The Hunter Valley Protection Alliance goes head to head with APPEA, launching a “CSG: The Real Facts” campaign to refute claims being made about CSG mining

In a true case of David versus Goliath, the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance (HVPA) has launched its response to the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association’s (APPEA) “We want coal seam gas (CSG)” campaign – revealing what it believes are the ‘real facts’ about CSG mining and the detrimental impact it will have on regional areas such as the Hunter Valley and its iconic wine and tourism districts.

“As demonstrated overseas - and closer to home in Queensland - CSG mining can cause irreversible, long term damage to underground water aquifers, generates huge amounts of saline mining waste, releases fugitive methane emissions, causes the aesthetic destruction of natural landscapes, impacts negatively upon property values and - in relation to the Hunter Valley - has the potential to stem the flow of the many hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors that travel to the region each year,” said Mr Stewart Ewen, Chairman of the HVPA.

“Despite these issues, and before any real independent scientific or environmental analysis can be done, the gas giants remain hell bent on pursuing CSG mining in NSW – at any cost.

“APPEA’s ‘We want coal seam gas campaign’ demonstrates just how far the industry is prepared to go in terms of propaganda to further its cause, and we thought it imperative to refute its claims to ensure both Government and the community is fully aware of the risks presented by the proliferation of CSG mining,” Mr Ewen added.

APPEA’S ‘we want coal seam gas’ campaign includes a series of TVC’s outlining what it says are ‘the facts’ about CSG. The HVPA’s ‘CSG: The Real Facts’ campaign mirrors APPEA’s TVC’s, with the first two (links below) answering the industry’s claims that aesthetic destruction from CSG mining is minimal; CSG mining positively contributes to regional economies; and that industry assessment and regulation is robust and independent – all of which the HVPA rejects.

Please see below relevant links:

1. Debunking the myths about the CSG industry: assessment and regulationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJbHnLwDeW4

To view APPEA’s original ad re: CSG assessment and regulation visit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ALqIoGVjeQA

2. Debunking the myths about the CSG industry: economyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPsbHNWVnJU

To view APPEA’s original ad re: CSG and the economy visit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmWjh_xH40E&feature=player_embedded

“While we can’t match APPEA’S vast advertising budget, we do have massive community and media support and we hope our videos will receive as much attention through sharing across social media by this network,” said Mr Ewen.

“Our end aim is to have the Hunter Valley’s iconic wine and tourism areas excluded from all forms of industrial over development including CSG exploration and mining, and hopefully our “CSG: The Real Facts” campaign will help us achieve this goal,” added Mr Ewen.

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For more information, to coordinate an interview, or to obtain broadcast quality versions of the ads, please contact me on 02 9440 0414.