Saturday, 12 May, 2012. Gas Watch 150. O’FARRELL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO APPROVE COAL SEAM METHANE EXPLORATION IN THE HUNTER VALLEY
The NSW Government claims not to have renewed any Coal Seam Methane Gas Petroleum Exploration Licence since it came into office BUT it still approves exploration applications – and then doesn’t tell the community.
It appears it is up to the community to make its own enquiries as to whether or not unconventional coal seam methane exploration is to continue in its area.
...
Also hidden away in the AGL website is a note which says: “A corehole community information Drop in Session will be held at AGL's Windermere property at 1946 Putty Rd, Bulga on 24 May 2012. Members of the community are invited to ask questions between 3pm and 6pm regarding AGL's proposed corehole program.” When were they going to let us know? Or do they just tick the community consultation box saying, “we had a Drop in Session and nobody turned up!” (see more in Gas Watch 150, discuss on Facebook or Twitter)

Wednesday, 9 May, 2012. Gas Watch 149. EARTHQUAKE IN HUNTER VALLEY. Concerns with fracking coal seams.
Following upon an earthquake near Broke and Bulga in the Hunter Valley on 29th April, further urgent representations have been made to the Government to extend the moratorium on fracking coal seams for methane gas.

The Minister’s attention has been brought to the facts that:

• Not all chemicals used in the fracking process have yet been examined;
• The Broke and Bulga areas of the Hunter Valley are surrounded by underground long wall mining which scientists have advised is a significant geological risk to the fresh water aquifers in the event of unconventional coal seam methane gas exploration, drilling and fracking;
• More international findings in relation to earthquakes resulting from fracking are being released. The earthquake comes only a week after the handing down of a report in the United States confirming that earthquakes have been triggered by fracking for shale gas.

(see more in Gas Watch 149 , discuss on Facebook or Twitter)

Wednesday, 2 May, 2012. Gas Watch 148. IT’S AMAZING HOW MANY LIES YOU CAN SPIN INTO ONE FULL STOP.
This is the New South Minerals Council’s pathetic and misleading advertisement in yesterday’s press. See e.g. comments in Miners say land use numbers don’t add up.

Perhaps the 0.1% estimate is true, if you measure just the holes in the ground - they don't explain their methods anyway. See Gas Watch 148 for a dose of the reality. Government's own map shows that most of the fertile land in NSW, where people live, is covered by minereal exploration licenses. The map in Gas Watch 148 can be enlarged by right-clicking on it (in Mac Preview) or by resizing the whole PDF document (in Windows Acrobat PDF Reader). This will show the details for your geographical area.

And the mining industry wants us to trust them!!!

Wednesday, 2 May, 2012. Gas Watch 147. GOVERNMENT PROMISES TO PROTECT OUR LAND AND WATER
“The message I want to leave you all with today is this: if any proposed mining or gas extraction activity is likely to harm our prime agricultural land or other important rural industry clusters or the water resources associated with those areas, it will not go ahead under this Government.” – said Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner at the "Protect Our Land and Water Rally in Sydney on 1st of May, 2012.

We expect the Government to deliver on this promise. The current Draft Land Use Policy does not protect our land and water, and particularly does not protect our Hunter Valley from the ravages of the unconventional coal seam methane gas industry ... (see more in Gas Watch 147 ).

Sunday, 15 April, 2012. Gas Watch 146. Government announces mining has no place in Hunter vineyards.
Planning Minister Brad Hazzard has labelled AGL and other methane gas miners as "loopy" and says they are "wasting shareholders' money" if they seek to mine in the Hunter’s Strategic Agricultural Land (SAL).
It was the Minister's extraordinary attack, at a Community Forum this week, that AGL and others are wasting their shareholders' money, which continues to confuse the debate... (see more in Gas Watch 146 ).

Friday, 13 April, 2012. Gas Watch 145. SYDNEY RALLY – 1st May, 2012. Protect Our Land And Water.
NSW Farmers is organising a massive rally – “Protect OurLand And Water”. 1st May, 2012 in Martin Place marching to NSW Parliament. Marshall in Martin Place between 11.45 am and 12.15 pm.
The HVPA, amongst many other organisations, industry and community leaders, landowners and concerned citizens supports this rally and we ask as many of you as possible to take part. After arriving at Parliament House, there will be speakers and the rally will be over by 1.30 pm.

You can register at www.nswfarmers.org.au/ourlandourwater. You can follow Our Land Our Water on Twitter @ourlandourwater or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/protectourlandandwater. If you need transport, register for a bus at the NSW Farmers website, or let us know at hbgaginc@bigpond.com and we will see if we can organize a bus. Buses are coming from far and wide and might be able to collect us on the way through. (see more in Gas Watch 145 ).

Tuesday, 10 April, 2012. Gas Watch 144. AGL now knocking on doors near you
CITY :
Farmer's are not the only ones putting up signs to keep AGL away from their properties. Residents of major cities are now being advised - officially - to put signs on their doors to keep out pesky AGL Sales representatives.
This breed of AGL operative is a little less harmless - they don't seek to destroy your natural environment, and livelihood - they're just programmed to sell you AGL generated power - whether you want it or not ... .

COUNTRY - BEWARE :
AGL Energy has also renewed their practice of knocking on doors in the Hunter Valley seeking the consent of property owners to permit AGL to invade their properties for their continued exploration for unconventional coal seam methane. All owners who have contacted this Alliance report that they have told AGL that they are not interested in talking to them. They have locked their gate (see more in Gas Watch 144 ).

Tuesday, 10 April, 2012. Gas Watch 143. AGL – fails to comply with Exploration Licence conditions. What’s AGL Energy up to at the moment?
1. Failing to comply with licence conditions in both of its Petroleum Exploration Licences affecting the Hunter Valley wine country (Report on Audit of Coal and Petroleum Exploration Licences in NSW – Phase 2)
2. Breaching its licence conditions by dumping hundreds of thousands of litres of salt contaminated water onto pasture (NSW Ombudsman)
... ( see more in Gas Watch 143 ).

Monday, 19 March, 2012. Gas Watch 142. Singleton Council slams coal seam gas exploration by AGL ENERGY in the Hunter
Immediately after AGL told tonight’s Singleton Council meeting how they proposed to increase their exploration footprint by extending their exploration outside their exploration licence area into the Singleton Army Base and into the Pokolbin State Forest, that was enough for the Councillors.
AGL sent three of its junior staff to Singleton Council tonight to present its spin on its seismic exploration for unconventional coal seam methane in the Singleton Local Government Area.
They got more than they bargained for.(see more in Gas Watch 142 ).

Saturday, 17 March, 2012. Gas Watch 141. Based on its own figures, AGL Energy says there is – at most – only 2 and a half years worth of gas for NSW under the Hunter Valley.
Yet AGL is prepared to risk the precious fresh water aquifers, the environment, a sustainable and green industry and the jobs of tens of thousands, just to get its hands on it. All of these things could be lost forever – there would be no turning back. (see more in Gas Watch 141 ).

Tuesday, 6 March, 2012. Gas Watch 140. Hunter Valley Vineyard regions declared “STRATEGIC AGRICULTURAL LAND".
You would think this declaration would be enough for AGL to take the socially and environmentally responsible decision to abandon its continuing ravaging of what is now accepted by the Government as strategic agricultural land. And maybe it will. We look forward to AGL considering its position and making the responsible decision (see more in Gas Watch 140 ).

Monday, 5 March, 2012. Gas Watch 139. AGL Energy – spin on water contamination exposed as a lie. AGL claims are debunked by experts.

For a long time now AGL has been saying that their water tests show that there will be no connectivity of contaminated salty water from the coal seams with the upper fresh water aquifers in the Hunter Valley. Their own peer reviewer, Professor Garry Willgoose from the University of Newcastle says this is not true; that you cannot extrapolate the results of one experimental water test near the village of Broke, across the whole of the Hunter Valley. In fact he says that the experiment only applies to the area immediately around the test bore (say 50 metres – the cone of depression).

But we still have the AGL manager of unconventional coal seam methane mining, Mike Moraza, claiming on national Television (Landline 4th March, 2012 - http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/search/landline or see the transcript at http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2012/s3445186.htm ) that there is no risk of this cross contamination which has the potential to ruin productive agricultural land for generations. (see more in Gas Watch 139 ).

Friday, 2 March, 2012. Gas Watch 138. “NSW 2021” – Regional Action Plan – A State Government Initiative.
BARRY O’FARRELL: “Through this plan, the people of NSW can hold me and my team accountable for our achievements against our commitments.”
On Wednesday evening we attended the NSW Government’s community discussion evening at Maitland where they sought community input into Regional Action Plans. You can go to http://2021.nsw.gov.au/ to have a look at the priorities raised by the community for the Hunter, and you can go to www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/topic/hunter if you want to have input into the Regional Action Plan.

The 5 main priorities to come out of the forum were, although this will change after each meeting:
· Economic growth – diversify the economy, support clean tech industries, promote tourism, build critical infrastructure, skills development.
· Planning for the Newcastle CBD – revitalize the city, rail decision, all levels of government to work together, remove red tape that works against development.
· Environment protection – best environmental practice in mining and coal seam gas.
· Liveability – more affordable housing, improved transport links, attract events to the region.
· Support the most vulnerable members of our community.
(see more in Gas Watch 138 ).

Wednesday, 22 February, 2012. Gas Watch 137. AGL SHAREHOLDERS – Must be livid.
AGL Energy shareholders should be livid at its company for gambling millions of their dollars on a bet they've been told they will lose. It's one thing to lose money accidentally. But when a Government gives you advance warning, it is completely gob-smacking. It's like betting on a horse you've been told will not even make the race.

AGL's wild and misguided exploration spending spree in Broke and Bulga is based entirely on the belief of AGL that the current Government Ministers lied in their pre-election promises to protect the winegrowing regions of the Hunter Valley. (see more in Gas Watch 137 ).

Thursday, 9 February, 2012. Gas Watch 136. “FRACKING” Macquarie Dictionary people’s choice for the word of t he year 2011.
CONGRATULATIONS all you voters for the Macquarie Dictionary word of the year for 2011. It worked. All your votes clearly counted. The Macquarie Dictionary People’s choice for the word of 2011 is “FRACKING”. Full details can be found at:http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@919D957851619/-/p/dict/WOTY11/index.html

And by way of note, just a reminder that Mike Moraza, the General Manager of Coal Seam Methane Mining for AGL Energy, says that “only 0.5% of the fracking liquid injected into a well is made up of chemicals”.
If, as Moraza says, there will be between 100 and 300 wells at Broke/Bulga if he has his way, then that is between 500,000 and 1,500,000 litres of unknown chemicals being injected into the ground in the fracking process. (see more in Gas Watch 136 ).

Thursday, 9 February, 2012. Gas Watch 135. AGL ENERGY and other contaminated water leakage from CSG exploration.
AGL Energy dumping of saline water onto pasture: In late 2010 AGL Energy admitted deliberately dumping 110,000 litres of contaminated water onto pasture, killing the pasture, “in breach of its licence conditions”. Witnesses say closer to 500,000 litres was dumped. Either way, this is a huge amount of water.

Eastern Star Gas – escape of groundwater in the Pilliga.Water contamination in the Pilliga has been happening for a decade or more. This recent spill is nothing new. In late 2000, according to the CM Atkinson report, contaminated water seeped through a sandy dam wall, then, when the dam wall collapsed, flooded the surrounding area of the Pilliga with a sodic/saline liquid through the subsoil and shallow aquifers. Trees and vegetation were killed (see more in Gas Watch 135 ).

Friday, 3 February, 2012. Gas Watch 134. AGL ENERGY – the latest lessons in avoiding “community consultation”

By accident, we have just noticed on the Department of Defence website that AGL has applied to the Commonwealth Government for permission to explore for coal seam methane gas on the Army Base at Singleton (http://www.defence.gov.au/SenateOrder/harradine_2011_1/MilitaryFacilitiesManagement.htm, Document No 2011/1063947).

No mention of this has been made to the affected community. No community consultation, whatsoever. None.

Typical of the secretive attitude of these coal seam methane miners to gain approvals, and then notify the community and pretend that it is involved in the community and in community consultation (see more in Gas Watch 134 ).

Friday, 3 February, 2012. Gas Watch 133. AGL ENERGY – are shareholders investments based on a gamble that the State Government is a liar ?
Either AGL – a publicly listed Australian Company which is subject to tough listing and Australian Company laws

• is basing it’s entire Hunter Upstream Gas business model on the belief that the Government has lied to the community in its pre-election promises; or
• · there is a secret understanding between AGL and the State Government.

Well, no matter how you look at it, these must be the only two alternatives - and both of them should sit very uncomfortably with all Australians. Either alternative is quite simply extraordinary in a first world country like Australia. If either one of these statements is false, then AGL would clearly not be in the Hunter Valley exploring for coal seam methane gas.
(see more in Gas Watch 133 ).

Wednesday, 25 January, 2012. Gas Watch 132. AGL ENERGY – the community information session that didn’t happen – seismic exploration.
A small number of people turned up to the 5 pm “information session” at the AGL propaganda shop in Singleton in response to AGL’s advertising the session on seismic exploration, only to be told that there was to be no “information session” at all, despite it being advertised as such. It appears the advertising was just a means of getting people into the AGL shop so they can tick the box of community consultation. There were 6 or 7 people who turned up at 5 pm. AGL will spin the lack numbers by either saying that noone is interested enough, or that everyone is happy with their plans.
(see more in Gas Watch 132 ).

Monday, 23 January, 2012. Gas Watch 131 AGL ENERGY – community information session – seismic exploration.
AGL has advertised that it is to hold an information and consultation session at their Information and Propaganda Centre at 85B John Street, Singleton on 24th January, next at 5 pm.

We are assuming that the date and the time are correct. Unfortunately AGL has put the incorrect web site address, that is their very own website which they couldn’t get right, in their advert. They have advertised www.agl.com/huntergasproject and it should in fact read www.agl.com.au/huntergasproject . Whether this was done purposely or not, we don’t know. Are they trying to avoid people actually attending the information session? (see all in Gas Watch 131 ).

Sunday, 15 January, 2012. Gas Watch 130. AGL ENERGY – expulsion of methane gas miner from Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association - confirmed.

“the activities of AGL in connection with coal seam gas have the very real potential to cause irremediable and permanent damage to viticulture, and is contrary to the interests of licensed vignerons in the Hunter Valley”

“the Committee was unanimous in its conclusion that AGL accordingly had persistently and willfully acted in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the Association (paragraph 4 of the Association’s Statement of Objects: ‘must actively protect the dominance of grape growing in existing grape growing areas of the Hunter Valley.’)”

These were the reasons given by the respected Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association (HVWIA) in expelling coal seam methane gas miner AGL Energy as a member of the Association, after meeting with the AGL General Manager of Coal Seam Methane Gas exploration, Mike Moraza, and considering a lengthy submission by AGL. This resolution was notified to AGL on 8th December giving AGL 14 days from that date to appeal in accordance with the Constitution of the Association. AGL has elected not to appeal and the expulsion is now confirmed. (see all in Gas Watch 130 ).

Sunday, 1 January, 2012. Gas Watch 129. Government must protect winegrowing in the Hunter. The community has called upon the Government to protect the winegrowing region of the Hunter from inappropriate development, including from coal seam methane mining fields, following the leads from the South Australian Government protection the Barossa Valley and Maclaren Vale, and the Western Australian Government protecting the Swan Valley and Margaret River winegrowing areas (see all in Gas Watch 129 ).

Wednesday, 21 December, 2011. Gas Watch 128. A photographic journey through 2011.

This Gas Watch presents just a few photographs of the many which can be viewed in the HVPA Facebook Gallery. They show why we are fighting AGL Energy and uncontrolled coal mining expansion in this valley

(see all in Gas Watch 128 ).

Tuesday, 20 December, 2011. Gas Watch 127. Community Contribution by AGL Energy during 2011.

SORRY, POSITIVE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS THERE WERE NONE!

If AGL left the Broke/Bulga valley tomorrow nobody but their employees would miss them!

(for the many NEGATIVE community contributions - read Gas Watch 127 ).

Monday, 7 November, 2011. Gas Watch 126. AGL Energy – “stand down” until the science is known. The call for, at the very least, a moratorium on coal seam methane mining is growing.
Kevin Humphries, Member for Barwon, says, in relation to CSM and agriculture: “You can’t compromise an existing industry that’s exceptionally vibrant for the sake, potentially, of another” and further “we don’t know enough about the industry yet…you’ve got aquifers which could potentially be interfered with or damaged” and importantly “we’re asking in good faith, until we can get the regulations right and there’s a better plan…everyone should just stand down.” ( read more in Gas Watch 126 ).

Thursday, 30 October, 2011. Gas Watch 125. AGL Energy removes community owned protest signs. Not only is AGL now taking down community protest signs from properties in an obvious attempt to illegally and childishly shut down community concerns, but management is now stooping to blame junior staff – this just highlights the complete lack of regard, concern and sense of responsibility for their activities.

AGL is now not only playing with the environment in the Hunter, but they are using illegal means to control the debate. It's just another story showing that this company has no concern, indeed has apparent contempt, for its surroundings and for the community ( read more in Gas Watch 125 ).

Monday, 30 October, 2011. Gas Watch 124. AGL advertises more, possibly damaging, seismic exploration for coal seam methane in Broke and Bulga. Last time Seismic Surveys were conducted, the local road network was significantly damaged when the survey was conducted outside the Governmental approval, to the extent that the Singleton Council required that the Sydney Gas/AGL pay for the repairs.

The September Seismic proposal newsletter from coal seam methane miner AGL has kicked off its campaign to conduct seismic surveys on public roads and on private property.

Typically AGL does not identify which roads or which private property until the very last minute, usually not until after approval by the Government following upon the grossly inadequate Review of Environmental Factors procedure. Sydney Gas/AGL couldn’t be trusted to work within its approval then. What’s different now?
DO NOT SIGN AN ACCESS AGREEMENT and AGL cannot come onto your private land to pursue its seismic survey. LOCK THE GATE! ( read more in Gas Watch 124 ).

Thursday, 20 October, 2011. Gas Watch 123. AGL Energy’s foray into buying vineyards: Brian McGuigan says Nick Greiner is wrong. We’re not really sure what evidence Greiner claims to be relying on, or what Greiner knows about viticulture, but it appears he is quite wrong – say 100% wrong – when the former NSW Premier is today reported to have said:
“ the evidence from my old vineyard suggests that wine and gas can co-exist”.

Brian McGuigan, an icon and living legend of the Hunter Valley wine industry and whose company manages Greiner’s former Spring Mountain vineyard at the vineyard village of Broke in the Hunter Valley on behalf of AGL Energy, says:
“I am of the view that coal seam methane gas fields and viticulture are not compatible land uses”
McGuigan says this even though he is on AGL’s payroll. ( read more in Gas Watch 123 ).

Tuesday, 18 October, 2011. Gas Watch 122. AGL Energy: Avoiding community consultation – dictating to and bullying the community. AGL General Manager of methane mining, Mike Moraza, was apparently hiding in the executive residence at the former Pooles Rock vineyard at Broke during the National Day of Action protest against coal seam methane gas mining on Sunday 16th October.
He has since claimed that he heard matters raised by speakers which he thought were wrong, but he did not see fit to come on down and address the rally.
This Company, AGL Energy, has no idea how to deal with a community. They don’t understand the depth of community sentiment.
...
After buying the former Pooles Rock a week or so go, AGL announced in a Media release yesterday that they had purchased another couple of thousand acres next door to Pooles Rock. AGL didn’t speak to the community about this, merely announced it in the press ... ( read more in Gas Watch 122 ).

Monday, 17 October, 2011. Gas Watch 121. AGL Energy: Invading Broke and Bulga with threats of hundreds of methane extraction wells.

The National Day of Action backed by Lock the Gate Inc., was a resounding success across Australia.
Thousands of people turned out in most States to show the Government that it is the people who tell the Government how to approach the coal seam methane gas invasion, not the coal seam methane miners.
The rally at Broke attracted 400 people. Not bad for a town with a population of just over 500 residents, adults and children ( read more in Gas Watch 121 ).

Friday, 14 October, 2011. Gas Watch 120. AGL Energy: THE DIMINISHING WELLS. Don’t be fooled by their spin.
One hundred (100) extraction wells. That’s what AGL is claiming it now needs to extract methane gas from the coal seams under Broke and Bulga.
Having spun their needs down from 300 to 100, some now have been convinced that it won’t be such a problem for this tranquil side of the Hunter after all.
First, don’t believe the 100 wells. This is at best a guess, the exploration still hasn't’t been done. It could be thousands, as in Queensland.
But even if it is 100 wells, nobody knows what will happen under the ground once AGL gets started. The risks still exist as much as ever. The coal seam methane industry doesn’t know what it is doing. Senator Heffernan recently said that the behaviour of the CSMG industry is like NASA sending a man to the moon and trying to work out how to get him back whilst he was on his way ... ( read more in Gas Watch 120 ).

COMMENT: Another interesting fact debunking the AGL's spin came to light at the Gunnedah Food Security Forum. Peter Martin (Southern Highlands) worked previously on the North Sea oil/gas rigs. He observed that the productivity of a SINGLE conventional high-pressure gas well, such as those on the Australian Northwest Shelf, is equivalent to 400 (!) of the on-shore CSMG wells. Can you believe that AGL is going into all these troubles with buying properties to gain a gas production of ONE QUARTER of a SINGLE conventional off shore well?

Friday, 14 October, 2011. Gas Watch 119. NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST COAL SEAM METHANE GAS EXTRACTION.
All over Australia – Sunday 16th October, 2011 – hundreds of community organisations – thousands of people.

Here at Broke at 11 am on Sunday 16th October, our Community‘s National Day of Action rally against Coal Seam Methane Gas extraction will be outside the former Pooles Rock vineyard about 3 kilometres from Broke along the Wollombi Road.

Show the Government what the people want, not what is best for politicians to win the next election. ( read more in Gas Watch 119 ).

Tuesday, 4 October, 2011. Gas Watch 118. AGL Energy: Buying more land at Broke because landholders have Locked their Gates.
Coal Seam Methane Gas Mining Company AGL Energy has just bought the legendary Pooles Rock Vineyard at Broke in the Hunter Valley from the executors of the estate of the late David Clarke, former Chairman of Macquarie Bank and active coal seam methane gas objector.
It appears that AGL is unable to obtain access from landowners and therefore has not only bought Pooles Rock but is negotiating with other large landowners in the area to purchase their properties. This purchase, and any others, paves the way to put hundreds of wells between Broke and Wollombi. Sydney Gas said 300 wells, AGL says 100 wells, but depending on the flow rate of methane gas from the coal seams, it could be thousands, say one every 500 metres or so leaving the Hunter Valley to look like Chinchilla...
THE FUTURE OF YOUR HEALTH AND PROPERTY IS NOT SAFE IF YOU LIVE IN A GAS EXPLORATION AREA! ( read more in Gas Watch 118 ).
SEE ALSO ARTICLE IN NEWCASTLE HERALD: http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/vineyard-sold-to-gas-firm/2313192.aspx