A high pressure gas pipeline inferno that has erupted in Central Queensland has triggered an outcry across those opposed to the construction of fracked gas pipelines in the Northern Territory.

Traditional owners from the Beetaloo Basin are concerned about the Tamboran Resource’s fracking plans, and have submitted their opposition to the project. 

Dear Ms Plibersek,

Request to use the expanded water trigger for Tamboran Resources’ NT gas projects

Nurrdalinji Native Title Aboriginal Corporation represents native title holders from the Beetaloo
Basin who seek to self-determine what happens on country and protect it for future generations.

We note our letter to you dated 2 February 2024 which urges you to recognise Aboriginal
cultural heritage in the revised Water Trigger Significant Impact Guidelines as a result of
expanding the water trigger to shale gas.

We are now writing to invite you to do everything you can do to protect our precious and sacred
water resources from fracking, by exercising your powers under the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Full letter here.

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources is investigating if Empire Energy has been given Research & Development grants in preparation for fracking in the Beetaloo Basin. This is contrary to the R&D program’s rules, Kim Wingerei reports.

The Northern Territory Government has announced that a natural gas pilot project at Shenandoah South in the Beetaloo Sub-basin has been successfully completed.

Traditional Owners from the Beetaloo Basin have criticised the federal government after it confirmed a probe into whether millions of dollars of public funds were given to oil and gas companies through a research and development scheme that explicitly excludes fossil fuel exploration.

Environmentalists say the planned expansion of fracking operations in the Beetaloo Basin increases the need for water samples to be taken quickly after incidents are reported. (James Elton)

Word first emerged about the discovery of dead fish in the small community of Marlinja, south of Katherine, on January 15.

Traditional Owners comment on today’s coverage of the NT government’s failure to respond to water quality risks from flooding across the Beetaloo Basin and, in particular, a fish kill incident at Marlinja. The ABC reports it took 4 days for officials to assess the site.

Last week the Federal Government passed a bill to expand the water trigger to include fracking projects.

The move means any unconventional gas projects will need to be approved by an independent body before they go ahead.