Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining
Disclaimer
The Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining ceased operating in November 2012. The statutory Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development is now in operation.
The Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining website is no longer being updated and maintained but remains here as an archive for your information.
On 27 January 2012, the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, the Hon Tony Burke MP, announced the establishment of the Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining. The interim committee was put in place pending formal establishment of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development under legislation. The interim committee will continue until it hands over to the Independent Expert Scientific Committee when the legislation has been passed through Parliament.
Members of the interim committee were appointed on the basis of their strong scientific expertise and credentials in understanding the potential impacts of coal seam gas and coal mining on water resources. In undertaking their work, the interim committee has agreed that they will need to invite the input and contributions from individuals and institutions covering a broad range of expertise. All advice provided by the interim committee, and the results of any commissioned research or assessments, will be made publicly available through this website.
The full terms of reference for the Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining has more information:
- Terms of reference for the Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining (PDF - 262 KB) | Terms of reference for the Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining(Word - 61 KB)
National Partnership Agreement
The regulation of the coal seam gas and coal mining industries is primarily the responsibility of the state and territory governments who are also responsible for making decisions in relation to the licensing of mining and extractive industries. The role of the Australian Government in regulating coal seam gas and coal mining proposals focuses on proposed projects which could have a significant impact on matters protected by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This includes matters of national environmental significance, actions involving the Commonwealth and actions taken on, or impacting on, Commonwealth land.
In November 2011, the Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, wrote to the state premiers and territory chief ministers, seeking their cooperation to strengthen the regulation of coal seam gas and large coal mining developments that may have significant impacts on water resources.
Following this, a National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development was established through negotiations with relevant state and territory governments. The National Partnership Agreement commits the Australian Government and relevant state and territory governments to taking into account the advice of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee in their regulatory decisions.
Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria have signed this agreement with the Australian Government, and negotiations are continuing with the Northern Territory.
Introduction of legislation
On 22 March 2012, the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, the Hon Tony Burke MP, introduced legislation to the House of Representatives to establish the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development. The committee will provide robust scientific advice to governments on coal seam gas and large coal mining developments which are likely to have a significant impact on water resources.
The legislation will amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to allow for the establishment of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development as a statutory body. The legislation also makes it a requirement that the federal environment minister will take into account the advice of the committee on relevant projects.
The establishment of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee as a statutory committee delivers on the commitment made by the Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, on 21 November 2011 on this issue and fulfils one of the Australian Government's key obligations under the National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development.
Interim IESC Members:
Members of the Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining are:
Select Interim IESC member name below to expand profile information.
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Professor Craig Simmons (Chair)
Professor Simmons is professor of hydrogeology at Flinders University and director of the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training. He is a leading international authority in hydrogeology and is considered one of Australia's foremost groundwater academics. Professor Simmons has been a significant contributor to global advances in the science of hydrogeology for many years.
Professor John Langford
Professor Langford has had a 35-year career in the Australian water industry, serving as chief executive of the Rural Water Commission from 1989 to 1994. He is a Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Fellow, Institution of Engineers, Australia. Professor Langford has been the recipient of many awards including a Churchill Fellowship, the Peter Hughes award for contribution to Australian water management, a Centenary Medal and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005.
Jane Coram
Jane Coram has a master of hydrogeology, is a groundwater expert at Geoscience Australia and she is a current member of the Coal Seam Gas Water Management Panel. She has provided high-level technical advice on groundwater issues, including dryland salinity, groundwater sustainability, uranium mining and wetlands management, to federal, state and territory government agencies and regional catchment managers.
Associate Professor David Laurence
Associate Professor Laurence has a PhD in mining engineering and an MBA in international business. His research interests include sustainable mining practices; mine closure; community engagement and mine simulation; mining methods and mine design; mining law and mine management. He is a consultant to industry, government and aid organisations in sustainable mining practices. He is the inaugural director of the Australian Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices.
Professor Chris Moran
Professor Moran is the director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland, interim director of the University of Queensland Centre for Coal Seam Gas and a current member of the Coal Seam Gas Water Management Panel. He was previously the founding director of the Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry at the University of Queensland. Prior to that, he worked as a natural resources and soil scientist in the CSIRO and has more than 20 years experience in landscape and water research.
Emeritus Professor Peter G Flood
Emeritus Professor Flood, retired Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of New England, is a geologist with 44 years experience in basin studies including within the Gunnedah, Bowen and Surat Basins. He is also a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He has been a consultant to federal, state and territory governments and the mining, oil and gas industries and has studied the impacts of mining and coal seam gas extraction on water resources.
Secretariat support to the committee
The interim committee is supported by the Office of Water Science, a dedicated unit established in the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
The interim committee can be contacted via the secretariat at:
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Fax: 02 6274 2823
Submit an enquiry