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Western Downs gas: Arrow Energy responds to concerns by Springvale farmers about deviated wells

Western Downs farmers continue to put pressure on Arrow Energy about the use of deviated wells underneath their property, with the energy company responding.

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Western Downs farmers have renewed their calls for more accountability after meeting with legal teams about their rights as landholders in the face of gas development.

Landholders in Kupunn west of Dalby hit out at the global energy giant this year after wells were drilled underneath their land without them being notified, causing subsidence on their land in some cases.

Springvale farmers have since joined the chorus call for more accountability in the gas sector, with landholder Celia Karp saying a meeting with Shine Lawyers in August outlined the “challenges” they faced hosting coal seam gas on their properties.

“Using the most recent failures regarding deviated drilling as an example, it was clear from the meeting that farmers are completely let down by the legislation, as there are no protections for their valuable soil or businesses,” Ms Karp said.

The alleged subsidence on Zena Ronnfeldt's property in Kupunn. Picture: Zena Ronnfeldt
The alleged subsidence on Zena Ronnfeldt's property in Kupunn. Picture: Zena Ronnfeldt

“Once it has been impacted by the gas industry, the valuable soil is lost forever.

“The agricultural export industry is under threat, our valuable underground water is under threat, and our productive black soils are under threat of subsidence.”

An Arrow Energy spokesman said there was a comprehensive regulatory regime at State and Federal levels to protect the land and interests of landholders where they operated.

The spokesman said Arrow believed black soils weren’t under threat by their CSG wells in the way that “some landholders fear”.

He went onto say there was a comprehensive “groundwater and subsidence monitoring” system in place if the company had to compensate for “any CSG subsidence”.

Arrow Energy CEO Cecile Wake. Picture: David Kelly
Arrow Energy CEO Cecile Wake. Picture: David Kelly

“Arrow’s modelling ... is that subsidence, if any, will be regional, generally even and of a magnitude that is considerably less than the natural variation in black soil that occurs as it expands and contracts after rain,” he said.

The spokesman hit back at claims the soil wasn’t reusable after it was impacted by the gas industry.

“Arrow’s approved EIS and Environmental Authorities contain specific conditions for the management of soil, including effective rehabilitation throughout our operations,” he said.

“Arrow has considerable experience in effective soil management, and reinstatement to its former use and productivity.”

He said farmers were provided with baseline data when wells were proposed on their properties, with Arrow Energy also sharing it with the regulator.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/dalby/western-downs-gas-arrow-energy-responds-to-concerns-by-springvale-farmers-about-deviated-wells/news-story/2cba8cbe91cc2ced31a7c7379ad495da