Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt says a new CSIRO report into the impact on the environment from fracking should pave the way for further investment in gas exploration and development across Australia.
The report released today is the most comprehensive investigation into hydraulic fracking undertaken in Australia.
“The study looked at all aspects of fracking and their impact on local air and water quality over a three year period at operations in Queensland’s Surat Basin,” Minister Pitt said.
“It found that best practice fracking operations that have been adopted in the Basin had little to no environmental impact, even water produced directly from the wells showed no chemical residues above normal background levels within 40 days of the fracking operation taking place.
“The study brought together researchers from the CSIRO, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, University of Queensland and Macquarie University and it confirms that CSG fracking is a safe practice,” Minister Pitt said.
“It dispels the misinformation anti-gas activists have been spreading about the CSG industry, which is poised to deliver thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in new revenue.
“Last week, Arrow announced it is proceeding with a significant CSG development in the Surat Basin in a project that will create 800 jobs in the construction and operational as well as delivering the much needed gas supplies into the east coast market.
“The Coalition Government is committed to supporting the resources sector, which will play an important role in driving our national economic recovery as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Reports like the one released today confirm the steps taken by the industry to protect the local environment are working and I am hopeful will attract more resources companies to consider investing in CSG and other unconventional gas developments,” Minister Pitt said.
