EL5320

ECI International Pty Ltd has an Exploration Licence to look for coal bed methane (CSG) in the area from Pakenham South and Koo-wee-rup north almost to Bunyip and eastwards to (and covering) Drouin, Warragul and Nilma.

The license was granted in April 2011 and lasts until 2016. It covers private land and road and road reserves and is 34,418 hectares in size.

Unfortunately, the company involved has chosen not to inform the community about its intentions. This can only fuel concerns about what is planned for the areas covered by this EL.

There is a news item from the Pakenham Gazette available here.

public information session (March 2012)

There was a second public info session held at Modella Hall, with almost 100 people attending.

Deep concerns were raised about possible impacts of CSG operations on water resources, farming, and local communities.

An organising group has been set up to further develop the campaign against ECI's intentions to look for CSG in the area.

public information session (Feb 2012)

There was an information session which attracted about 80 people held on February 16 2012 in Longwarry. There were presentations from:

• Dept of Primary Industry
• Victorian Farmers Federation
• Minerals Council of Victoria
• Environment Defenders Office

This was organised by the Longwarry & District Progress Association.