The ABC’s Anna Gibbs reports (16.12.16) on a new CSIRO study which puts a dollar figure on the losses to farmers due to coal seam gas mining on their land, with a sample area averaging a loss of $2.17 million over 20 years when CSG mining activity was present.
‘A CSIRO study has for the first time put a dollar figure on the losses to farmers due to coal seam gas (CSG) mining on their land. According to the model used by the CSIRO, a sample area averaged a loss of $2.17 million over 20 years when CSG mining activity was present.
‘The study, to be published in Land Use Policy at the end of December, measured the losses to productive land under 24 different scenarios. It found the biggest cause of losses to agricultural production was from gas industry access tracks and lease areas.
‘Study author Dr Oswald Marinoni said he hoped the model would be used to influence future practice of the CSG industry. “Coal seam gas mining is a multi-faceted research area, and it requires critical research as it is a new, rapidly expanding industry,” Dr Marinoni said.
‘Environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance welcomed the study, but said the true losses to landholders went deeper.’
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