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A graphic showing the process of fracking - Source: ONE News -
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Calls are growing for an inquiry into the fracking mining method alleged to pollute water and cause earthquakes, despite miners insisting the risk can be managed.
Gisborne District Councillor Manu Caddie told TV ONE's Breakfast that he has asked the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to undertake an independent inquiry into the practice.
And Labour has promised to hold an inquiry, which has been a long time bugbear of the Green Party.
Fracking sees a high-pressure mix of chemicals, water and sand injected into a coal seam or band of shale to force holes in the rock and release gas.
But, Bernie Napp from mining industry group Straterra told Breakfast that as long as the risks are managed properly, using appropriate regulation, then fracking is fine.
"What you need to do in terms of regulation is make sure that the fluids going down into the ground in a well that's appropriately cased with cement and steel. It goes into the rock. You open up the rock to get the gas to flow," he said.
"And for me I think the real issue with fracking is what you do when the water comes back out. It's 98% water, 2% sand. There are some chemicals in there and (in) the concentrations used, it's not toxic."
However, Napp said, the water discharged still has to be managed just as it has to be with a farming operation, pulp and paper plant, horticulture or other uses.
"And that would be done with resource consents and you'd be working with the council."
Caddie, speaking in a personal capacity rather than as a councillor, said there are "real water issues" in New Zealand including in Hawke's Bay and Canterbury where fracking is planned.
"There's farmers that are desperate for that fresh water and we know that there's between 2 and 6 million litres of water per well and tens of thousands of litres of chemicals.
"While they say it's a small proportion of the water, it's a lot of chemicals that then have to be either left in the ground or brought up - in Taranaki being spread on farm pasture and then having stock grazed on it."
Asked if there's evidence of harmful effects from fracking in New Zealand, Caddie said there's not because there hasn't been any independent research done on the issue.
"And that's why we're asking the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to undertake an independent inquiry and establish what the risks are and how safe it is in New Zealand.
Napp said using millions of litres of water has to be put into context because it is like "a few Olympic swimming pools".
"And in terms of the concentrations of the chemicals, I can assure you that the dilution is such that nutrient run-off from farms is a far greater issue to manage on land."
Gassy water
An American documentary called Gassland reported gas was found in water supplies and taps were able to be lit.
But Napp told Breakfast a lot of the documentary confused the issue.
"Remember there's been more than 100 years of oil and gas drilling in the States using all sorts of technology.
"And the guy who lit his tap water - an official investigation found that the water came from a poorly lined water bore through coal seams, nothing to do with fracking at all.
Napp said he was not saying that "nothing has happened" with fracking overseas but in New Zealand there've been about 40 fracking jobs and no incident with any of them.
He pointed out fracking has to comply with the New Zealand has the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, Resource Management Act and Health and Safety in Employment Act.
Caddie said while there is a risk of low level earthquakes from
fracking, the main issue is the quality of water that comes
out and what to do with polluted water "that's going to be around
for generations to deal with".
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