Empire Energy has reported it did not tell the NT heritage regulator that Aboriginal stone tools were found near a well and then moved.
Empire Energy is planning to move from exploration fracking to selling gas from its Carpentaria Pilot Project, situated 160 kilometres east of Borroloola, next year. "I found them – a stone axe head and other pieces in lines in a few trees, and 100 metres from that, a few spearheads," Mr O'Keefe said.
Mr O'Keefe said he was also devastated Empire Energy has reported grind stones, a spearhead and scraper were moved from the site to another area – a rock shelter named Balbirini 2."Someone left them there maybe 60,000 years ago, things can't be moved from where they're left." "It's an enormous worry. The chemicals used for the hydraulic fracturing process, or even just the drilling muds, are hazardous to human health and also to the plants and animals in the environment as well," he said.