One of P&E Law’s key concerns representing landowners affected by the coal seam gas (CSG) industry over the last decade has been the lack of enforcement of environmental authority conditions by the Department of Environment and Science (DES), including conditions relating to noise, weeds, dust and land rehabilitation. As a result, P&E Law have always emphasised the importance of including strong contractual obligations into a Conduct and Compensation Agreement (CCA) requiring CSG companies to comply with environmental authority conditions so that landowners themselves have the power to enforce compliance. The Queensland Audit Office has recently audited the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME), DES and the Gasfields Commission Queensland in relation to compliance with their regulatory roles and…
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