Scientists have discovered a flourishing ecosystem of tiny cave-dwelling crustaceans living deep within the aquifers in the Northern Territory's Beetaloo basin, sparking concerns over the environmental risks of an on-shore shale gas industry.
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The tiny aquatic animals known as stygofauna, found across a distance of approximately 500 kilometres from Mataranka to Elliott, were first discovered in 2019 by researchers from Australia's national science agency, CSIRO and Charles Darwin University.
Combining fishing rods and nets with water pumps and cutting-edge eDNA analysis, researchers were able to detect amphipods, ostracods, copepods, syncarids, and even a shrimp called Parisia unguis - measuring up to 20 millimetres - previously recorded at the Cutta Cutta caves near Katherine.
Kirsty Howey, co-director of the Environment Centre of the Northern Territory says the research could "derail plans for fracking and large scale irrigated agriculture" across the Northern Territory.
"If groundwater aquifers are contaminated, or significantly drawn down by irrigated agriculture activities, then these stygofauna could be irreversibly impacted and the Northern Territory's groundwater quality could be damaged," she said.
Peak anti-fracking body chimes in
According to ECNT almost 90 per cent of the Northern Territory's water comes from groundwater sources, where Stygofauna play an important part in keeping aquifers healthy.
"ECNT calls on the Northern Territory Government to immediately prioritise funding for this vital research about our stygofauna, and to work towards protecting these creatures that are so vital for all life in the Northern Territory," Ms Howey said.
"These creatures should undoubtedly be listed under the Northern Territory's Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, and the Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act so that they can enjoy some measure of protection. In the meantime, all fracking and large-scale irrigated agriculture projects must be put on hold."
The NT's peak anti-fracking body Protect Country Alliance echoed similar concerns.
"The report confirms the worst fears of Territorians about risks to groundwater if fracking goes ahead as planned," Protect Country Alliance spokesman Graeme Sawyer said.
He said the discovery of a high degree of aquatic connectivity shows there is a significant risk of widespread contamination in the event of contamination or pollution from fracking.
"If stygofauna are destroyed due to a fracking spill, or methane leaks, the quality of water will also suffer," Mr Sawyer said.
"The problem is not just that there is a high level of interconnectedness of the groundwater, but also that these stygofauna are incredibly vital for cleaning the water accessed by communities and businesses across the NT. Groundwater is the basis of life and economic prosperity in these regions.
"There is no known way for fracking companies to drill, frack, and seal gas wells that totally eliminates the risk of contamination."
CSIRO scientist Dr Gavin Rees said the discovery of the same stygofaunal species dotted widely across separate area indicate "high connectivity" within the aquifer. The report states: "risk of contamination by pollutants associated with shale gas and other industries in the region must be mitigated sufficiently to prevent contaminants from entering this subterranean aquifer of high connectivity."
"CSIRO's Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance is undertaking further research to quantify the risk of contamination impacts on stygofauna from possible industrial spill events," Dr Rees said.
"This research takes into account migration pathways and processes, including adsorption, dilution and microbial metabolism in soils and aquifers as well as the suspected high connectivity in groundwater systems."
Implications are significant
Mr Sawyer said the findings of the report had serious and wide-reaching implications for businesses and communities across the NT.
"This significantly raises the risk profile fracking presents for the cattle industry, horticulture, and mango industry, as well as tourism and recreational fishing," he said.
"The Gunner Government has rolled out the red carpet for the fracking industry before adequate science has been completed.
"The Pepper Inquiry never gave the green light to fracking. It said reports like this groundwater study needed to be completed before final decisions could be made.
"We are calling for an immediate reinstatement of the fracking moratorium in light of these latest findings until the required science is complete."
The stygofauna sampling program is part of a suite of CSIRO's GISERA research projects either completed or in progress in the Northern Territory, in line with Scientific Inquiry recommendations.
