Science and sustainability must come first in gas boom

By Joanne Grainger, QFF President

DISCUSSING coal seam gas at a backyard barbeque is becoming a topic that is almost as fraught with potential social faux pas or conflict as politics or religion.

More and more, there is someone we know who is employed in the gas industry, is associated with it, or simply sees it is a new boom for regional areas.

A ute parked in the street in Roma is just as likely to have drilling equipment in the back as it is to be carrying a Kelpie.

This expansion, with much yet to come, is being portrayed in the media as an issue that is dividing communities – as much as it already seems to be causing huge political schisms.

But I believe it is worth clarifying publicly that farmers do not crave division for its own sake, and nor are they being obstructionist simply for their own interests.

Farmers by their nature take a long-term view of things. Farming is often a lifetime vocation, or even an inter-generational vocation.

Well-managed farms are a renewable resource that produce food and fibre year-in, year-out.

The difference with gas is that it is ultimately a one-trick pony. The gas can be harvested only once, and while it may be worth different values at different times of the economic cycle, it is the same commodity whether it is extracted in 2011 or 2015 or 2050.

Taking this longer term view, farmers expect clear evidence that the gas extraction isn’t impacting underground aquifers either by contamination or drawdown, as well as greater information about the cumulative impact of the predicted 40,000 wells (and associated infrastructure) and management of CSG water post-extraction.

To me, this concern shows a deeper appreciation of the potential of the resource by looking at it beyond the political cycle, or next week’s share price.

The ABC 4 Corners episode on Monday night asked some serious questions about the risk that the massive dredging operation near Curtis Island could have on marine animals and environment.

This dredging is part of the facility that will make way to convert CSG to LNG and export it.

Six hundred kilometres to the south, the underground aquifers are just as precious and ancient resource as the Great Barrier Reef. The risks are on a comparable scale – but of course television cameras won’t be able to capture what is happening deep underground.

Therefore, any ‘make-good’ arrangements are the bare minimum that must be required of mining companies should any impacts occur to the underground aquifers. And the accepted methods for make good are yet to be agreed.

I also acknowledge that there are some in the community that would like to see CSG shut-down entirely.

QFF has not been part of these calls; our focus has been on calling for sustainable development and lobbying the State Government to see the proper regulations are in place and are enforced.

There seems to be no political appetite to halt CSG expansion, and it must be acknowledged that gas can also provide significant community benefits. It also has the potential to provide some benefits to farmers, if it is managed properly.

Therefore, it is a careful balancing act delivering pragmatic policy in this area even at a State level. Notably in the past week, the debate has occurred federally as well, with Independent Tony Windsor and the National Party putting policies and key points on the public record.

We believe the main focus remains with the State, but if a Federal policy is to be successful, it will require some form of legislative implementation that:

• Deals with the connections between State and Federal approval powers;

• Recognises and protects priority resources (land, water and infrastructure) for agriculture and food production; and

• Deals with the legacy issues associated with impacts from projects that are well advanced and retrospectively conditions them to avoid impacts and make good where they may have already caused damage or risk of future damage.

In the meanwhile, we will continue to lobby all levels of government to see that the gas expansion is sustainable and that it is managed in such a way that the country and communities have a future once the resource has been depleted.