Detailed planning must be ensured

ENVIRONMENT Minister Tony Burke has approved, with strict environmental conditions, two coal seam gas projects at Gladstone, and the dredging of Gladstone Port's western basin:

More than 300 strict conditions each on the Santos and Queensland Gas Company coal seam gas projects to help protect groundwater-dependent species and minimise other environmental impacts.

LNG companies must carry out detailed planning and monitoring to protect groundwater resources, and submit management plans for aquifers, groundwater and surface water for approval.

Pilots for aquifer reinjection must be carried out and suitable water treatment programs must be in place to ensure that any water to be reinjected is of suitable quality.

Companies will also be required to co-operate with the Queensland Water Commission in the development of a regional model for the ongoing assessment of the impacts on groundwater-related matters.

LNG proponents will have to offset the impacts of the industrial sites on Curtis Island, the companies must secure an area five times the size of their project sites, to be added to the national park estate or protected in perpetuity.

Under the dredging approval, Gladstone Ports Corporation will have to comply with more than 50 strict environmental conditions for its western basin dredging project.