AN interim committee to provide independent scientific advice on coal seam gas (CSG) and large coal mining has been announced, headed by Flinders University Hydrogeology Professor Craig Simmons.
Federal Water Minister Tony Burke said in a statement Professor Simmons was the leading international authority in hydrogeology and was considered one of Australia’s foremost groundwater academics.
Other committee members include Professor John Langford, who has had a 35-year career in the Australian water industry, serving as chief executive of the Rural Water Commission from 1989 to 1994.
Geoscience Australia groundwater expert Jane Coram, who holds a Masters of Hydrogeology, and Associate Professor David Laurence, who is a consultant to industry, government and aid organisations in sustainable mining practices and inaugural Director of the Australian Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices, are on the committee.
University of Queensland Sustainable Minerals Institute Professor Chris Moran, formerly a natural resources and soils scientist with the CSIRO, and highly experienced geologist Professor Peter Flood make up the committee.
Emeritus Professor Peter G Flood has been consultant to state and Commonwealth governments and the mining and oil/gas industry and has studied the impacts of mining and coal seam gas extraction on water resources.
The committee announcement is in line with the Gillard government’s $150 million commitment to establish an Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development.
The commitment arose from the Federal inquiry and will require amendments to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
“Independent expert scientific advice to provide quality recommendations for the protection of underground water has formed part of federal approvals where they have been given,” Mr Burke said.
“To date, this quality independent advice has been limited to the extent of environmental powers in relation to matters of national environmental significance set out under the EPBC Act.
“With this new Independent Expert Scientific Committee the scientific rigour will be more broadly applied to consider the impact on underground water more generally.
“The interim committee will provide independent expert scientific advice to the Commonwealth in relation to projects impacting on water resources which need assessment under national environment law.
“This independent assessment process will help build community confidence in coal seam gas and coal mining developments in sensitive areas,” he said.
The federal government also plans to enter a new national partnership agreement with the states through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), under which the Commonwealth and states agree to take the Committee’s advice into account in their assessment and approvals decisions.
The federal government will provide $50 million in incentive payments to the states to deliver this outcome.
State governments will remain the primary regulators.
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