EIS Approval

On 28 May 2010, GLNG became Australia’s first major coal seam gas to LNG project to receive its environmental approval from the Queensland Coordinator-General.

On the way to this important milestone, the project underwent a thorough environmental approval and community consultation process.

EIS studies investigated likely impacts and benefits of the project on: jobs and people in our regional communities, rural industries and business, the environment, safety of the community, emergency services, local health, transport and housing.

GLNG lodged its extensive environmental impact study in June 2009 after almost 18 months of investigations by environmental and other specialists. The EIS was released for public review and written submissions were invited at this time.

The process had a strong focus on community input, with more than 2,700 people registering as project stakeholders. About 900 attended information sessions and several thousand either called the project freecall line, emailed the project team or visited the GLNG website.

The study received 48 submissions by the public exhibition closing date.

The Coordinator-General’s report includes a number of conditions and mitigation measures to reduce impacts, including community housing commitments and contributions to environmental offsets.

The process will now continue with Commonwealth Government consideration of the project under the Commonwealth’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.