qld.gov.au
Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment

The Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA) is an independent office responsible for assessing impacts from resource development in Queensland, including coal seam gas (CSG), conventional oil and gas, and mining; and then developing and supporting proactive strategies for managing those impacts.

OGIA is not a regulator. It is uniquely positioned to bring together the science and resource management. Its work is primarily focused on scientific investigation, modelling and monitoring relating to groundwater impacts, and support of an adaptive management framework for managing the impacts within cumulative management areas (CMAs) in Queensland.

The Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water provides corporate and administrative support to OGIA. The work undertaken by OGIA is provided to the Department of Environment and Science, which is responsible for regulatory compliance of groundwater management strategies and actions identified by OGIA. This includes statutory obligations on individual tenure holders for the proactive ‘make good’ of impacts on water supply, mitigation measures for impacts on groundwater-dependent ecosystems and installation of monitoring networks.

 

News and events

Review of CSG-induced subsidence

The GasFields Commission Queensland (GFCQ) recently undertook a review of the regulatory framework for CSG-induced subsidence. That review resulted in a number of recommendations being made to government. The Department of Resources has accepted the GFCQ’s review and announced that it will support six of the eight recommendations in full and two in principle. Several actions will be undertaken to address these recommendations, including:

  • developing a new framework to assess, manage and compensate for CSG-induced subsidence impacts to farming operations
  • expanding the remit of the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA) to provide advice on subsidence and develop tools to assess the impacts of subsidence on farming operations.

Read more about the Department of Resources’ response to the GFCQ’s review of CSQ-induced subsidence.

New research update paper published

In April 2023, OGIA published the research update paper, Exploring the contribution of coal shrinkage to CSG-induced subsidence  (PDF, 1.5MB).

Read more about OGIA’s publications and reports.

Aerial groundwater survey of the Condamine Alluvium

OGIA will be conducting an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey of the western Condamine Alluvium, between Dalby and Cecil Plains, in early May 2023.

The helicopter survey is for the purpose of understanding groundwater connectivity. The survey will take around one week. OGIA has commissioned SkyTEM Australia to complete the survey.

Read more about the aerial survey  (PDF, 455.5KB).

  • This is the about us icon for the index page. It is a stylised line drawing graphic representing one person standing in front of two people.

    About us

    OGIA’s role in groundwater management, assessing and developing strategies for managing the impacts on groundwater from resource development

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    Understanding groundwater impact

    Understand the impact of resource development on groundwater

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    The Surat CMA

    Geology, resource activity and reporting in the Surat CMA

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    Publications and reports

    Links to Surat UWIR, technical reports and research update papers

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    Products and tools

    Use OGIA's tools to support your business and understand groundwater management

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    Your questions answered

    Latest publications, community consultation opportunities and information

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    Contact us

    Connect with OGIA and other stakeholders, provide some feedback or ask a question