A personal opinion is at this time still in flux, as the sheer abundance of available material constantly shifts my perspective. It is through this plethora of information that one must constantly view, review, consider, reconsider, seek, find and be flexible in altering the lens through which one interprets such concepts, and the implications the industry delivers across a gamut of standpoints. All key stakeholders, including farmers, companies, marketing executives, communities, Indigenous Peoples, Government representatives and citizens present such a range of arguments and positions, it is difficult to develop and hold, a balanced judgement.

MY PRIMA FACIE RESPONSE…

was to adopt a negative standpoint, grounded in the perspective of environmentalists, community perceptions and many firsthand accounts of the issue of Coal Seam Gas (CSG) mining. Indigenous perspectives were generally of this view and so too, much of the research and commentary garnered through international contacts in the gas and oil fields. However, upon researching more broadly and endeavouring to seek a deeper understanding of the topic, I soon realised there was much to consider, including the science behind the process that seemed to have been neither unequivocally proven nor disproven.

It was whilst wading through the sheer volume of information that I considered the best call to action at this time was to develop a digital artefact that reflected all that I had encountered and endeavoured to reconcile in order to form an opinion. This artefact is an authentic snapshot of all stakeholders, providing a comprehensive insight into personal, social, environmental and economic impacts and experiences.

Importantly, it acknowledges extreme diversity in opinion.

However, in all of the research and feedback I received, perhaps the most profound and lingering statement I encountered was;

“mistakes do happen”…

One can only hope that such happenings, irrespective of the entity executing such action, realises the least amount of negative implications upon people, culture and place.

Simon

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