Politicians, farmers and industry leaders fight to against carbon capture project in Great Artesian Basin

Politicians, farmers and industry leaders from across the state have met in Brisbane to express their concerns to the premier surrounding plans for a carbon capture project in the Great Artesian Basin.

Queensland mayors have unanimously opposed the trial of a carbon capture project in the Great Artesian Basin.

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation and the Local Government Association of Queensland met with mayors and industry leaders in Brisbane last weekend to express their concerns surrounding the project to the premier.

The proposed carbon capture trial located near Moonie would see up to 110,000 tonnes of liquefied carbon dioxide injected into the precipice sandstone aquifer, between 2250m to 2350m below the surface annually.

The Great Artesian Basin.

Covering more than 1.7 million square kilometres, the basin spans more than a fifth of the continent, is worth about $13bn to the national economy and is a vital resource for communities and businesses.

Western Downs mayor Andrew Smith said those in attendance had put on a strong unified front against the project.

“It was a great meeting, the feeling I get is the state government are very much aligned with agriculture, councils, business, conservationists and everyday people on the street in regards to protecting the Great Artesian Basin,” he said.

“It is really about how important the Great Artesian Basin is to not only our region but also to the western mayors and agriculture, it is a national asset that needs to be protected.

“At no stage have I seen such a varied group of people all aligned with one message which is around protecting and not risking the Great Artesian Basin.”

Mayor Andrew Smith.

At the meeting the mayors expressed fears that injecting any substance into the basin could contaminate the water supply and impact water pressure across the basin, which supplies more than 180,000 people across inland Australia.

“There is a planning process in place but certainly as part of that planning process everyone in the room were very clear in protecting the basin,” Mr Smith said.

“The feedback we have had from the department and minister’s office is there are real risks around this trial so the Western Downs Regional Council have been supporting our agriculture industry, there are also concerns as to the impact it would have on us in an urban perspective if things go wrong.

“The government was very clear the planning process needs to occur and that planning process will come back in early May so we aren’t too away far from that.”

Mr Smith said he was confident the state government would make the right decision.

“I don’t want to pre-empt the result, but we are all hoping it is a positive result for those who are against the project,” he said.

“My personally feelings are one of confidence but we are also really aware there is a process that needs to occur outside of just words.”

Originally published as Politicians, farmers and industry leaders fight to against carbon capture project in Great Artesian Basin