By PAUL MILLAR
FRACKING protesters gathered at Torquay this week for State Government hearings on unconventional onshore gas exploration.
Up to 30 protesters attended the hearings as part of an inquiry into the controversial extraction of underground gas.
The investigation is considering issues including health risks, property owners’ legal rights, impacts on property values, consequences for agricultural production and effects on water quality.
The inquiry will also consider fracking’s potential to provide affordable energy for Victorian consumers.
City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway Shire and Barwon Water produced written submissions at the Torquay hearings.
Frack-Free Moriac’s Alison Marchant told the meeting a survey of residents at Moriac, Mt Moriac and Paraparap found overwhelming opposition to local fracking.
A group called Paediatricians of the Barwon Region delivered a written submission outlining concerns.
Doctors were “unanimously opposed to any form of unconventional gas mining” in the region “given the concerning emerging data related to environmental and associated health impacts”, the group wrote.
