{"id":10920,"date":"2013-10-29T09:04:50","date_gmt":"2013-10-28T22:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=10920"},"modified":"2019-04-14T00:01:43","modified_gmt":"2019-04-13T14:01:43","slug":"black-rain-rob-rimmer-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/black-rain-rob-rimmer-reports\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Rain: Waiting for results in Tara – Rob Rimmer reports"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Origin<\/a><\/p>\n

By Rob Rimmer<\/a><\/p>\n

On August 2, 2013 Western Downs resident Steve Ansford made a complaint to Origin Energy\u2019s local office at Chinchilla regarding mysterious environmental and health impacts occurring on his property at Upper Humbug Road, near Tara in Queensland.<\/p>\n

For the second day running, southerly winds appeared to have brought an overnight shower: drops of a sticky black substance ‘with a chemical-type odour’ lay across the Ansfords\u2019 land, house and roof \u2014 the harvesting-point for the family of four\u2019s domestic water supply.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, blobs deposited on the first day had begun bleaching the duco of his car.<\/p>\n

\"Black

Black rain on car duco<\/p><\/div>\n

In addition to the mysterious ‘black rain’ and strange, offensive odours, the southerlies brought persistent health problems for Steve\u2019s family, including nausea, headaches, skin and eye irritation, and lethargy.<\/p>\n

August 2, 2013 was the second time in two years that the Ansfords had contacted Origin (or any of the coal seam gas companies active in their local area) regarding health and environmental impacts they believed were related to coal seam gas operations.<\/p>\n

In early 2012, Steve had reported to Origin that he and his family were experiencing health problems similar to those they now suffered – although on this occasion the symptoms were not accompanied by the \u2018black rain\u2019.<\/p>\n

He was told that air samples were to be taken on a nearby property.<\/p>\n

Steve and Judy have heard nothing since, regarding either their complaints or the test results of the air samples.<\/p>\n

The Ansfords are well aware of the scale of the behemoth now rolling out across the road from their property.<\/p>\n

Origin\u2019s $1.5 billion Ironbark Project<\/a> is in the process of developing a voluntary Environmental Impact Statement<\/a> (EIS) in its bid for final state government approval of a 72,300 hectare (72.3 square kilometre) development, comprising:<\/p>\n