When
Tuesday 4th Feb, 2:15 pm

Where
Room B1

Hashtag
#T18

Category
Insight

Presenter
Tsuey Cham

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing has been the focal point of widespread and global public debate. While the resources sector typically sees hydraulic fracturing as a low-risk method for accessing the coal seam and shale gas reserves required to meet growing public demand for energy, some in the community perceive it as an unmanageable and unacceptable risk. Concerns about hydraulic fracturing and the coal seam gas (CSG) industry include the health impacts of chemicals used, contamination of water supplies from fugitive gas after hydraulic fracturing, equity of land and water access, long term impacts on groundwater, and the full life cycle emission of greenhouse gases from CSG compared to that of coal.

In Australia, there has been an increase in coal seam gas (CSG) production over the last five or so years and in some cases this has occurred in locations that previously had no gas or oil production. The rapid growth in the CSG industry coupled with the concerns around the use of hydraulic fracturing has lowered community trust in the industry and government.

This presentation highlights the main psychological drivers behind some of these concerns and a possible approach to effectively address them.