. 
Damaging CSG Mining Effects
40,000+ gas wells across the Surat Basin.
350,000 megalitres water per year from the Great Artesian Basin.
2,000,000+ tonnes salt/yr into the Murray-Darling Basin.
400,000+ hectares land LOST from food production
Aerial shots of the environmental impact of Coal Seam Gas Mining.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
These comments are not about the alluvium, they pertain to other aquifers, however they are still all part of the GAB.
Direct Quotes from Santos GLNG Project – Environmental Impact Statement 31/3/2009– 13,500 pages
(emphasis added)Appendix P2: Groundwater
[Section 3.4.2]
“In all fields there is potential for water to move vertically from aquifers above and below the wellfield into the coal seams as a result of the huge pressure differential caused by the drawdown of groundwater heads. “
[Section3.5.2]
“Because the Walloon Coal Measures have been dewatered and the only source of replenishment is the Hutton Sandstone, it is expected that the rate of recovery of water levels in the Walloon Coal Measures will be very slow and drawdown in the Hutton Sandstone aquifer will continue for many hundreds of years after operations cease.”
Section 6: Groundwater
[Section 6.6.2.5]
“To enable desorption of the gas from the coal, pressure in the coal seam must be lowered. The amount of pressure reduction required is dependent both on the elevation of the coal seam, the ambient coal seam water pressure and the properties of the coal, but can be up to around 6,000 KPa (equivalent to 600 m of water “head”).”
[Section 6.6.6]
“The Mooga Sandstone unit is extensively utilized across the CSG fields, providing moderate borehole yields and has limited effective storage”
“The high groundwater utilization, rapid response to recharge and variable hydrochemistry indicates that Mooga Sandstone aquifer is vulnerable to possible groundwater contamination or dewatering.”
[Section 6.6.2.4]
In the Roma CSG field groundwater is used for domestic consumption and stock watering purposes and is derived predominantly from the Mooga and Gubberamunda Sandstone aquifers. The Mooga and Gubberamunda Sandstone aquifers provide the only currently source of groundwater supply for urban purposes for Roma and towns in the surrounding area. As a result of the current demands on the Mooga and Gubbermunda Sandstone aquifers, it is anticipated that additional future supplies will be required to be drawn from the deeper Hutton Sandstone. The Hutton Sandstone underlies the Walloon Coal Measures and is relatively undeveloped in the Roma area due to its depth.”
“Models predictions indicate possible depressurization within the Hutton Sandstone aquifers due to dewatering of the Roma CSG coal seam aquifers.”
[Section 6.6.7]
The Hutton Sandstone forms one of the major Great Artesian Basin (GAB) aquifers within the CSG fields due to its physical characteristics, thickness (120 to 180m) and transmissitivity, which results in significant groundwater bearing potential.”
“This good groundwater potential, high current abstraction, and fresh groundwater quality within the Hutton Sandstone aquifer indicates the need to protect this aquifer.”