Region. Use of controversial mining techniques

Apex Energy NL, about to start coal seam gas drilling around southern Sydney and the Illawarra, plans to use the controversial ''fracking'' technique to mine directly beside Warragamba Dam, which holds much of the city's drinking water. An operation, which holds many other petroleum exploration licences around the edges of the city and jointly run by AGL and Sydney Gas, at Camden, uses the techniques. The gas industry says the process is long established in Australia and completely safe. A part 3A planning application process for the dam drilling process will commence in March 2011. Drilling of gas production wells is to commence in January 2012. Jeff Angel, the executive director of the Total Environment Centre, calls for a moratorium on new coal seam gas mining in NSW until a transparent, state-wide strategy is developed.