THE state’s first case of water contamination from coal seam gas drilling has been discovered in north-western NSW, according to independent tests.

High levels of ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide, lithium, cyanide, bromide and boron were found around a water discharge point near a Santos coal seam gas operation in the Pilliga forest, near Narrabri.

The state government last night confirmed it would conduct its own investigation and testing of the site.

Water samples gathered by environment groups Friends of the Earth and The Wilderness Society were tested by East West EnviroAg, an independent laboratory in Tamworth that services agricultural and mining clients. (Read on …)

A STOCKTON residents group has called on the Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, to use her special powers to close the Orica plant near their homes indefinitely following the company’s latest chemical spill.

The Environmental Protection Authority is investigating a spill of 20,000 litres of a weak ammonium nitrate solution, which overflowed from a storage tank on Wednesday afternoon. The company blamed the leak on a computer that failed to shut down the plant.

One day earlier, the EPA allowed the company to reopen part of the plant responsible for an ammonia chemical leak last month, but that start-up has been delayed after the latest incident. (Read on …)

Whangarei District Council is to change land leases in some areas to try to stop cattle fouling rivers.

The decision follows action by a local man Milan Ruka, who bought a boat and camera and began filming the pollution of waterways.

The Regional Council has said there is little it can do, despite pictures of dead cows, cattle grazing on unfenced river banks and stock drinking from streams.

However, Whangarei deputy mayor Phil Halse says his council leases riparian land to farmers in the Hikurangi drainage area and it has a reponsibility to look after it. (Read on …)

Palmerston North’s struggling wastewater treatment plant has been chosen for a $1 million pilot scheme to recycle waste sludge into re-useable chemical by-products.

Environment Minister Nick Smith announced government funding for the project in the city this morning.

But the boost does not shift his resolve to ensure both councils make progress on cleaning up the Manawatu River after Horizons withdrew an abatement notice allowing the councils to work together to resolve the pollution problems.

“I am sending a very clear message that ongoing non compliance is not acceptable. (Read on …)