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QLD unveils new guidelines to ensure CSG operators are water wise

The guidelines will be supported by a $2 million CSG groundwater unit which will be set up within the Queensland Water Council, initially with eight officers dedicated to the task.

An important part of the management regime will be new “˜trigger thresholds’ which, if exceeded and a water supply bore is affected, the CSG operator will be required to investigate.

Queensland Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said “The laws introducing the new trigger thresholds are expected to commence in August 2010, with the independent Queensland Water Commission having oversight.

“If the problem is caused by the CSG operator, then the operator will need to negotiate acceptable solutions with the bore owner,”? Mr Robertson said.

The extraction of CSG is dependent on first removing large amounts of groundwater from coal seams.

Mr Robertson said “It is important we have arrangements in place to detect and respond appropriately where large-scale CSG extraction may be impacting on groundwater.”?

Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Queensland Director Matthew Paull said “The success of the CSG-LNG industry will be dependent on effective environmental management, and the Government, community and industry share the common goal of ensuring that this is the case.”?

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