7 April 2014
Chrissy Arthur
ABC News
The State Government has released more land in Queensland’s west for petroleum and gas exploration.
Six areas, totalling more than 16,000 square kilometres, have been released in the north-west and south-west of Queensland.
Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps says the land has been released for exploration through a non-cash competitive tender.
It includes land south of Normanton, north of Camooweal, and areas to the west of Quilpie.
Mr Cripps says the state’s mining industry will benefit from the release of under-explored land, with the potential for new discoveries of both conventional and unconventional petroleum resources.
He says the area to the west of Quilpie may possibly contain oil resources as well.
Some of that land is in the Cooper-Eromanga Basin.
Quilpie Mayor Stuart Mackenzie says he is surprised there are still under-explored areas in the district, because the sector is already a big part of the shire’s economy.
“The last figures I saw – and these would be increasing – 80 per cent of the gross regional product out of Quilpie Shire was from mining, so that gives you an idea of how important it is to these communities,” he said.
“It is a great advantage to any western community, in particular, to have a vibrant mining industry.”
He says he is “comfortable” with the idea of more gas and petroleum exploration in the region, provided environmental guidelines are followed.
Tenders close at the end of September.
Courtesy of ABC News