COAL seam gas (CSG) can go ahead in NSW, but with strict conditions to ensure responsible development according to chief scientist Mary O’Kane.
Professor’s O’Kane’s comprehensive report, which was released yesterday, was a year in the making and has been flagged as the government as a definitive document to guide the CSG industry's future development in the State.
Government will respond to the report, which if implemented in full would revolutionise current regulation of the State’s burgeoning gas industry.
The report called for a scheme to insure the industry, designate appropriate geographic areas for CSG, create a robust independent regulator and reform the compliance and oversight of the industry.
Professor O’Kane summarised the findings of the report.
Having considered all the information from these sources and noting the rapid evolution of technological developments applicable to CSG from a wide range of disciplines, the review concluded that the technical challenges and risks posed by the CSG industry can in general be managed through:
- Careful designation of areas appropriate in geological and land use terms for CSG extraction
- High standards of engineering and professionalism in CSG companies
- Creation of a State whole-of-environment data repository so that data from CSG industry operations can be interrogated as needed and in the context of the wider environment
- Comprehensive monitoring of CSG operations with ongoing automatic scrutiny of the
- A well-trained and certified workforce
- Application of new technological developments as they become available
Professor O'Kane said these conditions need to take place within a “clear, revised, legislative framework” supported by an effective, transparent compliance regime drawing on appropriate expert advice.
The report noted there could be unexpected accidents from CSG. “This is common for new applications in the extractive industries and underlines the need for Government and industry to approach these issues with eyes wide open (and) a full appreciation of the risks.”
More to come
