EnvA-CQ appealing department’s decision to approve gas drilling in Bowen Basin

Environmentalists “furious” over the State Government’s greenlighting of controversial coal seam gas drilling in the Bowen Basin are taking their fight to court.

An environmental advocacy group angry over state government’s decision to green light coal seam gas drilling in the Bowen Basin has started legal action.

Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland is taking the Department of Environment and Science to the Land Court to challenge the approval using merits appeal rights.

In March 2023 Blue Energy received an environmental authority tick to open 530 wells across more than 1000ha of bushland around Moranbah and Glenden, west of Mackay.

In May Isaac Regional Council called for the approval to be revoked until certain criteria has been met, arguing the project posed “an unacceptable risk to the long term social sustainability of the Isaac region in its current form”.

As a result, the decision was subject to an internal review and the original approval was upheld.

Blue Energy's gas tenements in Central Queensland. Picture: Contributed

Now EnvA-CQ has weighed in with director Dr Coral Rowston voicing her “frustration” over the decision.

“It is a project that was approved with no detail about the significant environmental impacts it will cause,” she said.

“We have concerns that the groundwater modelling was inadequate and that there is not enough information to determine the real impacts on the local landholders that rely on their bores for water supply or the Lake Elphinstone nationally important wetland.

“As well, Blue Energy applied for an approval over three separate areas, but only did a wildlife survey over one of these areas.

Dr Rowston said this area had the least vegetation.

Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland is taking the Department of Environment and Science to the Land Court to challenge the approval of Blue Energy arguing it will risk already threatened species like koalas.

“We know there are many threatened species, such as koalas, greater gliders, and squatter pigeons, that will be impacted by Blue’s gas project, but the company was given an approval on the basis that it will ‘investigate further’ before progressing its damaging gas project.”

The Environmental Defenders Office is representing EnvA-CQ in the appeal.

EDO managing lawyer Revel Pointon said her client believed DES was not able to properly assess Blue Energy’s development proposal “because the evidence the company provided was wholly inadequate”.

“On the face of it, it is apparent that the proposal will have a very significant negative impact on a range of environmental values, from water volume and quality, threatened species habitat, and the climate,” she said.

“The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report makes it clear that no more fossil fuel sources can be opened if the world is serious about living up to its commitments and avoiding a significantly worsening climate crisis.

“It was therefore unreasonable for the Department of Environment and Science to give this project the green light.”

A DES spokesman confirmed an appeal had been lodged with the Land Court “regarding the Department’s decision to grant the authority to Blue Energy Limited for its CSG facility in the Bowen Basin”.

“As the matter is before the Court the department does not intend to comment further on the matter,” the spokesman said.

This publication has contacted Blue Energy for comment.

Originally published as EnvA-CQ appealing department’s decision to approve gas drilling in Bowen Basin