If you work in the CSG industry, or, live in a town where there is CSG activity, you will no doubt have seen the amount of mining vehicles traveling along the roads of late.

These are predominately dual cab utes, or medium to large RV's and, they often have no passengers.

So, given that the industry boasts about the amount of emissions they can potentially save, by providing the option of burning natural gas for fuel, as opposed to coal, don't you think it's a bit ironic that they have so many fossil fuel burning vehicles on the road, most without passengers.

Not really, no.

Rechtub no, good try but firm no.
Tax breaks exist in using these vehicles.
As the word Utility says they have many uses, and are standard in construction industry.
Safety, rough roads steep hills, give another reason.
Are you aware the first importing agent, for our biggest selling brand of 4x4 was QLDs Thiess brothers?
I worked for them twice before the take over.
And would not fancy being in a roll over on a dirt track in a small car.
Suppose you know that brand? and that almost every farmer has at least one.
Starts with Toy ends with ota.

Belly, who said anything about tax breaks, or even the fact that they buy toyotas, nissans, mitsubihis to name a few.

The whole point is, why so many one person vehicles on the road. Surely they can car pool,afterall, most come and go from the same places.

I just think it's a contradiction to suggest on the one hand that the gas they produce is cleaner energy, yet on the other hand they appear to waste so much fossil fuel in the form of one person trips, while performing the task of extracting the gas.

The other irony of coal seam gas is it appears to be the only thing that actually allows you to eat your cake, & have it too.

You can harvest the gas that would be lost to the atmosphere when digging the coal, generate lots of power. Then you can come back later, harvest the coal, & still generate all that lovely power again.

Almost like perpetual motion, isn't it?

Rechtub you fail to understand, I know what you are saying.
You however do not understand the subject.
If they needed a bus they would have one.
Those Utes can one day or even hourly,have one or four passengers.
Can be in coal seam gas today road construction tomorrow.
They must be safe for the job, and work sites they are on.
Some even have suspensions factory modified for purpose.
They Carry tools and some very expensive testing gear.
Even radio active testing gear.
It is pointless telling us about a perceived waste if you do not understand the very real safety issues.
TAX? mate work Utes are not taxed like cars.
leave you to play but it remains unlikely a rollover would take place in a butcher shop.

Belly, I live and work part time at a mining town.

I traveled from Chincilla to Miles one afternoon and counted 75 mining utes passing me in the opp direction, most of them had only the driver in them.

Tax and safety have nothing to do with the fact that many of these vehicles are wasted. Or more so, are burring fossil fuel, which by the way is what the industry is competing with.

Most mining sites are a 6 to 6 shift, so they all leave for work at 6am and get back to their rooms/camps at 6pm. Why all the vehicles, that's all I am asking.

Now as for you once again accusing me of being I'll informed, a trait of yours, I actually have a gas test site on my land, so how better informed could I be.

There are often up to ten utes at my property in any one day. Now some come and go, but many stay all day, then the driver takes himself back home, often without any passengers.

I seriously think you are out to make an argument most times.

Butch,
My concern here, from a retired cockys point of view, is about the practice of fracking and land subsidence from mining.

Now I admitt to not researching the issue, but any threat to contaminating ground water supplies must be of concern. Lots of cockys rely on ground water.

Be interested to read others comments. Seems our rural industries get overlooked all the time, by governments and vested interests.

Banjo I have the same concern about water. I do think contamination is more likely from shallower coal seam than shale gas.

I would be more worried, & spend more time researching the subject, if I did not now discount every single thing said by a greenie, or a green group such as Greenpeace as untrue. They, & their tame "scientists" have been caught out spinning, & telling straight out lies in every cause they take up. Like the boy who called wolf, I now ignore them.

This is a pity, as there will probably be some areas where there is some truth in the concern, & even a few which are really dangerous. However just trying to uncover this would have you spend all your time chasing lies.

Wouldn't it be great if we could find a green group who actually told the truth, all the way to "we don't know" when that was the case. I'm still waiting for those flying pigs too.

Yes Banyo, an interesting point.

What many cockies don't realize, is that they don't actually own the ground water, nor do they have an 'as of right' usage claim.

So, if the GW is effected, I wonder if they have any claim against those who have effected it.

What I do know is that gas companies now have to test any bores within a certain distance and, should that bore be effected by the gas activity, then the gas company is required 'by law' to 'make good' any damage they have caused.

In extreme cases, this means trucking in replacement water?

But as I say, the cockies don't own the water, so unless they have irrigation rights i doubt they have many rights to compensation.

It will be interesting if damage does occur.

Rechtub, you and I are not invulnerable.
We both put our thoughts and opinions out there.
Both of us, are subject to being told we are wrong.
You,and I must except that.
And that we are sometimes wrong.
Your 60 Utes, was it raining? all from one company?
Was training scheduled at a central point,is it the case they had some place they all needed to be.
What would you provide them with, is it worth sending two if only one is needed.
A Ute cost nothing, so much less than you or me pay, it Carry's so much in the back you never see.
A life costs much more.
Firms buy Utes because they demand safety,the flags flying on top are so you will see them over a hill.
each is a mobile office phone computer and radios.
I know of no other thing that can cross creeks climb hills and big ones.
I think you are under informed here, look at health and safety pages from open cut mines gas seam mines.
You will see crushed Utes and wounder how anyone walked away.
I take no blame for saying on this issue you are under informed and nit picking.

Belly, sorry mate, but I give up.

You are simply impossible!

Belly, can't help myself, I re read your last post, where you said...

I take no blame for saying on this issue you are under informed and nit picking.

How can I be under informed, I live and work in a mining town and, I have a CSG project on my own property.

How better informed could I be.

As for nit picking, all I am trying to say is that it appears ironic that on the one hand these companies are trying to reduce emissions, yet on the other they produce more than the need by having all these diesel powered utes on the roads, most with only the driver.

the irony..is..our electicity is going up
abouve the price of inflation..to build massive pipelines..

into the never never
so exporters can get their gas
piped to the ports we built for them

infastructure my butt
its helping multinational mates..loot plunder the gas resources

and your extra power costs..go thusly
just like govt is subsidsising..big poluters[with your carbon taxes]

who are these 500 alone who must pay
its those few self funded retirees..who use lesss than the govt subsidy...to big abusing pensioners..[ditto water etc etc]

insurance for auto's should be on fuel
not just a generalised eploitative ururous rate
for those who like me are flat out using a tank of fuel; per year

im paying a dollar per mile
just for insurance..for the mugs driving all day

who owns the salvage rights to the gas lines
whebn that becomes obsolete in 20 years?

yet another govt mate!

ok caught up
the one driver..driving a huge truck
to get to a to b...on subsidised diesal...
in a tax egsempt vehicle..[are they paying rego?]

[from the 12 billion
fuel slushfund subsidy..to mates]
from the fraud grenie slushy fund[12 billion]
that sems a roundish number..accorded to mates...
[not..*in the 500..and those of this delusional 'only 500'?

alone...lol
who will take!
what we must pay

greenies will be the death of us
but business is business...they all drive them big truck's
to help them fel omnipotant*..[big dik sin-drone]

mine bigger than yourn
[nope they aint..they are BOTH >>big boys toys...[their iota/quota]

bonus
bone us
bo nouse

OUG, the fuel subsidy is about to go here in QLD.

Now who do you think will pay for that, the consumer of cause.

As for rego, etc, I have always felt that these expenses should be taxed as a levy on fuel, rego, insurance, third party. We shoukd pay a small annual fee, depending on the size of your vehicle, then the more you drive, the more you pay. That's how a user pays system should work.

If you don't want the extra expense, walk, ride a bike, or, take public transport, but only if you can afford it.

A weekly train ticket, Burpengary to the CBD, $75, about 40km, each way, now that's a joke.

Of cause, if you're a single mum, or on the dole you don't pay that. Go figure!

you raise some big points
that i agree are verging on insane..
but such is the fruit of absolute power

if newman...wanmts to bring in a new way..
he should return to the old ways..i recall trams for a penny
[but no public transport should cast more than two bucks[return=free]

newmans neway..might include putting back[that upper house]
and linking 'royalties'..to inflation[if its good enough to link smokers taxes to inflation so to those plundering and looting it via govt paid infastructure

se govt could pay off ITS WHOLE DEBT
just weith the last mine it helped clive setup

things stink
half the access fees to all services
[otr make a base componant free...like rego of the car..id's the car's owner

[why fine someone for having a bald tyre..
[if clearly its cause they are broke]..

better govt order and pay..
for new tyres..[that the now safe driver repays]
[intrest/fee..[and fine].. free]

[only paying to make his vehicle 'safe'!]

same thing if the car is a public danger
govt puts up a credit line[via the cop's authorisation]..to buy a better /safer vehicle..[GOVT MUST BE ABOUT SERVICES.delivery..FOR THE PUBLIC SAFTY!

if polution is making ITS PEOPLE SICK
then govt should take the gloves off...[acts of treason to the people..should costy big[but blooming miners dig a hole..and leave]

then reclaiom the metal
or export it to their next free lunch

govt can do it better than any clive palmer can!
yes i know your a capitalist..but govt should not be for proffit!

just service/protecting the weak
not thinking of ways to give cash to the middle classes

my power bill is under 60 a quarter
govt solar cells...would actually make more power..
than i could ever use...[there is asured return on investment..

mine would put power back into the grid
but others leech the night rate non stop..and get paid off at twice peak rate[its insane]

[but the present scam only works..with that topup

[buy back..lol at double true prices]..
its a scam...

and plus govt lays on the rail/pipeline ports..tunnels..
for free..[so capitalists can get a free lunch..or levie]

he newman
has the oppertuinity..to really change things for the better

but will he?
im thinking here may/be..a great man
[especially when compared to the loosers..that followed tom burns]

the last great queenslander!
who knew the importance of SERVICE..for the voters

not slander/revenue raiding
from voter fools/idiots..[legal term imbisiles]
waifs/wards/and hoons

buy baxk the forrest
subdivide that 39,000 hectares..inmto a future town
that develops shops homes roads etc [as the trees are harvested]
and a new forrest is planted]...just selling that hectarige[by future valuations]..should reap back billions...

whats half a million..[or say FROM 300,000 per hectare...
times 35.000 hectares..a lot more than 800million anna blight sold it for..

gheck it may be 'proceeeds of crime'
and newman gets it for free..[but lets offer a billion..
or just money plus costs..*back]..no end to the good govt promised

no end to the vile it dun