New South Wales legislation extinguishes license applications

Nov. 25, 2014
Legislation to extinguish 16 petroleum exploration licence applications in New South Wales has been passed by the state parliament.

Legislation to extinguish 16 petroleum exploration license applications in New South Wales has been passed by the state parliament.

The applications covered 43% of the state and the extinguishment is one of New South Wales’ government’s key actions in the state’s gas plan according to Deputy Premier Troy Grant.

Grant said the government will now decide which areas to be released and to whom, under a new strategic release framework.

“It will enable the government to identify appropriate areas for gas exploration after a careful assessment of economic, environmental, and social factors. Community consultation will be conducted up front,” he said.

Once chosen, the title areas will go out for expressions of interest and the government will make its assessment of the proponents. The system will draw on the new approach to coal exploration recently recommended by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. In addition, the freeze on new application will remain in place until the system is in place.