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Water and environmental management in the CSG-LNG industry
Coal seam gas (CSG) operations in Queensland are subject to strict laws to manage and minimise impacts on natural systems, protect groundwater and sustain the environment.
The Queensland Government has strict monitoring and compliance regimes in place to make sure companies are meeting their obligations.
This guide gives an overview of environmental and water management in Queensland's CSG operations.
Environmental assessments and conditions
Coal seam gas (CSG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) operators must be issued with a range of approvals from the Queensland Government before they can start construction and/or activities.
The Queensland Government has introduced an adaptive environmental management regime. This allows for the alteration of environmental conditions placed on a project on the basis of new information and/or research as it becomes available.
Environmental impact statement
Proponents of coordinated projects (i.e. projects of economic, social and/or environmental significance to Queensland) must submit a comprehensive environmental impact statement (EIS).
The EIS process for coordinated projects is overseen by Queensland's Coordinator-General under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act). Proponents of coordinated projects that do not require an EIS under the SDPWO Act can conduct an EIS through the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI). Both EIS processes include extensive public consultation and review periods.
Even after an EIS has been approved, there are a number of additional approvals the project proponent must obtain in order to commence work - for example, an environmental authority issued through DESI, or a regional interests development approval (RIDA) issued through the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs (DLGRMA).
Environmental authority (EA)
When applying for an EA, applicants are required to provide an assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the activity and outline strategies to avoid or mitigate those impacts. This can occur through one of the EIS processes outlined above or as technical information attached to the application. Where potential risks or impacts are identified, approval conditions are set in the EA to ensure that the activity is managed sustainably and responsibly.
These conditions are monitored and enforced with a compliance program consisting of inspections, audits and compliance response.
The compliance program ensures industry activities are lawful and performed to a high standard.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 companies can be prosecuted for serious breaches of EA conditions, and clean-up and remediation requirements can be imposed.
Read more about complying with an EA.
Regional Planning Interests Act 2014
A regional interests development approval (RIDA) may be required when a resource or regulated activity is proposed in an area of regional interest.
The 4 areas of regional interest identified in the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014 are:
- Priority Living Areas (PLAs)
- Priority Agricultural Areas (PAAs)
- Strategic Cropping Areas (SCAs), and
- Strategic Environmental Areas (SEAs).
Learn more about areas of regional interest and the Regional Planning Interests Act and Regulation.
Also consider...
- Read about environmental authorities for CSG-LNG projects.
- Learn more about hydraulic fracturing regulations and chemicals in the CSG-LNG industry.
- Learn more about the regulatory framework for the CSG-LNG industry.
- Find out CSG-LNG information for landholders.
- Find out how to apply for a RIDA under the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014.
Environmental management guidelines
The Queensland Government has worked closely with the coal seam gas (CSG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry to amend existing legislation and introduce new laws to help protect our environment and establish a sustainable CSG-LNG industry.
Regulation and use of CSG water
CSG water is treated as waste by the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act), but under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 (Waste Act) it can be approved for use as a resource if it is deemed to have a beneficial use.
Read more about the regulation of CSG water.
Beneficial use of CSG water
You can reuse CSG water if you can meet conditions approved by the Queensland Government.
The end of waste (EOW) framework under chapter 8 and chapter 8A of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 promotes resource recovery opportunities and aims to transform the perception of waste from being seen as waste to being valued as a resource.
The EOW framework consists of:
- EOW codes that relate to any registered resource producers for a code
- EOW approvals considered on a trial basis for reusing waste as resources for which an EOW code has not been developed for the waste.
A waste can be approved as a resource if the Queensland Government considers that it meets specified quality criteria for its specific use. It is the waste producer's responsibility to ensure that the resource meets the specified quality criteria prior to supplying it to the user for approved use.
You must register as a resource producer to operate under an EOW code using the approved form: Registered resource producer for an end of waste code.
Read more about the EOW framework.
EOW code for irrigating with CSG water
The End of waste code for irrigation with associated water (including CSG water) – ESR/2019/4712 (PDF, 539KB) sets down water quality and environmental requirements and conditions for irrigating with associated water (including CSG water).
It defines minimum water quality conditions to make sure that:
- soil structure, stability and productive capacity are maintained
- toxic effects do not result
- there is a genuine benefit to the resource user through maintained or improved yields
- there is no risk of serious or material environmental harm.
EOW code for other uses
The End of waste code for associated water (including CSG water) – ESR/2019/4713 (PDF, 435KB) includes conditions for the following uses of associated water (including CSG water):
- aquaculture
- coal washing
- dust suppression
- construction
- landscaping and revegetation
- industrial and manufacturing operations
- research and development
- domestic, stock, stock intensive and incidental land management.
Applying for an EOW approval
You can apply for an EOW approval if an EOW code for the particular resource or for a particular use of a resource has not been developed yet. An EOW approval is issued to a single resource producer for the purpose of trialling the use of a waste as a resource to provide proof of concept.
This will require you to undergo a site-specific assessment in accordance with chapter 8 of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
Also consider...
- Read about the regulatory framework for the CSG-LNG industry.
- Learn more about water and environmental management in the CSG-LNG industry.
- Find out CSG-LNG information for landholders.
Groundwater management
Extracting water from coal seams is essential during coal seam gas (CSG) production. Groundwater pressure holds CSG within the seam and when the pressure is lowered through extraction, the gas can freely flow from the coal seam.
Protecting groundwater resources and having access to good quality groundwater is vital for Queensland's landholders and local communities.
The Queensland Government has introduced laws to protect landholders' groundwater supplies and the local environment from any adverse impacts from resource (including CSG) activities.
The laws apply to current and future projects and require evaluation and strict management of impacts of water extraction from resource operations on bores and springs.
Read more about the underground water management framework.
Groundwater monitoring
To help manage the impacts of resource operations, groundwater levels are monitored at a large number of sites throughout Queensland. Find out how to access groundwater monitoring data and get involved in bore monitoring.
Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA)
OGIA manages the impacts of water extraction as a result of resource operations on groundwater resources in cumulative management areas.
OGIA will prepare annual reports on the implementation of the Surat Underground Water Impact Report.
Also consider...
- Find out more about underground water management.
- Learn more about the regulatory framework for the CSG-LNG industry.
- Learn more about water and environmental management in the CSG-LNG industry.
- Find out CSG-LNG information for landholders.
CSG water management
Coal seam gas (CSG) water contains significant but variable concentrations of salts, which means it has the potential to cause environmental harm if its release is not managed appropriately.
The Queensland Government's Coal Seam Gas Water Management Policy aims to ensure that salt produced through CSG activities does not contaminate the environment. It also encourages the beneficial use of treated CSG water as preferred over other methods of disposal.
Healthy HeadWaters CSG Water Feasibility Study
We have assessed the feasibility of using CSG water to address water sustainability issues in the Queensland section of the Murray-Darling Basin (QMDB).
Under the Healthy HeadWaters CSG Water Feasibility Study, a series of investigations have been completed into the risks of extracting and using CSG water, likely supply and demand, and specific opportunities for using CSG water in the QMDB.
Also consider...
- Learn more about the regulatory framework for the CSG-LNG industry.
- Learn more about water and environmental management in the CSG-LNG industry.
- Find out CSG-LNG information for landholders.
Cumulative management areas
A cumulative management area (CMA) can be declared if an area contains 2 or more resource tenures, including tenures on which coal seam gas activities operate.
Declaring a CMA enables the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA) to assess potential future cumulative impacts on groundwater and develop management responses—such as monitoring programs—that help to manage those impacts.
It also enables responsibilities to be assigned to each tenure holder in the area for monitoring, bore assessments, and negotiating make good arrangements.
OGIA prepares an underground water impact report for each CMA.
Also consider...
- Find out more about cumulative management areas.
- Learn more about the regulatory framework for the CSG-LNG industry.
- Read about water and environmental management for the CSG-LNG industry.
- Find out CSG-LNG information for landholders.
© The State of Queensland 1995–2024
- Last reviewed: 08 Sep 2021
- Last updated: 08 Sep 2021