Report into development of an unconventional gas industry in S-E SA

The Natural Resources Committee has released its final report into develepment of an unconventional gas industry in the South East of SA (around Mt Gambier).

From the government Media Release: media-release-nrc-fracking-report-tabled-291116-1

“After review of all evidence and additional research, the committee has reached the positon that social licence does not yet exist for the development of an unconventional gas industry in the South East,” said Ms Steph Key (ALP member for Ashford). “This has been made starkly apparent by widespread opposition from the local community and it is the overarching finding of the inquiry.”

“This is not to say unconventional gas exploration and development should never occur in the region, but that in the committee’s view, obtaining social licence is a necessary precondition to such development occurring,” Ms Key said.

“Throughout the inquiry, all evidence the committee heard, both for and against unconventional gas development, has been in the context of myriad external forces including climate change considerations, production and export price, export demand, technological advances, renewable energy growth, and very notably, public opinion,” said Ms Key.

A link to the full report is found in the media release.