Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC), Media Release, 17 May 2024

The 24 councils of Western Queensland have welcomed recent public comment from state and federal representatives which add a boost to the growing call to shut down Glencore’s proposed injection of industrial waste into the Great Artesian Basin.  

The Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) is encouraged by responses from Premier Steven Miles, Senator Murray Watt and earlier Minister Glenn Butcher regarding the Glencore-owned carbon capture and storage project.

Premier Miles’ statement last week underlined what our communities, industry and landholders have been saying for some time, indeed the proposal “doesn’t sound like a good idea”¦ the groundwater that is relied upon by our farmers isn’t worth risking.”

Carpentaria Shire Mayor, Jack Bawden, Chair of the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils said:

“It appears common sense is starting to find its way to the powers-that-be, bringing with it welcome commentary that we ultimately hope turns into action to stop the project. 

“The WQAC is calling on both governments to shut down the self-serving efforts of resources company to meet their environment obligations at the expense of rural and remote communities and the agriculture sector. “

Balonne Shire Mayor, Samantha O’Toole, Chair of the South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils said:

“It is good news to see the State government beginning to see sense after the Morrison and Albanese Federal governments ignored the seriousness and risk of the proposal and opted to handball the issue to the State.

“We call on the two levels of government to not be blinkered by these high-risk, short-term solutions to meeting environmental goals at long term risks and devastating consequences.”

Longreach Region Mayor, Tony Rayner, Chair of the CWQ Remote Area Planning and Development Board said:

“We are not the only communities across the globe who are raising the alarm at projects like these. While travelling in the USA recently speaking with landholders and energy professionals it was clear the very real risk is contamination of aquifers.”

“Underlining our mutual concerns is a news story from the Washington Post on what’s currently happening in Montana, (“Biden and oil companies like this climate tech. Many Americans do not”, 11 May 2024) you could change the names, and the issues and comments would be identical to those in Queensland.

“Our message is simple – don’t mess with the Great Artesian Basin. Western Queenslanders know the incredible value of the GAB and are unanimous in their opposition to unleashing the unknown on our communities and economies.”

The WQAC recently provided a submission to the Federal to Inquiry into Glencore’s proposed carbon capture and storage project outlining its opposition in further detail. Read the submission.