RE: Kyalla drilling25 Jun 2019 15:57
While all of these are listed as phase 3 requirements, there are some recommendations that address land access agreements.
14.6: That a statutory land access agreement be required by legislation.
That prior to undertaking any onshore shale gas activity on a Pastoral Lease (including but not limited to any exploration or production activity), a land access agreement must be negotiated and signed by the Pastoral Lessee and the gas company
Target completion date: Stage 3. To be completed by end of 2019.
14.7: That in addition to any terms negotiated between the pastoralist and the gas company, the statutory land access agreement must contain the above standard minimum protections for pastoralists.
Target completion date: Stage 3. To be completed by end of 2019.
Now, if you remember, the inquiry did not grant pastoralists the right of veto. And the point of these recommendations is that there must be a signed agreement in place. But there are process in place to ensure a resolution is reached. Namely, if the operator and pastoralist cannot reach an agreement on their own, they go to the arbitration panel, who then determines the rights of access for the operator. The pastoralist can appeal the arbitration board’s decisions to the courts, but the appeal does not stop the operator from proceeding at that point.
From the articles that have come out related to the Blundy case, it has already been stated that Origin and Blundy have gone through the Arbitration Board. So, it appears this is why he has now taken his case to the courts. It seems to be a pretty weak case. And, it is really only a determination of terms of access and compensation. All this leads to why the NTCA is now pushing so hard for the above recommendations to be implemented ASAP.
This is what all I have gathered at this point. I don’t see any reason why Origin couldn’t proceed with the Kyalla well this year, and if they have time, a second well. It just might not be on the Amungee station. The good thing is Origin has already cleared a number of sites with TO’s and other station owners for other test sites as evidenced in the EMP.
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