On December 30th. 2011, during a routine check of Santos (ex Eastern Star Gas) sites throughout the upper parts of the Eastern side of the Pilliga State Forest. An area of very recent tree kill was noticed adjacent to the Bibblewindi Gas Gathering and Coal Seam Water Treatment Complex.
Santos tried to put this of asbeing nothing more than water logging and Eucalyputs stained water.
However they are now blaming the previous operator for the problem and have dropped the Eucalyptus stain bit, in light of photos that show different, a black tar like water and covering over the ground in places, this substance also cements the leaves together to form a thin mat. Samples have been taken.
One interesting point has come from this: on Saturday 31st December 2011, Santos admitted to a 200 litre unnamed Chemical spill on the Thursday before Christmas 2011, which was both reported and cleaned up, COULD THIS BE THE COVER UP OF THIS EVENT?
434 Items and counting says that Santos and possiably the Government Departments are covering this one up.
As yet my reports to DII Maitland NSW have not been acknowledged, and they went via another Government Agency DECCDW Sydney and Armidale.
Where is the minister Hartcher on this ?