Net community benefits and seismic line rehabilitation ? a case study

Abstract

In 1999 the Petroleum Group of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) conducted an audit of seismic lines in the Cooper Basin of South Australia, to assess their condition upon expiry of Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) 5 and 6. A significant number of seismic lines located in gibber plains and residual tablelands to the north of Innamincka were identified as being in poor condition, particularly in regard to active erosion. Detailed assessment of the condition of 1200 km of seismic lines was made using maps produced from low-level aerial videography. Key stakeholders agreed that physical rehabilitation of windrows or erosional gullies would be unlikely to make a significant improvement to the environmental condition of the lines. This is consistent with other published research on rehabilitation attempts in similar terrains. Rather than wasting money and effort by forcing the licensees (primarily Santos Ltd) to undertake any physical rehabilitation, PIRSA, Santos, and the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) agreed that funding of other environmental projects in the Innamincka Regional Reserve would provide a better net benefit to the local environment. The licensees offered to fund projects to a total of $A660 000 as an offset to undertaking physical rehabilitation. The South Australian Government has accepted this offer. A formal agreement and implementation plan has been developed for the licensees to fund a range of environmental projects within the Innamincka Regional Reserve. In return, the Government agrees that no further rehabilitation of the lines will be required.