AUSTRALIA: The Northern Territory government has approved Tamboran‘s Environment Management Plan to commence fracking in the Beetaloo Basin, which has ignited widespread condemnation from doctors, First Nations people, locals, environmentalists, and community groups.
Opponents are urging Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to scrutinise Tamboran’s polluting fracking plans under the water trigger in national environment laws.
Fracking, a controversial method of extracting gas, is known for its severe environmental impacts, including killing native animals, contaminating land, and polluting water supplies.
Growing international evidence suggests it can harm human health, particularly for pregnant women and unborn children.
Dr Louise Woodward, a Northern Territory pediatrician, emphasised the scientific evidence against fracking, stating: “The scientific research is clear, fracking is dangerous to human health, harms the environment, and drives climate change.
“Many countries around the world have banned fracking on health grounds. As doctors, we urge the NT government to prioritise the health and well-being of Territorians and put an end to this dangerous industry.”
Climate Council Head of Advocacy, Dr Jennifer Rayner, condemned the decision as “an environmental travesty that screams for urgent national reform,” underscoring the need for a national environment law to halt new climate-wrecking projects and their devastating impact on climate and cultural heritage.
Amy Gordon, GetUp Chief Campaigns Officer and Gooreng Gooreng woman highlighted the opposition from Traditional Owners, stating: “Traditional Owners have been saying no to fracking for over a decade, there is no consent to frack. This is an insult to Traditional Owners across the entire Northern Territory. Tamboran has relentlessly shown that they cannot be trusted to protect water. Water is life for remote First Nations communities.”
Frack Free NT spokesperson Pete Callender echoed these concerns, stating: “Territorians remain defiantly opposed to Tamboran and any other fracking company that wants to risk our groundwater and supercharge climate change.”
Kirsty Howey, Environment Centre NT Executive Director, criticised the approval as “a disgraceful and risky deal that amounts to the NT government propping up the business case for a carbon bomb that will set the Northern Territory on a path towards climate collapse.”
She questioned the integrity of the assessment processes, noting that Tamboran’s Shenandoah project is not even approved.
Gavan McFadzean, Australian Conservation Foundation climate program manager, stated: “Granting Texan gas company Tamboran the right to drill gas wells in the Northern Territory goes against Australia’s national interest.
“Tamboran gas will make climate disasters worse, it’s for export so will do nothing for energy security at home, it has devastating impacts on the NT environment and is opposed by Traditional Owners.”
The proposed Shenandoah Exploration and Appraisal project involves drilling and fracking 15 horizontal gas wells, potentially reaching depths of 4,300m and lengths over 1,000m.
It is expected to use up to 1,117ML of water for fracking and drilling, including extracting 375 ML/year from the Cambrian Limestone Aquifer.
The project could release up to 1.1 million tonnes of direct greenhouse gas pollution over four years and clear 145 hectares of habitat likely to support threatened and declining species.
As the controversy escalates, all eyes are on Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to determine the fate of Tamboran’s fracking plans and their potential impacts on water, climate, and the environment in the Northern Territory.
