August 22, 2012
The Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group is urging the State Government to ensure that the Cougar Energy Underground Coal Gasification trial site is immediately dismantled and the site rehabilitated.
KCCG spokesman John Dalton said the land, classed as Strategic Cropping land, could then be returned to its rightful purpose of growing food.
The statement from the group follows the announcement by Cougar Energy on Friday that it would be selling its Mackenzie and Wandoan coal assets in Queensland. Selling the assets would help fund the company’s UCG ambitions in Asia.
“The current ploy used by the company to say the (Coolabunia) site is mothballed will obviously not be accepted under any circumstances by the community,” Mr Dalton said.
The KCCG said Judge Richard Jones had ruled that the company must recommence decommissioning and rehabilitation on the site, even though it was still appealing DERM’s decision to permanently close the plant.
“Overseas UCG plants have been responsible for toxic chemicals permanently polluting groundwater supplies,” Mr Dalton said.
“The Kingaroy experimental site was far too close to important underground water supplies.”
In a statement to the ASX, Cougar Energy CEO Mr Rob Neill noted that the Board was continuing to review all Cougar’s activities in Australia, including its legal actions against the State Government.
