Water and the Great Artesian Basin

In the past few years, Australia has experienced a drastically savage drought, catastrophic bush fires, followed by floods and cyclones in areas previously thought to be safe. More important still, in this - the driest continent on earth - the Federal and NSW State Governments seem to be determined to proceed with allowing Santos to drill through our Great Artesian Basin to extract dangerous carbon and methane emitting coal seam gas in north-western NSW (Narrabri). The area is valuable as is for its Pillaga forest that protects threatened wildlife, the hot springs which draw tourists and its fertile farming land. Ministers in our governments do not seem to understand the nature of the Great Artesian Basin. Since white settlement of this country, the Basin has been drawn down hundreds of feet. When I first visited the outback in 1999, I was horrified at the number of bores that were gushing water onto the ground to evaporate in the arid conditions. Thankfully, these bores are mostly capped these days.

(Update: I had great hopes for the Albanese government putting a moratorium on this project in 2022. Sadly, they have given the go-ahead.)

The water in the GAB collects there after cyclones. It takes years to filter down through the rocks and re-fill the basin. When Europeans arrived in Australia and discovered the benefits of this wonderfully clean underground water, they began squandering it. Unlike the Aborigines, Europeans did not respect our sacred water. This water is Australia’s insurance policy against drought. Farmers rely on this uncontaminated water for irrigation; people and animals rely on it for drinking water.

The water of the Great Australian Basin is Australia's life-saving grace. As climate change ramps up, we will die of thirst if our underground water is contaminated by fracking for coal seam gas.