A group of courageous Darling Downs farmers are celebrating after scoring a major win against multinational coal seam gas company Arrow Energy.
Arrow Energy, a joint venture between Shell and PetroChina, recently wrote (letter available here) to the “Springvale Four” neighbouring landholders, confirming it had withdrawn plans to drill 14 gaswells on the farmers’ properties, about 175 kilometres west of Brisbane. Arrow has also withdrawn a second application, also on the Darling Downs. Together, these encompassed 25 CSG wells/pathways and 13km of gathering lines.
While Arrow claims it may resubmit an application for six wells that would be drilled diagonally from surrounding areas at a later date, this is a major victory for a small group of farmers who stood up to a multinational oil and gas giant.
The win is nearly two years in the making. The Springvale farmers were among the first to launch a challenge against what’s known as a Regional Interests Development Approval (RIDA) application - essentially a plan by a gas or coal company to destroy farmland identified by the Queensland Government as some of the best in the state*. This is believed to be the first time a gas company has withdrawn such an application in response to farmer opposition.
Farmers say it's now time for the LNP to make good on its pre-election commitment to protect the Condamine Alluvium - the vital groundwater source these farmers rely on - from any new coal seam gas drilling.
The promise was made in response to a fierce campaign by local farming group Save Our Darling Downs to protect the Condamine Alluvium which underpins food and fibre production in the district. In the leadup to the QLD election, Member for Condamine Pat Weir promised that an LNP Government would not allow new gas development that threatened the aquifer.
Since March last year, farmers in the district have declared more than 50,000 hectares “gasfield free”.
“Springvale Four” farmer Doug Browne said, “I’ve farmed this land all my life. It’s been in my family for generations. There was no way I was ever going to let Arrow Energy onto my land.
“But we weren’t just doing this for our farms. We did it to help protect the groundwater that sustains this district. Water is life. And we did this to show farmers all over Australia that even a small group of people can stand up to giant gas companies.”
Photos of Doug are available here.
Dr Shay Dougall is a Chinchilla based-consultant who works with farmers required to host coal seam gas. She said her PhD research findings reflected and validated the experience of the Springvale Four.
“Queensland law allows coal seam gas companies to sideline the very farmers who are directly impacted by the drilling of expanding coal seam gas fields,” Dr Dougall said.
“Yet, as this example shows, it is farmers who hold the expert knowledge of their own agricultural land that is so vital when dealing with an industry as risky as coal seam gas.
“These farmers challenged Arrow’s attempts to drill, forcing the company to submit a development application under the Regional Planning Interests Act, and then used their own expert knowledge to highlight Arrow’s lack of consideration for the sustainability of their farms. The farmers’ win vindicates their own expert knowledge and concerns.
“This win proves existing gasfields have not been subject to proper scrutiny. Queensland’s planning laws are failing our agricultural industry and communities.
“This shows the government must stop allowing coal seam gas companies to do their own impact assessments over whether or not an application under the RPIA Act is required. All future gas activity in the district must undergo the same level of rigorous scrutiny as the Springvale RIDA.”
Queensland Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson Nick Holliday said, “This is a significant win, and goes to show what can be achieved when communities, even a very small group of people, work together.
“Governments must do more to support Australian farmers under threat from coal seam gas. The Springfield Four have achieved a serious blow against Arrow, but it’s a fight they shouldn’t have to have.
“It’s more important than ever that the changes promised by the Queensland LNP Government to protect the Condamine Alluvium are now implemented thoroughly, so that Arrow does not come back in a few years and try to access these farms again.”
The planned gaswells were to be part of Arrow Energy’s Surat Gas Project - a much larger project involving the drilling of more than 6000 gaswells between just west of Toowoomba and Wandoan - a distance of more than 200 kilometres.
ENDS
Background:
*Explainer: Gas companies self-assess whether they believe they need to complete a RIDA application. There is minimal government oversight, unless individuals, like the Springvale Four, insist a RIDA be conducted. This forced Arrow to apply.