Surat gas project

Project summary

Arrow Energy Pty Ltd (Arrow Energy) has prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Surat Gas Project. Arrow Energy proposes development of some 7,500 coal seam gas production wells and associated facilities within an area of approximately 8,600 square kilometres of petroleum tenures, extending from near Wandoan (in the north) to Dalby and Millmerran (in the east) and Goondiwindi (in the south). The project will complement Arrow Energy’s existing gas field developments near Dalby.

The proposed project covers all or part of petroleum leases 194,198, 230, 238, 252, 258, 260; petroleum lease applications 185, 253, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308; authority to prospect 676, 683, 689, 810, part of 747; and parts of authority to prospect application 746. Areas excluded from the proposed project include the towns of Brigalow, Cecil Plains, Chinchilla, Columboola, Dalby, Macalister, Millmerran and Warra.

Note that this project does not include the Dalby Expansion Project currently proposed on petroleum leases 194, 198, 230, 238, 252, petroleum lease applications 258 and 260.

Commonwealth assessment process

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)

The project is a controlled action under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The controlling provisions are sections 18 and 18A (listed threatened species and communities), sections 20 and 20A (listed migratory species) and sections 24D and 24E (impacts of coal seam gas development and large coal mining development on water resources).

The State's EIS process has been accredited for the assessment under Part 8 of the EPBC Act in accordance with the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland.

Controlling provisions – sections 18, 18A, 20 and 20A have been assessed by the Queensland EIS process (Environmental Protection Act 1994) accredited under the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland.

Queensland assessment process

Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Queensland)

The process for the assessment of the Surat Gas Project was as follows:

1. Submission of draft TOR
2. Public notification of draft TOR
3. Final TOR issued—EIS in preparation
4. Public notification of EIS
5. Proponent responds to submissions
6. EIS assessment report

The EIS Assessment Report was issued to Arrow Energy Pty Ltd on 25 October 2013 in accordance with Section 60 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The EIS process under Chapter 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 is now completed.

Further information

Copies of publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below:

Current documents

• Final terms of reference (PDF, 308.9 KB)
• Surat Gas Project EIS assessment report (PDF, 3.1 MB)

Superseded documents

• Draft terms of reference (PDF, 315K) (PDF, 315.2 KB)

For further information about the EIS process for the Surat Gas Project, contact the EIS Coordinator.