It is reported that waste from coal seam gas projects could be reinjected into an underground water aquifer under a proposal being considered by the NSW government.
The NSW Office of Water aquifer interference draft policy has been given to farmers but has not been officially distributed by the government. It proposes to allow economically significant coal and CSG mining projects to proceed even if they are found to have a negative effect on the water table.
The document also explores ways of disposing of waste from coal seam gas mining projects.
It said "Alternative disposal options might include reinjection to an aquifer and discharge to a river on-selling to a nearby industry, agricultural development or potable water supply."
ABC Radio reports that Planning Minister Mr Brad Hazzard who is responsible for the aquifer interference policy instead of Water Minister Ms Katrina Hodgkinson is disappointed that the confidential document has been made public by groups involved in the consultation.
Releasing the document to journalists recently, Labor environment spokesman Mr Luke Foley said the coalition was breaking an election promise to impose tough standards on CSG projects.
He said that "I suggest to you that the government is bowing to pressure from the mining industry and removing any restrictions or barriers that would slow down the expansion of coal seam gas projects in rural NSW."
He added that "It's clearly a broken election promise in one respect a very clear election commitment to force proponents to obtain an aquifer interference approval under the Water Act."
Mr Andrew Gregson NSW Irrigators Council chief executive was concerned that mining projects could get around aquifer interference rules. He said that "We've been asking however that the process be reversed and that the advice of the water minister be binding and that if aquifers are going to be overly negatively impacted, then a project won't get approval."
Mr Duncan Gay Senior Nationals minister who held the agriculture portfolio in opposition said that while he hadn't seen the draft report, he maintained that the coalition was committed to tough environmental standards for CSG projects near farmland.
He said that "What we're putting in place in NSW is the toughest regulation of any state in the commonwealth."
He added that "We will be way beyond anything else that is proposed or is happening anywhere else in the country and as part of the government, I'm pretty proud of our track record there."
