Queensland Globe opens window to CSG industry data

The Newman Government has today announced an initiative that will give rural landholders and regional communities access to the most comprehensive and accurate water data ever made available by the coal seam gas (CSG) industry.

Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said the Newman Government, in conjunction with the GasFields Commission, had today in Roma released a free online tool that uses Queensland Globe technology, to give the community access to CSG water information at the click of a mouse.

“Coal Seam Gas Globe is an easy to use Google Earth application that provides access to a vast range of online spatial data that is relevant to landholders, industry and the community,” said Mr Cripps.

“Landholders will soon be able to click and view information about wells and water bores from across Queensland, right down to their individual properties and communities.”

Mr Cripps said CSG Globe builds upon the Newman Government’s Open Data initiative and commitment to more transparency and easier public access to government information.

“CSG Globe will provide the most accurate information ever available from a network of 300 water bores, wells and resource tenures, as well as water bore monitoring data across Queensland,” he said.

“Landholders now have access to the location of CSG wells, petroleum wells and tenure information about all current petroleum exploration permits in Queensland, which will assist them with decision making and planning for the future.

“The new Globe will include details about the operator, type and status of CSG wells along with providing a wealth of water bore information including water monitoring data, groundwater reports, and bore water levels where available.

“The new CSG Globe will assist in improving community awareness and understanding of the CSG industry and its potential impacts on land and water resources.”

Mr Cripps launched the CSG Globe in Roma today on the eve of a major CSG water information day there tomorrow (9 October) and in Miles on Thursday (10 October) hosted by AgForce and the GasFields Commission, with support from the Queensland Government and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association.

GasFields Commissioner Rick Wilkinson said the CSG Globe had been developed in response to landholder and community desires for greater information and transparency about current and future CSG activity.

“Earlier this year the Commission engaged an independent consultant to identify the spatial information needs of rural landholders in Queensland and the Queensland Globe using Google Earth technology was subsequently identified as the best platform for landholders to access this information,” he said.

“From our investigations both in Australia and abroad, we are not aware of any other jurisdiction providing this much information on CSG in a simple Google Earth format, accessible to everyone.

“Landholders have helped to determine the relevant information datasets they wanted to view as part of this new online tool and we look forward to their ongoing feedback and suggestions on how it can be further improved.”

Mr Cripps said since its launch in April 2013, the Queensland Globe has proven very popular with the community, the private sector, educational institutions and community groups.

“I encourage landholders particularly, to go online and access the CSG Globe and provide their feedback and comments of this initial version of the tool.”

CSG Globe is available at http://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/mapping-data/maps

Users of CSG Globe are encouraged to provide feedback through the Lands Queensland Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LandQueensland

[ENDS] 8 October 2013

Media contact:            Jane Paterson   0417 281 754 or Eleisha Rogers 0413 375 088