Fracking ban comes into effect in Queensland’s Channel Country

It took 10 years, but the promised ban on new fracking projects in Queensland’s Channel Country has finally become official.

A ban on new gas exploration in the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Basin came into effect in early August following changes by the State Government to the Regional Planning Interest Regulation Act 2014.

The Act bans “petroleum resource activities” in the strategic environmental area of ​​the English Channel, ensuring that no new unconventional gas and oil extraction methods, known as fracking, can be developed.

The decision has been welcomed by traditional owners and farmers, but the energy industry says it threatens future gas supplies.

Finding balance

Karen Monaghan, a resident of Wangkanguru Yarluyandi, said the coming into force of the regulations was overwhelming for her.

“I am very happy with this news,” said Ms Monaghan.

“I’ve been waiting a long time.”

She added that it was a relief for her to know that her homeland would be protected from the need to search for gas in the future.

“This is the final result,” she said.

However, these changes do not apply to mining concessions in force before 22 December 2023, when the changes were announced, nor to mining concessions for opencast mining of mineral resources.

A modern step forward

Dalene Wray, managing director of OBE Organic, which sources organic cattle from the Channel Country, said the new rules reflected the modern extractive industry while protecting areas of national importance on land and waterways.

“The Lake Eyre basin is one of the most unique river systems in the world,” Ms Wray said.

“Additional safeguards are needed and the government has done just that.

“They have put in place safeguards that are suitable for resource utilization in 2024.”

Traditional Owners, graziers and Channel Country residents have been calling for greater protection for the area since the Newman government repealed conservation laws in 2013.

Ms Wray said it had been a thorough consultation process.

“While it took a little longer than we would have liked, they listened to everyone in the community,” she said.

However, Australian Energy Producers, the main organisation representing oil and gas exploration, development and production organisations, opposes the ban.

Following the announcement, Queensland Chief Executive Keld Knudsen said it would put jobs and future revenues of outback local governments at risk.

“The economic consequences… could be devastating for the South West in the years to come,” he said.

“Councils that rely on the gas industry could lose significant parts of their budgets.”

He said preventing the development of new gas fields would limit future gas supplies.

A Department of Resources spokesman said in a statement the measures “represent a breakthrough and strike an important balance” between protecting the rivers and floodplains of the Lake Eyre Basin and providing certainty for existing conventional gas projects.

“The Queensland Government has long taken the position that it supports natural resource projects provided they are financially, environmentally and socially viable,” he said.

“This position has not changed.”