Fuel lobby: Keep open mind on fracking

Geelong should keep an “open mind” on fracking despite its council voting to oppose it, according to a fuel industry lobby group.
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) encouraged residents to be wary of “fracking fear” when Victoria needed natural gas supplies.
APPEA released its statement as anti-fracking activists gathered at a council meeting this week to celebrate the decision earlier this month.
Councillors voted to write to State Government, stating council’s opposition to “onshore gas extraction”.
APPEA has since been advertising in Geelong, saying natural gas could fuel Victoria “for generations”.
The organisation’s statement to the Independent this week expanded on support for fracking.
“Geelong has a long history as a leading manufacturing centre in Australia and one which relies heavily on natural gas as an energy source,” an APPEA spokesperson said.
“While there is no indication there are commercially viable sources of natural gas in the Geelong area, we’re asking people to keep an open mind about much needed natural gas production in Victoria.
“We would also encourage people not to accept fracking fear at face value. The truth is hydraulic fracturing is a safe, reliable and well-understood technology that has been used safely and successfully in Australia to improve gas flow in wells since the 1950s.”
Fracking is the process of injecting liquid underground to fracture ground structure, releasing gas. Attempts to tap geothermal energy use a similar technique.
Opponents say fracking can contaminate groundwater and damages farmland.