COAL seam gas projects and major coal mines will be subject to new expert environmental assessments focusing on their impact on underground aquifers.
In a move that could defuse community anger over the contentious CSG industry, the government will establish a new independent expert committee to assess all future projects that have a significant impact on water resources.
The federal government will provide $150 million to establish the statutory committee, agreed under a deal with independent MP Tony Windsor to support Labor's mining tax which is now all but assured passage through the parliament.
The new process will add to the red tape faced by mining industry when developing new projects. But Labor hopes the process will ensure greater transparency, providing all sides of the debate with objective and reliable scientific evidence on future developments.
The Australian
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