TRC to take landholder concerns on CSG to the State Government

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has resolved to write a submission to the Queensland State Government asking for ongoing and meaningful engagement with landholders regarding Coal Seam Gas extraction across the region.

The Queensland State Government Department of Resources has a paper open for consultation until 8 December, 2023 with TRC resolving at yesterday’s Ordinary Meeting to make a submission.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said TRC had adopted its position having engaged local landholders.

“At Council’s recent Cecil Plains Community Barbecue and Engagement event, those Councillors present received a briefing from a group of concerned landholders about the development of CSG projects in the area, particularly over priority agricultural land.

“The group were invited to present as a deputation to Council, and this occurred at the Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday, 24 October, 2023.

“The motions passed at yesterday’s Ordinary Meeting are a direct response to the information presented at the deputation, and aligns with ‘Council’s Corporate Plan 2024-2029’, specifically ‘Goal 2 – Place’, ‘We value our environments, our natural assets, and our rich agricultural land.’,” Mayor McDonald said.

TRC passed two separate resolutions at yesterday’s Ordinary Meeting as follows:

That Council:

Provide a submission in response to the Queensland Department of Resources “Consultation Paper – Coexistence institutions and CSG-induced subsidence management framework” that states:

         a. Council values our environments, our natural assets, and our rich agricultural land.

         b. Council expresses the following expectations in our Region:

                 i. That there will continue to be ongoing and meaningful engagement with landholders and consideration of their concerns.

                ii. That priority agricultural land is not negatively affected as a result of CSG extraction.

               iii. That research-based decisions are made in regard to the potential subsidence issues caused by CSG extraction.

               iv. That concerns about the potential negative impact on the Condamine Alluvium will be considered and mitigated.

And:

That Council call for a moratorium on approving new CSG activities in Toowoomba Regional Council area to allow time for the critical consideration of Council’s submission to the Queensland Department of Resources “Consultation Paper – Coexistence institutions and CSG-induced subsidence management framework”.

“Council encourages the State Government to properly take into consideration submissions from landholders.

“This includes landholder views of the impacts of CSG-subsidence to their livelihoods, the sustainability of farming practices on their lands, and their perception of suitable and appropriate remedies and regulatory mechanisms,” Mayor McDonald said.

Council has until 8 December, 2023 to finalise its submission.