Fracking investigation ordered

Exploration drilling at TAG Oil's Ngapaeruru-1 well is already affecting residents, locals say. Photo / File

Horizons Regional councillors have voted to carry out a risk analysis on fracking, including an assessment of the risk and benefits for the region.

The report will be completed following a scheduled visit to Taranaki by Horizons staff and councillors in early 2015 and the decision comes after a number of deputations on Tuesday from members of the public, including Tararua representatives Lorraine Stephenson, Donald James and Rschana Webby from Rangitane and Tamaki nui a Rua iwi.

Their presentations stressed the importance of engagement and consultation with the community and the need to understand the environmental, social and economic effects of fracking.

Weber farmer Donald James, the Clean Earth League spokesman, told the Dannevirke News he was encouraged the regional council was taking quite a serious look at the issues.

"They appear to be taking a more precautionary stance compared to the Taranaki Regional Council and are encouraging consultation," he said. "Dr Jan Wright, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, has said 'there has to be engagement with the public and that there's no social license to frack'.

"We've gone into this basically blind and I explained to Horizons councillors how people were impacted by the exploration at the Ngapaeruru-1 well (east of Dannevirke).

"Some were suffering acute respiratory problems as tanker loads of goodness knows what went past them. Saying the problems weren't great, well when people are lying on the ground trying to breath, they don't see it as a minor issue."

Mr James said he believes some regional councillors are extremely aware of the issues surrounding fracking and he's encouraged they are going to look at social and economic effects, instead of only considering environmental issues.

"That's good," he said, "but council needs to consider what happens when an oil company leaves a district.

"They come in with a fizz and a bang but leave us all worse off than before they arrived."

The final scope of the Horizons report will depend on the outcome of the visit to Taranaki, but is likely to include an assessment of the risks and benefits to communities and the region. It will also likely identify where in the region oil and gas activity could occur and the proximity of these locations to towns, villages, rivers and known aquifers.

Acting Horizons chairman, Paul Rieger, endorsed the need to consult with the community.

"In order to get this process right we need to first understand what information we are looking for, seek and review that information and then consult with our ratepayers," he said,

"While council staff are undergoing continual development and participate in working groups around the technical side of the fracking process, we look forward to learning more about how fracking is affecting the wider community.

"This can be achieved by visiting Taranaki and talking to some key people, followed by the risk analysis."

The tour is scheduled for March 2015 and will include visits to and presentations from Taranaki Regional Council, oil companies and members of the community.

There are currently no applications for exploration wells nor fracking, but the report will allow Horizons' staff and councillors to be ready just in case , Mr Rieger said.