A CONTROVERSIAL technology that fractures the earth to extract gas is emerging as the next environmental flashpoint in the South-West. While the process is banned in France and parts of the US, Canada and South Africa, "fracking" - where sand, chemicals and millions of litres of water are blasted underground to rupture rock and release trapped gas - is happening in WA.
The technique, which is used to explore and extract "unconventional gas" or methane deposits in coal seam, shale rock and tight sand formations, has had disastrous consequences in Queensland and the US.
There, it has been blamed for depleting and contaminating groundwater and causing methane to leak up through farmland.
In WA, fracking is already occurring in the Kimberley and the Mid-West near Dongara, and there are eight active coal seam gas exploration permits, including two held by Westralian Oil and Gas Ltd near Margaret River and Busselton.
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