No oil, gas exploration in King's Canyon national park

By ERWIN CHLANDA Oil and gas exploration permit applications for Watarrka National Park and the Coomalie Council Region will not be granted, David Tollner, Minister for Mines and Energy, and Bess Price, Minister for Parks and Wildlife (both pictured) announced at 4:44pm today. Earlier today the Central Land Council (CLC) made an emergency application to Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt for protection of the national park from oil and gas exploration and mining. “It is unfortunate that the CLC chose to be vocal about the actions of the NT Government before allowing proper processes to be undertaken to ensure all parties affected in this decision could be consulted,” Mr Tollner said. He said the new oil and gas guidelines announced last week have been applied in the assessment of oil and gas exploration permit applications for Palatine Energy in relation to the Watarrka National Park and NT Gas in relation to the Coomalie Council Region. “Government recently implemented these new measures, on top of its already robust regulations, to ensure onshore oil and gas activities can proceed alongside other land usages in a safe and sustainable manner,” Mr Tollner said. “Both applications were assessed as not satisfying all of the recently announced criteria.” A media release says as announced last week, the NT Government will not grant acreage release and exploration permits where there is a land use conflict, including areas of high ecological value and areas of cultural significance as advised by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority.