Independent Review of Coal Seam Gas Activities in New South Wales
In February 2013, NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, Professor Mary O'Kane, was directed by the former Premier Barry O'Farrell to conduct a comprehensive review of Coal Seam Gas (CSG)-related activities, focusing on the human health and environment impacts.
Professor O'Kane presented her Initial Report to the Premier in July 2013.
Following a further 16 months of investigations, the Chief Scientist & Engineer published her Final Report on 30 September 2014, including 16 recommendations to Government.
Overall, the Review found many of the technical challenges and risks posed by the CSG industry can in general be managed through careful designation of areas appropriate for CSG extraction; high standards of engineering and professionalism in CSG companies; creation of a State Whole-of Environment Data Repository; comprehensive monitoring of CSG operations with ongoing scrutiny of collected data, a well-trained and certified workforce; and applying new technologies as they become available.
However, Professor O'Kane said there is still much for Government to do. "Implementing the recommendations of the Review involves non-trivial tasks," she said.
Terms of Reference
Terms of Reference for the CSG review.
Public Submissions
Public Submissions to the CSG Review.
Submissions marked as 'confidential' or containing copyright material will be considered by the independent review but not published on this website.
Background Papers
Technical information papers on specific sets of issues related to the CSG industry and operations was commissioned by the CSG Review.
Initial Report (July 2013)
Initial Report from the Independent Review of CSG Activities in NSW.
Reports on specific CSG-related issues
Professor O'Kane published a number of issues-based reports and information papers during the 19-month review of CSG activities in NSW:
- Abandoned wells (Information paper) (September 2014)
- Fracture stimulation activities (Information paper) (September 2014)
- Managing the interface between coal seam gas activities and other land uses (Information paper) (September 2014)
- Managing environmental and human health risks from CSG activities (September 2014)
- Study of regulatory compliance systems and processes for CSG (September 2014)
- Placement of monitoring equipment for water resources in NSW (June 2014)
- Measuring the cumulative impacts of all activities which impact ground and surface water in the Sydney Water Catchment (May 2014)
- Environmental risk & responsibility and insurance arrangements for the NSW CSG industry (May 2014)
Final Report (September 2014)
Final Report from the Independent Review of CSG Activities in NSW.