A significant coal seam gas deposit in Queensland's Surat Basin, with confirmed reserves and strong commercial fundamentals. The project has the technical and financial profile to contribute meaningfully to Australia's domestic gas supply — but has been unable to progress through the approvals process.
The project stalled following sustained opposition from local agricultural communities concerned about impacts on the Great Artesian Basin, the primary water source for farming and grazing operations across the region. Objections were also raised by the Mandandanji People regarding cultural heritage and the absence of any meaningful consultation prior to exploration activities commencing. A combination of community pressure, unresolved native title questions, and regulatory uncertainty brought the approvals process to a halt.
The project proponent engaged Spektrum after two failed attempts to progress through the Queensland Department of Resources approvals pathway. Rather than pushing harder through the regulatory process, the decision was made to step back and rebuild the conditions for legitimate development from the ground up — starting with an honest assessment of what went wrong and what it would take to move forward responsibly.
A consultation plan is now in place, structured across pre-consultation, engagement, decision, and ongoing phases, with all affected parties — including the Mandandanji People, landholders, local government, and environmental groups — involved from the outset.
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We are currently in the pre-consultation phase of this project.
Before we begin any formal engagement, we want to make sure we fully understand who needs to be involved, what the key issues are, and how to create the conditions for genuine and meaningful participation. That means taking the time to listen first — to the Mandandanji People, to local landholders, to community groups, and to anyone with a stake in how this project proceeds.
We know this project has a difficult history. Previous attempts to progress did not involve the right people at the right time, and we are committed to doing things differently. Pre-consultation is how we make sure that when formal engagement begins, it is built on a solid foundation — not assumptions.
We will be sharing updates as this phase progresses. If you would like to be kept in the loop on consultation opportunities, community sessions, and project news, sign up below.