Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said the department was ahead of schedule for planned community engagement and compliance inspections of CSG wells, pipelines and water bores, and that four new petroleum and gas inspectors would be recruited.

“The coal seam gas compliance unit (CSGCU) committed to inspect 250 CSG wells, 160 drilling rigs, nine pipelines and four CSG seismic activities to ensure industry conducts activities in a safe manner and in compliance with Australian standards and codes,” Cripps said.

“I can report that as at June 30, inspections were completed on 369 CSG wells, 154 drilling rigs, and 29 pipelines.

“Seismic activities will be inspected in the latter half of 2013 and further safety inspections of drilling operations and new pipelines will be a focus during 2013-14.

“CSGCU officers also inspected 14 wells and seven pipelines for compliance with the Queensland Land Access Code.”

Mr Cripps said the government was committed to check and measure standing water levels in 300 water bores annually and verify the accuracy of water data supplied by CSG companies.

“To date, inspectors have conducted 181 water level measurements and made 52 analyses of water quality at water bores,” he said.

“These targets were set in the Coal Seam Gas Engagement and Compliance Plan 2013, which was released in February.

“The plan also aims to be more proactive in engaging with the community, local government and the CSG industry and to more effectively respond to landholder enquiries, issues and complaints.

“Through better engagement, communities will have a better understanding and awareness of CSG activities in their region.”

Departmental officers attended 12 landholder meetings and CSG-related regional community events during in first half of 2013.

“The CSGCU also completed 12 groundwater investigations involving landholder bores and were engaged in another six as at the end of June,” Cripps said.

“The unit received 37 inquiries, including 10 complaints about CSG operations, and dealt with another 120 enquiries relating to bores, environmental issues, governance, water and land.”