Operating for almost five years and with an initial focus on Queensland’s coal seam gas developments, GISERA utilises the significant and trusted scientific research capabilities of the CSIRO to provide scientific research to stakeholders.

Last year, the NSW Department of Industry announced a three year investment of $3 million from the Federal and NSW Governments to support expansion of GISERA.

The CSIRO has worked for many years with industry, government and communities involved in gas developments. Research has supported the management of agriculture, biodiversity, water, greenhouse gas and socio-economic impacts and opportunities of the natural gas industry.

Expansion into NSW has built on the existing and continued Alliance partnership with founding members Australia Pacific LNG and QGC.

CSIRO Research Director Onshore Gas and GISERA director Damian Barrett said communities across Australia continue to have similar questions about the impacts and opportunities of the natural gas industry.

“The recent commitment from Australia Pacific LNG, QGC, AGL, Santos, Origin, Federal and NSW governments will ensure GISERA continues to be at the forefront of delivering quality assured scientific information to all stakeholders,” he said.

“GISERA has already demonstrated its ability to deliver independent, trusted and transparent advice on gas development issues.

“The publicly available Alliance Agreement outlines the standards for the governance and operation of GISERA, ensuring the research undertaken by CSIRO is demonstrably independent.”

Providing a conduit for knowledge, GISERA’s scientific research can assist communities, policy makers and industry to make informed decisions about the natural gas industry. All research reports and papers are made publicly available.

GISERA has started and aims to continue engagement with stakeholders in the NSW research areas of Macarthur and Narrabri during March and April.