Fracking in the Limestone Coast
- Tammy Johnson
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
Written and edited by Tammy 7th June 2026
Fracking in the Limestone Coast: Why Some Things Are Too Precious to Risk
There are some things in life we can replace. A dead lawn, a failed crop, a broken fence, even a struggling garden can often be rebuilt with time, patience, and care.
But water?
Clean, ancient underground water systems that have taken thousands upon thousands of years to form beneath our feet?
Once they are damaged, contaminated, or depleted… there’s no quick fix for that.
And that’s exactly why so many people across the Limestone Coast are deeply concerned right now about the proposed lifting of the fracking moratorium in our region.
So… what actually is fracking (in Tam terminology)?
Fracking (let's face it... it doesn't even sound nice🙄) is short for “hydraulic fracturing.”
Imagine the limestone beneath our feet like a giant block of Swiss cheese, full of tiny holes, channels and pathways where water slowly moves over thousands of years.
Now imagine forcing water, sand and chemicals into those rock layers under enormous pressure to create and widen cracks so trapped gas can escape.
That's fracking in a nutshell.
And here in the Limestone Coast, where so much of our water comes from underground aquifers, it's easy to see why many people feel protective of these systems.
Water in the Limestone Coast is everything.
Our region survives because of water beneath the ground
Unlike some places blessed with huge permanent rivers, much of the Limestone Coast depends heavily on underground aquifers.
These aquifers quietly support:
our farms
vineyards
livestock
wetlands
wildlife
town water supplies
gardens
local food production
and entire ecosystems
Most people probably don’t even think about them day to day because we can’t physically see them.
But they’re there, beneath our feet, like invisible life support systems quietly keeping this entire region alive.
And that's the part that worries so many people. Once our underground water systems are damaged, realistically, there is no magic wand to put them back the way they were. That's what makes these decisions so important. The consequences can last far longer than any of us, affecting not just our generation, but my grandchildren and yours too. Think about that for a moment.
“But they say it’s safe…”
And this is where the conversation becomes really difficult.
Because supporters of fracking often argue that modern regulations and scientific assessments can minimise risks, and maybe they can reduce some risks.
But “reduced risk” is not the same thing as “no risk.”
And when you’re talking about something as precious and irreplaceable as water, many people feel that even a small chance of contamination or disruption is simply too great.
Especially in a region like ours that is already naturally fragile in many ways.
The Limestone Coast isn’t just another patch of land.
We sit on porous limestone systems.
Water moves differently here.
Our wetlands, caves, underground water flows, sinkholes, farming systems and biodiversity are all interconnected in ways many people outside this region may never fully understand.
This isn’t just about politics.
This is about long-term consequences.
Short-term gain vs long-term responsibility
One thing I think we sometimes forget as humans is that just because we can do something… it doesn't always mean we should. Especially when future generations inherit the consequences long after the profits are gone.
My children and grandchildren... and yours too, will one day depend on these same underground water systems. They will inherit our soils, our food-growing regions, and the ecosystems that quietly support life every single day.
What kind of legacy do we leave behind if we gamble with those things?
Nature works slowly
Healthy ecosystems aren't created overnight.
Aquifers recharge slowly.
Soils form slowly.
Wetlands evolve slowly.
Biodiversity recovers slowly.
Nature is incredibly resilient… but only up to a point.
And sometimes the damage we humans create, sadly happens far faster than nature can repair it.
This region is already special without risking it
The Limestone Coast already contributes enormously through agriculture, wine production, tourism, conservation and food systems.
People travel here because of the beauty of our region.
Our caves. Our wetlands. Our farmlands. Our rugged coastlines. Our giant majestic red gums standing watch over the landscape. Our rolling plains... and the sense of peace that comes with them.
Some things simply can't be measured in dollars and cents.
Their value runs much deeper.
Once industrial impacts alter a landscape, we rarely get the original version back.
Sometimes protecting something is progress
We often hear the word “progress” used to justify development.
But perhaps real progress is learning where the limits should be.
Perhaps true progress is recognising that some resources are simply too precious to put at risk.
Our water is one of them.
Because in the end, without healthy water systems, nothing else survives for very long anyway.
Not farms.
Not wildlife.
Not communities.
Not future generations.
And maybe that’s the heart of why so many people here care so deeply about this issue.
This isn’t fearmongering, this is people protecting the place they love.
The place we, you and I call home.
And sometimes being a good ancestor means knowing when to say:
“No. Some things matter more.”
Tam 🫶🏼😘
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