The Queensland Government has announced the membership of a new Surat Basin Engagement Committee that will consider the range of issues surrounding the development of coal seam gas in the state.

 

Announcing the committee, Premier Anna Bligh said that while CSG was an important industry for Queensland, it could not come at any cost.

 

“This group will ensure the community, industry and government have an ongoing and high-level capability to consult, progress and resolve CSG-related issues. It reflects our commitment to work with the community and industry to achieve a long-term sustainable and prosperous future for the Surat Basin.”

 

The committee will be chaired by former AgForce Queensland president John Cotter who as a landholder and beef producer brings experience in regional and rural issues to the position.

 

The Mayors of the Western Downs and Maranoa regional councils and the Deputy Mayor of the Toowoomba regional council will serve on the committee, as will the chairs of the Basin Sustainability Alliance, Jimbour Action Group, Concerned Landholders Roma North and a landholder representative for the Miles and Wandoan area.

 

The chairs of the Queensland Great Artesian Basin Advisory Council and the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee will join Queensland Water Commissioner Mary Boydell on the committee.

 

The Queensland Government will be represented by the Directors-General of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, the Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Coordinator-General.

 

Two regional sub committees will also be established with a specific focus on the Roma and Dalby areas.

 

The Dalby and Roma district committees will comprise local representatives from community organisations and regional councils, CSG companies and rural industry organisations, and government departments.

 

These local consultative committees will focus on district-specific issues and matters of concern specifically for the Dalby and Roma areas.

 

The Dalby and Roma district committees will comprise local representatives from community organisations and regional councils, CSG companies and rural industry organisations, and government departments.

 

These local consultative committees will focus on district-specific issues and matters of concern specifically for the Dalby and Roma areas.

 

Membership of the sub committees will be announced after the Surat Basin Consultative Committee meets for the first time in April.

 

The Committee membership is as follows:

 

Chair
• Mr John Cotter

Community/landholders
• Basin Sustainability Alliance (Dalby area) — Ian Hayllor, Chair
• Jimbour Action Group (Dalby area) — John Alexander, Chair
• Concerned Landholders Roma North (Roma area) — Peter Thompson, Chair
• Landholder (Miles/Wandoan area) — Don Stiller
• Queensland Murray-Darling Committee — Peter Blundell, Chair
• Queensland Great Artesian Basin Advisory Council — Roderick Gilmour, Chair

Industry appointees
• AgForce — Ian Burnett, Vice-President
• Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) — Dan Galligan, Chief Executive Officer
• Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) — Matthew Paull, Director
• Queensland Resources Council (QRC) — Michael Roche, Chief Executive Officer
• Queensland Gas Company (QGC) — Jim Knudsen, Managing Director
• Arrow Energy — Leisa Elder, General Manager, Government and Community Relations
• Origin Energy — Janet Hann, General Manager for the CSG to LNG Project
• Santos Limited — James Purtill, Manager Public Affairs and Sustainability

Government (local and state)
• Western Downs RC — Mayor Ray Brown
• Maranoa RC — Mayor Robert Loughnan