http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-26/federal-intervention-to-kic...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-26/federal-intervention-to-kickstart-nsw-csg-sector/4982316

Federal intervention to kickstart NSW CSG sector

Updated 27 minutes ago

Photo: The coal seam gas sector has faced stiff opposition from NSW farmers and environmentalists. (ABC News: Alan Arthur)
The Federal Government has decided to intervene in New South Wales to re-spark the coal seam gas industry.

Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane says he has spoken to Premier Barry O'Farrell and will be forming a committee of various stakeholders to find a real solution to the state's "gas challenge".

Mr Macfarlane has told an energy summit in Sydney today that thousands of jobs are at stake unless opposition to coal seam gas can be overcome.

He says it is one of his biggest priorities.

"It's too urgent. We've got to sort this out quickly," Mr Macfarlane said.

"We've got to get the drill rigs going, where the farmers want them going, where the geology's safe, where the water's safe, where the environment's safe, we've got to get them going by Christmas if we can."

The Federal Government will form a committee of farmers, gas producers, consumers and other stakeholders to come up with solutions to fast-track projects.

"We're not stepping in over anyone. This is a co-operation between all people involved in the gas industry," Mr Macfarlane said.

He says the CSG industry should be treated the same way in every state and territory.

"Whatever the buffer zone is in Queensland is the same in NSW, is the same in Victoria, is the same in South Australia, is the same in the Northern Territory, is the same in Western Australia and is the same in Tasmania if they've got any coal seam," Mr Macfarlane said.

"The ACT people tell me they haven't, but if they have we have the same rules. It's called harmonisation."

NSW Energy and Resources Minister Chris Hartcher says he is happy to work with the Federal Government to encourage more CSG investment, but the State will not weaken its rules.

"We will not be altering in this State our protective framework, that we regard as non negotiable," Mr Hartcher said.

"The regulatory framework is here, the regulatory framework stays."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is confident NSW can follow the lead set to its north.

"There is little doubt that we have done better in Queensland. The Newman Government seems to have been very good at ensuring that land holders are reasonably content with the arrangements that have been entered into for gas extraction on their property," Mr Abbott said.

"The important thing is to get the balance right and I am confident that that's exactly why the O'Farrell Government is having this conference in Sydney today."

Earlier at the summit a number of protesters, led by New England farmer David Quince, were bundled away by security.

"Unreal. It's supposed to be a stakeholders meeting for gas and people from the agriculture and the bush that this sort of industry is going to impact on and we're not invited here. It's just unbelievable, unbelievable," Mr Quince said.

Topics: mining-environmental-issues, federal---state-issues, sydney-2000, nsw, narrabri-2390

First posted 1 hour 32 minutes ago