Isaac Regional Council, the council that hosts the highest number of coal mines of any local government in Queensland, wants the state government to “revoke” its recent approval of Blue Energy’s planned 530 coal seam gas wells in the region.
The Queensland Government approved the company’s environmental authority in March to drill 530 coal seam gas wells around Moranbah and Glenden, west of Mackay.
Isaac Regional Council has requested the approval be revoked due to Blue Energy’s lack of social impact assessment, workforce analysis, lack of engagement with the regional council and broader local community, and the likely damage the project would inflict on the region’s roads (documents available here and here).
The submission (available here) shows the council fears the gasfield will threaten the social fabric of the community. Isaac Council’s submission and revocation request was made available to all groups who made submissions against Blue Energy’s gas field proposal.
Council says that Blue Energy failed to provide sufficient information about how the project would impact the local housing market, traffic network, and existing workforce.
In 2022, the traditionally resource-supportive council passed a motion condemning Adani’s behaviour, which operates its Carmichael coal mine in the local government area, alleging non compliance with the company’s infrastructure and employment conditions.
Lock the Gate Alliance Queensland coordinator Ellie Smith said the council’s submission showed locals were fed up with mining companies who don’t care about the community they operated in, and the Palaszczuk Government’s environmental laws let them get away with it.
“You would have thought Blue Energy would have learnt the importance of a social licence after locals kicked it out of the Wide Bay. Clearly, this hasn’t happened,” she said.
“Isaac Regional Council has borne the brunt of some of the most negative social and environmental impacts of Queensland’s coal industry. It’s clear the council is now saying enough is enough to both the Palaszczuk Government and to companies that try to barge in and damage the social fabric and existing infrastructure of the region.
“It’s typical of coal seam gas companies to try to run roughshod over the community in which they want to operate. It has caused heartache and community destruction on the Darling and Western Downs.
“We strongly commend Isaac Regional Council for making such a determined stand against this gasfield.
We urge the Palaszczuk Government to heed these concerns, and revoke Blue’s environmental authority as part of its internal review.”
Lock the Gate Alliance Queensland coordinator Ellie Smith said
Lock the Gate Alliance is separately writing to Federal Environmental Minister Tanya Plibersek, requesting that she call in Blue Energy’s gasfield for assessment under the EPBC Act. Blue Energy has not yet applied to the Federal Government for approval under the EPBC act.
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Blue Energy & Palaszczuk Government want southern states and the federal government to pay for pipeline
Blue Energy’s documents reveal their gas field in the Surat Basin, Central Queensland requires 19 billion litres of groundwater, a pipeline that doesn’t exist yet, and threatens dozens of water bores that locals rely on for their survival.
Ahead of approving the application by the Environment Department, Queensland’s Resources Minister Scott Stewart made media statements drumming up funding from the Federal Government and southern states to build a pipeline from the Bowen Basin. This followed similar statements from the premier late last year.
The dash for public cash came after lobbying from Blue Energy for subsidies.
The yet to be constructed pipeline connects Blue’s tenements near Glenden to existing gas infrastructure on the Western Downs.
Blue Energy’s modelling shows more than 19 billion litres of water will be extracted during the two decade life of this proposed gasfield. Fifty-three water bores lie within 10km of this project that farmers rely on for stock and home use.
The Queensland Environment Department approved the Environmental Authority for Blue Energy’s plan to drill 530 coal seam gas wells in tenements near Glenden, to the west of the much-loved Eungella National Park, as well as east of Moranbah and north east of Coppabella.
Blue Energy’s application did not state how many CSG wells it would require. It proposed 530 multiwell pads, with between two and six wells on each pad. State Government approval has now been given for 530 wells.
Although the north Bowen Basin gas pipeline is not yet approved, it has already attracted $5 million in public subsidies, with the Queensland and federal governments splitting the costs of a feasibility study.
Mackay Conservation Group climate campaigner Imogen Lindenberg said:
“In addition to the social damage they cause, coal seam gas projects like what Blue Energy wants to build inflict massive environmental destruction.
“They produce millions of tonnes of wastewater and also contribute to climate change, which is harming the Great Barrier Reef.
“Here in Mackay, we’re particularly vulnerable to climate change driven extreme weather, such as more severe cyclones, flooding, and bushfires.
“The Queensland Palaszczuk Government should listen to concerned community groups and councils and revoke the environmental authority for this disastrous project.”
Mackay Conservation Group climate campaigner Imogen Lindenberg said
Lock the Gate Alliance Queensland Coordinator Ellie Smith said:
“The International Energy Agency has said we should not approve any new gas fields in order to maintain a safe climate. This gasfield will directly contribute to more bushfires, floods and heatwaves. It’s the wrong decision for Queensland.”
“It’s outrageous that the Environment Department has approved a whole new gas field in Central Queensland despite the litany of problems Queenslanders further south have experienced with the industry.”
“This new gas field will tear up more farmland, drain more groundwater and leave Queenslanders paying the price for generations to come.”
Lock the Gate Alliance Queensland Coordinator Ellie Smith
The application was not put through a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment, but a less transparent Environmental Assessment.
This means many aspects of the project were not publicly assessed such as the predicted carbon emissions from the project – either onsite or when the gas is burnt.
Instead, Blue Energy only addresses emissions from the project in terms of the potential impact on local air quality.
“This flimsy environmental assessment gives us little faith in the information the department has relied on for this decision with no greenhouse gas emissions assessment”
“Farmers and the community can’t be expected to trust Blue Energy’s shoddy groundwater, social and environmental assessments when they’re largely done behind closed doors.
“Farmers are doing their bit to reduce agricultural emissions, while mining companies are simply given the green light to pollute.”
Lock the Gate Alliance Queensland Coordinator Ellie Smith
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