AGFORCE PROJECTS

Natalie Pears (Brisbane) CSG officer for Southern Inland and South West m: 0427 694 771 p: 07 3238 6047 Email

››› Southern Inland and South West CSG news

Throughout June and July there was much talk in the media about cost blowouts in the CSG industry and of projects falling behind schedule. Take a look at the media section of our website for a few recent articles.

Southern Inland Queensland region round-up

›› CSG Information Project – Round 2

Following on from the highly successful AgForce Projects CSG information sessions, we recently delivered a new round of sessions specifically designed to assist landholders with CSG negotiations. New topics included developing and using a checklist developed by AgForce Projects to assess CSG impacts to your property/business and developing a property plan and map for use in CCA negotiations. We have so far delivered these new sessions in Roma, Mitchell, Cecil Plains, Tara and Moonie with very positive feedback. To attend an upcoming session, please register here.

›› Santos/GLNG

On 13 July the GLNG (Santos) pipeline was granted as an approved infrastructure facility of significance. The statement of reasons from the Queensland Government is available here. Santos has also begun its Phase II Environmental Impact Statement process and held public information sessions across the Surat Basin in July (see media release here) and Santos Public Notifications here. The areas to be impacted by this activity are East of Rolleston, West of Taroom, North of Wandoan and around Roma. The draft Terms of Reference for the project have been released and public submissions closed on 3 August. If you have any queries about any of the information made available please contact me directly.

›› Newly Approved Tenures

Between 26 March and 20 June 2012, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines granted the following petroleum and coal seam gas tenures:

• 1 exploration permit
• 1 petroleum facilities licence
• 4 petroleum pipeline licences (PPLs)

The PPLs granted include PPL 168 for the main transmission gas pipeline on Curtis Island for the Gladstone LNG project. For more information, click here.

›› Yulleba Resources

AgForce Projects was recently contacted by a landholder who has been issued an entry notice by Yulleba Resources. They are a very small company looking to explore the region from Muckadilla to St George for their Mitchell Iron Project. They currently have two granted Exploration Permits for Minerals (EPM 19194 and 19195) as well as a number of EPMs still under application (EPMs 19454, 19455, 19458, 19456, 19461).
According to the entry notice they want to take gravel samples every kilometre with an auger or backhoe, with all holes to be levelled and filled by days end. There are potentially a number of issues with this including:

1. Drilling holes with machinery may not be a preliminary activity; and
2. No Environmental Authority (EA) paperwork was attached to the entry notice.

If you think you might be affected by this exploration, or would like to know who has tenure over your property, please contact AgForce Projects directly on 3238 6047 or via email. If you have also been contacted by Yulleba Resources or Yulleba Prospecting please take advantage of the free legal services available to you by contacting either Glen Martin (4687 2934) or the CQ Land Access Hotline (1800 557 992) for advice.

›› Cockatoo Coal Project

The Cockatoo Coal North Surat-Taroom Coal Project ($1.12 billion) has been given permission to develop its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) after the Terms of Reference were finalised, with 22 submissions received. Issues identified through these submissions that are now included in the Final Terms of Reference include:

• Increased analysis of cumulative impacts in the Surat Basin and Fitzroy Basin regions ground water impacts
• Potential impact of the pre-construction workforce on community and housing availability

The EIS, when released in 2013-14, will again be available for community submissions and in its final form will need to be approved by the Federal Government due to the project triggering the Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). To view the approvals to date, click here.

›› Regional Planning in Darling Downs

The Darling Downs Regional Plan is being prepared to resolve land use conflicts arising from agricultural and mining activities, foster diverse and strong economic growth, plan and prioritise infrastructure and manage impacts on the environment. By early 2013 a draft version of the Darling Downs Regional Plan should be available for public comment with the final Regional Plan scheduled for release in mid 2013. There will be widespread community consultation throughout the process of developing the regional plans with a number of opportunities for community members to have input. We encourage you to take part.  See here for more information.

Southern Western Queensland region round-up

›› Etona Coal Mine – Augathella

The prospective Etona Project is located 12 kilometres east of Augathella and would represent a new, previously unexplored, coal province within the Eromanga Basin. The main exploration targets are the Orallo, Wallumbilla, Westbourne and Birkhead Formations which are considered highly prospective due to historical petroleum wells and water bores drilled in the area suggesting the potential for large volumes of thermal coal. According to this website, Mining Projects Group will move exploration at the project ahead at speed and has already designed an initial exploration program. If you live in this area and would like to know who has tenure over your property please contact me.

›› Upcoming events

GPS
Surat › Tuesday 4 September, 8.45am-4pm
Meandarra › Wednesday 5 September, 8.45am-4pm
Dalby › Thursday 6 September, 8.45am-4pm

Register for any upcoming events here.