New CSG Groundwater Online Portal delivers transparency
Source: Queensland Government - http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au
31 August 2010
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade The Honourable Stephen Robertson
A new interactive online portal set up by the Queensland Government provides the latest information on groundwater monitoring in the Surat and Bowen basins.
The portal also maps the locations of private water bores and springs along with gas production sites and exploration wells.
It lists historic water levels and salinity records for the various local water sources.
The portal is a Bligh Government initiative undertaken by the Department of Environment and Resource Management in partnership with coal seam gas (CSG) companies.
“This is another initiative to support the government’s on-going commitment to manage groundwater impacts and allow the public to access important and relevant information on CSG activities,’’ said the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Stephen Robertson.
“It reaffirms the government’s commitment to openness and transparency for the industry.”
The portal is now available at www.derm.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/coal-seam-gas/groundwater.html.
The portal shows the locations of existing water bores and their purpose and maps springs and baseflow-fed watercourses.
It also details historical water levels and salinity records (measured as conductivity) from the four major CSG explorers and producers in the Surat and Bowen basins – Santos, Origin Energy, Queensland Gas Company (QGC) and Arrow Energy.
Water levels and salinity records from selected monitoring bores operated by the Department of Environment and Resource Management are also available.
“A help file is available to provide guidance on how to access this important information,” Mr Robertson said.
Mr Robertson said the government had increased its monitoring of the coal seam gas industry.
“The department will sample approximately 300 bores in 2011 and 2012 to further monitor the accuracy of information provided by coal seam gas operators,” Mr Robertson said.
The Minister said the Department of Environment and Resource Management would further address the concerns of some landowners by conducting additional proactive compliance inspections of CSG operations.
He said DERM also would commit additional resources to investigate environmental complaints received from the public; investigate alleged or apparent non-compliance by CSG companies; and, enforce compliance through penalty infringement notices and ultimately prosecution.
Mr Robertson said the Government’s CSG community information forums were continuing this week. Remaining venues are Miles (September 1), Toowoomba (September 2) and Chinchilla (September 9).