THE coal seam gas industry has been ruled out as the source of soil contamination at Chinchilla but the Government still does not have a cause.
Residents of the western Queensland town are furious at the lack of information despite assurances that chemical levels in the air and water remain safe.
Three weeks after it announced the discovery of contamination the Government is ordering more tests while residents want a royal commission into the coal seam gas industry.
The State Government described the soil contamination issue as “complex’’ after it discovered carbon monoxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide, which were often associated with combustion.
A report released earlier this month by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection explicitly ruled out the CSG industry as a cause.
“Routine testing by EHP discovered the gases at depths of between two and six metres,” the report said.
“The gases are combustion byproducts and are not associated with coal seam gas development.”
The department has not ruled out an underground fire but said air and water in the area was safe.
Linc Energy said its own testing of its now-closed underground coal gasification project had shown no issues.
Linc’s old site, which is in a caution zone established by the State Government after the discovery of the soil contamination, is still being investigated by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection over a separate incident that led to four counts of wilfully causing serious environmental harm.
“As part of its current investigation, EHP is pursuing a number of lines of inquiry, including matters relating to health and environmental issues at the Linc site,’’ the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection said.
The Hopeland Community Sustainability Group met with Environment Minister Stephen Miles who has ordered further investigations.