Water

The resources sector relies on water for its operations and recognises it is a valuable community commodity that must be used wisely. Water sources include surface water, groundwater, rainfall, runoff, and recycled water, all subject to stringent environmental impact assessments at both state and Commonwealth levels. The Commonwealth Government designates water resources as a Matter of National Environmental Significance for unconventional gas development and coal mining under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, scrutinised by the Independent Expert Scientific Committee. Approvals also require state-regulated licences and allocations before operations commence, with ongoing monitoring for efficient production and environmental impact mitigation.

Accessing underground water involves intentional (non-associated) or unavoidable (associated) interference, and operators must comply with the framework under the Water Act 2000. This includes baseline assessments, impact reports, and make-good agreements with landholders, accompanied by volume reporting to the government. The extraction of non-associated water requires licensing.

During heavy rainfall, excess water may be released into natural watercourses, subject to strict conditions and monitoring, ensuring downstream water quality parameters are maintained. Government also utilises gauging stations to confirm minimal or no downstream impacts. Bioregional assessments, conducted collaboratively by Commonwealth and State Governments, assess water-related impacts of coal seam gas and coal mining developments in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia (four signatory states under the National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development). The findings of the assessments inform water management, regulatory decisions, and planning to address cumulative impacts on a regional scale.