Comments are sought on the updated Information guidelines for proponents preparing coal seam gas and large coal mining development proposals (Information Guidelines). This follows an initial public consultation period on updates to the Information Guidelines in 2021.

Following public consultation, the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development (IESC) has addressed stakeholder comments and made extensive updates to the Information Guidelines. These updates include the addition of boxes to highlight key concepts and restructuring to enhance logic flow, improve clarity and reduce repetition.

Submissions on this version of the updated Information Guidelines close at 5.00pm (AEST), Friday 18 August 2023.

The IESC will consider all submissions received when finalising the updated Information Guidelines.

The IESC is a statutory body under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). One of the IESC’s key legislative functions is to provide independent scientific advice to the Australian Government Environment Minister and relevant state ministers in relation to coal seam gas (CSG) and large coal mining (LCM) development proposals that are likely to have a significant impact on water resources.

The Information Guidelines outline the information project proponents should provide to enable the IESC to provide robust scientific advice on the potential water-related impacts of CSG and LCM developments proposals.

The Information Guidelines provide guidance rather than mandatory requirements and proponents are encouraged to refer to issues of relevance to their particular project.

Invitation to comment

The updated Information guidelines for proponents preparing coal seam gas and large coal mining development proposals is open for public consultation until 5.00pm (AEST), Friday 18 August 2023. Comments are sought on the updated Information Guidelines after the Committee addressed stakeholder comments and made extensive updates to the Information Guidelines following an initial public consultation period in 2021.

The IESC welcomes submissions from interested organisations and the public.

The Information Guidelines have been updated to provide additional and clearer guidance to project proponents on the IESC’s information requirements.

The IESC welcomes feedback on the content, usability and applicability. In particular, views are sought on:

• the content of the draft update of the Information Guidelines, particularly any areas where further explanation would be useful;
• the relevance to your specific area of work; and
• potential options to increase uptake and adoption.

The EPBC Act lists “a water resource, in relation to coal seam gas development and large coal mining development” as a matter of national environmental significance. A water resource is defined under the Water Act 2007 (Cth). It covers surface water or groundwater or a watercourse, lake, wetland or aquifer (whether or not it currently has water in it) and includes all aspects of the water resource (including water, organisms and other components and ecosystems that contribute to the physical state and environmental value of the water resource). As such, environmental assessments for proposed CSG and LCM developments are required to consider the effects that a proposed development may have on water resources.