Community conversations help inform planning for Taroom Trough

Residents from across the Maranoa and Western Downs came together this week to learn about potential oil and gas development in the Taroom Trough and what it could mean locally.

More than 160 people attended the Taroom Trough Information Forums in Surat on 2 September and Condamine on 3 September.

The forums highlighted potential considerations of tight gas and oil exploration and development, including the important role of landholders and community.

An exhibition with information booths gave local residents and landholders the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with representatives from energy companies and the Queensland Government, ask questions and get information directly from those involved.

The forums were hosted by Coexistence Queensland and the Queensland Government, in partnership with Maranoa Regional Council and Western Downs Regional Council.

Coexistence Queensland CEO Warwick Squire said the forums demonstrated the value of providing communities with accessible, practical information early in the development process.

“These regions are very familiar with gas and oil production, especially over the last 15 years,” Mr Squire said.

“The tight gas and oil associated with the Taroom Trough has some similarities to CSG – but it also has a number of important differences. It is also a resource in the early stages of exploration.

“The forums brought together information from across the development process in one place, helping people understand the bigger picture rather than having to navigate different sources of information themselves.”

Coordinator-General, Gerard Coggan, directed by the Queensland Government to prepare the Taroom Trough Development Plan, said the forums provided an opportunity to explain the work underway on the Plan and hear directly from communities.

“The Taroom Trough presents an important opportunity for Queensland’s fuel security, and planning for any future development needs to be informed by a clear understanding of the region and the communities within it,” Mr Coggan said.

“The Development Plan will provide a strategic, whole-of-basin framework for the orderly, efficient and responsible development of oil and gas resources within the Taroom Trough.

“These forums allowed us to explain that work in more detail, alongside information about the resource, groundwater considerations and the potential pathway for future exploration and development.

“The perspectives and questions raised by local communities are an important part of building a fuller understanding of the region as that planning continues.”

Maranoa Regional Council Mayor Cr Wendy Taylor said the Surat forum provided a valuable opportunity to explore what potential development could mean for the region.

“People want to understand what potential development could mean for their community, their land and the region more broadly,” Cr Taylor said.

“Our community expressed interest in understanding the potential opportunities for regional economic development, including how future activity could support local businesses, jobs and the broader regional economy.”

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Cr Andrew Smith said the Western Downs has a long history of successfully balancing agriculture, energy and resources.

“Our communities have extensive experience with agriculture, energy and resources operating alongside one another, and we know how important good communication is when change is being considered,” Cr Smith said.

“Our focus is on making sure all of our industries and communities can thrive, and that local knowledge and the needs of our communities are considered as planning for the future continues.”

The questions, feedback and local knowledge shared at the forums will help inform ongoing planning and support the provision of information and engagement that responds to community needs as the process progresses.

The forums are part of the Queensland Government’s work to prepare the Taroom Trough Development Plan; a whole-of-government initiative being led by the Office of the Coordinator-General. The Plan is being developed in consultation with local governments, industry and community stakeholders to help establish a shared vision for the region, provide clarity about future oil and gas development opportunities and infrastructure needs, and support informed decision-making for communities and investors.

More information about the Taroom Trough Development Plan is available through the Office of the Coordinator-General: Taroom Trough Development Plan | Office of the Coordinator-General