GasFields and Minister for Resources tour Surat Basin

The GasFields Commission Queensland (the Commission) and the Minister for Resources – Honourable Scott Stewart MP have toured parts of the Surat Basin to see first-hand how the gas industry is interacting with landholders and regional communities.

The tour centred around meeting with landholders to hear and discuss their concerns and opportunities relating to the gas industry’s development and coexistence in areas of high value and intensive agriculture.

The visit included meetings with a number of private landholders from across the region. The Commission has been engaging with these landholders in recent months, some of whom currently host gas activities and infrastructure, and some who do not.

The conversations covered a broad range of opinions relating to the issues associated with gas industry development and how this interreacts with farming enterprises and practices.

The Minister for Resources commented, “maintaining the gas industry’s social licence and achieving sustainable coexistence with rural landholders and communities is essential for the industry’s continued growth and for the prosperity of regional communities.

“There is always work to be done on improving the level of coexistence between industry and landholders. Open dialogue is what we all strive for as coexistence is crucial for everyone involved in this industry and the Palaszczuk Government is committed to continuing to promote coexistence.”

The tour group then visited parts of Arrow Energy’s $10 billion Surat Gas Project, located south-west of Dalby, together with Arrow Energy CEO Cecile Wake and company representatives.

The final portion on the tour saw the group attend aspects of Shell QGC’s gas project developments in and around Chinchilla, with Shell QGC Vice President Godson Njoku and company representatives.

The group was taken through Shell QGC’s Kenya Water Treatment Plant which processes water produced in the surrounding gas fields for beneficial use within the region.

A/CEO Warwick Squire commented, “the GasFields Commission continues to play a key role in delivering information to landholders to help them understand their rights as they relate to gas development, along with playing a critical role in advising government and other key stakeholders on issues of concern.

“As Queensland’s onshore gas industry continues to flourish, it is incredibly important that the Commission continues to build trust and facilitate transparent and respectful communications and information sharing between all relevant stakeholders.

“The Commission remains committed to addressing landholder concerns relating to the gas industry’s development in areas of high value and intensive agriculture.”

Check out the Commission’s Facebook Ministerial Surat Basin Tour image gallery.