Findings from government coal seam gas study will be too late

The Queensland Government has repeatedly referred to its coal seam gas feasibility study as its insurance be sure that the consequences of coal seam gas extraction do not lead to irreversible environmental damage, particularly on groundwater supplies and the potential contamination of the Great Artesian Basin, one of the only reliable sources of fresh water in inland Australia.

The problem is that its study, entitled "The Coal Seam Gas Water Feasibility Study" is not due for completion until June 2012 - long after much of the extractive activity has been approved and any damage is likely to have already occurred.

In its research rationale, the Queensland Government states explicitly that one of the reasons for the study is that: 

there are ongoing concerns about the risks posed to surface streams and landscapes by the use and disposal of CSG water.

In addition, there are concerns about the impacts that the extraction of CSG water from coal seams may have on groundwater resources, including reserves in the Great Artesian Basin and the Condamine River Alluvium...

[T]he findings will be invaluable for managing the environmental and resource management risks associated with the rapidly expanding CSG industry both within and outside the Queensland Murray Darling Basin.

This position was reinforced in this media statement from the Queensland Government's Minister for Natural Resources, Mines, Energy and Trade Mr Stephen Robertson, who stated: 

To ensure we continue to keep pace with the impacts of this growing industry, the Department of Environment and Resource Management is also undertaking a Coal Seam Gas Water Feasibility Study, to identify risks to ground and surface water associated with mining activities, and determine the best ways to manage these risks as the industry grows. 

The study intends to improve understanding of the risks associated with five aspects of the CSG extraction cycle, including: 

1. the nature of coal seam gas waters and the hydrogeology and connectivity of the coal seams, and
2. any potential impacts to surface and groundwater systems from extraction, use and disposal

Whilst Friends of the Earth supports this study as essential to before any development of the industry can proceed, the Government cannot possibly allow the expansion of coal seam gas before the study is concluded.

This means that there must be a moratorium on coal seam gas development until June 2012, at the very earliest.

This, surely, is only reasonable given the scale of the risks to landholders, communities, and the fate of one of our greatest icons - the Great Artesian Basin.

The fact-sheet for the CSG Water Feasibility Study is available for download below.

• For further details about the study, please email csgwaterstudy@derm.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 3330 5998. You can also call the Coal Seam Gas hotline on 13 25 23.
• The original press release announcing the study (13th April, 2010) can be viewed here.  

• More information about coal seam gas production in Queensland is available from the Department of Mines and Energy.

To support landholders and farmers directly affected by coal and coal seam gas mining, please come to the parliamentary protest on Wednesday August 4th at 12pm. See here for the flyer.