THE Liverpool Plains may have to fight off both coal mines and coal seam gas, with state government documents revealing Santos has plans for up to four wells in the region.
However, the company says for the moment it is focusing solely on its Narrabri Gas Project.
Documents obtained under the Government Information (Public Access) Act show Santos plans to spend $3.87 million over three years to “explore and appraise two possible CSG targets identified in the Gunnedah Basin”.
The company plans to drill one to four core holes in its Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 1 site, which covers a large part of the Liverpool Plains.
However the map showing the exact locations proposed for the gas wells were blacked out by the NSW government.
Santos was required to provide the information to support its renewal application for PEL 1.
The NSW government has a “use it or lose it” policy for exploration licences, so by law the company must demonstrate its plans for PEL 1, or the government may revoke the licence.
Santos’ general manager of energy NSW Peter Mitchley said the company’s plans for the region are the same as they have been for the past seven years.
“The licence obligations are consistent with those carried over from 2009,” Mr Mitchley said.
Despite the NSW government’s responsibility for coal seam gas licences, Liverpool Plains farmers have taken aim at federal Agricultural and Water Minister Barnaby Joyce.
“We are devastated to learn that our region is in the firing line for CSG drilling due to the failure of Barnaby Joyce and his government to ever deliver on their promises to protect farmers,” Mullaley farmer Margaret Fleck said.
“We’ve repeatedly heard Barnaby Joyce say that he doesn’t support mining and CSG on farmland, but he’s done absolutely nothing about it. We know Barnaby Joyce has the power as the federal Water and Agriculture Minister to protect the Liverpool Plains, and if he doesn’t deliver that protection in the next six weeks in the lead-up to the election then we know it is all just hot air.”
Mr Joyce told The Leader the powers Ms Fleck was referring to, the EPBC Act, lie with the Environment Minister, not the Agriculture and Water Resources Minister.
He also pointed out “coal seam gas exploration and production is regulated by state governments”.
Mr Mitchley said Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project has been classed as a “strategic energy project” by the state government, allowing it suspend the development of other areas to focus entirely on the project.
“All other work obligations in surrounding licences, including in PEL 1, are in abeyance,” Mr Mitchley said.
“Santos has no plans to work outside the Narrabri Gas Project area at this time.
“Any future work, should it be planned, would be subject to landowner consent, community consultation, and rigorous regulatory assessment.”
