Navigating urban challenges: groundwater bore assessments in Dalby

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.