The UQ Gas & Energy Transition Research Centre (UQGET) was on hand to help last week as South West Queensland residents came together to learn about oil and gas developments in a new energy frontier - the Taroom Trough.
Held in Surat and Condamine on 2 and 3 September, respectively, the Taroom Trough Information Forums provided over 160 local residents and landholders with the opportunity to learn more about the prospective oil and gas region by connecting directly with representatives from energy companies, the Queensland Government, and UQGET.
The Taroom Trough is an onshore oil and gas region within the broader Bowen–Surat Basin, a large geological area where ‘tight’ oil and gas resources have formed over long periods of time.
The Forums were hosted by Coexistence Queensland and the Queensland Government, in partnership with Maranoa Regional Council and Western Downs Regional Council.
An opportunity to get energy development right
The Forums are part of the Queensland Government’s work to prepare the Taroom Trough Development Plan; a whole-of-government initiative led by the Office of the Coordinator-General.
The Plan is being developed in consultation with local governments, industry and community stakeholders to help establish a shared vision for the region, provide clarity about future oil and gas development opportunities and infrastructure needs, and support informed decision-making for communities and investors.
The Forums also launched a series of new fact sheets, commissioned by Coexistence Queensland and produced by UQGET, that are designed to provide landholders with easily accessible information on tight gas and oil development.
UQGET Director Associate Professor Katherine Witt, who spoke at the Forums, said it is critical that communities are brought along on the development journey from an early stage.
“It was great to see the collaborative effort between government, industry and The University of Queensland in putting together these community information sessions,” Assoc Prof Witt said.
“The breadth of knowledge and perspectives provided helped support constructive discussions and ensured community members could access information directly from the organisations involved.”
“One of the key lessons learned from coal seam gas development was the need to provide factual, neutral information early on, to bring communities along on the journey, even if there is still some uncertainty about the scale of possible development.
“It was great to see so many community members come along, not only to listen, but to ask questions and meet and interact with the industry and government representatives there too. There was a lot of interest in the information presented, the local people and businesses were very welcoming – and they know how to put on a good spread!
“I always enjoy representing The University of Queensland on visits to the Western Downs and Maranoa regions. The UQ Gas & Energy Transition Research Centre has been engaging with Surat Basin communities for nearly 15 years now and is well known across the region, so I receive such a warm welcomes from local people. I especially love it when fellow UQ alumni come and say hello, and we can swap fun tales of undergraduate years - particularly those of us who went through Gatton Campus!"
Coexistence Queensland CEO Warwick Squire said the Forums demonstrated the value of providing communities with accessible, practical information early in the development process.
“These regions are very familiar with gas and oil production, especially over the last 15 years,” Mr Squire said.
“The tight gas and oil associated with the Taroom Trough has some similarities to CSG – but it also has a number of important differences. It is also a resource in the early stages of exploration.
“The Forums brought together information from across the development process in one place, helping people understand the bigger picture rather than having to navigate different sources of information themselves.”
The Taroom Trough – a potential new energy frontier
Tight gas and oil extraction in the Taroom Trough has been identified by the state government as an opportunity that could improve domestic fuel security and support regional economic development.
While exploration - early-stage activity to determine whether oil or gas may be present - is still underway, coordinated planning is required to support progression toward potential commercial production.
"The Taroom Trough represents an opportunity to develop a potential new oil and gas province in Queensland at a time when reliable domestic energy supplies are increasingly important,” Assoc Prof Witt said.
"At the moment development in the region is still at an exploration and appraisal stage which aim to collect a range of information about the nature of the resource and whether it can be extracted commercially.
"If proven commercially viable, developing the Taroom Trough while following Queensland's proven regulatory framework has the potential to attract more investment, create shared value for local communities, and generate government revenue."
More information about the Taroom Trough Development Plan is available through the Office of the Coordinator-General: Taroom Trough Development Plan | Office of the Coordinator-General.
