THE impacts of unconventional gas production in the United States will be explored later this year by a delegation formed by Kalangadoo livestock producer David Smith.
He is one of many from the South East community who have rallied to protest against proposed high pressure hydraulic fracturing or fracking.
A Parliamentary Inquiry into Unconventional Gas Mining is underway in the region because of these protests, and is expected to be a lengthy process with community concerns contravening the state government's position that SA has a well-regulated oil and gas exploration and production history.
Mr Smith's trip will explore the impact of fracking in the rural communities of New York and Pennsylvania, where extraction of this type has occurred for more than a decade.
The busy program will include a presentation from former Mobil Oil executive vice-president of 31 years Louis Allstadt, who is assisting Mr Smith to organise the tour.
Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell and Greens leader Mark Parnell have committed to attend the week-long trip in late June.
The Xenophon group's John Darley and his legal advisor have just announced they will be attending and Mr Smith hopes to also attract a vet and a doctor.
It was the next step in a fact-finding mission for Mr Smith, which began with him using a US telephone directory to randomly contact residents of the town of Pavilion, Wyoming, where he was aware of issues.
He quickly became alarmed about the reported adverse impacts of the fracking process and decided it was important to get a group to the US.
"Every single person I called was anti-fracking and many said don't let this happen in Australia," he said.
"One farmer I contacted had found fracking chemicals in his stock water, which killed his stock. The second one had stock that went blind and eventually died from brain tumours. The vet found it was because of naturally occurring toxic sulphites which had come up into stock water after being released from up to a thousand metres down by fracking.
"You hear dismissive comments from gas companies that there are only a couple of issues in the US, whereas I have heard a large number so want to go there and see for myself. Then I can come back and eyeball these gas mining companies and politicians with more confidence."
Mr Bell - who campaigned heavily for the parliamentary inquiry and has done his own extensive research - said the claims by mining companies, concerned farmers and the anti-fracking group were highly polarised.
He said he was maintaining an "open mind" on the issue, but his position was to protect existing businesses and to ensure no harm was done to the environment.
He had issued a challenge to Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis - to give him areas in US where communities have embraced fracking - so he could visit.
But at this stage he has had no response.
Details: For more information on the June 20 to 28 tour contact David Smith on 0429 393 153.
Catherine Miller
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
