Environment groups unearth aggressive behind-closed-doors negotiating tactics of CSG company

Documents revealing the details of negotiations between Eastern Star Gas and Forests NSW in respect of obtaining an occupation permit to conduct coal seam gas activities in the Pilliga State Forests were released yesterday by environment groups including the Northern Inland Council for the Environment and The Wilderness Society.

I wrote briefly about the nature of the documents and the response from the NSW Greens yesterday, you can read that here.

This is the full statement from the environment groups that made the Freedom Of Information (FOI) request for the documents:

Media Release, 3rd January 2012

COAL SEAM GAS MINERS GET 30-YEAR ACCESS TO PILLIGA FORESTS

Environment groups today released documents obtained under Freedom of Information which show that Eastern Star Gas (now Santos) have obtained a 30 year permit from the NSW Government to access the Pilliga State Forest, near Narrabri, for coal seam gas mining.

Documents include the Occupation Permit signed by Eastern Star Gas and Forests NSW in February 2011 which provides the company with access to the Pilliga State Forest, and the aggressive correspondence leading up to the signing of the permit.

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