The CSG Roller Coaster

CSG Executive on Reserve Bank Board, research to support development of CSG, objection to development of Narrabri-Coonabarabran gas field and LNG plant at Newcastle.

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Campaigning against coal seam gas extraction is like a roller coaster. One day I think that because of mounting evidence against it there is no way that it will be approved in NSW, the next day I cannot see how we are going to stop it because of the mining companies’ seemingly limitless supply of money, their insidious relations with governments and the federal and state governments inability to see that taking the easy way out to economic growth and therefore votes is going to ruin the environment for generations to come.

The good news is that the NSW government is making moves to be more transparent – approval letters with conditions are to be released to the public via a website in about a month’s time.

But my research this week reveals more bad news -

CSG Executive on Reserve Bank Board

BG Group’s Australian Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Catherine Tanna was appointed to the Reserve Bank board in March 2011. BG Group is setting up an LNG plant in Gladstone.

Research to support development of CSG

A new research alliance to support the sustainable development of the coal seam gas (CSG) industry was launched in Brisbane on 13 July.

The Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA) has been founded by CSIRO and Australia Pacific LNG (a CSG to LNG joint venture between Origin and ConocoPhillips) to undertake research in five key social and environmental areas: groundwater and surface water, biodiversity, land management, the marine environment and socio-economic impacts.

CSIRO and Australia Pacific LNG have provided initial seed funding totalling $14 million over the next five years for the Alliance to undertake this research into the Queensland CSG industry.

While GISERA’s initial focus will be directed at Queensland’s CSG-LNG industry, it has the potential to expand its focus to gas operations in other parts of Australia. Results will be made publicly available following peer review with all relevant material posted on the GISERA website www.gisera.org.au.

More information at http://www.csiro.au/news/Coal-seam-gas-research-alliance.html

Eastern Star Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Project

Today I sent in an objection today to epbc.referrals@environment.gov.au against the Eastern Star Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Project as it has the potential to destroy the Great Artesian Basin, reduce surface water flows, impact groundwater quality and ruin arable agricultural land.

The Australian Government National Water Commission ‘is concerned that CSG development represents a substantial risk to sustainable water management given the combination of material uncertainty about water impacts, the significance of potential impacts and the long time period over which they may emerge and continue to have effect.’

Building a LNG plant at Newcastle will necessitate numerous wells. Until the impacts of CSG extraction are fully understood this should not be approved. Submissions close 29th July 2011. More information at http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=referral_detail&proposal_id=5914