Activists opposing fracking due to water contamination concerns have suffered a bruising defeat after their lawsuit challenging federal environmental laws was thrown out.
Gas company Tamboran B2 has been given the green light to explore the development of 15 gas wells in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin under the Shenandoah fracking pilot.
Lock The Gate Alliance had asked the Federal Court to grant an injunction compelling the federal government to assess the project under water trigger provisions of national environmental laws.
But their efforts were shown to be in vain when the case was dismissed by Justice Nicholas Owens on Friday.
The judge’s full reasons have yet to be published.
