Sunday, February 26, 2017 10:23:30 AM
THE scientific panel probing whether or not to allow fracking for shale gas in the Northern Territory has already held a meeting in Katherine.
Inquiry chair Justice Rachel Pepper met with various groups at the Government offices in First Street yesterday.
Justice Pepper told the Katherine Timestoday she wanted to demonstrate to everyone that her panel was impartial “and had definitely not made its mind up”.
She said she was aware the Prime Minister and other senior conservative politicians were strongly in favour of developing the NT’s unconventional gas potential.
“I don’t feel the pressure from that, not at all.
“I am a judge, it is my job to be impartial, they are just one of the parties involved in this,” she said.
The final report into unconventional gas mining will not be released until December, much later than most anti-fracking groups thought.
There will be two meetings in Katherine on Wednesday, March 7.
Justice Pepper agreed Katherine was a “hotspot” because of its proximity to extensive shale gas fields.
The scientific inquiry into hydraulic fracturing this week released an issues paper, ahead of its Territory wide community consultation program starting next month.
Hearings and community meetings will be held in Katherine on Wednesday, March 8.
People must register to attend the first meeting at Knotts Crossing from 10.30am and there will be a community meeting, which you don’t need to register for, at Katherine High School between 5-7pm.
The second round of community consultations will include a meeting at Mataranka on Thursday, March 23.
Justice Pepper said there was “a fair degree” of misinformation surrounding the debate, which focussed on shale gas deposits and not coal seam gas.
“The issues are controversial and people have strong views on this, we understand that,” she said.
http://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/4486633/fracking-inquirys-katherine-surprise/
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