Swan Valley gas fields meetings to be held in Aveley and Muchea

PUBLIC meetings will be held in Aveley and Muchea later this month to discuss plans for industrial gas fields in the Swan Valley.

Lock the Gate Alliance Mid West co-ordinator Simone van Hattem said there was a gas exploration license over a large part of the Swan Valley and the Chittering Valley.

“Southern Sky Energy holds a gas exploration licence running from the heart of the Swan Valley north to an area near Eneabba,” Ms van Hattem said.

“This includes wineries, other key tourist sites, horse studs, productive farm land, Walyunga National Park and residential areas including The Vines.”

A second company, Macallum Group Ltd, holds a 50 per cent stake in the gas licence.

Ms van Hattem said the group was considering future unconventional gas production from the North Perth Basin.

“Unconventional gas mining involves vast gas fields that spread over large areas, and typically include thousands of gas wells, roads, pipelines, compressor stations and waste water treatment,” she said.

“Gas fields are a massive threat to the vibrant tourism and agricultural enterprises in the Swan Valley, and they put our future at risk.”

Lock the Gate Alliance community co-ordinator Annie Kia – who will be speaking – said the meetings were being held in response to concern from local citizens and business owners in the area.

“Community members including winery owners we’ve spoken to, have said they want to protect their water resources and businesses from this type of industry,” she said.

“Come and learn about the risks of shale and tight gas fracking, and how communities in other parts of Australia have fought back against invasive unconventional gas fields and won.”

The Swan Valley Public Meeting will take place at 7pm on Thursday, September 29, at Aveley Community Centre, 22 Bolero Rd Aveley.

The Chittering/Bullsbrook Public Meeting will take place at 7pm on Friday, September 30, at Muchea Hall, 48 Archibald St, Muchea.

All are welcome.