Initial fracking will be confined to the Beetaloo Basin, south of Katherine, MP Robyn Lambley has claimed.
The Government this year lifted a moratorium on development of deep shale gas reserves.
Solid opposition remains in Katherine to the development.
Minister for Environment and Natural Resources Lauren Moss confirmed in the NT Estimates hearing today that fracking would be confined to the Beetaloo basin over the next 3-5 years.
Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley was questioning the Minister and departmental officials around the SREBAs (Strategic Resource and Environmental Baseline Assessments) that need to be done before production of fracked gas can occur.
These assessments take between 3-5 years.
It was confirmed today that the only SREBA that will be undertaken will be in the Beetaloo basin over the next 3-5 years.
The estimates hearing was told that no other baseline environmental assessment was planned in the NT, and therefore fracking will be contained in the Beetaloo basin for the next 3-5 years, Ms Lambley said.
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Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
