The TerritoryLabor Government has announced no-go zones for gas exploration and production,and released the Compliance and Monitoring Strategy.
All 31recommendations identified by the Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing(Inquiry) as requiring implementation before exploration drilling and frackingcan occur have now been implemented.
The TerritoryLabor Government has implemented the criteria for no-go zones from the Inquiry,coupled with areas where there is no petroleum potential.
The formalestablishment of the no-go zones under the Petroleum Act will occur in astaged process, with 49% of the Territory identified to be protected frompetroleum activity.
Action will betaken to declare immediate no-go zones. Further consultations and negotiationswill be undertaken with stakeholders, including Traditional Owners, todetermine whether they want to declare areas within Aboriginal Land as no-gozones.
Followingcommunity consultation and feedback, Katherine and Alice Springs municipalitiesare both to be declared as no-go zones.
The Complianceand Monitoring Strategy outlines how key Governmentagencies will undertake active compliance, monitoring and surveillance todetect any non-compliances in the gas industry.
