Windsor CSG valve puts pressure on MRRT

As the Federal Government finalises last minute details for the introduction of its Mineral Resources Rent Tax to the House of Representatives it has been thrown a curly one by one of its supporting independent members.

The Member for New England Tony Windsor has given notice that he could put the kybosh on the legislation unless the Government takes measures to tighten the reins on the Coal Seam Gas industry.

 

Windsor has flagged the possibility of the sector funding millions of dollars for research into the environmental effects of coal seam gas drilling.

It’s no secret that the Government needs the support of Windsor and his independent side kick the Member for Lyne Rob Oakeshott, who is also showing signs of caving in on the MRRT, in order to have the tax passed through Parliament.

 

Windsor is becoming impatient with the tactics he says are being employed by CSG proponents that are conducting exploration through large areas of prime arable land in Queensland and New South Wales.

He said he said he is not totally confident of any assurances that have been offered thus far by companies that mining of CSG will not affect the water table or destroy arable land.

“This issue has really been brought to a head by the recent activity of last week by Santos, the Coal Seam gas company, on the Liverpool Plains where they have moved to put in place a pilot production well even in place of a groundwater study that they’ve part-funded in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government,” Windsor said speaking on the ABC radio AM program.

According to the ABC Prime Minister Julia Gillard has indicated she is prepared to discuss Windsor’s concerns although she has placed coal seam gas in the “predominantly a state government matter” basket.

Gillard acknowledged a number of controversial coal seam gas projects have been earmarked for Windsor’s electorate, but has determined land use, in this instance, is not a Commonwealth matter.

“Predominantly this is a state government matter, to manage land use and resources, but of course we will discuss Tony Windsor’s concerns with him,” Gillard told ABC local radio.

The issue that has placed the heat under Windsor’s collar centres on property near Spring Ridge, in northern NSW, where local farmers are attempting to prevent Oil & Gas major Santos from sinking exploratory boreholes.

Mining has a has a history in the New England area with farmers protesting against attempts by BHP Billiton and Chinese company Shenhua to carry out explorative drilling for coal on the Liverpool Plains.

Another recent CSG flavoured dispute lasted six months and Windsor seems determined to make sure locals are no longer needlessly put through the explorative ringer.

“I’ve made it clear to the Government that this sort of nonsense from some of these companies has gone on long enough,” he said.

Windsor is seeking up to $400 million per annum to be allocated from the MRRT revenue to fund bio-regional assessments that will scientifically assess all environmental fears that have arisen throughout the CSG debate.

These include looking at the impact of CSG mining on aquifers, flood plains, native vegetation, farmland and native species.

“It would look at all the spatial landscape issues from landform, soil productivity, vegetation management, threatened species, other environmental issues, including groundwater, and surface water, and how the cumulative effects of some of these industries would impact downstream on others who are nowhere near the mining or gas activity,” Windsor said.

Windsor is also asking the Government to consider introducing legislation that would establish powers bestowing upon itself the power to give final approval of mining projects to bypass any sovereignty currently held by the state governments.