The Queensland Government has just announced that it is opening more than 6700 square kilometres of land in central Queensland for gas exploration. 872 km² of the land will only be available for the supply of gas to the Australian market.

12 prospective parcels of land are now open to tender across Queensland’s resource-rich Bowen and Surat basins between Blackwater and Goondiwindi. The land is located in central and southern Queensland across five regional areas:

• 2501 km²near Rolleston
• 2642 km²between Blackwater and Banana.
• 882 km², south of Theodore
• 703 km², 30 km south of Moonie
• 18 km², 15km south-west of Wandoan.

Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Dr Anthony Lynham, said the land was in proven highly prospective regions that are already pumping gas as part of Queensland’s $70 billion onshore gas industry.

“I expect strong interest as the Surat and Bowen basins already have gas infrastructure and any new project could plug straight in and get gas to market faster,” he commented.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) Chief Executive, Andrew McConville, said Queensland has led the development of onshore gas fields for decades and ‘continues to do the heavy lifting’ to meet Australia’s growing needs.

“Queensland should be congratulated for continuing to see the economic benefits that flow to their communities from developing and using natural gas, especially in these challenging times,” he said.

Dr Lynham also stated that gas explorer Comet Ridge Limited has been given the green light to start exploring east of Emerald for gas for the Australian market. Comet Ridge will seek domestic gas at its Mahlo North Project on 450 km2 of land east of Emerald.

The new land release is part of a multi-million-dollar package, which includes rent and fee waivers, to help maintain the state’s pipeline of resources projects and jobs.

Applications are open until 2.30 pm, 9 July 2020. For information on tendering visit current tenders.