The HOPE organisation today stated its position on the Coal Seam Gas (CSG) industry in Queensland .In line with a number of other regional, community, farming and conservation groups, HOPE is calling upon the State Government to impose a moratorium on any new proposals to expand CSG operations until a set of realistic controls are imposed on the industry which results in the proper protection of precious agricultural, ecological and water resources within the State for the long term future.

HOPE President Mr Frank Ondrus said that HOPE was not totally opposed to CSG extraction, or coal mining more generally, but that there had to be more of a focus on a fair go for all Queenslanders in terms of the balance of costs and benefits coming out of these fossil fuel extraction industries in the State.

As it stands HOPE is concerned that there is a high risk of many, long term costs being imposed upon the community from the large number of new CSG developments which are being considered. Mr Ondrus said there have already been considerable concerns in each  of the environmental areas already named based upon  the experience of some of the 4,000 or so existing wells already in place in Queensland. There are now reports that a further 36,000 CSG wells have been envisaged. The risks posed by such an escalation are high. The loss of good quality agricultural land, the damage to high value nature conservation areas, the pollution of drinking and irrigation water supplies, as well as the public nuisance, health effects, and property value blight produced by the required additional infrastructure developments are all very real threats, said Mr Ondrus.

Of course, there are obvious financial revenues and economic benefits flowing to the State government from CSG development. HOPE is asking, however, that a proper cost benefit analysis be undertaken in which the value of the ecosystem services supplied by the farmland, natural areas and water catchments impacted by existing and potential CSG development, as well as the potential public economic and health costs on communities, is properly factored into the costs side of the equation. Only then will we be able to answer some key questions: Is Coal Seam Gas the bonanza for all Queenslanders that is claimed, or does it represent a short-sighted gold rush on a relatively short-lived asset? Will CSG leave behind it a wake of damage far more costly to attempt to repair than the original economic benefits produced by its extraction? At present, is this really a one-sided contest between Mother Nature and Father Greed?

HOPE therefore repeats its call for a moratorium on all newly proposed CSG development until:

• Clear prohibitions are placed on any such development proposed for good quality agricultural land, nature conservation areas of high ecological value, or areas that would pollute groundwater supplies.
• The treatment of CSG development proposals is made consistent with the legal framework that governs other environmentally relevant or sensitive activities, so that poorly assessed fast tracking of such development cannot take place.
• That any future CSG development negotiations be carried out within a framework of respectful and authentic engagement with land owners.
• A full cost benefit assessment is made on the CSG and coal industry in Queensland that factors in the full social and environmental costs (including damage to ecosystem services and public health) as well as the monetary and other economic benefits claimed for these industries.

For further information about HOPE and its activities please contact the office by phone (07) 4639 2135 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .