Coal seam gas exploration

24 May 2011

The SCA at all times seeks to ensure that water quality is protected, the integrity of the water supply infrastructure is maintained and the catchment is not compromised.

The SCA controls access to Special Area lands and applies stringent conditions on access. Access to Special Area lands for coal seam gas exploration will only be granted where the SCA is satisfied that the activity does not pose a risk to sustainable water management and will not impact on water quality, water quantity or the ecological health of the catchments, as well as the water supply infrastructure.

The SCA has a statutory responsibility for the protection of drinking water catchments that supply Sydney, Blue Mountains, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and the Southern Highlands communities. To ensure the ongoing protection of the water supply the SCA actively participates in the planning process for gas and minerals exploration, and extraction development applications in the drinking water catchments.

Coal seam gas activities are regulated by the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services. There is only one coal seam gas exploration project (Apex Energy) approved by the Minister for Planning under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act on lands managed by the SCA for water quality. The project involves 15 exploration bores of which seven are located on Special Area catchment land. The Minister’s approval requires Apex Energy to consult with the SCA in developing a Water Management Plan for the project.

Apex Energy are now seeking to amend the Part 3A approval to include an additional exploration bore, which it proposes to locate on SCA land. The amendment was subject to public exhibition and the SCA made a submission to the Department of Planning as part of the exhibition process.

Special Area catchment lands are lands where access is controlled by the SCA for the protection of water quality under the Sydney Water Catchment Management Regulation 2008. To enable access to drill the proposed exploration bores the SCA requires the proponent to prepare an Environmental Management Plan in order to ensure the protection of water quality and the ecological values of the Special Areas.

Works cannot commence without approval of the Environmental Management Plan by the SCA.

Access to the Woronora Special Areas by the proponent in relation to the project will be contingent upon satisfactory completion of both the Part 3A approval process and access consent requirements imposed by the SCA.

The SCA applies the Neutral or Beneficial Effects (NorBE) test in its response to planning applications. Specifically, this test requires examination of the potential for impacts upon the catchment and water sources that might compromise the water quality within the catchment.

All proposed activities within the SCA lands are subject to this criteria and access is not granted unless this outcome can be satisfied.