The Coal Seam Gas Compliance Unit was established within Queensland’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines in 2012. The unit includes a dedicated Groundwater Investigation and Assessment Team (GIAT) consisting of 11 staff with groundwater hydrogeology, drilling, geochemical, GIS and community engagement skills.
Major activities undertaken by GIAT over the past 5 years include: -
- Undertaking over 100 investigations into potentially impaired bores with 5 bores found likely to be impaired by CSG development.
- Implementation of an independent groundwater monitoring network including the CSG Net community based groundwater monitoring and CSG Online continuous monitoring programs across the CSG development footprint of the Surat Basin.
- Contracting research into gassy bores and microbial issues ultimately leading to amendments to policy settings around gassy bores and make good.
- Holding quarterly CSG Groundwater Issues Forums with CSG company lead hydrogeologists to share knowledge and experiences.
Benefits from GIAT activities include: -
- Landholder complaints in relation to potentially impaired bores have reduced markedly.
- Landholders are empowered to monitor their water bores, accepting that they have a shared responsibility for groundwater monitoring to protect their own interests.
- Government has a transparent, effective and efficient monitoring network.
- Monitoring results are used to independently cross-reference and verify groundwater monitoring results from CSG companies, providing enhanced community confidence in the industry.
- Effectively involving stakeholders helps build public confidence and provides a forum for engaging in robust discussions about complex groundwater issues.
GIAT has contributed significantly to landholders having an improved knowledge and understanding of groundwater systems and CSG impacts. This has been achieved by involving landholders in monitoring activities and promoting transparency of data availability by both government and industry. Similar programs are being actively considered for use in other sectors in Queensland where industries may impact on landholder access to groundwater resources.