OPEN-CUT mines and water extraction caps will apply to developments commencing in Queensland’s western Channel Country, as part of the state government’s plan to replace the Wild Rivers Legislation.
In a statement released from Longreach today, natural resources and mines minister Andrew Cripps said the new management framework will subject mining developments to stringent environmental conditioning.
“Oil and gas development will be strictly controlled under strengthened conditions to be contained in the Environmental Protection Act,” Mr Cripps said.
“There will also be no cotton grown on the Cooper Creek and no further water released for irrigation purposes from these systems.”
With ongoing amendments to the preceding government’s Wild Rivers legislation, exploration for coal seam gas and oil shale in Channel Country has commenced.
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