AGRICULTURAL advocate Anne Daw, Kingston, started her presentation to the Natural Resources Committee Fracking Inquiry on Friday with a small experiment.
She took a piece of limestone from the South East to Parliament House, weighed the rock and then immersed it in a container of water.
After about 20 to 25 minutes, Mrs Daw removed the limestone from the water and weighed it.
It weighed 330 grams compared with 270g at the start of the experiment.
"This shows how chemicals could be absorbed by the limestone," she said.
"Picture the reverse - the aquifier drops a the result of fracking activities, the limestone roof becomes exposed, dries out, and is brittle and subsidence may occur down the side of the wells, as has happened here."
Mrs Daw said the integrity of a well could not be guaranteed.
"Environmental damage has occurred and will continue to occur," she said.
"Beach Energy has already drilled through faults providing a way for contaminant pathways.
"The industry admits there are problems.
"Unconventional gas and agriculture cannot co-exist."
There must be a vision for "now and future generations to come'' which included a clean and green food bowl and clean water.
She pushed for legislation to be amended such that where there was limestone or faults and fault lines, or a risk of seawater intrusion, agricultural land should be exempt from all mining and petroleum exploration and projects.
Karina Natt
Journalist at Stock Journal.
Journalist at Stock Journal.
