Landowners invited the independent senator and environmental and legal experts to the Darling Downs as they fight large-scale gas expansion eastwards across the Condamine River
, he listened to landowners’ concerns about the impacts of coal seam gas extraction and mining.
“[Landowners are] really concerned about what it means to continue to expand the fossil fuel industry.” For many of the landowners among the hundred or so people listening in on Pocock’s address, the Condamine was once seen as a boundary the gas company would not cross.Wesley Back grows cotton and grains on both sides of the river downstream, with gas wells nearby.
While Back estimates he lost 10% of his yield on a single field, he predicts subsidence will eventually occur across all of his 1,200 hectares of irrigated cropland, requiring it to be levelled again at a huge cost.Subsidence – a known effect of coal seam gas extraction that causes the ground to subside by dozens of centimetres – can occur kilometres from gas wells, meaning landowners who don’t allow gas companies on to their properties will still be effected.
Farmers Garry and Zena Ronnfeldt say dealing with gas companies has been emotionally draining and immensely stressful.“The last three years have been difficult, emotionally draining and an expensive journey,” says Zena Ronnfeldt, who spoke to Guardian Australia“Our time is wasted navigating complex legislation to work out how we can obtain compensation … it is immensely stressful and has come with horrific life cost.