One of Australia's biggest fracking projects is set to face new scrutiny, with federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek ordering an environmental assessment into gas exploration in the Beetaloo Basin.
Ms Plibersek has asked the Independent Scientific Expert Committee (IESC), set up to advise government regulators on water impacts stemming from gas projects, for the assessment to determine whether the Commonwealth will pull the "water trigger" on the project.
The water trigger, expanded last year by federal Labor to include fracking projects, ensures that projects are assessed by the Commonwealth for their impact on water supplies under national laws.
If a project is subject to the trigger it must be approved by the federal environment minister.
The gas industry opposed the expanded trigger, claiming it would create "unnecessary duplication" and be "another barrier to unlocking gas supply".
Ms Plibersek said she had called for the scientific assessment to "settle any concerns about potential impacts on water".
"Environmental decisions must be guided by science and national environment law," she said.
"Everyone concerned should respect the independent scientists – not rush to judgement on the basis of assumptions."
The NT government approved full-scale fracking in the Beetaloo Basin last year and in May signed a nine-year deal with Tamboran Resources to buy fracked gas from the basin.
In June the NT government approved the company's plan to drill 15 new wells at its Shenandoah South project, about 600 kilometres south of Darwin.
Tamboran Resources, one of three companies with interests in the basin, plans to extract 375 million litres of water each year.
At the time, the former NT Labor government said Tamboran Resources's plan did not require further scrutiny.
Tamboran Resources chief executive Joel Riddle said he was confident the company's activities in the Beetaloo Basin "would not have a significant impact on water resources".
"We welcome further confirmation from the IESC to this effect," he said.
"All water use is subject to a water extraction license which ensures the volume of water used is sustainable and consistent with the NT Water Allocation Plan."
Traditional owners and environmentalists welcome the move
Mangarrayi woman Cecilia Lake, who's traditional lands are around the Roper River, travelled to Canberra this week to raise concerns over fracking and water management directly with federal politicians.
She said while her community would welcome the move, the fight to protect land and water was not over.
"It's encouraging news to hear but it's not good enough," she said.
"Fracking is just down the road from us … we are concerned because we share the same aquifer, the aquifer that runs into the Roper [River]."
Ms Lake said the federal government should pull the water trigger in order to safeguard the territory's waterways for future generations.
"[Fracking] is going to affect us in the Roper … we're connected to the water and the land, we feel their pain, we feel their cry," she said.
"Our ancestors are telling us don't give up the fight and we're not about to, we're going to continue to fight until we get protection of our land and water."
Environment Centre NT director Kirsty Howey said Ms Plibersek's request for independent advice was "significant" but didn't "go far enough".
"It should act as a roadblock for Tamboran who have been very public about their intent to start drilling now," she said.
"Tamboran has repeatedly said that there is no significant impact on water from their drilling. Minister Plibersek's decision today indicates that she holds a different view."
Ms Howey said there had never been an environmental impact assessment of fracking in the Northern Territory, at either a territory or federal level.
"That is extraordinary and it is absolutely essential that proper scrutiny is given to this very harmful industry in terms of environmental impacts," she said.
The chief executive of Australian Energy Producers, Samantha McCulloch, said development in the Beetaloo Basin was critical for the territory's economic growth.
She also said Beetaloo gas production was necessary to "address the looming gas shortfalls in Eastern Australia".
"It is imperative that the referral does not result in any unnecessary delays to the development of this critical gas supply," she said.
The CLP NT government, elected last month, said the federal government had "no reason to put a handbrake on developing the Beetaloo Basin".
"Our onshore petroleum industry is well regulated under a range of laws to ensure it occurs safely, and in line with community expectations," Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment Josh Burgoyne said.
"The science has proven this can be done safely and it is now time to move forward with these nationally important projects."
