QGC wells off-colour

Mr Uebergang operates a cattle and cropping operation on his 1295-hectare property Berwyndale.

He has been involved with the CSG industry for close to 13 years and has six wells on his property.

“I’ve dealt mainly with QGC from the very beginning of the company when they had their first few wells and also with Origin recently,” he said.

“I think the environment has changed with big companies like QGC – they used to be very consultative and are now becoming very arbitrary about what they will do.”

Mr Uebergang said well design and colour were crucial to visual amenity and integration of CSG activities.

Like many landholders, Mr Uebergang said he took a great deal of pride in how his farm looked. He said farmers should be given a choice in the colour of wells to help them blend in with the landscape.

“Origin has consulted with landholders and now has an excellent well design and colour. The low profile, olive green configuration is far superior in integrating within the local environment.”

In contrast, QGC’s well design and colour was less than ideal and Mr Uebergang said he had been working with the

company to try to find a solution. He said QGC had not yet agreed to repaint the wells.

“Do Queensland producers really want 20,000 bright yellow rocket separators across their landscape compared to the nice green Origin ones?” he asked.

Mr Uebergang was one of the attendees at Tuesday’s meeting and described it as a good chance to actually give some balance to the argument and all the debate.

He described himself as a supporter of the CSG industry but said some of the companies’ behaviour left a lot to be desired.