The Australian Government and NSW Government have unveiled a $3 million grant to fund strategic research on the social and environmental impacts of the onshore gas industry.

The money will go to CSIRO and industry players to expand their research.

“The funding will help CSIRO extend the Gas Industry Social Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA) to focus on the benefits and risks of gas development in NSW,” said federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane

“GISERA was originally founded in 2011 to research environmental, social and economic impacts and challenges that the onshore gas industry presents in Queensland.

“The expansion of GISERA into NSW is a key component of the Australian Government’s Domestic Gas Strategy.

“The issues associated with the gas industry are complex and sensitive. It is important to understand the regional impacts of gas development based on local data and characteristics.

He said that GISERA’s NSW-specific research would empower communities to assess and form their own views on the development of gas project, based on scientific information relevant to community concerns.

“GISERA’s governance model is designed to provide for and protect research independence and transparency and has worked very effectively in Queensland,” Macfarlane said.

NSW Industry Minister Anthony Roberts said the establishment of GISERA in New South Wales was in response to Recommendation 12 of a recent NSW Chief Scientist’s Final Report.

“Through GISERA we will be able to bring the best CSIRO backed science to communities where coal seam gas development could take place,” he said.

“GISERA will ensure that debate on the establishment of coal seam gas in New South Wales is based on science and facts, not misconceptions. This will be independent scientific information that can be presented to the public at large.”

More information is available at the GISERA website.