THE Queensland Government has defended its policies surrounding Coal Seam Gas in the face of revelations that Queensland’s largest freshwater aquifer is being placed at direct risk of being dewatered by CSG production on the Darling Downs.
Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said the State Government was committed to ensuring that proposed CSG developments in the Surat Basin were rigorously assessed under some of the most stringent environmental standards in the world.
"We take any risks to the environment and the community very seriously and are committed to being transparent in our approach to these issues,'' Mr Robertson said.
"It is essential the environment and communities are protected as we strive for a fair and proper balance between the development of the coal seam gas and the interests of landowners and others in the agriculture sector.
"The Government is committed to maintaining extensive monitoring of the CSG industry and imposing stringent conditions on exploration and development companies.
"The CSG industry in Queensland is subject to the highest level of environmental regulation without which their projects will not get off the ground and significant reporting standards are required of them once they are operational."
Mr Robertson acknowledged that a report released yesterday by the Central Downs Irrigators Limited - Groundwater connections between the Walloon Coal measures and the Alluvium of the Condamine River - had raised concerns among some landowners in the Surat Basin region.
"We will treat this report very seriously,'' Mr Robertson said.
"It reinforces what we have already acknowledged in terms of the potential for the interaction between CSG companies depressuring coal seams and the possible impacts to adjacent aquifers.''
The report pointed out that insufficient data exists to quantify the extent to which freshwater could flow between the Walloon coal measures and the Condamine alluvium.
Mr Robertson said the Queensland Government also would not prejudge the extent of any connection between the Walloon coal measures and the Condamine alluvium.
"I understand the concerns of landowners and water users in the region, and without being provocative, this report does note that ground water levels in the Condamine alluvium have been gradually falling for 40 years and that time frame precedes the involvement of CSG activities in the area,'' the Minister said.
Mr Robertson said a moratorium on CSG exploration, as suggested by some landowners, was not necessary.
"To a large extent a moratorium is already in place through the heavily-conditioned approval process placed on CSG exploration and development through the independent Co-ordinator General,'' Mr Robertson said.
"To have their operations approved, companies have to respond to around 1200 conditions placed on them by the Co-ordinator General through the Environmental Impact Statement process. Most of these conditions go to the very concerns the landowners have expressed about the intersection of CSG operations with nearby or connected aquifers.
"The bottom line is that until these companies meet these fundamental conditions, they cannot proceed with their operations.''
Mr Robertson said the Government was also actively pursuing research into whether treated CSG water could be used in a way which replenished the Condamine alluvium.
"There are several feasibility studies being considered regarding options for treating and secondary use of CSG water," Mr Robertson said.
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