THE mining industry said a delay in the Northern Territory’s decision on whether or not to allow development of its onshore natural gas reserves would impact on mine investment.
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The fracking inquiry last night announced a three month delay on the production of its final report to the Government because a key report needs to be recommissioned.
Chair Rachel Pepper said the delay was unavoidable and its final report would not now be available until March next year.
The NT Government has placed a moratorium on development of its abundant shale gas reserves until the report can be considered.
The Northern Territory is unlikely to see any significant investment in onshore gas projects next year, miners said today.
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association NT director Matthew Doman said the gas industry was surprised and disappointed by yesterday’s announcement that the Inquiry’s final report would not be completed until March.
“What was supposed to be a 12-month inquiry is now entering its second year,” Mr Doman said.
“The final report was promised by the end of this year. We now won’t see it until at least March next year. Even if the fracking moratorium is lifted after that, it is very hard to see any significant investment occurring in 2018.
“That means another year of lost opportunity for traditional owners and local businesses who stand to benefit as soon as this unnecessary moratorium ends.
“These further delays are damaging to the NT’s economic interests.
“It must be remembered that we have already had one independent inquiry into fracking in the NT which took nine months to conclude that any risks could be safely managed through robust regulation.
“Numerous other inquiries here in Australia and overseas have reached the same conclusion – fracking is safe when properly regulated.”
Justice Pepper said the inquiry needed to recommission a key report into social impact of any gas development.
Indigenous Agreement Solutions has been appointed to undertake further engagement in communities within the Beetaloo Sub-basin and surrounding areas.
The appointment of IAS has, however, resulted in a longer than anticipated delay in the completion by Coffey of its work, which has had a consequential delay in the completion of the work of the Inquiry.
While the draft Final Report will be published by mid-December, the Final Report cannot now be published until March 2018.
This is to ensure the completion and public release of the work by Coffey and, most importantly, to allow adequate time for the public, industry and the Government to read and digest the draft Final Report and Coffey’s social impact assessment, prior to the final round of consultations commencing at the conclusion of school holidays at the end of January 2018.
Justice Pepper said the subsequent revision of the social impact assessment consultation process meant that the Inquiry had no option but to adjust its timeframe for completion of the draft Final Report and the Final Report.
“The Inquiry had anticipated a November release of the draft Final report, but regretfully this is not possible in light of the measures required to be undertaken to ensure that the social impact assessment work is satisfactorily completed by Coffey,” Justice Pepper said.
The Inquiry has implemented a comprehensive program of community engagement throughout its work. It is particularly important to provide an opportunity for those communities in and around the Beetaloo Sub-basin area to be heard on the social and cultural impacts that any potential development of onshore shale gas resources may have on those communities," Justice Pepper said.
Justice Pepper said that its consultants Coffey and IAS will attend all of the communities its previous consultant had visited including Katherine, Mataranka, Daly Waters, Elliott, Newcastle Waters, Tennant Creek, Borroloola, Robinson River, Ngukurr and Minyerri.
IAS is planning to visit these communities later this month to begin preparatory meetings ahead of community consultation beginning in December for the purposes of the social impact assessment.