SREBA studies update

SREBA studies update

The NT Government has determined that a Strategic Regional Environmental and Baseline assessment (SREBA) is required for the Beetaloo Sub-basin, in accordance with recommendations from the Independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing.

The Framework and technical guidance notes for each of the studies can be found at here. There are six domains that comprise a SREBA, which are all at different stages of progression and are detailed below. A SREBA must be completed before any production approvals for unconventional gas activity occurs.

Social, Cultural and Economic Baseline Studies and Strategic Regional Assessment

Circle Advisory has been appointed to carry out independent studies in the Social, Cultural and Economic domain as a part of the SREBA for the Beetaloo Sub-basin.

Initial engagement and stakeholder contact to co-design a scope of works for the Social, Cultural and Economic studies is commencing this week.

Over the next three months, Circle will be talking to people and organisations throughout the region about what should be measured and how people might want to be involved in these studies. Circle will also be available to meet and talk with people when they visit local towns and communities during the development of the scope of works.

The full baseline studies will commence next year, once the scope of works has been developed and approved by the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources.

Progress updates for the remaining five SREBA domains in the Beetaloo Sub-basin

• Terrestrial studies: Detailed environmental mapping has been undertaken in the Beetaloo as part of the Geological and Bioregional Assessment (GBA) program, with further ecological studies as part of the SREBA to commence later this year, once the scope of works is agreed.
• Aquatic studies: Some work has been undertaken as part of the GBA, with further studies under SREBA to commence later this year once the scope of works is agreed.
• Water studies: Some groundwater studies have been undertaken as part of the GBA program, and the development of a scope of works for further surface and groundwater studies under SREBA is well underway.
• Greenhouse gas studies: Initial baseline assessments were undertaken in the region during 2018-2019, with further work to commence later this year in order to build a more comprehensive baseline.
• Environmental health studies : A call for tenders for the design and development of the environmental health studies will be released in the coming days.