The debate about the impact of coal seam mining on groundwater has been fuelled by claims made in a television commercial produced by Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) and aired on Sunday 2 September that ‘CSIRO [and government studies] have shown that groundwater is safe with coal seam gas’.

 

CSIRO has responded to the commercial stating that at no time has it made any such a statement, and nor do the results of CSIRO research support such a statement.

 

“CSIRO continues to undertake research to better understand the impacts of coal seam gas extraction on groundwater quality and quantity.

 

“CSIRO has stated on the public record that coal seam gas extraction is likely to pose a ‘low risk’ to groundwater quality through contamination. CSIRO has also indicated that groundwater levels will fall as a consequence of coal seam gas extraction. In some places this could see aquifer levels subside by tens of metres for tens of years; in others it is likely to reduce aquifer levels by several metres for several hundred years.

 

“CSIRO continues to undertake research to better understand the impacts of coal seam gas extraction on groundwater quality and quantity.”

 

CSIRO became aware of the advertisement produced by Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) via a scan of social media on Friday 31 August and requested for the commercial to not be aired.