Northern Territory government releases fracing implementation plan

July 30, 2018
The Northern Territory government has announced its plan to implement the recently released recommendations of the independent scientific inquiry into the unconventional practice of hydraulic fracturing.

The Northern Territory government has announced its plan to implement the recently released recommendations of the independent scientific inquiry into the unconventional practice of hydraulic fracturing.

The recommendations have been grouped under six themes: strengthening regulation, ensuring accountable industry practice, safeguarding water and the environment, respecting community and culture. maximizing regional benefits and local opportunities, and planning for industry.

The government has undertaken to implement all 135 recommendations. Specifically, it has accepted that 47 of recommendations must be brought into effect before exploration activity can resume.

These involve:

• Setting up codes of practice for industry.

• Transferring of environmental decisions regarding petroleum from the Minister for Primary Industry and Resources to the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources.

• Baseline mapping and ongoing monitoring regimes for weeds, methane emissions, and water quality near proposed drilling sites.

• Commencement of a broader Strategic Regional Environmental and Baseline Assessment.

The goal is to have the 47 measures in these categories in place by yearend. If this can be achieved, it will ensure the exploration industry can be back on the ground and exploring during the mid-2019 dry season in the state.

The government also said an online portal will be established to ensure the community has real-time access to data on industry activity and environmental, social, health, and cultural baseline impacts.

In welcoming the government’s plan, the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) said businesses, contractors, and workers in the state are counting on the resumption of exploration and private investment to help get the state economy moving again. The association added that explorers are ready to resume activities as soon as the government confirms the necessary regulatory arrangements are in place.

The results and recommendations of the independent scientific inquiry, handed down by Chair Justice Rachael Pepper after 15 months of research and deliberations, were released in March. In April the Northern Territory government announced the end of the 2-year moratorium on fracing after accepting the key point that if all recommendations were implemented, the risk from the practice could be reduced to an acceptable level.

The government also accepted the inquiry’s advice about no-go zones. It means that, coupled with areas where there is no petroleum potential, some 49% of the state will be frac-free. This includes national parks, conservation areas, indigenous protected areas, towns, residential and strategic assets, and areas of high cultural, environmental, or tourism value.