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Polocrosse players back in the saddle at Tara
THE thunder of horse hooves reverberating across the Tara Showgrounds was music to the ears of polocrosse players who travelled from as far as the Gold Coast and Calliope for the state’s first carnival since March.
Easing lockdowns finally allowed the sport to resume, but it took time for clubs to navigate restrictions and commit players for a full scale event.
In a pleasing response for organisers, some 23 teams comprising 120 riders travelled to Tara, playing around 80 games over the Father’s Day weekend.
Tara Polocrosse Club president Ronnie Stephens said players relished being back in the saddle and reuniting with the sport’s extended community.
“There was a lot more planning than a regular carnival to make sure we complied with current restrictions,” Stephens said.
“QSport and the Queensland Polocrosse Association developed a safety plan for us and that really helped us get it all across the line.”
Stephens said rusty racquet work would have been forgiven with so little polocrosse having been played this year, but the standard was high in the circumstances.
“The level of polocrosse was really good considering everyone’s only just coming back from a big break,” he said.
“We had juniors right through to top tier state players.
“Everyone was very thankful for us running the carnival. People were just really keen to get back out playing again.”
Chinchilla player Michael Barker had a busy weekend in the saddle, playing for his local club and also umpiring several games.
He said participants were making the most of the carnival and getting the most out of their horses as well.
“It was great to finally get out and play polocrosse again,” Barker said.
“We weren’t playing for anything in particular, so it was great to just have a run and have some friendly competition. A lot of players took the opportunity to get their young and new horses going.
“It was also great to catch up with all of our mates from all over the state who play polocrosse. We haven’t had much chance to see them throughout the Covid.”
Clifton Polocrosse Club will host the next carnival on September 12-13 before Tansey rounds out the season on September 26-27.
LISTEN: Could you live on 40L a day? Rural Aid CEO discusses #FinishWaterWaste campaign
THE nationwide #FinishWaterWaste campaign has just relaunched with the goal of donating 10 million litres of water to drought affected communities.
The campaign aims to surpass the success of last year’s inaugural campaign which saw 6.8 million litres delivered to farmers around Australia.
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#FinishWaterWaste is a joint initiative between dishwashing powder company Finish and Coles supermarkets to encourage Australians to curb their daily water usage to 40 litres.
The campaign claims 40 litres can be saved by not pre-rinsing dishes before stacking them in a dishwasher, and claims the average daily water usage by Australians can exceed 300 litres.
Finish will donate 40L of water for every social media post which uses the #FinishWaterWaste hashtag and demonstrates water saving activities.
The company will also donate 40L of water to Rural Aid every time Finish Quantum Ultimate Pro is purchased at Coles stores nationwide.
Donated water will be distributed by Rural Aid.
For more information visit the Finish Water Waste website.
Goondiwindi cricketers line up for inaugural Big Bash
TO counter the disappointment of many regional sporting fixtures being cancelled this year, Goondiwindi’s cricket clubs have devised a novel way to bring residents and businesses back to local sport in 2020.
Running over two Saturdays starting September 5, the inaugural Gundi BBL will be a colourful and competitive local version of the ever-popular KFC Big Bash League.
A silent auction was conducted in Goondiwindi, allowing local businesses to purchase naming rights to a team and be part of a players draft process.
Ten players from each of the district’s eight clubs were put forward for the draft. The draft resulted in four squads of 15 players.
September 5 will be a round robin fixture. Finals will be held the following Saturday, September 12. Games will be played at both the Goondiwindi Golf Club and the Barry McGregor Oval.
Event coordinator Scott Baker said organisers were excited by the support the event had received and were looking forward to an enjoyable day of social cricket with spectators.
“There seems to be quite a bit of community support and a lot of hype around it,” he said.
“We are hoping that having a COVID Safe Plan will give us the opportunity for the weekend to go ahead without any further restrictions.”
THE TEAMS
LOWES PETROLEUM “Lowes Sons of Pitch“
BEST EMPLOYMENT “Best Trailblazers“
FRASER VALUERS & DOONKAMI AUSTRLIAN WHITES “Fraser Razors“
CARPENDALE COMMODITIES & KNIGHT COMMODITIES “Carpendale Knightriders“
For more information, including team lists and fixtures, visit the Goondiwindi District Cricket Association’s Facebook page.
LISTEN: 2020 Walking Netball season runs its course
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ANOTHER successful season of women’s Walking Netball has concluded on the Western Downs. In a tight grand final, the Chinchilla Lightning beat Miles with a score of 16-11. Walking Netball has become an increasing popular sport for women in the region, who enjoy the exercise and social outlet. This year the ages of participants ranged from 14 to 67 years, and in another nice touch, among the teams were three mother-daughter combinations.
EXCLUSIVE: Coal seam gas water spills into farmland as Condamine River tributary Charleys Creek bubbles
30 August 2020
By HARRY CLARKE
SUBSURFACE water has been spurting from the ground and coal seam gas has been bubbling in areas of the Condamine River catchment where it’s never been seen before, in a shock development that has landholders deeply concerned about future farming viability.
Gas company Origin has been working around the clock on farmland south of Chinchilla to put caps over historical coal drilling holes, which in mid-July became fountains of water being pushed to the earth’s surface from underground coal seams.
The phenomenon has been occurring on the northern side of the Condamine River and west of the Chinchilla Weir where Origin, regional operator of the Australia Pacific LNG project, has been in its early stages of coal seam gas development.
It remains unclear exactly what triggered the sudden gas and water seepages but landholders say they have no doubt the problem is linked to changes in subsurface pressures caused by CSG development which recently began on properties in the vicinity.
“At first we thought ‘oh my goodness, this is a disaster'”
RACHAEL PASCOE, LANDHOLDER
There are hundreds of coal exploration holes in the area which were drilled as far back as the 1980s under a coal exploration lease now owned by Yancoal.
Water suddenly surfaced from five of the holes, but there are concerns many more have the potential to also begin flowing with salty coal seam gas water.
“These coal exploration bore holes are not lined or cased like gas wells, providing a potential path for water and gas to move between the shallow geology in the area and in some cases lift and come to the surface,” Origin said in a statement to the Caller.
Origin has now successfully capped the holes and has also ramped up testing and monitoring of gas seeps in the broader area. Bubbling in Charleys Creek has now ceased, Origin said.
“Origin’s position is that while we aren’t responsible for the ongoing management of these old coal exploration bores, we are prepared to work with our landowners and government on a case-by-case basis to remediate from an environmental and safety perspective,” the statement said.
“We have been given authorisation from government under the relevant legislation to plug and abandon four of these coal holes on behalf of others.”
Yancoal purchased the coal exploration lease for the area in 2011, after the bore holes were drilled.
Yancoal said it was assisting Origin, landholders and the government where possible to address the issues, noting its lease for the area was separate to its nearby Cambey Downs mine operation.
“While Yancoal is not the subject of compliance action by the regulator on this matter, nevertheless we are providing assistance to both Origin and the regulator to address these issues,” Yancoal’s statement said.
“We are working constructively and collaborating with the government regulator and Origin to assess the situation in relation to other plugged and abandoned coal exploration holes that are not presently impacted by the current issues.”
“We have been given authorisation … to plug and abandon four of these coal holes on behalf of others”
ORIGIN ENERGY
Origin has had to obtain approval from the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy before works to seal the water spills could begin, which delayed the mitigation process.
A statement by the Department said landholders were not responsible for remediating issues relating to boreholes from resource exploration or mining activities.
“Issues arising from legacy boreholes are assessed and managed on a case-by-case basis by a multidisciplinary team of experts from government, engaging with industry and the landholder,” the DNRME statement said.
“While most issues are resolved collaboratively and without difficulty, if responsibility is not clear, the Queensland Government can investigate and has the power to take compliance action that may include directing the relevant party to resolve the issue.”
BUBBLING IN CHARLEYS CREEK
CONTACT THE COUNTRY CALLER: news@countrycaller.com.au
As well as from the coal holes, gas and salty water has also surfaced in farming dams and from within the bed of Charleys Creek, a tributary of the Condamine River which runs through the Chinchilla township.
Origin said the recent emergence of bubbles was “an extension” of the issue relating to the coal holes, but stopped short of attributing it to the company’s nearby CSG development, some of which began only this year on a property bordered by the creek.
See Origin’s full statement below.
Research by the CSIRO published in 2017 found underground coal seam gas seeps caused bubbling in the Condamine River to occur naturally.
Video of particularly vigorous bubbling in the Condamine River near the Chinchilla Weir – which can be ignited when combined with an accelerant – went viral online in 2012.
The CSIRO report attributed this to pressure changes resulting from widespread flooding which occurred in the catchment in 2011.
The report claimed the gas seeps had no “adverse environmental impact on the plant or animal life of the river and its surroundings”.
Bubbling in Charleys Creek has eased since the seepage mitigation work has been carried out.
However, the water surfacing from the bed of the creek had low levels of salt, creating great concern among local farmers about the potential for longer term water contamination, should the problem arise again.
CONCERN FOR LANDHOLDERS
The property where the water and gas spills have occurred is owned by Tony and Rachael Pascoe who, with two sons, are a fifth generation grazing and cropping family.
Before these incidents there was no CSG activity on their property.
The landholders were suddenly forced to spend weeks accommodating urgent mitigation works amid fears the gas and water leaks would damage the country and pose an ongoing threat to their business.
Ms Pascoe said her sons discovered the coal holes spurting water when they were checking on a herd of their cattle.
“At first we thought ‘oh my goodness, this is a disaster,’” Ms Pascoe said.
“Tony tasted the water and it tasted salty, so that hit an alarm bell. It was running down towards our irrigation channel, so we were worried about what the water was going to do to the soil and the crop.”
She said despite the recent spills having been remediated, the prospect of more gas and water problems related to CSG development would be an ongoing concern.
“We have a good relationship with Origin but at the end of the day, they are no different to any other business. They’re out to make money,” Ms Pascoe said.
“Unlike other businesses, we live where our business is, and sometimes I don’t think they get that whole attachment to the land that farmers have.
“We have an environmental responsibility. The generations before us looked after the land so that we can have a successful business, so it’s our responsibility to do the same for future generations.”
RACHAEL PASCOE
CONTACT THE COUNTRY CALLER: news@countrycaller.com.au
STATEMENT FROM ORIGIN
The edge of the Surat Basin is characterised by extensive contemporary and historical or legacy coal exploration. The underlying geology in this area is rich in shallow natural gas resources associated with coal formations. Gas companies like Origin and coal share overlapping resource tenure – and there are hundreds of coal bore holes within this area where the Walloon coals, the target zone for both coal mining and coal seam gas development, is close to the surface.
These coal exploration bore holes are not lined or cased like gas wells, providing a potential path for water and gas to move between the shallow geology in the area and in some cases lift and come to the surface. Any of these old coal bores which don’t have sufficient isolations in place may also provide pathways between gas bearing coals and shallow porous formations connected to underlying dams and creek beds.
While we aren’t responsible for the ongoing management of these old coal exploration bores, we are prepared to work with our landowners and government on a case-by-case basis to remediate from an environmental and safety perspective. We have recently completed remediating a localised cluster of these coal holes drilled in the early 2000’s that had started lifting water and gas. The authorisation to step in and undertake this work was given by government. We also sampled and tested water quality in dams and in the nearby creek, providing this information to the landowner and government.
There is no gas development on this property and no fracking has occurred in this area.
COMMENT: Chinchilla’s first traffic light is a story fit for 2020
By HARRY CLARKE @harrytclarke
28 August 2020
The scenes unfolding on the Warrego Highway at Chinchilla this week would have Ludwig Leichhardt, the great German pioneer who charted the region in the 1830s, turning over in his far flung grave.
Robert “Bushy” Johnston, the bearded and wheelchair-bound local legend who was forever parked at the base of the Club Hotel stairs, would be choking on his beer.
Even the late Arthur McIntyre, the renowned local grazier who donated the first ever grandfather clock prize at the local campdraft and died only recently, wouldn’t believe his eyes.
Chinchilla, once just a speck on the map but in recent years a flashpoint of prosperity in regional Queensland, now has its very own set of traffic lights.
You read that correctly. The town known for its bustling biennial watermelon festival but loved for its quiet country charm at all other times, has grown so much that its drivers now need to be signalled when they’re crossing its busiest intersection.
The red, green and amber lights will be activated on September 1, signalling an end to a long and tedious period of roadworks where the Chinchilla Overhead Bridge meets the Warrego Highway.
During construction, the layout of that intersection seemed to change so often that the experience of driving through it was invariably confusing, occasionally farcical, always humorous and at times downright dangerous.
You’d head through the roadworks to the gym at 6am and the temporary painted lines would direct you through the intersection via one particular route.
By the time you’ve finish your workout, the road workers are jackhammering at another part of the intersection.
They’ve covered over the first set lines and painted fresh lanes to guide you through in a completely different direction.
You’d try to turn into the McDonalds drive-thru for a post-workout hashbrown, but somehow end up in the wrong lane and nearly get t-boned by a cattle truck.
The roadworks are part of a $635 million Warrego Highway safety upgrade funded 80 percent by the federal government and 20 percent by the state government.
“The $19 million Chinchilla open level crossing upgrade and Colamba Street signals project is one of 20 projects aimed at improving safety and freight efficiency on the Warrego Highway between Toowoomba and west of Miles,” a statement by the Department of Transport and Main Roads said.
2020 has certainly been eventful.
Had these traffic lights never been installed at Chinchilla, the Coronavirus pandemic would surely have been the most significant event of the year.
Maybe the flash new signals will restore a bit of sense and order to that stretch of road – but don’t hold your breath. Chinchilla loves its wacky intersections. We thrive on them. Just look at Glasson Street.
But if the past decade has revealed anything, it’s that people in this region (and drivers) can accomodate change.
No. Life in Chinchilla will never be the same now that this fancy piece of road infrastructure has been installed.
They’ll be an utter nuisance when they’re telling you to hit the brakes at the bottom of the Overhead.
But also, the lights are a symbol of progress.
Australia’s largest solar farm near Chinchilla to create 800 jobs
THE number of jobs expected to be created during construction of Australia’s largest solar farm has been significantly increased to as many as 800, the Caller can reveal.
Construction of the 400MW so-called Western Downs Green Power Hub, being built 20km south east of Chinchilla, is slated to begin in October.
Early surveying works at the mammoth 1500ha solar farm site off Kogan-Condamine Rd have been underway since July.
Neoen, the French renewable energy giant developing the project, is also behind the world’s largest battery – the Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia, operated by Elon Musk’s company Tesla.
With a construction cost of $540m, the Western Downs Green Power Hub will be able to produce 1,031,400 MWh annually, which is enough to power more than 220,000 homes.
Initial projections indicated up to 400 people would be employed throughout the solar farm’s 18-month construction period but that figure has now doubled.
Neoen spokesperson Lisa Stiebel told the Caller the company had set goals of employing 20 percent local, 10 percent cadet and trainee staff and 10 percent indigenous workers.
“We’re really excited to be working in partnership with our EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor Sterling & Wilson and their subcontractors to deliver and hopefully go beyond these important participation targets,” Ms Stiebel said.
“As Australia’s largest solar farm, this project brings many opportunities to the area and we’re keen to involve and share the benefits with local jobseekers and suppliers.”
By the time the project has been constructed in 2022, the solar farm’s workforce will have reduced significantly to only 7-10.
EPC contractor Sterling & Wilson, an Indian renewables developer, will be sourcing an array of construction supplies and electrical, civil and mechanical subcontractors.
Prospective local contractors were told at a seminar held in Chinchilla this week that the vast majority of workers would be unskilled labourers, while in excess of 100 electricians will be required during peak construction.
The Western Downs Green Power Hub will comprise a staggering 1 million individual solar panels. A Sterling and Wilson spokesperson told the seminar the company had the capacity to install 10,000 panels per day.
LISTEN: Country Caller speaks with David Littleproud
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Maranoa MP and federal agriculture minister David Littleproud speaks with Country Caller’s Harry Clarke about newly announced funding for Murray Darling Basin riverbank restoration, as well as higher education for regional students.