Koalas threatened by coal seam gas

Coal seam gas mining is a threat to our communities, to our farm land, to our wine country, and as the Northern Inland Council for the Environment point out, to our wildlife too.

Koalas in the Pilliga face  having their habitat destroyed by the likes of Eastern Star Gas, soon to be Santos, as the gas companies expand their CSG operation in the state forest: clearing more land, dropping more wells, laying more pipelines, and mining more gas.

This in from the Northern Inland Council for the Environment:

KOALA INQUIRY FINDINGS SHOULD TRIGGER RETHINK ON PILLIGA GAS PLANS

The recent findings of the Federal Senate Inquiry into the health and status of the Koala ring alarm bells about the likely impacts of the Pilliga coal seam gas proposal on the local Koala population, according to the Northern Inland Council for the Environment.

“The Senate Inquiry has concluded that the Koala population in NSW and Queensland has undergone a marked decline over the last three decades ” said Carmel Flint, spokesperson for the Northern Inland Council for the Environment.

“The findings have surprised us and increased our concerns about the impact that coal seam gas mining will have on the Koalas in the Pilliga – which are recognised as the largest population west of the Great Dividing Range in NSW.

“The Inquiry recognised the major threats posed to the Koala by habitat degradation, vehicle strikes and fire – all of which are likely to increase in the Pilliga if coal seam gas mining proceeds.

“We will be asking Governments to take the actions recommended by the Inquiry before any further progress is made on assessing the coal seam gas proposal.

“In particular, we want to see a very detailed and comprehensive study to determine the current size, distribution and health of the Koala population in the area.

“We also want to see detailed Koala habitat mapping conducted in the Pilliga and will be seeking a commitment from Governments that important habitat areas will be fully protected from coal seam gas mining” she said.

Image by Victor Garcia.