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GISERA,GPOBox2583,BrisbaneQLD4001,Australia
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess i
ContentsGISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess.......................................................................1
1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................1
2 Usingindustryhazards,communityconcernsandopportunitiestoidentifyresearch.............1
3 GISERA’sresearchthemes......................................................................................................3
4 Constructingourresearchportfolio........................................................................................4
5 ATTACHMENTA–Summaryofleadingstakeholderquestionsandconcerns..........................8
6 ATTACHMENTB–Researchselectioncriteria.......................................................................11
ListofTables
Table5.1Stakeholderquestionsandconcerns..................................................................................8
ListofFigures
Figure1:7-stepresearchselectionprocess......................................................................................6
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess
1 IntroductionThis paper provides an overview of the process used to explore, select and approve CSIROindependent researchprojectsundertakenaspartof theGas IndustrySocialandEnvironmentalResearchAlliance(GISERA).Projectsthatarechosenfromawiderangeofopportunitiesmustdealwithanumberofstakeholderchallengesandviewpoints,andmeetanumberofestablishedkeyperformanceindicators(KPIs)withinalimitedbudget.
GISERAaimstoestablishanintegrated,regional,systems-basedportfolioofresearchprojectsthatprovidesregionalcommunitiesandthegeneralpublicwithevidence-basedknowledgetounderpindecisionsonunconventionalgasdevelopment–coalseamgas(CSG)andshale.InformationsourcedfromGISERAresearchisprimarilyforbenefitoflocalcommunitieslivingingasdevelopmentregionsbutthere isalsoadditionalvalueforgovernmentsandindustrytogeneratebetteroutcomesforAustralia.
This selection process has been used since 2011 to build what has become an internationally-respectedportfolioofresearchonthesocialandenvironmentalissuesandopportunitiesrelatedtounconventional gas. This report aims to provide a record of the process, and to ensure 100%transparency inall activitiesundertakenbyCSIROunder theGISERAagreement. The regions inAustralia currently involved in theprogramare the Surat Basin inQueensland (since 2011) andGunnedahBasininNSW(since2016),withotherregionsunderconsideration.TheselectionprocessisusedtomateriallyandtransparentlyenableCSIRO,togetherwithourpartneringresearchbodies,tomeetGISERAobjectivesaswellasspecificKPIsagreedtowithourAlliancemembersandpartners;andalso,specificKPIsagreedtowithourAlliancemembersandpartners.
2 Usingindustryhazards,communityconcernsandopportunitiestoidentifyresearch
CSIRObegantoconsidersocialandenvironmentalimpactsrelatedtounconventionalgasin2011andoverthattimethefollowingquestionshaveemergedasfundamental issuesuponwhichweseektoexpandknowledgeinregionswithpotentialnaturalgasdevelopment:
• Doesdevelopingnaturalgasaffectthequalityorquantityofsurfacewaterorgroundwater?• Whataretheimpactsonagriculturallandmanagement,farmproductionandamenities?
• Doesdevelopingoroperatingnaturalgasassetscontributefurthertoregionalgreenhousegases,affectlocalairqualityorglobalclimatechange?
• Whatarethesocialandeconomiccostsandbenefitsforregionalcommunities?
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess2
• Whataretheimpactstoregionalfloraandfaunaandthemarineenvironment?
• Whatarethehumanhealthimpacts?
• Whatissuesareassociatewithdecommissioninggasindustryassets?
Theprocessundertakentoidentifyresearchtopicsiscarefullyaimedatansweringthesequestionsandguidedbytherisksanduncertainties,asseenbythecommunity.Projectsarecreatedundera7-step process outlined below (Figure 1) that involves a comprehensive series of reviews andworkshopsattendedbythecommunity,consultants,industryparticipantsandresearchscientistswithawiderangeofaffiliationsandbackgrounds.ResearchthemesandtopicsaresubsequentlydevelopedintopotentialresearchprojectsbycollaboratingwithsubjectmatterexpertsfromCSIRO,academia,governmentandindustryandthendevelopedintoprojectproposals(orProjectOrders)forapprovalbytherelevantRegionalResearchAdvisoryCommittee(RRAC).
The strength of this ‘on-the-ground’ or ‘bottom-up’ approach is that it focuses on externalstakeholdersandaims todevelopapplied researchwithadirectpath tovalued information. Itovercomesanydependencyassociatedwithaskingexpertsthemselvestodevelopideasthatmightbebasedontheirownresearchagendaswheretheirareaofexpertisecanbecomethefocus.Inthis way, we test our capacities to understand and answer gaps in knowledge which result inresearchprojectsthattrulyemanatefromabroadandunbiasedbaseofpossibilities.
Yet, a weakness of ‘bottom-up’ methods is they can limit the attainment of a broad strategicframeworkfromwhichresearchgapsandopportunitiescanbevisualisedandaddressedovertime.Our efforts might be diverted from important and agreed GISERA goals; for example, whereparticularinterestgroupsmayattempttoimposeaparticularpointofviewtherebycompromisingCSIRO’s independence. Another challenge is thatwemust deliver our projectswithin a limitedbudgetandtimeframe.
The GISERA Director and management team use a parallel top-down/bottom-up approach asevidencedbythe7-stepprocess. ThisapproachseekstomaintainstrongconnectionsovertimebetweentheGISERAvision,andourresearch,andon-the-groundcommunicationandknowledge-sharingwithourlocalcommunitiesandthegeneralpublic.ItisimportanttonotethattheGISERAresearchmodelissufficientlyagiletoadapttoevolvingcommunityissuesthroughtimeasindustryandgovernmentpracticeschange.Thisensuresthatthehighestqualityscienceisdirectedtowardspriorityissuesandthatweareabletoanswerrelevantandimportantquestionscognisantofthecurrentissues.
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess3
3 GISERA’sresearchthemesGISERA’s research has evolved to focus on seven social and environmental areas which haveemanated from industry Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) reports, policy development,stakeholder engagement, surveys and workshops, international comparisons and a plethora ofpublicdiscourseovertime:
Surfaceandgroundwater
Toenablethenaturalgasindustrytoplanandmanagewaterresourcesaccordingtolocalandglobalwaterresourcemanagementplans.Theworkcentresmostlyonthehealthandflowofgroundwaterincludingdepletionandcontaminationofsurroundingaquifers;andfluctuationsinwateravailabilityforotheruses.
Agriculturallandmanagement
Toidentifylandscapeanddevelopmentconfigurationsthatminimisedisruptiontofarmbusinesses,maximiseco-benefitopportunitiesfromtheco-locationofgasassetsandagriculture,andminimisethelikelihoodofdevelopment-basederosion.
Greenhousegasandairquality
To build regional profiles of greenhouse gases and the proportional contribution from gasdevelopment, including the full gas lifecycle and its end use. This includes: containment ofhydrocarbons;naturallyoccurringseeps;andfugitivemethaneemissionsfromgasinfrastructure.Overallregionalgreenhousebudgets(mining,energy,agriculture,transport)willbeobtained.
Healthimpact
To investigatepotentialhealtheffectstopeopleandtheenvironmentofgas industryactivitybyscrutinizingemissionpathwaysforharmfulexposurelevels.
Terrestrialbiodiversity
To advance scientific understanding of the ecological function of the regions, the cumulativeimpactsofanthropogenicactivityonbiodiversityataregionalscaleandthebestwaysofreversinganthropogenic impacts through effectivewhole-of-landscape conservation including biodiversityoffsets.
Marineenvironment
To understand the vulnerable components of the marine ecosystem surrounding Gladstone inQueensland,withaviewtominimisingCSGtoLNGimpacts.
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess4
Socialandeconomicimpactsandopportunities
Toreviewsocio-economicindicatorsandsurveyresultstomaximisenetpositivechangethatarisesfromgasdevelopmentandassistdecisionmakersand localstobeabletoenhanceregionalandcommunitybenefitsandaspirations.
Decommissioning
Thisisanotherresearchareathathasrecentlyemergedthatdoesnotcompletelyalignwithanyoftheabovethemesbutcurrentlysitsinthesocialimpactstheme.Wehavereceivedstrongfeedbackfrom stakeholders to begin testing the current decommissioning approaches and impacts, andexplorenewapproaches.WearecurrentlyfocusingonCSGwellpluggingandabandonmentandarearehabilitation.
4 ConstructingourresearchportfolioTheaimoftheprocessdescribedbelowistoidentifyarangeofsocialandenvironmentalissuesthatareofhighestconcerntocommunitiesandrequirefurtherknowledgeintheareasofgovernmentapprovalprocesses,regulatorydevelopment,industrypractice,localcommunitiesandthegeneralpublic.
GISERA’s research identificationprocess centresaround7 stepsacross2-3ormoreexpendituretranches to identify priority issues and to ensure they can be informed by the highest qualityscientificresearch.Theprocessseekstounderstandtheissuesofcommunityconcerninnaturalgasdevelopment regions and toprioritise these issues into a form suitable for developing researchprojects that seek to provide timely, new information of use to communities, industry andgovernments.Theprocessisasfollows(and,seeFigure1below):
1. AWARENESS:Acquiring information fromstakeholders toenablea cleararticulationof theirconcerns. This involves a large stakeholder engagement process across local communities,industry,governmentandthegeneralpublic.Astakeholdersurveyisalsousedwheretheresultsformaquantifiedandwell-documented listof leadingstakeholder topicsandquestions (seeAttachmentA)
2. RANK:Thesetopicsarethenrankedaccordingtorelativeimportanceandvalueasdeterminedbycommunitiesandexpertjudgementtoidentifypriorities
3. REVIEW:Thecurrentstateofknowledge,researchprojectsalreadycompleted,policiesinplaceandassociateddataand informationonthesetopics iscompiledandreviewed,forexample:
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess5
water allocationpolicies andprograms,Chief Scientist reports, governmentdepartment andstakeholderreports,andGISERAresultsthathasbeencompletedinQueensland
4. IDENTIFY: Request CSIRO staff to create new research ideas. This involves considerationofresource capacities, knowhow and experience across CSIRO, and other organisations, toundertaketheresearchandanswertheresearchquestions(AttachmentA)
5. SELECT:Projectsarethenselectedbasedontheirabilitytomeetawiderangeofpredeterminedcriteria(seeAttachmentB)andanswerthestakeholderandcommunityquestions
6. PROPOSE:Preferredprojectideasarethendevelopedintoformalresearchproposals(orProjectOrders) that fully discuss the research aims,methods and expected outputs and impact, inconjunctionwiththeGISERADirector
7. APPROVE:OurindependentRegionalResearchAdvisoryCommittees(RRACs)thenreviewandapproveproposals,andresearchcommences
The7-stepprocessmeetsCSIRO’sresearch independencewhileprovidingpublicgoodoutcomesfromourresearch.TheRRACsandGISERAteamapplythisselectionprocesstoenableresearchthatmateriallyandtransparentlymeetsCSIROresearchobligations.Ultimately,theRRACsapproveallresearch;and, individualprojectsmaybeceasedormodifiedat thedirectionof theRRAC. ThisprocessiscurrentlyoperatinginunconventionalgasregionsinNewSouthWalesandQueensland.
Onceapproved,projectsaremonitoredandevaluatedovertimetoensurethatGISERA’sresearchprogrammaintainsitsrelevanceandprovidesvaluedoutcomes.Thisvaluewillbejudgedontheresearchbeingabletopursueanagendathataddressescommunityconcern,knowledgegaps,andresidualrisk.
Overall,weaimfortheportfolioofapprovedresearchprojectsto:
• BestructuredtosimplyandtransparentlysupporttheKPIsestablishedforCSIROresearchunderGISERA
• SeekhighimpactearlyintheresearchtorapidlyshowvaluetoarangeofexternalstakeholdersandestablishconsideredmethodstomeetCSIRO’slongertermgoalsunderGISERA
• Demonstrate thatCSIRO researchunderGISERAhasbeendevelopedaccording toa clearandtransparentframework
• Identifyresearchprioritiesbasedonrisk,opportunity,urgencyandtractability• Beusedtoidentifykeyresearchpartnerships,fromanexpertise(input)andstakeholder(output)perspective
• Beamenabletoengagingcommunitystakeholdersindiscussionaroundprojectvalueandpriority
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess6
• Investinprojecttopicsinproportiontotheirriskandopportunity
Figure1:7-stepresearchselectionprocess
4.1 Allocatingthebudgetacrossresearchthemes
Anotherresearchprogrammanagementfeatureistoallocatefundsbasedongoodtransparency,economy and reason. The proportion of funds allocated to projects is influenced by a range offactors including stakeholder surveys, collaborationwith selected subjectmatter experts acrossCSIRO, academia, government and industry, consideration of the reputational risks, gaps inknowledge,capacityforresearch,andcost.
Asequenceoffundingtranchesmaybeusedtoallocatefunds.Forexample,afirsttranchemaybeaimed at identifying areas requiring early impact such as baselining or profiling elementaryindicatorsacrossair,waterand thecommunity, includingcurrentwaterallocations,backgroundpollutant levels, local demographics and industry profiles. Later funding tranches are aimed atdevelopingprojectstounderstandandaddressabroadersuiteoftopicsputforwardbystakeholdersorderivedfromotherinquiries,reviews,reportsandpolicymaking.Thesetranchesandprojectsareaimedataddressingoutstandingissuesandknowledgegapsidentifiedthroughdeeperinquiryandconsultation.Latertranchestakethetimetoreviewanddiscussstakeholderinputthathasbeen
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess7
compiledovertime,reviewotherresearchprogramsandinquiries,andconductfocusedworkshops.Asmallbudgetisheldforexpenditureneartheendofourprogramsanditislikelysmalladjustmentstoproportionsaremadeasadditionalprojectsareaddedorothersterminatedwherenecessarytomeetcommunityneedsforcurrent,independent,trustedscience-basedinformation.
Researchrequirementsforthevariousstatesandterritorieswillbedifferent.Forexample,theNSWscopeofresearchdoesnotincludeLNGforexportandthereforedoesnotrequireanymarine-basedresearch.Andfinally,extensionandleverageoptionswithotherregionsmayincreasinglybecomeavailablewhenenablingresourcesinthoseregionsarefinalisedaspartofthenationalexpansion.
ThecurrentapproximateproportionalspendonourresearchthemesacrosstheNewSouthWalesandQueenslandportfoliosis:
• SurfaceandGroundwater,34%• SocialandEconomic,13%• Greenhousegasandairquality,16%• Agriculture,15%• TerrestrialBiodiversity,12%• Marine,9%• Health,1%
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess8
5 ATTACHMENTA–Summaryofleadingstakeholderquestionsandconcerns
Followingextensive consultation since2011withvariousCSGstakeholders, a listof stakeholderquestions and concerns has been developed. While many of these issues have cementedthemselvesaskeyareasofconcernthatwehavedirectedourresearchefforttowards,itisalsolikelythislistwillcontinuetoevolveovertimeasmorestakeholdersaresurveyedanddifferentissuesareidentifiedindifferentregions.
Table5.1Stakeholderquestionsandconcerns
SUBJECTAREA IDNO. KEYISSUE/QUESTION
Water WQ01 WhatamountofwaterisusedbytheCSGindustry,andwheredoesitcomefrom?
WQ02 HowmuchgroundwaterisbeingextractedfromCSGwells;andhowmuchfromotherboresandindustries?
WQ03 Howdocoalseamsandaquifersandgroundwatersystemsinteract?
WQ04 Isfrackingdangerousforwater,theenvironmentorpeople?
WQ05 WhatarethemajorwaterimpactsfromCSG;andwhatarethecumulativeimpactsalongwithagricultureandmining?
WQ06 Isthereasufficientamountofwaterforeveryone,includingfuturegenerations?
WQ07 Whatwillhappenwithproducedwater?Whatamountofwaterisrecycledandreused?Willthisbeanoverallnetgain?
WQ08 DoesCSGdevelopmentaffectanyparticularwatersources(suchastheGreatArtesianBasin(GAB)),orotherpeople’swaterusessuchasfarmers?
WQ09 HowwillthebrineresultingfromCSGactivitiesbecost-effectivelyandsustainablymanaged?
GreenhouseFootprint
GQ01 WhatistheoverallcarbonaccountandbaselineofgreenhousegasesandairpollutantsnaturalgasregionsandwhatcontributionwillcomefromCSG?
GQ02 WhatisthegapbetweenthecarboncontentofCSGandcoal,andcouldfugitiveemissionsandseepsaffectthatgap?
GQ03 WhataretherisksandopportunitiesforCSGaroundclimatechange?
GQ04 UnderwhatclimatechangemitigationscenariosisCSGanadvantage;andwhenaregasresourcesatriskofbeingunderused(i.e.,creatingstrandedassets)?
GQ05 Whatisthefullbreadthofscientificresearchbeingundertakeninnaturalgasregionsregardinggreenhousegasesandwhatarethecollectivefindings?
Health HQ01 DopeoplegetsickfromCSG?
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess9
SUBJECTAREA IDNO. KEYISSUE/QUESTION
HQ02 Whatarethepotentialexposurepathwaysorsituationswherepeople’shealthorlivelihoodscanbeaffectedandwhatistheprobabilityofbeingaffected?
HQ03 Howdopeopletypicallyassessrisk;anddoesthisaffectthewaypeopleinterpretbothfactualandnon-factualdata?
ImpactsonCommunities
SQ01 Whichcommunities,andwhointhosecommunities,areimpactedbyCSG?
SQ02 Areimpactsbeingmanagedtothesatisfactionandacceptanceoftheimpactedcommunities?
SQ03 DoesCSGdevelopment,andtheactivitiesdesignedtoattenuateitsimpositionsuchascommunityinvestment,alignwithcommunityaspirations?
SQ04 Whatarethemosteffectiveandefficientsocialimpactmitigationprogramsthatcanbeimplemented?
Landmanagementissues(alsoincludescommunityandeconomicquestions)
LQ01 HowmuchlanddoCSGcompaniesneedaccesstoandwhattypeoflandwillitbe?
LQ02 Willaccesstolandbegainedvoluntarily?Andatwhatcostandbenefittolocals?
LQ03 DolandholdersobtainanoverallnetgainfromthepresenceofCSG?
LQ04 HowmanylandholdersareaggrievedbyCSGandwhy?Whatproportionarecontent?
LQ05 Whatistheestimatednetresultforecosystemservicesandagricultureproductivityforthelandstobeimpacted?
Biodiversity BQ01 WhatcanbedoneaboutthecumulativeimpactsoftheCSGindustry,agriculture,transportandminingonbiodiversity?
BQ02 WhichCSGprojectsaretobelocatedinornearprotectedorhighvalueareas?
BQ03 HasCSGornaturalgasdevelopmenthadanydetrimentalimpactsonbiodiversityanywhereinAustralia?
BQ04 Isthereanypossibledangertoanythreatenedspecies?
BQ05 Howmuchlandwillbedisturbedandhowmuchofthiswillhavetoberehabilitated?Willthisreducebiodiversity?
BQ06 Whatisthepotentialandactualsuccessoftherelevantbiodiversityoffsetprograms?
BQ07 Willcurrentpoliciesandstrategiesprotectbiodiversitygoingforward?
Economics EQ01 Howmuchmoneywillbespentatthelocal/regional/statelevelsinthefutureandbywhom,becauseofthedevelopmentofnaturalgas?Willthisexpendituremeetcommunityaspirations?
EQ02 HowmanyjobswilltheCSGindustrycreateinthefuture;howmanywillbedirectlyemployedbycompaniesvscontractorsvssupplychainimpacts?
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess10
SUBJECTAREA IDNO. KEYISSUE/QUESTION
EQ03 HowareotherindustriesaffectedbytheCSGindustrye.g.growth/declineintheserviceindustry,agriculture,incubationofnewindustries?
EQ04 Aretherepotentialinnovationstoconsider(suchasusingmethaneforenergyusebyfarmers)?
EQ05 Whatinterventionscanberecommendedtomakeiteasierforlocalbusinessestosupplygoodsandservicestotheindustry?
EQ06 WhatmarketpositiondoesAustralianunconventionalgashaveundervariousclimatechangemitigationscenarios?
Decommissioningandlegacyissues
DQ01 Whathappenstowells,andanycontaminants,oncetheyarepluggedandabandoned?
DQ02 WhohasthelegalandfinancialresponsibilityforthemaintenanceandintegrityofCSGassetsovertime?Isthisadequate?
DQ03 Whatinnovationsorimprovementscanbefoundtodecommissioningapproachesandtechnologies?
DQ04 Whatlegacyissuesbotherthecommunityandwhatissociallyandenvironmentallyacceptable?
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess11
6 ATTACHMENTB–ResearchselectioncriteriaThefollowingcriteriaisusedtotesttherelativestrengthsandweaknessesamongstprojects
GISERAProjectAttributes
Tractabilityofproblemoropportunity
Inherentresearchorpracticalinnovation
Urgencyofproblemoropportunity
Likelihoodofmeetingprojectgoals
Addressescumulativeimpactsofdevelopment
Wideaudienceacrossindustry,community,andregulators
Directlyinformsregulatoryorpolicyframeworks
Directlyenablesnegativeimpactsofgasdevelopmenttobeaddressed
Directlyenablesnewopportunitiesfromnaturalgasdevelopmenttobesought
Directlybuildscommunityunderstandingofnaturalgasdevelopmentimpactsandopportunities
Directlybuildscommunitycapacitytorespondpositivelytodevelopment
Directlyunderpinsadaptivemanagementofdevelopmentimpactsbyindustryorcommunity
Likelihoodofcreatingrefereedsciencepublications
CreationofHons,MScandPhDresearchstudentships
Mutualcapacitybuildingviadirectinvolvementofindustryand/orgovernmentstaff
Regionalcapacitybuildingviaengagementwilllocalcommunities
Timeframefordeliveryisappropriate
Financialleverageachieved
GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess12
Contactus
DanO’SullivanEmail:gisera@gisera.org.augisera.org.au
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