Ronald Thompson gets to work on Origin's demonstration farm near Chinchilla. � Picture: MICHAEL JOY
CHINCHILLA farmer Ronald Thompson admits he faced some scepticism from fellow farmers when he took up a new job to promote the idea that coal seam gas extraction and agriculture could coexist in Queensland.
His family farm near Roma was one of the first to be consulted when major oil and gas player Origin Energy opened its Spring Gully CSG plant in November 2005.
Six years on, he is paid by Origin to demonstrate that landowners and gas developers can live side by side.
Mr Thompson is employed by Origin to run its sideline cattle and cropping business on Western Queensland farmland dotted with gas wells.
He says having local farmers working with the giant gas producer has helped smooth relations between the two industries.
"There were some questions when you would meet locals down at the pub, but the general response has been that at least they (the gas companies) have someone on there who knows what they are doing," he says.
Origin is one of a number of resource companies, including CSG developers Santos and Dart Energy and coal producers New Hope Corp and Shenhua, which have become significant investors in agricultural enterprises as they move to develop some of the nation's largest resource projects.
QCL
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