MAJOR parts of a gas drilling rig are expected to arrive at Beach Energy’s Haselgrove 3 well site this morning after leaving Moomba on three oversized vehicles, accompanied by a police escort.
The Limestone Coast Protection Alliance and community representatives were present at the site from 6am.
Beach Energy and the State Government have described Haselgrove 3 as a conventional well, which will not be fracked.
The Department of State Development labelled the well as exploratory, looking for shale and tight gas.
However, when located, the shale or tight gas can only be extracted by fracking.
Limestone Coast Protection Alliance chair Merilyn Paxton said the well was a gateway to fracking.
“Haselgrove 3 is a Trojan horse which will open the door to fracking in the Limestone Coast and could lead to over 3000 wells across the region,” she said.
“A 2016 peer reviewed report examined 685 scientific papers that clearly showed gasfields cause harm.
“Most of these point to risks to air, water and health, some fracking chemicals are known to cause cancer, damage organs, and interfere with hormones and reproduction.”
The alliance surveyed close to 50 communities with an average of 96pc of people in those communities opposed to gasfields in the region.
“The communities of the Limestone Coast do not want to see any form of gas exploration or extraction in the South East,” Ms Paxton said.
“The Limestone Coast is South Australia’s food bowl, the place where Adelaide people spend their holidays and contribute greatly to the economy of South Australia.
“We do not want to jeopardise our water, fresh air and reputation as a provider of clean and green produce in our state, nationally and across the world.”
