NZ: Threat from toxic fracking fluid

Oppose transport of fracking fluid

Wednesday, 7 December 2011, 11:31 am

Press Release: Green Party

07 December 2011

Scoop,

7 December, 2011

The transportation of toxic fracking fluid from Gisborne to Taranaki must be prevented, the Green Party said today.

“Transporting toxic fracking fluid from Gisbourne to Taranaki is an environmental disaster waiting to happen and is also culturally offensive,” Green Party waste spokesperson David Clendon said

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Mr Clendon’s comments came after a meeting at Mangatu Marae near Gisborne last night where representatives from Canadian-based Apache and Tag Oil revealed their intention to transport fracking fluid by truck across the North Island.

“Fracking fluid is a mix of water contaminated with hydrocarbons and a cocktail of chemicals. It makes no sense to accept the environmental and health risks of a transport accident.”

Mr Clendon said it was culturally offensive to be carrying waste which local people fear will pollute the water resource in Taranaki.

“There is active opposition from both Maori and non-Maori in Te Tairawhiti, where the oil companies plan to frack as part of their ‘exploratory’ programme, and in Taranaki where the waste is to be dumped,” Mr Clendon said.

“Water is of important cultural significance to all New Zealanders. Unless it can be proven that fracking, and the disposal of fracking fluid, can be done safely we should not accept the risk to our environment, our people and our economy.”

The Green Party has called for an immediate moratorium on fracking until it can be shown the process poses no threat to New Zealand’s environment or to human health.

“It is so dangerous, there is a moratorium on fracking in many places around the world at the moment, including NSW, Quebec, parts of USA, and France,” Mr Clendon said.

“We have a petition asking Parliament to direct the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to conduct an inquiry into the practice of fracking.

“New Zealand doesn’t need to resort to high risk, dated technologies like fracking which could wreck our clean green brand, when we have a wealth of smart green energy opportunities that will deliver real prosperity.”

The Frack No! petition can be downloaded at www.greens.org.nz/fracking