The GasFields Commission Queensland has released new research into the potential impacts of coal seam gas-induced land subsidence on farming operations.

Commission chief executive officer Warwick Squire said subsidence caused by CSG activity had emerged as a significant concern of landholders in priority agricultural areas, particularly on Queensland’s Condamine flood plain.

“Key to these concerns is the potential economic impact on specialised and slope dependent farming systems, and the subsequent legal protections available to these landholders should a material impact occur,” he said.

“Over the past 12 months, the Commission has worked closely with landholders, technical experts, and the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA) to better understand the connection between subsidence and specialised farming techniques used in these areas and the potential for CSG-induced subsidence to impact on matters such as productivity.

“The research has found that the matter of CSG-induced subsidence and interaction with farming is a complex matter that should be dealt with on a farm-by-farm basis.  

“The report outlines that due to the unique nature of farming in these areas and the low slope of the land, there may be instances where CSG-induced subsidence has a consequential impact on farming operations.”  

Under the existing statutory arrangements, if CSG induced subsidence affects farming operations, the CSG company has an obligation to compensate the landholder. However, the burden of proof rests with the landholder.

This is changing, as in May the State Government accepted the recommendations of the Commission to develop a new regulatory framework.

Once implemented, this will provide a statutory process for compensation, including the cost of management needed to correct any impacts of CSG induced subsidence. It will also provide mechanisms that avoid individual landholders needing to prove that CSG induced subsidence has or is expected to affect their farming operations.

Mr Squire said the research released today was another step in gaining an understanding and addressing the potential effects of CSG-induced subsidence for Queensland’s agricultural industry.  

“Importantly, several of the recommendations are already underway via the recently commenced farm scale assessment pilot project being undertaken by OGIA which was recently provided with seed funding by government as part of its response to the Commission’s CSG-induced subsidence regulatory review,” he said.

“This work represents another example of the key role the Commission plays in working with rural communities, the onshore gas sector, landholders and government to facilitate leading coexistence practices which are fair and beneficial for all parties.”