Coal seam gas (CSG) – national regulatory update

Earlier this year we published an article covering the recently adopted 'National Harmonised Regulatory Framework for Natural Gas from Coal Seams'.  Since that time there have been a number of regulatory updates affecting CSG that we have been following, both at a Federal as well as at a State and Territory level.  We have prepared a review of these updates below, and intend this article to form the first in a regular series of updates on developments in CSG regulation in Australia.

Commonwealth

In late June, an amendment to existing Commonwealth legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act), came into force, bringing any coal seam gas or large coal mine development that is likely to have a 'significant impact' on a water resource within the scope of Federal oversight.  This 'Water Trigger' amendment was both significant and controversial as regulation of water resources traditionally lies within State