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!