Council looking into fracking application

Tuesday, 4 October 2011, 11:03 am
Press Release: Selwyn District Council

Media Release
Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Public concerns and a responsibility to understand "fracking" have led the Selwyn District Council to ask for information about a permit application from the Ministry of Economic Development.

The Ministry is responsible for granting "fracking" permits, through the New Zealand Petroleum and Business Unit. Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, is the process of creating a fracture in rock to extract natural resources.

At a recent council meeting, councillors discussed fracking, and were particularly interested in terms of their responsibility to protect the local water supply. The Council understands MED has received a fracking application relating to the Selwyn District.

"Whether fracking will require Council resource consent depends on what is proposed. Issues that Council has some jurisdiction over include the scale of buildings, staffing, storage of hazardous substances and earthworks, Council Environmental Services Manager John Christensen says.

"Until we receive an application or information from a fracking operator, we are unable to determine with any certainty whether or not resource consent would be required and whether the application would require public notification or affected party consents," he says.

Any effects around possible contamination of water or discharge to air or land would be dealt with by Environment Canterbury (ECan).

Should consent be required by ECan and an application be publicly notified, the District Council would have the opportunity to submit on the proposal if it considered there was a risk to water supplies, Mr Christensen says.

ends

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