The Coonawarra Vignerons are extremely disappointed with today’s announcement that the State Government intends to introduce a bill to Parliament next week to remove the ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in South Australia’s Limestone Coast region.

The wine industry supports conventional gas extraction within the Limestone Coast region, which has operated safely in the region for many decades. However, we firmly oppose unconventional gas extraction methods, including fracking, for its potential impact on the region’s water resources including through chemical contamination and aquifer leakage that may compromise our viticulture and agricultural industries.

The Limestone Coast uniquely sits on a highly connected limestone aquifer that underpins viticulture, agriculture, and broader regional industries. The process of fracturing rock at depth presents a risk of chemical contamination or unintended leakage of water between upper and lower aquifers, posing a catastrophic risk to water quality that is critical to the region’s long-term sustainability.

South Australia’s wine industry, along with other agricultural sectors, benefits significantly from the state’s “clean and green” reputation that has been established over many decades. Introducing unconventional gas extraction without considered due diligence of the potential impact, risks long-term damage to the region’s international reputation as a premier agricultural area.

Coonawarra Vignerons urges the State Government to carefully consider the long-term environmental, economic, and reputational risks to the Limestone Coast of the proposed removal of the ban.