A coal seam gas exploration permit granted more than a decade ago over Brisbane’s western suburbs remains active, it has been revealed.
Arrow Energy has a CSG exploration permit over Moggill, Pullenvale, Karana Downs, Brookfield and parts of Ipswich, a Queensland government website shows.
The permit was approved by the 1998 Labor government and could affect house prices.
The information is buried on the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) website.
Arrow Energy, co-owned by multinational corporations PetroChina and Shell, has until 2018 before the permit expires.
It is not clear if Arrow Energy will begin CSG exploration.
A response from the company has been sought.
Drew Hutton, president of anti-CSG group Lock the Gate Alliance, says the permit is not surprising as CSG drilling is happening in Sydney’s inner suburbs.
“Anyone living in Brisbane who thinks they are necessarily removed from the risks of high-impact resource extraction near them should think again,” Mr Hutton said.
“These companies don’t like to acknowledge limits and the state government is reluctant to impose them on resource companies.”
He said Arrow’s recently completed environmental impact statement allows for coal seam gas wells to be placed within 200 metres of someone’s house.
The suburbs the permit covers fall under the seat of Moggill held by Liberal National Party MP Bruce Flegg.
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