GasFields Commission Convenes ‘Community Leaders Council’

Today the GasFields Commission Queensland (the Commission) welcomed a cross section of its stakeholders to participate in the annual Community Leaders Council (CLC). The Commission hosted senior leaders of industry, executives from state and local government, regional mayors, representatives from academia and the heads of relevant industry peak bodies. The Commission was also pleased to host the Minister for Resources – Honourable Scott Stewart MP.

The Commission’s CLC is a high-level forum that is used as a catalyst to help drive increased collaboration, strategic problem solving and honest dialogue relating to the most pressing coexistence issues being faced within Queensland’s onshore gas industry.

Several high-profile keynote speakers, including the Minister for Resources – Honourable Scott Stewart MP, Arrow Energy CEO Cecile Wake, Dalby landholder/farmer Ian Hayllor and Professor Andrew Garnett from the University of Queensland Centre for Natural Gas delivered presentations pertaining to the CLC’s theme of ‘Cultivating Coexistence – learning from experiences, facing challenges and harnessing future opportunities’.

The Commission’s Acting CEO Warwick Squire commented, “The continued success of Queensland’s gas industry is heavily reliant on maintenance of the industry’s social licence and achieving sustainable coexistence with rural landholders and regional communities.

“The attendance of so many here today clearly demonstrates the industry’s eagerness to reaffirm their commitment to improving sustainable coexistence between rural landholders, regional communities and the onshore gas industry.”

The CLC concluded with a robust panel discussion that examined the lessons learned through the development of the industry over the past decade, and future opportunities and challenges the industry may face when working to achieve sustainable coexistence.

Panellists included Dr Georgina Davis (Queensland Farmers’ Federation CEO), Mayor Paul McVeigh (Western Downs Regional Council), Mr Mike Kaiser (A/Director-General, Department of Resources) and Mr Andrew McConville (Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association CEO). The Commission has uploaded all keynote presentations and panel discussion videos to the GFCQ YouTube Channel.

As part of the CLC, the Commission released the ‘Shared Landscapes – Industry Snapshot’ Report (the report). The report combines a range of information from a variety of data sources and aims to briefly delineate the current state of Queensland’s petroleum and gas industry (reporting on FY20 data), including development areas, groundwater management processes, compliance and economic contributions made to regional communities and the State.

The report is a result of months of preparation, engagement and stakeholder collaboration that has enabled the Commission to publish this information that aims to assist landholders and regional communities increase their knowledge and understanding of the current state of Queensland’s onshore gas industry, together with emerging trends and opportunities.

Click to download your copy of the ‘Shared Landscapes – Industry Snapshot’ Report.

The Commission remains committed to publishing factual and contemporary information related to the onshore gas industry, that is both meaningful and valuable to our stakeholders.

Click to view the Commission’s ‘Community Leaders Council’ Image Gallery on Facebook.

For media enquiries

+61 7 3067 9400
enquiries@gfcq.org.au

Who are the GasFields Commission Queensland?

Established as an independent statutory body in 2013, the Commission’s purpose is to manage and improve the sustainable coexistence of landholders, regional communities and the onshore gas industry in Queensland. The Commission manages sustainable coexistence in petroleum and gas producing regions of Queensland, and will continue to do so as the industry expands into new and emerging basins.

Our vision is to achieve thriving communities in areas of gas development that are free from discord and supported by well-informed, respectful and balanced stakeholder relationships.

One way the Commission is endeavouring to realise this vision is by providing transparency and independent assurances that the onshore gas industry is appropriately regulated and held to account when needed. This in turn will help cultivate sustainable coexistence, whilst ensuring community and landholder confidence in the regulators and gas industry increases.

Drawing on its wealth of experience in the development of the gas industry and by collaborating with other relevant entities, the Commission provides a range of support to communities and landholders, primarily through education and engagement. These education and engagement activities occur with individual landholders via Commission facilitated webinars, information sessions, publications (The Gas Guide, Shared Landscapes Reports), face-to-face meetings and public workshops.

It should be noted that the Commission does not engage in individual negotiations between landholders and gas companies, but rather provides communities and landholders with the information and support they need to make informed decisions and achieve good outcomes.