The potential for fracking to occur near area’s wild rivers, which snake towards Lake Eyre-Kati Thanda after periods of inland rainfall, has been the subject of longstanding tension between Queensland’s environmental and resources authorities.in the area but the report had been made secret and ultimately ignored.that could lead to the extraction of fossil fuels across 225,000 hectares of the channel country.
The announcement came less than a week after Origin finalised the handback of its leases on 26 May. The company had said last year it was reviewing its position in the area, but it wasThe state government said it would not release the areas again “during the 12-week consultation period”.on the last remaining lease,” a spokesperson said.
“The Queensland government is committed to ensuring the protection of the Lake Eyre Basin’s streams and watercourses is balanced with economic development of the region.”Nick Holliday, a grazier and spokesperson for the Lock the Gate Alliance, said the group hoped the “victory is permanent” and that the state declared a total ban on oil and gas development on the floodplains.