Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jul 28, 2014 11:41 pm Hi all, I've lurked these forums for a while but this is my first post. I have been thinking of building a house at gledswood hills, spring farm, oran park - around that general area. On the news tonight there was a story on the coal seam gas wells in these areas and it seriously put a spanner in the works for me. I was hoping someone would shed some light who may live in the area if they know any facts about these wells. The current wells are near narrelan vale, spring farm and the proposed ones will apparently go up to gledswood hills and near Ingleburn. My sister lives two streets away from an 'active' well according to the map. She didn't seem to know anything about it. I have no idea if this is so something to be concerned about as I've read they are very bad for your health and then have read contradictory information as well... Let me know if you have any information or advice. TIA Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 2Jul 29, 2014 9:45 am After watching a doco called "Gasland" on the ABC or SBS about a year ago there is no way in hell I'd want to live or work anywhere near one of these CSG wells. There have been other programs on these as well which all paint a pretty disturbing picture of their ramifications. Stewie Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 3Jul 29, 2014 11:28 am Thanks Stewie, I have done some more research overnight it's scary to think of how dense the population is around these wells and it's not known what the health implications will be! I think I may stay in another area now Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 5Jul 29, 2014 3:47 pm Hi alanabanana, Will it be directional drilling technology or are they going to frack? From what I last heard (some time ago), the proposed Camden and nearby Campbelltown gas drilling rigs that were going to frack had changed to directional drilling. They were even going to frack next to the Warragamba Dam a few years ago! 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 6Jul 29, 2014 4:17 pm There is a map on this page that's interesting - particularly the number of "wells of unknown status". http://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/coa ... e-numbers/ Be keen to get links from anyone about CSG that provide a balanced perspective too. http://camdenbuild.blogspot.com.au/ by invite only please pm me Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 7Jul 29, 2014 5:09 pm Save h20 - good point I'm not too sure as far as I'm aware it's not directional drilling, but the information is so scarce it's hard to know, THX - I'm not willing to risk mine or my families health based on the chance this could all be 'greenies bs'... I don't really know enough to make an informed decision at this stage, however, I feel it's important to know this risks to make an informed decision. That map is very good too, thanks for the link! Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 9Jul 29, 2014 5:41 pm THX - If you want to know there are plenty of articles online. Like I said there is so much data it's hard to make an informed decision as some investigations have been done independantly, some through the government. If you don't care don't worry about it there is no need to get defensive and have an attitude. If you really don't care don't bother commenting. Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 11Jul 29, 2014 5:47 pm I understand it may give the region a bad name. I am sorry for that. That was never my intention at all. Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 12Jul 29, 2014 6:37 pm Notice that the map shows that Victoria does not allow fracking and West Australia, highly dependent on ground water, is also clean. In Australia, our aquifers MUST be sacrosanct. The nature of coal seam gas extraction requires numerous drilling sites as already seen here in Australia. Looking at the American experience, in 2007 there were already 449,000 gas wells in 32 states and this number has increased by approximately 30,000 wells per annum. The wells however do not have long life spans. Fracking is a cheap way to extract coal seam gas and the financial rewards are huge but the damage to the deep rock layers is irreversible. Due to the horizontal fracturing method used, you don't need to live close to a CSG well to have a potential exposure risk if things go pear shape. There are already documented cases of ground water and surface contamination in Australia and numerous documented cases in the US. Problems arise when the released gases find an escape route to an aquifer and/or to the surface. Australian authorities are mindful of the American experience and the public is generally well informed. The bottom line is that if an area under a housing estate was fracked and the gas found its way to the surface, the housing prices would plummet. I saw a similar example a few years ago in Cranbourne, Victoria when a housing estate was allowed to be built close to a sealed tip site and gas seeped into the estate. http://www.theage.com.au/national/leaki ... -4err.html A similar case of the same happening if deep rock layers under an estate were fracked is possible but the law of probabilities would suggest that it is improbable. You would have to be very unlucky. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 13Jul 29, 2014 6:51 pm SaveH2O In Australia, our aquifers MUST be sacrosanct. + 1 million !! Quote: I saw a similar example a few years ago in Cranbourne, Victoria when a housing estate was allowed to be built close to a sealed tip site and gas seeped into the estate. http://www.theage.com.au/national/leaki ... -4err.html I thought that was the old Frankston tip down near the end of Skye Road. I think that got turned in to a golf course or something years ago. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 14Jul 29, 2014 7:15 pm bpratt I thought that was the old Frankston tip down near the end of Skye Road. I think that got turned in to a golf course or something years ago. No, it was the Cranbourne one on Stevensons Road. The situation also triggered an EPA review of all other closed land fill sites in Victoria. In the past, there has been public protests about a few different sites but action is often an exercise in head banging. The American CSG fracking experience is proof of that. Nevertheless, the method of drilling at the Oran Park site should be first determined. http://www.theage.com.au/national/gasle ... -4hkc.html 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 15Jul 29, 2014 7:17 pm What worries me the most is not the gas escaping into the atmosphere ( from what I undestand it is a pretty inert gas with little harmful effect on the environment ) but the sheer scale and scope of the chemicals that are pumped into the ground to aid fracking! Some of them are downright nasty and the long term effects on our aquifiers would be disastrous. Stewie Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 16Jul 29, 2014 7:40 pm Methane is about 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 17Jul 29, 2014 7:55 pm alanabanana The current wells are near narrelan vale, spring farm and the proposed ones will apparently go up to gledswood hills and near Ingleburn. My sister lives two streets away from an 'active' well according to the map. She didn't seem to know anything about it. Your sister would be even more surprised to learn that there are already more than 140 wells in the Camden area. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 18Jul 29, 2014 9:49 pm Wow interesting stuff guys! Thanks so much for all the information Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 19Jul 30, 2014 9:24 am Quote: What worries me the most is not the gas escaping into the atmosphere ( from what I undestand it is a pretty inert gas with little harmful effect on the environment ) Quote: Methane is about 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2. I meant as a direct impact on our health if you were exposed to it from ground leakage. Greenhouse effect - long term effect for sure. Stewie Re: Spring Farm coal seam gas 20Jul 30, 2014 3:13 pm I found a lot of useful information on the AGL and Camden council websites. Particularly in relation to the northern expansion project which is currently suspended. I know this thread is about Spring Farm, but we have land at Willowdale (Leppington) which is part of this expansion project and I know there are a lot of other new estates that would be in this area as well that may be affected. I am reading as much as possible to find out more as all I know about this is also from the Gasland documentary which shocked me. I am not jumping to any conclusions because I don't know enough about it. I think community concerns need to be addressed though and anyone purchasing land to build or buying property in the SW Sydney area should have all the information necessary to make an informed decision. From what I have read, the expansion project is suspended because Camden council wants to know more about the long term implications on health, environment etc. as there isn't enough known about this. Also AGL have suspended to be able to address growing community concerns first. Therefore I don't doubt that eventually this expansion may go ahead. I know there are exclusion zones to include all existing and future residential areas but it is for all new coal seam gas activities. It is prohibited within these residential zones and on land within 2 kms. 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