How to write a submission
Step 1
Attention your submission to:
Dan van Holst Pellekaan MP
The Minister for Energy and Mining
GPO BOX 974
Adelaide SA 5001
Step 2
Use our template (download in Word format here, or copy/paste and edit the text below) or create your own:
Dear Hon Minister,
I have serious concerns regarding our State Government's approval of the Leigh Creek Energy Limited Energy and Gas project.
Start by introducing yourself (a little bit about who you are/ where you live/ what you do for a living/ why you're concerned about unconventional gas mining)
Make it clear in your opening statement that you do not support any form of unconventional gas mining (including coal seam gas, tight gas, shale gas & underground coal gasification)
In particular, you are concerned about the dangerous experiment that is Underground Coal Gasification – especially after it has been banned in Queensland after causing the biggest pollution event in that state’s history.
Talking points:
Environmental Impacts
Water is the lifeblood of the outback. Looking at the number of water bores in proximity to the site of Leigh Creek Energy's plant raises the highly important issue of safeguarding aquifers against contamination. No amount of drilling and geological survey can determine there will be no gas or chemical leakage through faults, or potentially from the plant, into this vital resource.
In Queensland, three separate trial experiments of UCG all ended with environmental contamination.
Surely South Australians can learn from this disastrous example and make more informed decisions as a result.
We do not need this dangerous project as a source of energy or fertiliser, as we have so many cheaper, cleaner renewable energy options available.
Agricultural Impacts
The impact is too great to ignore. It includes contamination of water (flammable water) with toxic chemicals, leading to poisoning of livestock and contamination of our agricultural industry products, increase in groundwater and soil salinity, depletion of groundwater.
Health Impacts
The town of Copley is only seven kilometres downwind from the trial site. It has been demonstrated across the world that one of the by-products of UCG production has been benzenes and other known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
Community Impacts
The members of the Leigh Creek community including Traditional Owners are opposed to this work. Leigh Creek Energy does not have the social licence to continue this work in the Leigh Creek region.
The Adnyamathanha people — through their peak body the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association RNTBC — have voted unanimously at a general meeting on 29 March 2019 to oppose the Leigh Creek Energy Project. Adnyamathanha people have said that enough is enough: leave Yurlu’s coal alone and let the place heal. This is a culturally significant area for Adnyamathanha people and we don’t want it disturbed any more. No gasification in Adnyamathanha Yarta.
Close your letter with a firm statement that you oppose the action.
Yours Sincerely,
[Your name]
Step 3
Lodge your submission:
Submissions can be sent
- via email: [email protected]
- via government website (click here)
- via post to: Dan van Holst Pellekaan MP, The Minister for Energy and Mining, GPO BOX 974, Adelaide SA 5001
Closing date for submissions: 15 April 2019