Background
- Environment Minister, Ms. Tanya Plibersek recently wrote to the Independent Expert Scientific Committee (IESC), using powers under s.505D(2)(a) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, requesting they provide scientific advice to her about potential impacts to water resources resulting from gas exploration and appraisal activities in the Beetaloo Basin.
- The IESC has accepted the Minister’s request and will provide their independent scientific advice.
- The Minister and her department have made no decision on whether the exploration and appraisal activities are likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance, requiring EPBC Act approval.
Tamboran Resources Corporation Managing Director and CEO, Joel Riddle, said:
“Tamboran’s activities are subject to an Environmental Management Plan and Water Extraction License Applications approved by the Independent NT Environmental Protection Agency and the Northern Territory Environment Minister. All water use is subject to a water extraction license which ensures the volume of water used is sustainable and consistent with the NT Water Allocation Plan (WAP).
“Tamboran’s proposed WAP represents only 5.6% of the industry allocation within this WAP, or 0.2% of the estimate sustainable yield. Tamboran is confident in our assessment that our current activities do not have a significant impact on water resources, and we welcome further confirmation from the IESC to this effect.”