Lock the Gate Alliance questions Bowen and Galilee basins gas resources to be explored

Lobbyists have questioned a funding splash the federal government says will unlock gas resources across new regions in Central Queensland.

Environmental lobbyists are questioning a federal funding splash to investigate gas resources across Central Queensland, suggesting the announcement is destined for a Senate Inquiry.

Lock the Gate Alliance says the $20.7 million fund for the North Bowen and Galilee Basin Strategic Basin Plan appeared to include “re-announcements” including $5 million for a feasibility study for a gas pipeline.

The group said the funding followed Blue Energy’s comments on funding, and subsequent state and federal announcements.

Resources Minister Keith Pitt announced the basin plan fund in Mackay on Thursday which included $15.7 million would be spent on gas field trials and drilling programs to scope the region’s potential, and $5 million would fund studies on new pipelines development.

The pipelines would be co-funded with the State Government.

It was billed as the next step in the federal government exploring gas fields for exploration, tapping to tapping into reserves large enough to supply Australia’s east coast needs for more than a decade.

Dawson MP George Christensen and Resources Minister Keith Pitt. Picture: Tara Miko

Lock the Gate Alliance national co-ordinator Carmel Flint said the federal government was “intent on throwing more taxpayer funds at gas giants”.

“I’m sure the North Queensland tourism industry would love some big grants right now to support their businesses which have done it tough during Covid, but instead it’s gas companies who are raking in the cash to explore for gas to export overseas,” she said.

“There are more than 7000 producing coal seam gas wells in the Surat and Bowen Basins in Queensland already – this industry does not need a hand out.”

The plan would create 5500 jobs in the next nine years, and would leverage more than $400 million in research funding and critical infrastructure upgrades.

But Mackay Conservation Group spokesman Peter McCallum questioned those figures.

“We know that for every 10 jobs created in gas field development in the Western Downs, 18 were lost from agriculture in the region,” Mr McCallum said.

“We should be investing public money in renewable energy and food production, not in gas developments that will drive climate change and damage farmland.”

Mr Pitt said the plan supported industry to develop the region’s major gas resources and was the second delivered under the Strategic Basins Plan Program.

“The North Bowen and Galilee basins are estimated to hold enough gas to meet Australia’s east coast needs for over a decade,” he said.

“The new plan will support industry to overcome the specific challenges of developing these resources.

Beetaloo Gas Basin. Origin's Kyalla well drill site. Picture: Supplied

“The strategic plan supports the government’s agenda for a gas-fired recovery, and will help deliver affordable gas for Australian industries and households.”

It follows the government earlier this year releasing the Beetaloo Basin strategic plan for the Northern Territory, and work has started on the next plan for the Cooper and Adavale basins spanning Queensland and South Australia.

Dawson MP George Christensen said the plan had the potential to create thousands of jobs and grow the local economy.

“This plan is going to open up these geologically promising basins, creating up to 5500 new jobs in Queensland by 2030,” Mr Christensen said.

“It will promote private sector confidence and bring forward investment to stimulate the economy of central and north Queensland.”

Beetaloo Gas Basin. Origin’s Kyalla well drill site. Picture: Supplied

The plan would also benefit from initiatives including $14 million for Geoscience Australia and CSIRO to deliver better data about baseline conditions across the government’s strategic basin regions, $13.7 million for continued research under the Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance, and more than $370 million for various road upgrades to support supply chains.

The North Bowen and Galilee Strategic Basin Plan is available on the department’s website.