Letters to Editor: Risk, no rewards with fracking

Risk, no rewards with fracking

 My grandmother taught me that sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me and if D Carter (Let's Get Drilling, January 30) wishes to gain the respect of your readers perhaps she could present her arguments in a manner other than juvenile name calling.

Contrary to D Carter's view, I only think about what is in the best interests of Hawke's Bay and ergo New Zealand when it comes to fracking.

Unlike D Carter, I consider the long-term consequences and then compare them to the short-term gains of fracking.

Or to put it in simple terms for D Carter: risk vs reward. With respect, to my mind fracking's risks just don't justify the rewards.

TAG/Apache would argue that there are substantial benefits to be gained by fracking.

We have all heard these arguments. Increased employment opportunities and increased revenue for New Zealand.

Given the technical expertise and skill required to drill wells how come TAG/Apache cannot come up with a definitive answer for the number of new, ongoing jobs that will be created?

My understanding is that based on the number of new jobs created in Taranaki, the number here in Hawke's Bay would be something like 40.

Is this number worth it?

Given New Zealand has the fourth lowest petroleum royalty rate in the world, is the expected increase in revenue to government coffers worth it?

Given TAG/Apache are offshore companies, guess where any profit goes? It certainly doesn't remain here in New Zealand.

The risks we are well aware of.

The risk to our aquifers, the risk to our environment from disposal of fracking waste, and the risk that the oil companies are not telling us the truth.

No wonder places such as France, South Africa, New South Wales, New York, New Jersey and Quebec have all placed moratoriums on fracking.

They have worked out that the rewards are too small and the risks are just too big.

That's why I marched with about 300 other people last Wednesday: the risks just don't justify the rewards. Paul BaileyNapier Dumping siteIn response to D Carter's letter "Let's get drilling" - I wonder if D Carter would like to offer his property as the dumping site for all the contaminated waste water that results from hydraulic fracturing?

There are about 500 different chemicals mixed with water and sand used in the process and the waste water needs to go somewhere.

The documentary Gasland highlights some alarming facts about water contamination and associated health problems experienced by the people in areas where fracking has been carried out over a number of years.

These people are trapped in their misery; no likelihood of ever selling their properties, health problems for themselves and their animals, unsightly drilling equipment everywhere and oil companies who refuse to take responsibility but strangely willing to truck in fresh water daily.

I suggest that D Carter watch Gasland for himself.

The exploration permit granted for Tag Oil and its partner, Apache Corporation, covers a million acres of the East Coast and the potential risk to our precious aquifer should be of concern to everyone.

We are supposed to be reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and looking at renewable energy sources like solar, wind, tidal, geothermal and hydro.

It's not rocket science - just common sense.

Raewyn Harris, Napier

Staff so caring

I am a recent arrival from Auckland and am now happily settled in Greenmeadows.

I would like to put in a plug for some great people I met in a local business.

A few days ago, my car decided it would not leave Placemakers in Taradale Rd.

The staff there were absolute tops.

They tried to get me going, they provided me with coffee, they provided my dog with a dish of water and were constantly checking to see if we were progressing.

They were really great and I hope some executive in his den will appreciate the fact that his staff in Taradale Rd are top of the bunch.

Gordon Mace, Greenmeadows