There is already serious damage to the area from before with this and there are many sacred areas there that should not be disturbed.
 
AGL's CONTACTS are here:  feel free to contact them and tell them how you feel about what they are doing. Write letters about this new attack on Wards River not far from Gloucester and demand answers to the questions you have.

Wards River  Spin Sessions.

AGL Gloucester Gas Project

January 2015

Meet our goon squad, give your feedback, so we can do the exact opposite, and learn more about how we lie about the Gloucester Gas Project.

To find out more about the spin session, our proposed plans to contaminate the groundwater, or the Gloucester Gas Projects plans to poison small animals, please contact our dedicated Community Mutilations Manager.

Karyn Looby, on 0265582692 or karyn.looby@agl.com.au or visit YourSayAGL.com.au for more information.

AGL mining for Coal Seam Gas under Sydney homes.

And, who knew. Least of all the residents who were being effected. Reports of nose bleeds here should be taken very seriously and I hope the chap filmed watches some of Brian Monk's videos regarding rashes and nose bleeds suspected to be caused from stray gas.

AGL HEAD OFFICE MILLER STREET NORTH SYDNEY.

The AGL Upstream Gas Crew have been hard at work to fool the people of Sydney and the people of the Gloucester area with so much spin they think their head is no longer screwed on to  their necks. 

Yes, we are all choking on your Gas AGL and the old proverbial Spin / lies proffered up by yourselves and other corporations so they can fully fool ordinary people to believe they are doing the right thing by us!

https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/26071066/csg-mining-under-sydney-homes/

Thanks to Channel 7 for footage here.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

AGL's Fracking Fluid Shows up in H2o Monitoring

Gloucester Advocate Story  READ

AGL FRACK FARM GLOUCESTER NSW

It was bound to happen and its not like there were not warned of the facts.  It stinks and it looks like a serious bunch of collusion to me.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

A Public Walk against AGL fraccing winds through the streets of Gloucester NSW.

This is the best turn out in PUBLIC yet in GLOUCESTER ... I think the fence sitters will start to understand the depth of the problem now, but lets hope its not too late for this.. WELL DONE GLOUCESTER!!

Post by Groundswell Gloucester.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

magic mountains surround Gloucester NSW

Councillor Aled Hoggett QUITS Gloucester Dialogue with AGL's gas project at Gloucester NSW

Image from Post by Gloucester Protection Camp.

This is big news for the Anti Gas people of Gloucester with this announcement. 

Gloucester Shire Councillor Aled Hoggett has quit the one sided  Gloucester Dialogue. 

He labelled it ‘‘opaque’’ and a ‘‘monologue directed at council’’

Councillor Aled Hoggett was a part of setting up the dialogue with AGL.   This is chaired by NSW Land and Water Commissioner Jock Laurie, government representatives, Gloucester council, General Public and AGL.

Late yesterday Aled divulged that he quit the Dialogue as and act of protest.

He said  it had become ‘‘a means by which AGL and the State Government provide carefully selected and manicured information to the council and the community’’.
‘‘This creates an illusion of consultation where in fact none exists,’’ he said.
‘‘The process has also been completely opaque.’’

Aled Hoggett, is also a former chairman of  the Mid Coast Water organisation.  With this in mind he said the dialogue was set up to monitor the water issues etc but it had become one sided.

Aled Hoggett released a statement which said AGL and the government had inundated the dialogue with ‘‘one-sided technical information’’ that ‘‘systematically ignored the fundamental social and economic consequences that are likely to result from AGL’s project’’.
‘‘With some crucial issues the Dialogue was given no information beforehand but was simply told after the event,’’ he said.

BACKGROUND

The Gloucester coal seam gas project  first stage of 110 wells - Gloucester basin.
One well has already been fracced.

The site has been inundated with people standing up for the land and water with protests during the recent weeks, with more expected now the blockade camp has opened. 

To date 12  anti-coal seam gas activists have been arrested and charged to appear in Court.

Read more here

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

Dodgy Ancient Geology and CSG don't mix!

HANDS OFF GLOUCESTER AGL UPSTREAM GAS

Post by Jo James Holden.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

THE FRACC has happened at GLOUCESTER NSW

AGL COMPOUND  AROUND FRACC SITE
[photoGroundswell Gloucester]

AGL has commenced fraccing.

Protectors are needed to stop this going any further and to stop them completing the four test wells as part of the 110-well Gloucester Gas Project which the government approved recently under a great deal of scrutiny from the general public.

The OCSG recently approved this and banned other licences and at this point the reasoning is not clear other than corruption.    AGL have been absolutely blitzing media with their side of things in a vain attempt to convince people its all on the up and up.

The following are three facebook sites where more information from on the ground can be obtained reguarding the Gloucester Gas Project and the effort to protect Gloucester and the surrounding areas from AGL destruction of land and water.

GROUNSWELL GLOUCESTER
CAR POOL to GLOUCESTER
GLOUCESTER PROTECTION CAMP

GLOUCESTER PROTECTORS

More on the story of the approval can be found here at the SMH.

The Baird government has given energy giant AGL approval to conduct fraccing of coal seam gas wells within a few hundred metres of homes.
Energy Minister Anthony Roberts also renewed AGL’s petroleum exploration licence for the region near the Mid-North Coast of NSW for another six years after “rigorous assessment by the Office of Coal Seam Gas (OCSG)”.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/agl-gets-nod-for-csg-fracking-in-gloucester-20140806-1011b1.html#ixzz3GdJoIG96

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

Crowd Funding to Save Gloucester from CSG Mining!

I just donated so I decided to embed the post and share it here also because the Gloucester Council have stipulated this gigantic $30,000 bond and it has to raised amongst the people.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

Gloucester From the Air

I was looking at these images shot by the Editor Luke Horton and while they were flashing the beautiful images of rolling hills all of a sudden there is an image of an AGL work site and then well pads and then more mining images.  I was shocked so I decided to keep this link and blog about it so I can refer to this down the track.

From the Gloucester Advocate
http://www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au/story/1163783/special-feature-gloucester-from-the-air/?cs=437#slide=66
These GLOUCESTER IMAGES linked are Shot by Editor of Gloucester Advocate Luke Horton in 2012

My image taken at the Mograni Lookout outside Gloucester NSW

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

GLOUCESTER COUNCIL APPROVED BLOCKADE CAMPSITE!

THEY STIPULATED A BOND  ... just under $30,000
 
This morning at their monthly meeting, Gloucester Shire Council were under the spotlight with the AGL Blockade campsite Development Application and discussion re the submissions.

Photo compliments of Bruce Derkenne

READ COUNCIL PAPERS HERE

There were many submissions against the camp but the number for the camp far outweighed those against.  After discussions the camp got the green light.

As yet minor structural changes to the roads and erecting of signage by council is to occur before the commencement of the camp.  Look Out AGL  --->  Australia have got a lot to say to your corporate madness.

Gloucester Chill Out Festival

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

ONE WELL HEAD for EVERY TEN ACRES!!

In Australia we are under attack from the major corporate Energy companies.  In Queensland it has become such a health problem for those still living in the gas fields.  Government is denying any correlation to health issues and drilling in the area.  We all think differently.  I have seen these children with bleeding ears and bleeding noses and I know its the drilling that has caused their serious health impacts.  Proving this is another kettle of fish though.

One of the Fracc Site in Gloucester

If you want to understand what happened in the USA that brought this industry to another level and changed gas extraction here in Australia as well.  Halliburton is all over it down under.  Recently at Gloucester NSW, Halliburton trucks have been seen and AGL are about to Frac there.

We have the office of Coal Seam Gas in the state of NSW.   This office is supposed to take care of the contracts and make sure there is only a small impact, and none to people and water.

  With the Gloucester Gas Project, the OCSG changed the rules.  This is criminal behaviour by our politicians in NSW.   I have many unanswered questions regarding the procedure for the rubber stamping of this project by AGL.

Below is a very in depth video that is well worth watching if you want to totally familiarize yourself with the hydraulic fracturing process employed to get this natural gas from kilometers under the ground.

The land is in crisis and so is the water and the air.  I have been looking at the drilling at the Coopers Basin in South West of Queensland and the North East of South Australia because of the health of the indigenous peoples who live there.   People are sick.  The government have many excuses for this problem, but Mining is not one of these.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld shares a laugh with President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney during his farewell parade at the Pentagon. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

`Sourced from the Longmont Roar

WATCH THIS VIDEO

The Halliburton Loophole

Content taken from Burning Question: What Would Life Be Like Without the Halliburton Loophole:

“The loop­hole refers to the Energy Pol­icy Act of 2005, which exempts the hydraulic frac­tur­ing process, also known as frack­ing, from fed­eral over­sight under the Safe Drink­ing Water Act of 1974. Then Vice Pres­i­dent Dick Cheney did have a hand in get­ting the exemp­tion put into the Energy Pol­icy Act. He chaired Pres­i­dent Bush’s Energy Pol­icy Task Force, which rec­om­mended frack­ing be excluded. And Cheney is a for­mer Hal­libur­ton exec­u­tive. Hal­libur­ton, by the way, began frack­ing in the 1940’s to extract for oil. But the use of frack­ing, com­bined with hor­i­zon­tal drilling, has only recently been used to mine shale gas.The loop­hole does have an excep­tion. If drilling com­pa­nies use diesel fuel to frack a well, they do have to get a fed­eral permit.

Also amended in the 2005 Energy Pol­icy Act was the Clean Water Act. Con­gress enacted the CWA back in 1972 as a way to reg­u­late dis­charges into the country’s rivers and streams. The CWA was amended in 1987 to include storm water run-off. But oil and gas pro­duc­tion are exempted from those reg­u­la­tions. And in the 2005 Energy Pol­icy Act, those exemp­tions included oil and gas con­struc­tion. Envi­ron­men­tal­ists worry about run-off from well pads, pipelines and con­struc­tion sites.

With­out fed­eral over­sight, it’s up to the states to reg­u­late gas drilling.”

“And it’s not just the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drink­ing Water Act that exempt the oil and gas indus­try. The Clean Air Act, passed by Con­gress in 1970, exempts oil and gas wells from aggre­ga­tion. That means, each well site is con­sid­ered an indi­vid­ual source of pol­lu­tants, and does not take into account all of the well sites in a spe­cific area.

When it comes to the han­dling of waste water, or frack water, that too is exempt from a fed­eral statute called the Resource Con­ser­va­tion and Recov­ery Act. The RCRA tracks indus­trial wastes from “cra­dle to grave.” But when it comes to the oil and gas indus­try, as long as the waste water is on the drill site, or being trans­ported, it is not con­sid­ered haz­ardous. This also applies to drilling mud. That’s why trucks car­ry­ing waste water, which con­tains high lev­els of salts, toxic chem­i­cals, as well as radioac­tive mate­r­ial, may be labeled “resid­ual waste.”

The National Envi­ron­men­tal Pol­icy Act, or NEPA, requires fed­eral agen­cies to do envi­ron­men­tal impact state­ments if major indus­trial projects would impact the envi­ron­ment. But the Energy Pol­icy Act of 2005 rel­e­gated oil and gas oper­a­tions to a less strin­gent process.

Finally, the Toxic Release Inven­tory requires indus­tries to report toxic chem­i­cals to the EPA. But the oil and gas indus­try are exempt from this reporting.”

 RESOURCES:
Read the Complete Energy Policy Act of 2005
State of the Law: Federal, State and Local Regulation of Hydrofracturing, (Kathleen Dachille, JD)

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

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AGL FRACC site near homes in Gloucester.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography-Gloucester Fracc Site

EPA is a JOKE on STEROIDS!

 The Environment Protection Agency known as the EPA has been found out.  This government agency is working with mining and changing the rules where it needs to accommodate the Mining Companies involved.

Down at Camden

The EPA have been found to have given Santos and AGL pollution licenses that impose zero limits on the volume of toxic gases that are emitted into the air from the flaring of gas wells.

This dodgy approval from the EPA is a joke on the people of New South Wales as it gives the green light to both Santos and AGL to pollute and there will be no repercussions at either of these controversial coal seam gas exploration projects

This astounding revelation comes 36 hours later on the heels of a gas leak at AGL’s Camden CSG Project, close to the densely populated Western suburbs of Sydney.

The people of Gloucester are in shock that the government has not even imposed any monitoring at all and this is adjacent to homes at Gloucester.  Ed Robinson who has a farm running beef nearby to the newly approved well sites, he has spoken out against AGL from the onset and had this to say:

“We were shocked that the EPA has not imposed any limit on the emission of these carcinogens near homes in the Gloucester Valley, and that no monitoring stations for them have been prescribed.”

So people do not matter in this equation to deliver the Gas and business as usual approach the various levels of government are taking with this industry.   Each day the people are astounded at the audacity proffered in the very faces of the people. 

People frantically filling out petitions to try to stop the Gas Madness.

These were the words of another local business person who has been in the Gloucester area for nearly 30 years, this person held grave fears: 

"This is really the worst concern.  The level of government collusion with industry over the peoples wishes".  

"This has to be pulled up to save what is left of this country before these madmen completely ruin the land for all human habitation".      Full Background Story

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

Controversial CSG Mining in NSW has sprung a leak, truth is pouring out!

 It takes a major gas leak in suburbia to highlight the dangers of this industry, and finally now the truth is leaking out into mainstream media.

Santos Office in Narabri NSW

Three separate incidents have highlighted the anarchy, corruption and danger the Csg industry is all over in Australia at the moment. 

The Office of Coal Seam Gas, recently quoted as the Office of Free flowing BullS*%T, is an ineffective government agency.  Recently it changed its own rules to give an approval to AGL to fracc in suburbia  near Gloucester NSW.

RULES CHANGE FOR AGL

AGL is the energy company recently given approval to fracc for gas outside Gloucester NSW.  This project is just 300 metres from homes in the housing estate, Forbesdale. 

Gloucester is also at the head of the Manning River, which supplies drinking water for 75,000 people. 

WHERES THE WATER DATA SANTOS?

Santos have been mining in the North West of NSW at Narrabri. Out west it appears this self regulating industry really gets to flaunt the rules in true style.

Property owners near the mines have complained since 2012 about the availability of crucial water testing data. The lack of information from Santos and the refusal to make this information available to the public points to a Mining Company in trouble.  The submission to the appropriate departments of the water data by Santos has also been ignored and the data is overdue. 

It seems Santos has been caught flaunting the rules and changing them if necessary.  A deadline of the 30th October 2014 has been handed to Santos to submit the water data.  Santos say there isn't a problem. Santos employ highly paid spin doctors to tell you black is white and its usual for them to make a statement there isn't a problem, its what they usually do. 

WESTERN SYDNEY GOES BOOM

As recent as last Sunday night in the Western Suburbs of Sydney residents were alerted there was a problem with the Gas Project.   An extremely loud bang and then noisy hissing was heard coming from the direction of AGL's controversial Camden Gas Project well site. 

The safety valve failed and the well uncapped itself and leaked into the atmosphere of the suburb that is densely populated.  People reported a terrible smell, headaches, sore eyes and a feeling of sickness.  All of those symptoms are in line with Methane exposure.

Another resident who moved to the area into her new home just six months ago has made numerous calls to the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) because she has had a so many problems.   These  complaints are squared at AGL and the CSG Extraction wells that are just 400 meters from her home.

AGL's Camden Gas Project

Read this excerpt from the SMH Environment page Safety Issues Raised by CSG Incidents

TREMORS FELT REGULARLY

"There was this terrible smell," said Danielle Hodges, a resident living about 400 metres from the well who has complained publicly about headaches and other health problems since moving into a new house six months ago. "There were no workers around at the time."

Ms Hodges said her family, including four children, have also felt regular tremors which they blame on the CSG mining and have reported them to the EPA.
"It can happen around 7am, when there are no trucks around," Ms Hodges said. "What else can it be?"

Ms Hodges complaints are similar to those of the Queensland families at Tara, Jandowie and Wandoan  outside of Toowoomba.  The Queensland government have also turned a blind eye, refuting independent data collected.   The data is in and the residents were correct to believe it is Gas Related. 

SNOUTS IN THE TROUGH

We all know and our mind boggles that there are so many snouts in the trough.  The spin doctors would say Arsenic was safe to ingest if it meant the difference to the greed monger politicians, lobbyists and CEO's losing out on their corrupt investments in both mining and infrastructure. 

ICAC has uncovered a web of deceit against the people of NSW surrounding mining, money, contracts and under the table payments.

I cannot understand why the Gloucester Gas Project was approved.  I cannot understand how a government changes the rules to allow this to happen.  These rules are their rules and they changed these in a rushed special meeting to suit the situation and to benefit themselves.

AGL - Gloucester Activism Hot Spot against CSG Mining.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography