Navigating urban challenges: groundwater bore assessments in Dalby
Lisa Turner A * and Ty Felmingham AA
Lisa Turner is the Team Lead for Groundwater Agreements at Arrow Energy, managing a multi-disciplinary team responsible for Arrow’s make good obligations under the Water Act 2000 (Qld). Since 2007, she has worked across various resource industry infrastructure projects, including single-site, linear and multi-site CSG-related developments. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Laws from Queensland University of Technology and a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning. |
Ty Felmingham is a Hydrogeologist with 16 years of experience, primarily in Queensland’s oil and gas sector. He has extensive field expertise, including the supervision of monitoring and water supply bores, aquifer testing and groundwater sampling. Ty led the reporting for 76 bore assessments at Arrow Energy, ensuring compliance with the 2021 UWIR for the Surat Cumulative Management Area. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Master of Science (Applied Statistics). |
Abstract
In 2022–2023, Queensland based natural gas company, Arrow Energy (Arrow), conducted groundwater bore assessments in suburban areas surrounding Dalby in Queensland’s Western Downs region. The assessments were a requirement of the Queensland Government’s 2021 Underground Water Impact Report for the Surat Cumulative Management Area. This work involved detailed planning and consultation with landholders to successfully navigate the challenges presented by urban environments. This included manoeuvring heavy vehicles and equipment through residential backyards while ensuring the safety of children and pets, and respecting the unique access issues of each property. The assessments provided important new learnings about Dalby’s subsurface hydrogeology. Previously, limited data was available on bores in this zone, making these findings particularly valuable. The bores, drilled deeper than typical suburban bores, tap into a highly productive zone at the base of the Condamine Alluvium aquifer, just above Arrow’s target formation, the Walloon Coal Measures. Aquifer testing showed exceptionally high flow rates with good-quality water, far exceeding landholders’ stock and domestic water usage needs. The assessments confirmed that coal seam gas activities in the area would be unlikely to impact these bores, offering reassurance to landholders and regulators.
Keywords: Condamine Alluvium, co-existence, Dalby, groundwater, hydrogeology, Surat Cumulative Management Area, UWIR, Walloon Coal Measures.
Lisa Turner is the Team Lead for Groundwater Agreements at Arrow Energy, managing a multi-disciplinary team responsible for Arrow’s make good obligations under the Water Act 2000 (Qld). Since 2007, she has worked across various resource industry infrastructure projects, including single-site, linear and multi-site CSG-related developments. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Laws from Queensland University of Technology and a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning. |
Ty Felmingham is a Hydrogeologist with 16 years of experience, primarily in Queensland’s oil and gas sector. He has extensive field expertise, including the supervision of monitoring and water supply bores, aquifer testing and groundwater sampling. Ty led the reporting for 76 bore assessments at Arrow Energy, ensuring compliance with the 2021 UWIR for the Surat Cumulative Management Area. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Master of Science (Applied Statistics). |
