Another gas contamination scare

Local farmers fear that UCG trials have contaminated the waters in Kogan Creek, near Dalby in southwest Queensland.

TESTS will be carried out at a second underground coal gasification (UCG) trial in Queensland.

Local farmers fear that UCG trials have contaminated the waters in Kogan Creek, near Dalby in southwest Queensland.

A UCG pilot plant at Kingaroy, 210km northwest of Brisbane, was closed down earlier this month after traces of the cancer-causing chemicals benzene and toluene were found in bores near the plant.

Farmer Sharon Lohse said tests of water in Kogan Creek in January showed five times the recommended levels of mercury and double the level of sodium compared with former tests.

The sample was sent to the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM), who replied that the contamination was likely to be from coal seam gas water, going by the levels of the minerals, Ms Lohse said.

The water was used to supply fattening cattle.

Ms Lohse quarantined the 150 hectare paddock and shut down water supply to troughs and tanks and withheld 110 cattle exposed to the water from sale.

Ms Lohse said dead turtles have been found and turtle activity in Kogan Creek has ceased.

DERM did not agree to test until June and tested in July, she said.

The sample did not show elevated levels of mercury but did show contamination from hydrocarbons.

"The comment on the report was it's over the trigger levels and it's light fuel or fuel oil contamination," she said.

Two UCG projects are underway upstream on Kogan Creek.

DERM Director-General John Bradley said the department would take a rigorous approach to the recent detection of the hydrocarbons.

"Landholders have been advised that the latest samples taken by DERM did not detect the presence of mercury and identified that the levels of heavy metals such as iron and aluminium and hydrocarbons including benzene and toluene did not exceed stock watering standards," Mr Bradley said.

"Based on current testing results, Biosecurity Queensland advises it is safe for livestock to access water from Kogan Creek and livestock that have had access to the water are safe for processing.

"We are undertaking further tests to provide further confidence."

Mr Bradley said the hydrocarbon results were 2,000 times lower than the acceptable standard for stock water, but further tests would provide landowners with certainty.