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, Science and Innovation, 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
In late 2023, the GasFields Commission Queensland (GFCQ) 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 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 CSG-induced subsidence.
Annual review 2023 for the Surat UWIR
In January 2024, OGIA published the Annual review 2023 for the Surat UWIR (PDF, 1.9MB), providing an update on changes to circumstances that may materially affect the impact predictions reported in the UWIR 2021.
New research update papers published
OGIA published two research update papers in January 2024:
- Methodology for the assignment of aquifers to bores in the Surat and southern Bowen basins (PDF, 1.9MB)
- Water bores and groundwater use in the Surat and southern Bowen basins (PDF, 1.8MB)
Read more about OGIA’s publications and reports.
Aerial groundwater survey of the Condamine Alluvium
In May 2023, OGIA conducted an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey of the western Condamine Alluvium, between Dalby and Cecil Plains.
OGIA commissioned SkyTEM Australia to complete the survey, which took around one week to complete. The purpose of the helicopter survey was to improve understanding groundwater connectivity.
-
About us
OGIA’s role in groundwater management, assessing and developing strategies for managing the impacts on groundwater from resource development
-
Understanding groundwater impact
Understand the impact of resource development on groundwater
-
The Surat CMA
Geology, resource activity and reporting in the Surat CMA
-
Publications and reports
Links to Surat UWIR, technical reports and research update papers
-
Products and tools
Use OGIA's tools to support your business and understand groundwater management
-
Your questions answered
Latest publications, community consultation opportunities and information
-
Contact us
Connect with OGIA and other stakeholders, provide some feedback or ask a question