Ipswich CSG sites ruled out by Arrow

ARROW Energy has ruled out CSG exploration in the Ipswich area despite holding exploration leases across the city.

ARROW Energy has ruled out CSG exploration in the Ipswich area despite holding exploration leases across the city.

The energy company owns mining leases from Forest Lake in the east to Toowoomba in the west and south to the border.

There are currently three wells in Swanbank and Springfield areas.

Drilled by Arrow in 2002 and 2003, and Conoco in 1996, two of the wells are abandoned and the third suspended.

However, despite expanding their exploration in the Boonah region, a spokeswoman for Arrow ruled out exploration creeping north.

"Arrow is continuing with its planned rehabilitation of wells where it has completed exploration work, as required by State Government regulation," she said.

"Arrow has no other plans at this time."

Arrow has further wells near Boonah, including an exploration site at Silverdale that was the target of a protest last month.

There are more than 10 wells, some producing gas, others suspended or abandoned, in the Scenic Rim all run by Arrow.

Despite Arrow's reassurances the industry would not be making its way closer to the city, Lock the Gate Ipswich spokeswoman Cassie McMahon said the group was concerned about further exploration occurring near Ipswich.

Ms McMahon said proposals to construct gas pipelines from Casino and Roma to Ipswich were a major concern.

"Where a pipeline goes it seems coal seam gas wells follow," she said.

"We have great potential for coal seam gas in this area."

However, despite owning leases inside the city limits of Ipswich and other local towns, Arrow would be unable to explore in the city due to recently enacted legislation.

The State Government Resources Legislation (Balance, Certainty and Efficiency) Amendment Bill 2011 states "urban restriction areas will be declared over all urban centres with a population of 1000 or more, as identified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics."

Originally published as Ipswich CSG sites ruled out by Arrow