Commissioner to oversee CSG
GAS and mining companies tapping into NSW resources will face the strongest regulations in Australia, if not the world, Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner has announced.
At the Nationals conference in Bowral on the weekend Mr Stoner said a Land and Water Commissioner would be appointed to oversee coal seam gas exploration in regional NSW.
As part of the State Government's plan to regulate the industry, CSG producers will be required to reach a standardised land access agreement with local farmers, irrigators and encouraged to invest profits into regional communities.
The announcement also ends the royalty free holiday for CSG companies.
Mr Stoner said the changes would strengthen the position of concerned land owners and benefit regional communities.
"The NSW Government is seeking enhanced industry co-operation to ensure resource communities adequately share in the economic and social benefits of developing the coal seam gas industry," Mr Stoner said.
"We acknowledge the many responses to the draft Strategic Regional Land Use policy and will continue to refine the policy over the next few months to ensure NSW has the strongest regulation of mining and gas extraction in Australia, if not the world."
