AGL is required to provide a full report to the state government regarding the release of approximately 120,000 litres of saline water onto land at Bulga.
On August 17, the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance notified the Industry and Investment New South Wales of a potential breach of environmental conditions on AGL’s ‘Windermere’ property.
A spokesperson for the department told The Singleton Argus that a site investigation was undertaken by I&I NSW on August 18 to investigate whether discharge of water taken from water bore drill cuttings breached the NSW Office of Water’s water bore drilling licence.
“The quality of water was of concern to I&I NSW with potential to affect soil salinity,” she said.
The spokesperson explained that the department investigations determined that the water release was undertaken following the drilling of water bores to monitor groundwater for which licences were issued by NSW Office of Water under the Water Act 1912.
AGL is the titleholder of PEL267 and have previously been given approval to drill exploration gas wells on the ‘Windermere’ property.
A spokesperson for AGL told The Singleton Argus the purpose of the monitoring bores is to assess water level and water quality changes, and to protect shallow groundwater resources used by the agricultural sector across the area.
“We are aware that representations have been made to regulatory agencies regarding this monitoring program to which AGL has fully cooperated and responded,” the spokesperson said.
Executive officer for the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance John Thomson said the community is concerned that AGL is undertaking practices that are harming the environment, people and surrounding industry.
“This dumped water is dangerously close to the Wollombi Brook and we were told outright by AGL that the water released was brackish,” Mr Thomson told The Singleton Argus.
The Department of Industry and Investment spokesperson told The Singleton Argus that AGL informed the department that approximately 120,000 litres of saline water was released onto the adjacent paddock.
Mr Thomson said the grass where the water was dumped is now dead.
“The problem is that they are exempt from a number of state acts and AGL is not being held accountable for what they are doing,” he said.
Mr Thomson said there is a list of problems that have affected the lives of people in the community, their livelihoods and the environment.
“And this is only the exploration stage,” he said.
“We understand the need for energy sources and the development of new companies, but you can’t have one at the sacrifice of another.
“The government needs to stand up and make a difference, to ensure the preservation of the industry (vineyards) that has been here for over 120 years – we need balance.”
Mr Thomson said he understands that AGL will retain the report on the incident they provide to I&I NSW and it will be AGL’s choice if they are to release it to neighbours or the public.
The department has issued AGL with a direction to remediate the affected site.
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