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
2021-124	Australian Government and QLD	QLD	Winchester South Project (EPBC 2019/8458, EPBC 2019/8459, EPBC 2019/8460) – New Development	05 Sep 2021	Winchester South Project (EPBC 2019/8458, EPBC 2019/8459, EPBC 2019/8460) – New Development (PDF 616.1KB) Winchester South Project (EPBC 2019/8458, EPBC 2019/8459, EPBC 2019/8460) – New Development (DOC 492KB)
2021-125	Australian Government and NSW	NSW	Boggabri Coal Mine Modification 8 (EPBC 2021/8875) – Expansion	05 Sep 2021	Boggabri Coal Mine Modification 8 (EPBC 2021/8875) – Expansion (PDF 627.3KB) Boggabri Coal Mine Modification 8 (EPBC 2021/8875) – Expansion (DOC 484KB)
2021-122	Australian Government and QLD	QLD	Saraji East Mining Lease Project (EPBC 2016/7791) – Expansion	30 Jun 2021	Saraji East Mining Lease Project (EPBC 2016/7791) – Expansion (PDF 642.8KB) Saraji East Mining Lease Project (EPBC 2016/7791) – Expansion (DOC 503KB)
2021-123	Australian Government and QLD	QLD	Ensham Life of Mine Extension Project (EPBC 2020/8669) – Expansion	29 Jun 2021	Ensham Life of Mine Extension Project (EPBC 2020/8669) – Expansion (PDF 240.6KB) Ensham Life of Mine Extension Project (EPBC 2020/8669) – Expansion (DOC 491.8KB) Peer Review of Report prepared by Gordon Geotechniques Pty Ltd (‘Subsidence Report for the Ensham Life of Mine Extension Project’, March 2020) by Bruce K Hebblewhite (B K Hebblewhite Consulting) (PDF 3.3MB) Peer Review of Report prepared by Gordon Geotechniques Pty Ltd (‘Subsidence Report for the Ensham Life of Mine Extension Project’, March 2020) by Bruce K Hebblewhite (B K Hebblewhite Consulting) ( 3.6MB)
2021-121	Australian Government and NSW	NSW	Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project (EPBC 2020/8735) – Expansion	15 Mar 2021	Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project (EPBC 2020/8735) – Expansion (PDF 283.3KB) Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project (EPBC 2020/8735) – Expansion (DOC 485.1KB)

Interim committee project advice

Regulator	Project location	Project name	Date of IESC advice	File
Australian Government	QLD	Codrilla Coal Project - EPBC 2009/4892	21 May 2012	Codrilla Coal IIESC Project Advice (PDF 150.4KB) Codrilla Coal IIESC Project Advice (DOC 91.5KB)
Australian Government	QLD	Sonoma Coal Mine Extension - EPBC 2011/5800	21 May 2012	Sonoma Coal Mine Extension IIESC Project Advice (PDF 141.8KB) Sonoma Coal Mine Extension IIESC Project Advice (DOC 93.3KB)
Australian Government	NSW	Dart Energy, Coal Seam Gas Exploration Pilot Appraisal Program - EPBC 2011/6154	19 Apr 2012	Dart Energy, Coal Seam Gas Exploration Pilot Appraisal Program IIESC Project Advice (PDF 28.1KB) Dart Energy, Coal Seam Gas Exploration Pilot Appraisal Program IIESC Project Advice (DOC 102.9KB)
Australian Government	NSW	Apex Illawarra Coal Seam Gas Exploration Drilling and Gas Monitoring – EPBC 2011/5821	27 Mar 2012	Apex Illawarra Coal Seam Gas Exploration Drilling and Gas Monitoring Program IIESC Project Advice (PDF 161.2KB) Apex Illawarra Coal Seam Gas Exploration Drilling and Gas Monitoring Program IIESC Project Advice (DOC 43.3KB)
Australian Government	NSW	Mount Pleasant Project - EPBC 2011/5795	24 Feb 2012	Mount Pleasant IIESC Project Advice (PDF 66.6KB) Mount Pleasant IIESC Project Advice (DOC 31.9KB)