How listening to the community is helping to safeguard the environment

We are helping to support informed decision-making when it comes to safeguarding environmental values in the Beetaloo and Cooper geological basins of Australia.

The Beetaloo and Cooper geological basins in Australia’s centre contain unique water-related and environmental features. These areas are also highly prospective for gas.

To help decision-makers assess future development proposals, to better understand where to look more closely and where risks are of low concern, the Australian Government brought in science.

The Beetaloo and Cooper geological basins in Australia’s centre contain unique water-related and environmental features. These areas are also highly prospective for gas.

Dr Kate Holland, CSIRO’s Project Leader for the Geological and Bioregional Assessment (GBA) Program believes a major success of the $35 million project was in adopting a user-centred approach from start to finish. This enabled researchers to untangle the complex connections between what matters in the environment and the development activities that could impact on those protected values.

“The outcomes of the 4-year program clearly demonstrate the value of collaboration between Australian science agencies and of listening to the people who live and work in the regions,” says Dr Holland.

In doing so, the project team has created a robust body of scientific evidence that will provide assurance about potential impacts on water and the environment associated with unconventional gas resources in the two basins and support informed decision making by regulators, industry, government and communities.

Read the full article here.