Posts by Nicola Proctor

New NSW study to understand economic impact of gas in regional communities

A new report assesses links between CSG industry activity and regional economic indicators in New South Wales between 2001 and […]

Potential impacts of coal seam gas development on water flows to the Great Artesian Basin

This report, Uncertainty analysis of CSG-induced GAB flux and water balance changes in the Narrabri Gas Project area, quantifies potential […]

New South Wales coal seam gas research projects: Update summary

Progress summary of research by GISERA in regional NSW, September 2017.

Surat Basin regional air quality, Queensland

Coal seam gas (CSG) production has expanded rapidly in the Surat Basin in recent years, leading to an increase in the number of emission sources that may increase pollutant levels in the air. However limited information has been available about the levels of pollutants in the air, how these compare to other regions, and to air quality standards.

Fugitive methane emissions

A fact sheet that sets out what the science tells us about methane emission sources from CSG wells, pipelines, compressors and other infrastructure associated with CSG production, and their importance in warming the earth’s climate.

Fugitive methane emissions – an update

This updated fugitive emissions fact sheet sets out what the science tells us about methane emission sources from CSG wells, pipelines, compressors and other infrastructure associated with CSG production, and their importance in warming the earth’s climate.

Characteristics of methane seeps

The Surat Basin is one of Australia’s largest coal seam gas regions. Over the coming years, production of gas will increase as Lique ed Natural Gas (LNG) facilities come online. This study will develop a better understanding and characterise methane sources across the region. It is important to distinguish between methane sources that occur naturally and those that are referred to as anthropogenic, or occur after some kind of human involvement.

Community attitudes towards CSG development: 2014 and 2016

Views towards CSG development in the Western Downs region differ within communities and also between communities. On average, views towards CSG development became slightly more negative in 2016.

Community Wellbeing in the Western Downs: 2014 and 2016

Even though some aspects of wellbeing decreased and others improved, overall community wellbeing remains similar and robust over two years of CSG development. The 2016 CSIRO Community Wellbeing and Responding to Change survey shows the biggest change in wellbeing from 2014 was the decrease in satisfaction in relation to jobs and employment opportunities, and the biggest improvements were in roads and the quality of the environment (e.g. dust and noise).

Groundwater flows in the Hutton Sandstone and Precipice Sandstone aquifers

CSIRO is undertaking a study to better understand groundwater flow in two Queensland aquifers which provide an important resource for domestic and stock water supply.

Methane seeps in the Condamine River fact sheet

CSIRO researchers with expertise in hydrogeology, geology, ecology and biogeochemistry have developed a Methane seeps in the Condamine River fact sheet […]

Looking to the future – animation

An animation has been created to present a summary of research about the economic effects of the CSG industry during […]

Community wellbeing and adapting to coal seam gas

This communique highlights key findings from the 2016 CSIRO Community Wellbeing and Responding to Change survey, changes between 2016 and 2014, and implications for community, industry, and government stakeholders involved with Coal Seam Gas (CSG) development. Key messages describe lessons learned from investigating wellbeing over four years in this region – a period of rapid economic development associated with the construction phase of the industry ending with local economic slowdown post-construction.

Looking to the Future: Job forecasts for the Surat Basin 2014 to 2034

This communiqué presents a summary of research about the economic effects of the CSG industry during the operations phase. The findings draw on two sets of data. The first is economic forecasting of indirect employment that flow on to other sectors from the CSG industry. The second is a set of interviews with local stakeholders identifying lessons from the construction phase which can be useful to small businesses during the operations phase.

Soil Compaction

Soil compaction has long been considered an important issue for soils of the region and modern farming methods have been developed to minimise damage to these soils from farm machinery. However, it has not been clear what damage may result from the large numbers of vehicles used along CSG pipelines and access tracks and within lease areas.

Access tracks and soil erosion

Aerial photogrammetry is used to monitor and model the impact of access tracks on water ows and erosion.

Understanding the way farmers see their farm

Farmers and CSG workers may come from different backgrounds and this can influence communications between them. The CSIRO Shared Space project has shown that the aesthetics (visual aspects) of a farm is quite individualised and specific to the farmer, and potentially a cause for a lack of understanding from others.

Ensuring biodiversity offset success: the right kind of seed for a rare daisy (Rutidosis lanata)

The woolly wrinklewort Rutidosis lanata (Asteraceae) is a rare and protected daisy from southern Queensland. As part of the biodiversity offset program for the Australia Pacific LNG project, more than 100,000 plants of this species will be translocated. Successful establishment of a self-sustaining population relies on knowledge of basic reproductive ecology and genetic diversity for the species. The Gas Industry Social & Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA) have initiated a research project on the woolly wrinklewort to better inform the conservation of this rare species.

GISERA Director briefing key stakeholders

Coal seam gas regions reverse rural decline trend

The development of Australia’s unconventional gas, specifically coal seam gas (CSG), in the past five years has resulted in significant economic change in agricultural areas. Understanding the social and economic implications of CSG production for rural towns and regions is critical to maximising the benefits and minimising the costs associated with the challenges and opportunities arising from this extractive industry.

Rural change as a result of coal seam gas developments and the associated economic impacts

At any given point in time, a community or region may appear static. Their populations, economies and identities may give the appearance that this is how they always were. This is not the case; history shows that a region’s population, economy and identity changes considerably over time.