This document discusses the perspectives of different groups on coal seam gas (CSG) extraction and its impacts. CSG is an unconventional natural gas extracted through hydraulic fracturing from coal deposits. The process involves injecting water, sand and chemicals underground to release the gas. Executives view CSG as clean, affordable energy that creates jobs. However, environmentalists, indigenous groups and farmers have concerns about threats to the environment, indigenous lands, agricultural activities, and health from pollution, water contamination and clearing of bushlands. While CSG may provide short-term economic benefits, there are significant long-term risks and negative impacts on the environment, indigenous culture, and farming that need to be considered and addressed.

1. What are the impacts of
Coal Seam Gas (CSG)
PERSPECTIVES FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS, INDIGENOUS GROUPS, FARMERS AND
EXECUTIVE COMPANIES

2. What is Coal Seam Gas?
 CSG type of unconventional natural gas consisting primarily of methane found in
coal deposits
 Used to power QLD homes for the past 15 years
 Used as a natural gas to fuel gas appliances such as heaters, stoves and
generating electricity
 Compared with other fossil fuels, the burning of CSG produces lower levels of
greenhouse gas emissions but the same amount of energy
Queensland Government. (2017)

3. How is CSG extracted?
 Hydraulic method known as ‘fracking’ involves
underground wells inject sand, chemicals and
water at a high pressure to release the gases.
 Problems involve; the chemicals being used to
extract the gas, the land mass required to
establish the wells, contamination of bore
water.
 Methane gas (CSG) has no smell, once release it
will asphyxiate and become highly explosive
 When burnt methane produces 40% less
greenhouse gases than coal, however the
process of removing it from coal seams involves
a large amount of fugitive methane escaping
into the atmosphere
Keep the scenic Rim scenic, 2014

4. Alternative Perspectives
Executive Indigenous Enviromental Farmer
>CSG – clean, reliable, affordable natural gas, lowest carbon
intensity of fossil fuels, cleaner than coal up to 70%.
>CSG creates employment for locals directly & indirectly, 4300
jobs for Queenslanders; 1000 long term-operational jobs (Santos,
2014)
>No informed consent of the environmental impacts on their
land and waterways
>Minimal time constraints for making informed decisions
regarding agreements – lack of information and consideration for
Indigenous culture (Trigger, 2014)
>Lack of confidence & trust in Indigenous culture surrounding
mining companies due to the failure to deliver on promises and
land protection (Robertson, 2014)
> Loss of agricultural land and decrease
property prices
>Contamination of ground & surface waters
threatening livestock & bore water
> Few people employed causing financial
difficulties (Lock the Gate Alliance, 2014).
 Unknown long-term impacts on the
environment, groundwater resources and
agricultural regions (The Greens, 2017)
 Threats of air pollution, extensive
clearing of bushland, health impacts of
workers and nearby residence
 Chemicals used in extraction are known
to be toxic and case cancer (Lock the
Gate Alliance, 2015)

5. Personal opinion
My personal opinion cannot be drawn without evaluating all sides of the argument surrounding CSG. However after research into the
executive players, Indigenous cultures, environmental activists and farmers it can be seen that the negatives of the situation far outweigh
the positive influences of CSG. Although on the surface it is argued that CSG is a ‘cleaner’, affordable source of energy that is profiting the
Australian economy and job opportunities it appears that the bigger picture of this industry is in-fact not benefiting Australian people.
Further investigation has seen that the majority of exports are actually foreign-owned and most of the supplies are shipped overseas (Lock
the Gate Alliance, 2014), in addition to this a major player in the extraction and supply – Santos GLNG list the figures of job opportunities at
4300 for Queenslanders, however it is projected to drop to only 1000 long-term operational jobs Australia wide (Santos, 2014). Alarmingly
these figures don’t appear to be economically healthy for our country or future job prospects.
Turning towards the environmental, Indigenous and farming perspectives it seems common opinions and concerns are raised by all.
Overviewing Indigenous and farming arguments, it seems mining companies are undercutting and skipping around the truth of the
involvement of CSG infrastructure in regards to environmental, economical and health concerns. After researching intensively into the
environmental factors, I believe there is far little research and knowledge surrounding the long-term detrimental impacts this
unconventional gas can have on the future of our environment. Immediate concerns raised involve intensive clearing of bushland,
contamination to various water sources, damage to agricultural land and encroachment on quality farmland. I believe the Australian
Government needs to look at environmental, long-term productive solutions for our energy needs that may not necessarily benefit the
economy immediately, but the long-term environmental and quality of life opportunities will create a positive future.

6. Resources
 Queensland Government. (2017). Department of Environmental and Heritage Protection: About coal seam gas. Retrieved on 16th
March 2017 from http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/management/coal-seam-gas/
 Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic. (2012). What is Coal Seam Gas? Retrieved from http://www.keepthescenicrimscenic.com/coal-seam-gas-
information.php
 Lock the Gate Alliance. (2014). Australians uniting to protect our land and water (brochure). Retrieved from
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/lockthegate/pages/2187/attachments/original/1439522172/LTG-Brochure2014-
web.pdf?1439522172
 Santos. (2014). FAQS. Retrieved March 22, 2017 from http://www.santosglng.com/faqs.aspx
 The Greens. (2017). Protecting farmland and waterways from CSG. Retrieved from http://greens.org.au/csg
 Lock The Gate. (2015). About Coal Seam Gas. Retrieved from http://www.lockthegate.org.au/about_coal_seam_gas
 Robertson, J. (2014). https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/dec/17/its-like-spiritual-genocide-csg-miner-faces-fresh-
fight-to-drill-indigenous-heritage-site
 Trigger, D., Keenan, J., Rijke, K. d., & Rifkin, W. (2014). Aboriginal engagement and agreement-making with a rapidly developing
resource industry: Coal seam gas development in Australia. The Extractive Industries and Society, 1(2), 176-188.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2014.08.001