Monday, December 5

Coal seam gas water management expert panel


Federal environment minister, the Hon Tony Burke MP, has approved the appointment of an expert panel to advise him on coal seam gas water management, for Queensland coal seam gas projects approved and conditioned under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.Those projects include the Queensland Curtis LNG project, the Santos Gladstone LNG project, and the Australia Pacific LNG project. The expert panel will provide advice on the adequacy of water management plans which the companies must submit under the conditions of approval.

The members of the expert panel are:

  • Professor Paul Greenfield AO, Vice Chancellor, University of Queensland
  • Professor Chris Moran, Director, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland
  • Dr Richard Cresswell, Sinclair Knight Merz
  • Ms Jane Coram, Geoscience Australia
  • Associate Professor Heather Chapman, Griffith University.

Australian Government

Editor's Note:-

The following information was sent to the Black Cockatoo's email  regarding the above panel - you make up your own mind:-

The panel is by no means independent. The following is a list of persons on the panel and their interests discovered at this time:- 

Paul Greenfield - Chris Moran's boss and has oversight of The Sustainable Minerals Institute. Recently defended Moran against allegations of conflict of interest in relation to Coal Seam Gas. Clearly a supporter of Coal Seam Gas. 

Chris Moran - From The Sustainable Minerals Institute at UQ. Heavily funded by Coal and Coal Seam Gas companies. Denies any conflict of interest. Completed the groundwater assessment for QGC. Also consulted on the original EPBC assessments for major CSG approvals. 

Richard Cresswell - Close associate of Peter Stone (GISERA) whilst at CSIRO. Now of SKM. SKM are strong proponents of Coal Seam Gas industry. See attached recent article outlining consultancy's position vis a vis CSG.  

Jane Coram - Very little information found to date. 

Heather Chapman - Strong proponent of coal seam gas. Lectures at Griffith University on many aspects of managing coal seam gas water.


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