Surat Gas Project
- Project summary
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)
- EIS Process
- Further information
Project summary
Arrow Energy Pty Ltd (Arrow Energy) has prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Surat Gas Project. Arrow Energy proposes development of some 7,500 coal seam gas production wells and associated facilities within an area of approximately 8,600 square kilometres of petroleum tenures, extending from near Wandoan (in the north) to Dalby and Millmerran (in the east) and Goondiwindi (in the south). The project will complement Arrow Energy’s existing gas field developments near Dalby.
The proposed project covers all or part of petroleum leases 194,198, 230, 238, 252, 258, 260; petroleum lease applications 185, 253, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308; authority to prospect 676, 683, 689, 810, part of 747; and parts of authority to prospect application 746. Areas excluded from the proposed project include the towns of Brigalow, Cecil Plains, Chinchilla, Columboola, Dalby, Macalister, Millmerran and Warra.
The project area is split into five resource areas for exploration and progressive development over approximately 35 years. Each of these areas would be supported by approximately 1,500 production wells and an associated gas and water gathering network. Approximately 18 production facilities are likely to be required within the project area, including gas compressors, water storage and treatment plants and power generation plants. Buried high pressure gas pipelines would link the production facilities, which would ultimately be connected to the gas transmission network. Buried water pipelines would connect the production facilities with sites of beneficial water use.
At this stage of development of the project, due to the progressive nature of coal seam gas development, Arrow Energy is unable to provide the exact locations of individual gas wells and associated infrastructure.
Note that this project does not include the Dalby Expansion Project currently proposed on petroleum leases 194, 198, 230, 238, 252, petroleum lease applications 258 and 260.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)
The project is a controlled action under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The controlling provisions are sections 18 and 18A (listed threatened species and communities) and sections 20 and 20A (listed migratory species).
The State's EIS process has been accredited for the assessment under Part 8 of the EPBC Act in accordance with the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland.
The proponent applied for, and has been granted, approval to prepare a voluntary EIS for the project.
EIS Process
The process for the assessment of the Surat Gas Project is as follows:
The terms of reference (TOR) has been finalised and was issued to the proponent on Friday 7 September 2010. A copy of the final TOR is available by accessing the link below.
The proponent has prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS) addressing the requirements of the final TOR.
The EIS will be available for review from Friday 16 March 2012 and anyone may make a submission to the chief executive about the EIS. A copy of the EIS may be inspected at the following locations:
An electronic copy of the EIS can be obtained from Arrow Energy’s website <www.arrowenergy.com.au>, or by contacting Arrow Energy on 1800 038 856 or emailing <suratgas@arrowenergy.com.au>.
Written comments in relation to the EIS are invited from any person within the submission period. The submission period starts Friday 16 March 2012 and ends Thursday 14 June 2012. Submissions should be addressed to:
The Chief Executive
Attention: The EIS Coordinator (Surat Gas Project)
Statewide Environmental Assessments
Department of Environment and Resource Management
GPO Box 2454
Level 8, 400 George Street
BRISBANE QLD 4001
or by email to <eis@derm.qld.gov.au>.
The Chief Executive will accept all properly made submissions and may accept written submissions even if they are not properly made. A properly made submission is one that:
- is written
- is signed by or for each person who made the submission
- states the name and address of each signatory
- is made to the chief executive
- is received on or before the last day of the submission period.
Please note that it is a statutory requirement for all submissions received to be forwarded to the proponent and for the proponent to provide a written response on the submissions to the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).
Further information
Copies of publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below:
- Final terms of reference (PDF, 309K)*
- Initial advice statement describing the project (PDF, 7.0M)*
- Public notice (s51 & s52 EP Act) (PDF, 169K)*
For further information about the EIS process for the Surat Gas Project, contact the EIS Coordinator.
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 14 March 2012