Traditional Owners from the Beetaloo Basin have pledged to continue their opposition to fracking development on their land regardless of who buys Origin Energy’s assets in the Beetaloo Basin.

Traditional Custodians say they are hurting with the ongoing battle against gas companies wanting drill on their Country, in Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin 500km south east of Darwin. But they won’t give up. By Keira Jenkins

The first fracking approval made by the new NT Minister for Environment, allowing Tamboran Resources to drill and frack on Tanumbirini cattle station, puts precious water and sacred waterways at risk, says Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation which represents Traditional Owners across the Beetaloo Basin and one of Australia’s biggest landowners, Rallen Australia.

The resources industry could receive millions of dollars in additional taxpayer-funded grants from the federal government as exploration for gas approaches a tipping point in the Beetaloo Basin.  

Traditional owners and pastoralists in the Northern Territory have had a victory in their legal battle to stop a gas company from clearing land for fracking operations in the gas-rich Beetaloo basin.

The Top End’s Aboriginal heritage watchdog will probe alleged damage to a sacred site during mining exploration amid heated legal action between a gas company, cattle barons and an activist native title group.

A gas company is accused of damaging sacred sites as it begins clearing land for fracking operations in the gas-rich Beetaloo basin.

Traditional Owners of the country on Tanumbirini Station where Tamboran Resources' subsidiary, Sweetpea Petroleum, is currently conducting fracking activities have expressed anger at news that yesterday the company crossed Newcastle Creek, protected under the NT Sacred Sites Act, and went through two large stands of bullwaddy, to clear the seismic lines.

Gas company Tamboran Resources has today locked a gate on Tanumbirini Station on the day it plans to begin seismic activities, blocking entry to station owners and Traditional Custodians from the Beetaloo Basin who were there to inspect the sacred site area of Newcastle Creek which is protected under the NT Sacred Sites Act because of fear of damage from these new works.

Rallen Australia is appealing a decision to grant fracking company Sweetpea Petroleum an access agreement to start work on its Tanumbirini station on grounds that include a failure to protect water infrastructure on the property. Chair of Nurrdalinji, Johnny Wilson, tells Ch 9 News on the first day of the appeal why this is important.  

A delegation of First Nations people are expected to join a collective of artists and creative producers on Thursday to protest a controversial sponsorship deal between the Darwin festival and gas and oil company Santos. 

As Darwin Festival reveals its 2022 program, a delegation of NT Traditional Owners from Larrakia, Tiwi Islands and Beetaloo Basin impacted by Santos gas projects are launching a campaign to see Darwin Festival, the NT’s premiere arts and cultural institution, abandon promotional partnerships with fossil fuel companies, including major sponsor Santos.

The Northern Territory government has stood by its decision to approve four new Origin fracking wells in the Beetaloo Basin on Friday despite strong opposition from an activist native title group.

The approval came on the same day Tamboran Resources cut fences and moved heavy equipment onto Rallen Australia’s cattle station without consent of pastoralists.

A gas company has started exploratory work on a Northern Territory cattle property despite opposition from the station's pastoralists and some traditional owners against fracking. ABC online piece.