We can't help but wonder...

Goodness; fracking isn't as dangerous as some people want us to believe that it is; Stuff reports:

A landmark British investigation into fracking has concluded that the controversial practice is safe with little risk to health and the environment.

The review, by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering, says fracking can be managed effectively in Britain - as long as operational best practices are implemented and enforced through regulation.

The review's contents and recommendations have been compared against New Zealand's fracking practices.

The review was tabled at the Taranaki Regional Council policy and planning committee meeting yesterday.

Director of environment quality Gary Bedford said fracking - a method of mineral extraction in which water and chemicals are injected into the earth, fracturing the rock and releasing natural gas - had been used for 60 years.

But in the past 12 months the practice has become a prime target for environmental groups and New Zealand's parliamentary commissioner for the environment is also investigating it.

Mr Bedford said extracting shale gas, as as is done in Britain, is different from the fracking that occurs in Taranaki. Shale gas is shallower and takes a lot more effort to fracture, therefore, if shale gas is safe, "people can be certain the fracturing that occurs here is doubly safe".

"We find we check off against the list of recommendations. We are up there delivering best practice." 

So we can't help but wonder what the Green Party (and especially its chief anti-fracker Gareth Hughes) will make of this report. After all, this is a pretty high-powered report; the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering can hardly be sneezed at.

In the meantime, Gareth Hughes do far, far worse than to call for a moratorium; on calling for moratoria!