Scientific advice

The Australian Government and state government regulators refer coal seam gas and large coal mining proposals to the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development (IESC) for expert scientific advice on the potential water-related impacts of these developments.

In giving scientific advice the IESC considers all the potential impacts of the proposed development to water resources. This includes groundwater, surface water, water quantity and quality, ecosystems and ecological processes that affect the water resource and water-dependent assets.

This advice enables regulators to make their decisions based on the best available science.

The IESC publish all the scientific advice provided to regulators. You can use the search tool on this page to find any of this advice.

Project advice

Reference number	Regulator	Project location	Project name	Date of IESC advice	File
2022-135	Australian Government	QLD	Isaac River Coal Mine (EPBC 2021/8980) New Development	03 Sep 2022	Isaac River Coal Mine (EPBC 2021/8980) New Development (DOC 476.2KB) Isaac River Coal Mine (EPBC 2021/8980) New Development (PDF 574.9KB)
2022-134	Australian Government	QLD	Caval Ridge Mine Horse Pit Extension (EPBC 2021/9031) – Expansion	03 Sep 2022	Caval Ridge Mine Horse Pit Extension (EPBC 2021/9031) – Expansion (DOC 491.6KB) Caval Ridge Mine Horse Pit Extension (EPBC 2021/9031) – Expansion (PDF 273.2KB)
2022-133	Australian Government	QLD	Fairview Water Release Scheme (EPBC 2021/8914) – Expansion	30 Jul 2022	Fairview Water Release Scheme (EPBC 2021/8914) – Expansion (DOC 510.7KB) Fairview Water Release Scheme (EPBC 2021/8914) – Expansion (PDF 317.8KB)
2022-132	Australian Government and NSW	NSW	Dendrobium Mine Extension Project (EPBC 2021/9115 and State Ref No SSI-33143123) - Expansion	09 Jun 2022	Dendrobium Mine Extension Project (EPBC 20a21/9115 and State Ref No SSI-33143123) – Expansion (PDF 268.7KB) Dendrobium Mine Extension Project (EPBC 20a21/9115 and State Ref No SSI-33143123) – Expansion (DOC 483.4KB)
2022-131	Australian Government	QLD	Middlemount Southern Extension Project (EPBC 2021/8920) – Expansion	07 Jun 2022	Middlemount Southern Extension Project (EPBC 2021/8920) – Expansion (DOC 468.6KB) Middlemount Southern Extension Project (EPBC 2021/8920) – Expansion (PDF 327.9KB)

Interim committee project advice

Regulator	Project location	Project name	Date of IESC advice	File
Australian Government	QLD	Santos Future Gas Supply - EPBC 2012/6357	31 Jul 2012	Santos Future Gas Supply IIESC Project Advice (PDF 163KB) Santos Future Gas Supply IIESC Project Advice (DOC 101.7KB)
Australian Government	QLD	Foxleigh Coal Mine Extension - EPBC 2010/5421	31 Jul 2012	Foxleigh Coal Mine Extension IIESC Project Advice (PDF 32.3KB) Foxleigh Coal Mine Extension IIESC Project Advice (DOC 98.3KB)
Australian Government	QLD	Middlemount Coal Project Stage 2 - EPBC 2010/5394	31 Jul 2012	Middlemount Coal Project Stage 2 IIESC Project Advice (PDF 36.4KB) Middlemount Coal Project Stage 2 IIESC Project Advice (DOC 99.4KB)
Australian Government	NSW	Clarence Colliery Extension - EPBC 2012/6446	31 Jul 2012	Clarence Colliery Extension IIESC Project Advice (PDF 82.7KB) Clarence Colliery Extension IIESC Project Advice (DOC 98.9KB)
Australian Government	QLD	Alpha Coal Mine and Rail Project - EPBC 2008/4648	20 Jul 2012	Alpha Coal Mine IIESC Project Advice (PDF 90.7KB) Alpha Coal Mine IIESC Project Advice (DOC 100.6KB)