CSIRO teams up for CSG

The CSIRO and gas alliance Australia Pacific LNG are jointly funding a new partnership called the Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA) to look at the impacts of CSG in Queensland.

However, The Echo has been unsuccessful in reaching anyone from the CSIRO who would comment on whether the collaboration with a gas company represents a massive conflict of interest.

The CSIRO and APLNG have provided initial seed funding of $14 million over the next five years to conduct research into five key areas: groundwater and surface water; biodiversity; land management; the marine environment; and socio-economic impacts.

GISERA was launched in response to requests by regional communities, farmers and conservation groups, and has been welcomed by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) albeit carefully.

NFF vice-president and NFF Mining and Coal Seam Gas Taskforce chair Duncan Fraser said while the research may help fill knowledge gaps and help regulators shape policy.

“We also exercise a note of caution about the partnership, due to the linkages between the gas industry and the CSIRO,” he said. “We have been assured by the CSIRO that the research will be independent and we welcome the decision by CSIRO to publish all research, regardless of if it is positive or negative towards the gas industry.”

The Echo will continue to seek comment from the CSIRO.