A new scientific assessment has revealed how coal seam gas and coal mining activities continue to influence groundwater behaviour in Queensland’s Surat and southern Bowen basins. The Surat Underground Water Impact Report 2025 (UWIR), released by the independent Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA), provides the state’s most comprehensive view yet of cumulative groundwater and subsidence impacts.
Published every three to four years, the UWIR models and monitors the long-term effects of resource extraction within the Surat cumulative management area. The latest report updates projections of aquifer response, identifies affected bores and outlines mitigation strategies that guide water-management decisions for both industry and landholders.
OGIA Executive Director Sanjeev Pandey said the 2025 report builds on more than a decade of iterative modelling and peer-reviewed science.
“This unique methodology has been developed and deployed by OGIA for this purpose,” he said. “It means we can identify impacts more confidently and link the findings directly to management actions.”
What new groundwater models reveal about Surat Basin management
The report applies a world-leading, peer-reviewed modelling framework that tracks groundwater flow, pressure and drawdown across multiple formations of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). By combining updated geological data with new industry development scenarios, OGIA’s model enables more accurate forecasting of cumulative effects from coal seam gas and coal mining activities.
Pandey said the assessment reflects both scientific progress and on-ground experience.
“This report takes into account changes in the industry’s planned development, significant improvements in modelling, and new knowledge about groundwater flow,” he said. “It ties cutting-edge assessment with commensurate management strategies and actions.”
The adaptive cycle that underpins each UWIR ensures that observed results inform the next phase of modelling. The process links analysis with regulatory responses, such as make-good agreements and monitoring requirements for resource tenure holders.
Where groundwater pressure changes are emerging in the Surat Basin
The 2025 report shows that groundwater pressure impacts from coal seam gas development have begun to appear in several GAB aquifers, including the Precipice Sandstone and Springbok Sandstone. These effects were forecast in earlier UWIRs and remain consistent with modelled expectations. No significant impacts have yet been observed in other key aquifers such as the Condamine Alluvium.
Across the life of the industry, approximately 650 water bores are likely to experience drawdown requiring statutory make-good by tenure holders. OGIA reports that mitigation measures established through previous UWIRs are functioning effectively. More than 200 bores have already been addressed through proactive make-good arrangements, supported by a monitoring network of more than 800 groundwater observation points.
“The strategies being used to manage the known impacts on groundwater sources are working effectively,” Pandey said. “This report delivers vital information for industry, landholders and government so they can make informed decisions about groundwater management in the Surat and support coexistence.”
How Queensland is expanding groundwater monitoring across the Surat Basin
Coal seam gas remains the dominant activity within the Surat cumulative area, with about 11,000 operational wells projected to rise to 21,000 by 2060. To track these developments, OGIA has expanded its dedicated monitoring network to 888 water-level and chemistry sites, complemented by nearly 3,100 points across the wider region. This data provides real-time insight into aquifer response and underpins continual model validation.
Queensland’s regulatory framework ensures that bore owners are not disadvantaged by industry operations. When assessment shows that groundwater extraction by resource companies has caused, or is likely to cause, impairment to water supply, tenure holders must negotiate make-good agreements with affected landholders.
Pandey said this transparent approach fosters trust. “CSG and coal mining formations are layered within some of the Great Artesian Basin’s most important aquifers, so it’s critical to periodically assess impacts and keep a close eye on our natural resources.”
What’s next for Queensland’s groundwater impact assessment and community input
To share results and gather feedback, OGIA will host public information sessions from 3 to 6 November 2025 in Dalby, Chinchilla, Roma and Wandoan. Submissions on the draft report close on 21 November 2025, after which a final version will be submitted to the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation for approval in December. Once approved, the report will guide statutory management strategies for all resource tenure holders.
The 2025 Surat UWIR underscores how adaptive science, transparent regulation and community engagement combine to safeguard groundwater resources in one of Australia’s most economically and environmentally significant regions.
The full report is available at www.ogia.water.qld.gov.au/publications-reports.