Origin Coal Seam Gas

Meet John Campbell

Tell us about the initial contact with Origin

I think people are really worried about how their land is going to be devalued or possibly devalued by the usage of coal seam gas and that sort of thing. They were very good in their initial request.  I think other companies that have approached us have perhaps been a little blasé and I am very happy with the way Origin handled our problems.

Working together with Origin

The people that we were dealing with know our problems, they understand our problems that we are having on the land.  Be it gates, fences and that sort of thing that are left unrepaired.  They fully understand. They have a good Liaison Officer in control in each area be that Roma or Condamine.  So they have people, so that as a land holder, I can go to if there are any problems.  The next person up the chain is always willing to help and if need be, we have had good discussions with people right at the top so I think it is a really good system they have in place. They do care about the people they are dealing with, number one is because they are going to be there for a long time as far as the Origin management are concerned.  As far as the men are concerned, if there are problems I know the Origin management are quick to sort out any problems, to straighten out any problems that may be occurring with workplace problems.  Origin has never quibbled when we have asked them to pay mustering costs if we believe they have left a gate open by one of their men. Compensation includes new gates, grids, that they put in across a lot of the easements.  I know this helps Origin but this also helps us on our property runs.  They put in roads for us which helps our maintenance of a lot of our areas and provides better access to the rest of our property.  They did put a gravel road to one of our main houses on our properties and that to me was an extremely beneficial thing for both us and for Origin.  It really helped us because we only had black soil before that.

What are some typical landowner concerns?

Another thing that is worthwhile pointing out is the bitumen road between our main town and Roma was in an appalling state and I don’t think the local government would have ever been able to rebuild the road.  At present we have probably shoulders on most of the road which is a distance of 80kms.  We also have a bitumen road right passed our front gate which would never have happened if the gas company wasn’t  there so that’s real benefit to us. I think it is an ongoing thing that we are going to have and yes I think Origin and the Campbell family have a good relationship and I hope that it will continue into the future.  I think it is a win-win situation for both of us.

Meet Owen York

We’ve been just about four generations of Yorks have been in Wallumbilla.  I’ve been here all my life, 36 years, on this property, and Dad’s been here, well, he’s worked on the farm all his life too.

How Origin did keep you informed?

Yeah, it’s quite good. With the liaison officers, you can ring them any time and talk to them about any problems you’ve got and they seem to get straight on to it and fix the things up and during the operation they’ll tell you what’s going on part by part and make sure the gates and everything’s all shut at the end of the day. It sort of keeps things going quite good. And after the crop’s been finished they’re going to come back through and tidy any bad spots or washes, erosions, fix the condor banks up how we want them, make it back to the same way it used to be.

Working together works well Owen?

Yeah it’s good. They seem to be pretty easy to talk to and that’s the main thing. You can ring them any time if you have any problems. You know, it’s good to have that one on one conversation with them. It’s better than when you’re on the phone talking to somebody that’s miles and miles away that’s hard. If it’s not one on one it’s pretty hard to know, talking to a person that you don’t really know. It’s good that you can voice your own opinion, put a fair bit of input into the rehabilitation at the end. To have it how you want it on your property so it doesn’t upset you too much at the end of the day. As long as everything turns out how you want it, it’s pretty good. The liaison officers, they try to do anything that you want to be done at the end of the day.

So farming and coal seam gas can coexist?

Yes, I think they can. If you can work with the company and they can work with you and you don’t have loggerheads together, you can sort things out. You should be able to coexist with coal seam gas. We’ve got to get the energy out of Australia sooner or later so we’ve got to develop with these companies. I think if they can be along with the farmers then things will work out not too bad in the end.

Meet Selwyn and Jocelyn Maller

I’m Selwyn Maller. I’m actually third generation in this area. I’m Jocelyn. I’ve been here on this land with Selwyn for 22 years now. I think I’m called a local. I’m nearly a local. We have three children. Two sons and a daughter and the two boys ‑ there’s three children but the two boys at this stage are involved in rural businesses so they seem to enjoy the rural life as well.

How did you feel when you were first approached by Origin?

When we were first approached by Judy to do the exploratory well we were a little bit nervous because we’d heard of plenty of stories from other people about other companies and so we were quite keen to have that discussion with Judy and I have to say that our fears have certainly been put to rest. Judy’s been very good to deal with, as has Origin, so anything to do with any of our requests have been fulfilled and we find Origin to be very, very good to deal with.

What would you say to others about Origin?

I would have to say from our experience and from what I have seen we wouldn’t have any problems or any hesitations whatsoever in recommending that we could coexist with the rural industry and the coal seam gas industry on the one property. I don’t see with the opening of Taloona. I can’t see that there would be any problems whatsoever. Bring it on.

Meet Robyn Nixon

I’ve been in this area for about 30 years, raising a family here. Mainly grazing country and we do farm with some forage crops and a bit of grain.

What does Origin do on your property?

Origin has a gas pipeline running the full width of one of our properties, taking gas from the Injune gasfield to the Braemar power station. It doesn’t seem to be having any great impact on our cattle or business in any way. It’s revegetating well and, yeah, it’s no problem at all.

How have you found Origin?

Origin have been very professional in the way they’ve liaised with us. They’re very punctual. They always call before they’re coming in, and no, we’ve found their liaison part of the contract really great. They certainly are friendly and very approachable. We have had experience with other pipelines and certainly a much different attitude taken. We kind of feel that this is our country and that it’s your privilege to come on and other people, other lines have come through and considered it their right.

What would you say to others Robyn?

Yeah, I think anybody that’s going to have dealings with Origin would be wise to be upfront with your needs and they are very, very agreeable to change things or to organise around you as much as possible. I think be upfront right from the start.

Meet Simon and Kylie Drury

We have Condabri one, two, three, four they call them, the wells, as well as an evaporation pond on the next‑door property. Just at the moment they’re just a pilot project so they’re just flaring the gas off at the moment. From what we can hear, the people in the know tell me that it’s been quite successful as far as gas production goes. I think the flare seems to get bigger and bigger. They’re only new. They’ve only been in probably three or four months and they’re going very well from what I can gather.

How does having gas on your property affect running your business?

Well, really there’s minimal impact. I mean, the stamp that the well makes is, I don’t even know the dimensions but it’s very, very small and it’s very quiet and you often see the cattle, you know, playing beside the fence, sort of thing. After the initial drilling and everyone’s gone, there’s really no impact at all. And while it was all happening there was good benefits, you know, there was gravel roads that they did for us and they couldn’t have been more helpful. Bits of poly pipe here and there and, yeah, they all, they came in and they all had their vehicles weeded and seeded so there’s no threat of any foreign partheniums or anything like that. They’re very, very rigid on that and all the people you deal with are just very, very decent people. They give you plenty of notice when they come. Like, they just don’t turn up and say, “We’re going to drill a well on your place or we’re going to go and do something,” and then when they do want to do seismic roads or something like that they say to you, “What sort of gate do you want,” and of course I say, “Well, I want  a double set of gates because it’s really no more material, it’s sort of just an extra gate,” so you’ve got a big gateway to drive your machinery through and at zero cost to us. I mean, they’re excellent to deal with.

What would you say to others?

Well there’s a lot of probably negativity or fear or something of the unknown that’s really what’s going to happen but from our experience, you know, I’d almost encourage them because of course there’s ‑ you’re getting something for it, like, they’re not coming in and drilling a hole on your place and taking everything away, you’re getting an income out of it so to some people in second‑rate country it’s been absolutely wonderful, I mean they’re making a living out of it. I’d encourage people not to be fearful of it, to embrace it, because really we can’t do anything about it so let’s sort of step on board and the beautiful thing is all our kids are going to get employment. I mean, the gas industry and the natural resource industry is the best thing that’s ever happened to this area. Years ago when I was on council I used to sit around in the office and scratch our heads and say, “What are we going to do with our kids, you know, in five years time when they come out of school. How are they going to get employed?  Are we going to have to send them to the city?  Are they going to have to go somewhere else to gain employment or get an income?” But now, everyone can work from home or the family structure and the fabric of all the society here doesn’t have to just disperse, you know. And we’ve got one boy who’s an electrician, he’s doing an apprenticeship so he’s working locally. The other boys, admittedly they’ve got to go away to school, but they’ll be able to come home and gain employment in either for us, for mum and dad in our business, or locally in the huge big industry that’s just coming to us. We’re just on the verge of it. Like, it’s just only going to get bigger and bigger. It’s pretty exciting really. Really good.

What about Origin’s Landowner Liaison Officers?

They certainly lost the mould with Judy anyway. But, look, we found Judy, ever since we met Judy, and Judy was the first face of Origin that we’ve ever known and she’s been absolutely excellent. Very, very hard to fault. And become reasonably good friends, you know. She’s a good mate now because she’s just the sort of person she is. She’s the face of Origin out here and anything you want, ring Jude and she’ll sort you.

How about the community benefits?

I guess that having that assurance that there is such a big industry around this area now, that they do have a lot more scope and they have a lot more ability to come out can here and have jobs, whereas before, especially with the local industry, it seemed to be dying a bit, but now it’s picked up and there are young people who are going into the trades and Origin is so kindly giving scholarships to these young apprentices and it’s just made all the difference to them.

Meet Michael and Becky Hayes

How have you found working with Origin?

Yeah, we find Origin great. Their communication with us as land holders is excellent. Will and Judy are always in contact with us letting us know what’s going on.

What does Origin do on your property?

Yeah, Origin have wells on two of our properties and they maintain our roads and do all the right things by us. If there’s any activity going on, they’re the first to let you know and the improvements they’ve put in to gain access to those wells has been great, we’re really happy with that. We just find them really professional to deal with.

What would you say to others?

I’d say you could nearly embrace Origin, you know, they’re great. A great company to deal with. The professional standards they bring and the people you’re involved with is inspiring in some ways.

Meet June Dougall

How was the consultation process?

They explained everything to us, and went out of their way not to put anything near where the cattle were watering or drive past the house and gave us time to think about it.  They paid for the use of the site where they camped and for the road area they use.   They actually did more than they promised.  They were very good.

What would you say to others June?

We thought Origin gave us a fair go they were excellent the way they treated us.

Meet Ron Carr

Is coal seam gas good for the area?

I don’t think you can stop the progress, that’s what I say about any gas line and any farmer.  We don’t have to worry about ourselves it’s the children we have got to worry about.  It’s the next generation and the generation after that.  They cannot survive without the gas or anything.

Pipeline Rehabilitation

It’s all covered, you don’t see it, it goes through your property. Where do you see it? It’s got two foot of grass over it, where before it would have only had 5 inches of grass, all natural pastures that cows wouldn’t eat, but now the cows would use that in it’s the place.

How does Origin treat locals?

Yeah I think Origin gives them all a fair go, all the locals a fair go for what they have done for me and they would have to do that for all the other land holders and anything in the town.  I think they would be for all support groups. I don’t think I have ever had any problems with Origin.  Problems can be solved then and there, there would not be any problems in the wide world.  I think they are a really top crew of people and that’s from the bottom to the top.