Commission-responds-to-Kupunn-landholders-concerns

GasFields responds to Kupunn landholders’ concerns

Home>News>GasFields responds to Kupunn landholders’ concerns

Farmers from Kupunn in the Western Downs have raised concerns of liability insurance, potential subsidence, and more with the GasFields Commission Queensland after discovering deviated gas wells underneath their properties, potentially causing environmental damage.

Outraged property owners across the Kupunn flood plains west of Dalby hit out at Arrow Energy after they weren’t notified about Daandine Field and Surat Gas Project wells being drilled underneath their land.

The Department of Resources confirmed they had opened an investigation into the matter, and were “working with other government agencies and partners”.

GasFields Commission’s acting CEO Warwick Squire said concerns of public liability insurance protection, potential subsidence, and interference with farming operations arose from this.

“As a result of concerns, the Commission has been proactively engaging with government, agricultural and resource sector peak bodies to raise awareness of these concerns and facilitate appropriate solutions,” Mr Squire said.

Department of Resources - Directional Drilling Fact SheetHe said a ‘Directional Drilling’ fact sheet recently published by the Department of Resources sets out the requirements for resource authority holders to access private land to carry out directional drilling activities and the landholder rights.

These facts included stipulations that land ownership ceased at the point the owner could “no longer make actual beneficial use” of the airspace, and subsurface airspace.

Other facts then classified directional drilling as as preliminary activity if there was “no impact” or only “minor” impact on the landholder’s business and land use activities.

Kupunn’s Zena Ronnfeldt said in June her farm had already been affected by side effects from the gas wells, which included water pooling on her property.

She also claimed her family was hindered in planting their winter crop due to a large area of land gathering water.

Mr Squire said the Commission expected resource authority holders to engage early and openly with landholders about what the impact drilling may have on their land use and business.

“These expectations have been made very clear to the gas industry,” he said.

“It is vital that all resource companies engage with landholders well in advance of the activities occurring or the delivery of formal notifications.”

An Arrow Energy spokesman said at the time that the relevant deviated wells were drilled in Kupunn, they “genuinely did not believe that the provision of entry notices was required” under the legislation.

Mr Squire suggested landholders contact the resource authority holder initially to discuss any concerns.

Landholders may also wish to make enquiries or lodge complaints about resource exploration or development activities via the Department of Resources’ Resource Community Infoline:

To view media article: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/dalby/gasfields-commission-queensland-responds-to-kupunn-landholders