1 coal seam gas: why all the fuss? warwick giblin feianz engineers australia symposium 10 th july...
TRANSCRIPT
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Coal Seam Gas:
Why all the fuss?
Warwick Giblin FEIANZ
Engineers Australia Symposium
10th July 2012
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1. Lack of adoption of the precautionary principle
2. Technological change - internet3. Farmer – company interaction4. Proponent assumed having law & govt
policy on its side was enough to win the day
5. Traditional measure of ‘wealth’ hides environmental & social costs & benefits: not suitable now
Why the Fuss?
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My farm is my ‘castle’ & home (ambience, spirit) My land is everything/more than a workplace A stranger appears Stranger is big, strong & from a different world Little time to build a trusting relationship Farmer unsure, lots of unanswered questions
eg who can we trust about groundwater impacts?What is fair compensation?Is the access agreement fair?
Stranger ‘throws his weight around’ Farmer digs his toes in - CONFLICT
The Farmer’s View
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We have followed due process; have a licence to explore/produce. Done what Govt asked.
The law to enter farmland is on our side We have commercial pressures to develop the
project; get on-stream & produce revenue Production will lift Co value & share price We’ve offered compensation, farmers not
playing fair Royalties & jobs for the State – surely a winner! Green energy source Company dig its toes in - CONFLICT
Gas Company’s View
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The usual view of the World…
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Farmers have the internet & smartphones! Technology has enabled bottom-up
communication ie farmers linked up to form a critical massYou Tube = Filmmaker Mobile phone= Paparazzi Twitter/Blog= Reporter Companies thought complying with the law
& $$ promises was enough Biggest flaw: Precautionary Principle ignored
Why has the impasse happened?
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If an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy is harmful, the burden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those taking the action.
Definition: Precautionary Principle
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FIRST: Determine capacity of the natural systems especially the hydrogeology
Goal: maintain long term sustainable resource use:a) Water resources/aquatic ecosystemsb) Agric land c) Biodiversity – veg management
THEN - regional land use planning based on values & risks of ALL the resources
Apply Precautionary Principle in Assessing Natural Resources
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Defn: A measure of socio-political sentiment towards a project, company or industry
Co-ownership: high trust & active support
Approval: support
Acceptance: listen & consider; wait & see
Withheld/withdrawn: opposition
‘Social Licence to Operate’
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Embrace Precautionary Principle
Independent baseline, catchment wide studies, with stakeholders involved, to determine risks of serious damage to g/water & s/water quantity & quality
Cumulative impact assessment
landholders/farmers entitlements need legislative protection
Community engagement before devel concept locked in
True sustainability – price environ costs & benefits
Trust & Transparency – Needs Proponent Leadership
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A better way to see the world
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GDP ignores costs of environmental damage & resource depletion
‘defensive expenditures’ such as pollution clean-up costs & vehicle accident repairs increase value of GDP
Build social wellbeing & ecological health measures into ‘progress’ mix
GDP/”wealth” not = Quality of life
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GDP wrong metric, short term focus Measure for both today and future Tax ‘bads’ (pollution), not the
‘goods’(income) Need metrics for social wellbeing + healthy
ecosystems + long term economics, eg:
• UN & UK Green Economy Initiatives• UN Human Development Index• Genuine Progress Indicator (US think tank)
Measures to assess ‘true’ progress
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NSW Upper House Inquiry Code of Practice for CSG exploration Applications for CSG exploration licences on public exhibition Agric Impact Statement req’d for new CSG extraction applications Aquifer Interference Policy Ban on toxic chemicals (BTEX) in fraccing process Ban on use of evaporation ponds for production waters New well design specs Strategic Regional Land Use Plans - Upper Hunter & Liverpool Plains: Panel
to assess proposals in high value agric areas before DA submitted No more major cash payments for exploration licences Guideline for community consultation re exploration End to the 5 yr 10% royalty holiday Land & Water Commissioner –vet CSG activities on prime ag land Standardised land access agreements Regional Community Funds: Co’s fund local projects
State Govt responses as debate rolled on
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Senate Inquiry
EPBC Act: Expert Scientific Cttee – bioregional/catchment-wide cumulative impact assessment re CSG & mining projects
Feds: Plan a national regulatory approach re CSG (end 2012)
Fed Govt response as debate rolled on
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Warwick Giblin
Ph 0419 271 819
www.ozenvironmental.com.au