WHAT: A major blaze from Jenema’s gas pipeline began today SW of Rockhampton, cutting gas to Gladstone. This is the latest in a spate of gas pipeline fires in Qld and SA. Tamboran Resources and Empire Energy have plans to build pipelines to sell fracked gas retrieved from their proposed exploration sites in the NT’s Beetaloo Basin. The NT saw very large bushfires across the Barkly tableland in September 2023.

WHO: Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation represents Traditional Owners from the Beetaloo Basin region who seek to protect country, culture and water.

Chair of Nurrdalinji, Djingili Elder Samuel Sandy, who lives in Katherine and was formerly a resident of Elliott said, “If an event like this happened here it would be a catastrophe.

“In the dry we have strong winds that blow across the Territory from south east of the Barkly tableland. The mix of spinifex, highly flammable gum trees and speargrass could turn a similar event into a catastrophe.

“With climate change the risks are getting higher. In the dry last year the fires in the Barkly were terrible, we’d never seen anything like it.

“We’ve seen grass plants burn for miles and miles, for three to four months at a time.

“If Tamboran and Empire get to build their new pipelines they’re going to put countrymen, cattle stations, plants and animals at risk”.