Researchers at The University of Queensland are seeking landholders with practical knowledge and experience of coal seam gas development on their land to help identify successful co-existence strategies.
UQ School of Agriculture and Food Sciences Project Leader Associate Professor Jim Cavaye said the research would focus on extensive grazing, mixed farming and intensive dryland cropping in southern Queensland.
“The study is to identify practical measures of productivity and production on farms with CSG operations,” he said.
The project is funded through UQ’s Centre for Coal Seam Gas and will focus on the Maranoa and Western Downs, with specific interest in intensive dryland cropping and grazing areas in the Dalby area.
“We will get insights from landholders who are managing agricultural production alongside CSG operations, enabling us to document strategies for long-term co-existence,” Associate Professor Cavaye said.
“Participants can learn more about current co-existence strategies and have their practical knowledge documented to assist all project stakeholders achieve best practice in co-existence management.”
The project has been developed in consultation with the Centre for Coal Seam Gas partners in industry, government and the community, including the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Natural Resources and Mines departments, AgForce, the Queensland Murray Darling Committee and CSG companies Arrow Energy, QGC and Santos.
UQ researchers will be in the field between April and June 2014 to conduct confidential interviews with farmers.
Contact UQ Research Officer Lisa Kelly to register you interest in being interviewed.
School of Agriculture and Food Sciences contacts: Research Officer Lisa Kelly, 0428 803 386; Research Assistant Shelley Baldwin, 0428 840 210; Associate Professor Jim Cavaye, 07 5460 1337 or 0428 387 722.
