22nd August 2014
Tamboran’s partners in Australia, Santos, guilty of polluting aquifers
Belcoo Frack Free launches new banner at public meeting Thursday evening (21st August)
Campaign group chair, Tom White, explained the banner’s significance:
Belcoo Frack Free launches new banner at public meeting Thursday evening (21st August)
Following the well-attended meeting, the campaign group hung the banner on the ‘Gates to Hell’ outside Cleggan quarry near Belcoo where Tamboran propose to drill a shale gas exploration test well.
Campaign group chair, Tom White, explained the banner’s significance:
“This banner publicises the fact that Tamboran's partners in Australia, Santos, have been found guilty of polluting an aquifer in the Pilliga forest in New South Wales territory. The aquifer has uranium levels now twenty times higher than the safe drinking water threshold and has elevated arsenic, lead, aluminium, nickel, barium and boron levels.
“What is even more disconcerting about this incident is that Santos blamed another company, which they had acquired, for the contamination. This other company was Eastern Star Gas. whose founders Patrick Elliott and Dr David King are also members of Tamboran's board.
“Belcoo Frack Free would like to note that this information has been in the public domain for some time now and believes that this should have been taken into account by Minister Foster’s Department when Tamboran's work program was extended in March. That this wasn't taken into account was unfortunate, but should not be overlooked in any future application by Tamboran”, Mr White concluded.
ENDS...
For further information or to arrange an interview with Tom White (chair) contact Donal O'Cofaigh (PRO) at 07889087906.
14th August 2014
Belcoo Frack Free closes camp at Cleggan Road Quarry
Following the decision by Minister Mark H Durkan to require Tamboran resources to obtain full planning permission and environmental impact assessment for their proposal to drill at Cleggan Quarry outside Belcoo, Belcoo Frack Free have decided to close their camp at the gates to the quarry.
The group's chair Tom White confirmed that the group will only maintain a weekly presence at the site:
"On behalf of the entire local community, Belcoo Frack Free would like to say that we have been deeply humbled by the support that we have received over the past three weeks from across both communities and across the border - this support was critical in securing the decision by the Minister.
"Following the Ministers decision we have decided to close our camp at the grounds and end our 24 hour a day presence at the gates. However, we will continue with a weekly protest at the site until Tamboran decide to permanently leave and remove their security barriers.
"We are asking all local members of the community who wish to remain active in the campaign to get involved in raising awareness both locally and across the county, participating in anti-fracking events e.g. this weekends event organised by local Fishermen and providing support to other communities living with this threat in Carrickfergus and Ballinlea.
"We are also asking local people to get involved in our new 'Lock the Gate' campaign in which local land-owners will sign a petition indicating their absolute opposition to their land being used for Fracking. We will need large numbers of volunteers to canvass every road in the area and 'Lock the Gate' townland by townland to send the message out to Tamboran that our community will never support fracking", Mr White concluded.
ENDS...
For further information or an interview with a member of the committee contact Donal O'Cofaigh (PRO) at 07889087906.
Belcoo Frack Free closes camp at Cleggan Road Quarry
Following the decision by Minister Mark H Durkan to require Tamboran resources to obtain full planning permission and environmental impact assessment for their proposal to drill at Cleggan Quarry outside Belcoo, Belcoo Frack Free have decided to close their camp at the gates to the quarry.
The group's chair Tom White confirmed that the group will only maintain a weekly presence at the site:
"On behalf of the entire local community, Belcoo Frack Free would like to say that we have been deeply humbled by the support that we have received over the past three weeks from across both communities and across the border - this support was critical in securing the decision by the Minister.
"Following the Ministers decision we have decided to close our camp at the grounds and end our 24 hour a day presence at the gates. However, we will continue with a weekly protest at the site until Tamboran decide to permanently leave and remove their security barriers.
"We are asking all local members of the community who wish to remain active in the campaign to get involved in raising awareness both locally and across the county, participating in anti-fracking events e.g. this weekends event organised by local Fishermen and providing support to other communities living with this threat in Carrickfergus and Ballinlea.
"We are also asking local people to get involved in our new 'Lock the Gate' campaign in which local land-owners will sign a petition indicating their absolute opposition to their land being used for Fracking. We will need large numbers of volunteers to canvass every road in the area and 'Lock the Gate' townland by townland to send the message out to Tamboran that our community will never support fracking", Mr White concluded.
ENDS...
For further information or an interview with a member of the committee contact Donal O'Cofaigh (PRO) at 07889087906.
