Coonabar cattle station can’t stop resource companies marching north in search for more CSG in Central Queensland

Landowners have been shocked to realise how soon their property could be turned upside down as gas companies march across Central Queensland in search for more resources. See why these cattle farmers are so concerned.

Queensland gas companies are marching further north in search of resources and despite community concern, landowners feel powerless to stop them.

Cattle stations at Rolleston, 300kms west of Rockhampton, have been doorknocked by gas companies in recent weeks and experts say there could be holes in the ground within 40 days.

‘Coonabar’ cattle property manager, Cameron Gibson believes landowners have no right of reply in negotiations with gas companies and says there is great uncertainty of potential impacts to the land and business.

Cameron Gibson (right) alongside his family who received a knock on the door from gas companies regarding potential test wells on the property. Picture: Kent Murray

Intergenerational custodians of properties such as Coonabar, which has operated at Rolleston for more than three decades, don’t know where they’ll go if CSG wells begin to spring up every 700m across their land.

“We can say ‘do not come here’, but at the end of the day they still can because they have bought the exploration licence,” Mr Gibson said.

“From 35cm below, they can access it because they have bought the permit from the (state) government and therefore they have the right to come through and do exploration to see what’s underneath.”

Mr Gibson claimed confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements inhibited his ability to gain knowledge about his rights and processes because other communities were unable to discuss their experiences.

Gas wells, gas well pads, pipelines and easements stretch off into the distance in the QGC Kenyan gas fields near the Condamine State Forrest, north of Tara. Picture: NewsCorp

It comes after the State Government last November provided “advanced notice” of more than 14,000 square kilometres across regional Queensland made available for oil and gas exploration.

After releasing the 2021 Queensland Exploration Plan, Resource Minister Scott Stewart said the department had set out a program for eight tender areas for oil and gas, including almost 1,000 square kilometres south and southeast of Springsure.

Released alongside the plan was the draft Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan, a 30-year strategy which proposes 43 actions to support the industry, with the final report expected by mid-2022.

A Department of Resources spokesman said the state’s resources framework promotes the coexistence of landholders, regional communities, and industry; and, manages environmental impacts to maximise benefits for everyone.

“Should an environmental authority be granted, the proponent must comply with any conditions set regarding environmental controls and restrictions as well as the State’s strict land access requirements,” the spokesman said.

To help landholders and resources companies understand their rights and obligations, the Queensland Government has developed ‘A guide to land access in Queensland’ which can be found online.

There are a number of cattle stations in Central Queensland, such as Mantuan Downs, near Springsure. Picture: supplied.

Earlier this month, State Gas Ltd provided an update of its current testing activities at its Rolleston-West project.

According to the production testing update, the company has seen “very encouraging results” from the drilling of the first Two Wells in the permit and will now work to confirm the potential of the area for gas development.

AgForce senior policy advisor Greg Leach said while it was in the national interest to see more gas exploration in the region, he understood it was a “large shock” to producers and landowners and it was important they understood what rights the government and resource companies had.

AgForce Queensland Senior Policy Advisor Greg Leach said the negotiation process was “slick” and companies can be fairly confident of a 40-day turnaround between application and having holes in the ground. Picture: NewsCorp.

“There’s a fairly slick and smooth negotiation process … where they can make an application and be sure they can have a hole in the ground in 40 days,” Mr Leach said.

“They do have to negotiate with the landholder but they have a fairly secure time frame, legally, so the right of reply is not very fluid.

“The benefits for the landowner are that the companies are of quite a strong understanding now that they need to compensate for the impacts they are causing to the landowner.”

AgForce established a committee process to consult with people across Queensland to better support and understand competing interests and drew up a number of land use protection principles which have been endorsed by the board.