gisera’s research selection and approval process · 2017-05-10 · gisera’s research selection...

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GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess

GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess i

ContentsGISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess.......................................................................1

1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................1

2 Usingindustryhazards,communityconcernsandopportunitiestoidentifyresearch.............1

3 GISERA’sresearchthemes......................................................................................................3

4 Constructingourresearchportfolio........................................................................................4

5 ATTACHMENTA–Summaryofleadingstakeholderquestionsandconcerns..........................8

6 ATTACHMENTB–Researchselectioncriteria.......................................................................11

ListofTables

Table5.1Stakeholderquestionsandconcerns..................................................................................8

ListofFigures

Figure1:7-stepresearchselectionprocess......................................................................................6

GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess

1 IntroductionThis paper provides an overview of the process used to explore, select and approve CSIROindependent researchprojectsundertakenaspartof theGas IndustrySocialandEnvironmentalResearchAlliance(GISERA).Projectsthatarechosenfromawiderangeofopportunitiesmustdealwithanumberofstakeholderchallengesandviewpoints,andmeetanumberofestablishedkeyperformanceindicators(KPIs)withinalimitedbudget.

GISERAaimstoestablishanintegrated,regional,systems-basedportfolioofresearchprojectsthatprovidesregionalcommunitiesandthegeneralpublicwithevidence-basedknowledgetounderpindecisionsonunconventionalgasdevelopment–coalseamgas(CSG)andshale.InformationsourcedfromGISERAresearchisprimarilyforbenefitoflocalcommunitieslivingingasdevelopmentregionsbutthere isalsoadditionalvalueforgovernmentsandindustrytogeneratebetteroutcomesforAustralia.

This selection process has been used since 2011 to build what has become an internationally-respectedportfolioofresearchonthesocialandenvironmentalissuesandopportunitiesrelatedtounconventional gas. This report aims to provide a record of the process, and to ensure 100%transparency inall activitiesundertakenbyCSIROunder theGISERAagreement. The regions inAustralia currently involved in theprogramare the Surat Basin inQueensland (since 2011) andGunnedahBasininNSW(since2016),withotherregionsunderconsideration.TheselectionprocessisusedtomateriallyandtransparentlyenableCSIRO,togetherwithourpartneringresearchbodies,tomeetGISERAobjectivesaswellasspecificKPIsagreedtowithourAlliancemembersandpartners;andalso,specificKPIsagreedtowithourAlliancemembersandpartners.

2 Usingindustryhazards,communityconcernsandopportunitiestoidentifyresearch

CSIRObegantoconsidersocialandenvironmentalimpactsrelatedtounconventionalgasin2011andoverthattimethefollowingquestionshaveemergedasfundamental issuesuponwhichweseektoexpandknowledgeinregionswithpotentialnaturalgasdevelopment:

• Doesdevelopingnaturalgasaffectthequalityorquantityofsurfacewaterorgroundwater?• Whataretheimpactsonagriculturallandmanagement,farmproductionandamenities?

• Doesdevelopingoroperatingnaturalgasassetscontributefurthertoregionalgreenhousegases,affectlocalairqualityorglobalclimatechange?

• Whatarethesocialandeconomiccostsandbenefitsforregionalcommunities?

GISERA’sresearchselectionandapprovalprocess2

• Whataretheimpactstoregionalfloraandfaunaandthemarineenvironment?

• Whatarethehumanhealthimpacts?

• Whatissuesareassociatewithdecommissioninggasindustryassets?

Theprocessundertakentoidentifyresearchtopicsiscarefullyaimedatansweringthesequestionsandguidedbytherisksanduncertainties,asseenbythecommunity.Projectsarecreatedundera7-step process outlined below (Figure 1) that involves a comprehensive series of reviews andworkshopsattendedbythecommunity,consultants,industryparticipantsandresearchscientistswithawiderangeofaffiliationsandbackgrounds.ResearchthemesandtopicsaresubsequentlydevelopedintopotentialresearchprojectsbycollaboratingwithsubjectmatterexpertsfromCSIRO,academia,governmentandindustryandthendevelopedintoprojectproposals(orProjectOrders)forapprovalbytherelevantRegionalResearchAdvisoryCommittee(RRAC).

The strength of this ‘on-the-ground’ or ‘bottom-up’ approach is that it focuses on externalstakeholdersandaims todevelopapplied researchwithadirectpath tovalued information. Itovercomesanydependencyassociatedwithaskingexpertsthemselvestodevelopideasthatmightbebasedontheirownresearchagendaswheretheirareaofexpertisecanbecomethefocus.Inthis way, we test our capacities to understand and answer gaps in knowledge which result inresearchprojectsthattrulyemanatefromabroadandunbiasedbaseofpossibilities.

Yet, a weakness of ‘bottom-up’ methods is they can limit the attainment of a broad strategicframeworkfromwhichresearchgapsandopportunitiescanbevisualisedandaddressedovertime.Our efforts might be diverted from important and agreed GISERA goals; for example, whereparticularinterestgroupsmayattempttoimposeaparticularpointofviewtherebycompromisingCSIRO’s independence. Another challenge is thatwemust deliver our projectswithin a limitedbudgetandtimeframe.

The GISERA Director and management team use a parallel top-down/bottom-up approach asevidencedbythe7-stepprocess. ThisapproachseekstomaintainstrongconnectionsovertimebetweentheGISERAvision,andourresearch,andon-the-groundcommunicationandknowledge-sharingwithourlocalcommunitiesandthegeneralpublic.ItisimportanttonotethattheGISERAresearchmodelissufficientlyagiletoadapttoevolvingcommunityissuesthroughtimeasindustryandgovernmentpracticeschange.Thisensuresthatthehighestqualityscienceisdirectedtowardspriorityissuesandthatweareabletoanswerrelevantandimportantquestionscognisantofthecurrentissues.


3 GISERA’sresearchthemesGISERA’s research has evolved to focus on seven social and environmental areas which haveemanated from industry Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) reports, policy development,stakeholder engagement, surveys and workshops, international comparisons and a plethora ofpublicdiscourseovertime:

Surfaceandgroundwater

Toenablethenaturalgasindustrytoplanandmanagewaterresourcesaccordingtolocalandglobalwaterresourcemanagementplans.Theworkcentresmostlyonthehealthandflowofgroundwaterincludingdepletionandcontaminationofsurroundingaquifers;andfluctuationsinwateravailabilityforotheruses.

Agriculturallandmanagement

Toidentifylandscapeanddevelopmentconfigurationsthatminimisedisruptiontofarmbusinesses,maximiseco-benefitopportunitiesfromtheco-locationofgasassetsandagriculture,andminimisethelikelihoodofdevelopment-basederosion.

Greenhousegasandairquality

To build regional profiles of greenhouse gases and the proportional contribution from gasdevelopment, including the full gas lifecycle and its end use. This includes: containment ofhydrocarbons;naturallyoccurringseeps;andfugitivemethaneemissionsfromgasinfrastructure.Overallregionalgreenhousebudgets(mining,energy,agriculture,transport)willbeobtained.

Healthimpact

To investigatepotentialhealtheffectstopeopleandtheenvironmentofgas industryactivitybyscrutinizingemissionpathwaysforharmfulexposurelevels.

Terrestrialbiodiversity

To advance scientific understanding of the ecological function of the regions, the cumulativeimpactsofanthropogenicactivityonbiodiversityataregionalscaleandthebestwaysofreversinganthropogenic impacts through effectivewhole-of-landscape conservation including biodiversityoffsets.

Marineenvironment

To understand the vulnerable components of the marine ecosystem surrounding Gladstone inQueensland,withaviewtominimisingCSGtoLNGimpacts.


Socialandeconomicimpactsandopportunities

Toreviewsocio-economicindicatorsandsurveyresultstomaximisenetpositivechangethatarisesfromgasdevelopmentandassistdecisionmakersand localstobeabletoenhanceregionalandcommunitybenefitsandaspirations.

Decommissioning

Thisisanotherresearchareathathasrecentlyemergedthatdoesnotcompletelyalignwithanyoftheabovethemesbutcurrentlysitsinthesocialimpactstheme.Wehavereceivedstrongfeedbackfrom stakeholders to begin testing the current decommissioning approaches and impacts, andexplorenewapproaches.WearecurrentlyfocusingonCSGwellpluggingandabandonmentandarearehabilitation.

4 ConstructingourresearchportfolioTheaimoftheprocessdescribedbelowistoidentifyarangeofsocialandenvironmentalissuesthatareofhighestconcerntocommunitiesandrequirefurtherknowledgeintheareasofgovernmentapprovalprocesses,regulatorydevelopment,industrypractice,localcommunitiesandthegeneralpublic.

GISERA’s research identificationprocess centresaround7 stepsacross2-3ormoreexpendituretranches to identify priority issues and to ensure they can be informed by the highest qualityscientificresearch.Theprocessseekstounderstandtheissuesofcommunityconcerninnaturalgasdevelopment regions and toprioritise these issues into a form suitable for developing researchprojects that seek to provide timely, new information of use to communities, industry andgovernments.Theprocessisasfollows(and,seeFigure1below):

1. AWARENESS:Acquiring information fromstakeholders toenablea cleararticulationof theirconcerns. This involves a large stakeholder engagement process across local communities,industry,governmentandthegeneralpublic.Astakeholdersurveyisalsousedwheretheresultsformaquantifiedandwell-documented listof leadingstakeholder topicsandquestions (seeAttachmentA)

2. RANK:Thesetopicsarethenrankedaccordingtorelativeimportanceandvalueasdeterminedbycommunitiesandexpertjudgementtoidentifypriorities

3. REVIEW:Thecurrentstateofknowledge,researchprojectsalreadycompleted,policiesinplaceandassociateddataand informationonthesetopics iscompiledandreviewed,forexample:


water allocationpolicies andprograms,Chief Scientist reports, governmentdepartment andstakeholderreports,andGISERAresultsthathasbeencompletedinQueensland

4. IDENTIFY: Request CSIRO staff to create new research ideas. This involves considerationofresource capacities, knowhow and experience across CSIRO, and other organisations, toundertaketheresearchandanswertheresearchquestions(AttachmentA)

5. SELECT:Projectsarethenselectedbasedontheirabilitytomeetawiderangeofpredeterminedcriteria(seeAttachmentB)andanswerthestakeholderandcommunityquestions

6. PROPOSE:Preferredprojectideasarethendevelopedintoformalresearchproposals(orProjectOrders) that fully discuss the research aims,methods and expected outputs and impact, inconjunctionwiththeGISERADirector

7. APPROVE:OurindependentRegionalResearchAdvisoryCommittees(RRACs)thenreviewandapproveproposals,andresearchcommences

The7-stepprocessmeetsCSIRO’sresearch independencewhileprovidingpublicgoodoutcomesfromourresearch.TheRRACsandGISERAteamapplythisselectionprocesstoenableresearchthatmateriallyandtransparentlymeetsCSIROresearchobligations.Ultimately,theRRACsapproveallresearch;and, individualprojectsmaybeceasedormodifiedat thedirectionof theRRAC. ThisprocessiscurrentlyoperatinginunconventionalgasregionsinNewSouthWalesandQueensland.

Onceapproved,projectsaremonitoredandevaluatedovertimetoensurethatGISERA’sresearchprogrammaintainsitsrelevanceandprovidesvaluedoutcomes.Thisvaluewillbejudgedontheresearchbeingabletopursueanagendathataddressescommunityconcern,knowledgegaps,andresidualrisk.

Overall,weaimfortheportfolioofapprovedresearchprojectsto:

• BestructuredtosimplyandtransparentlysupporttheKPIsestablishedforCSIROresearchunderGISERA

• SeekhighimpactearlyintheresearchtorapidlyshowvaluetoarangeofexternalstakeholdersandestablishconsideredmethodstomeetCSIRO’slongertermgoalsunderGISERA

• Demonstrate thatCSIRO researchunderGISERAhasbeendevelopedaccording toa clearandtransparentframework

• Identifyresearchprioritiesbasedonrisk,opportunity,urgencyandtractability• Beusedtoidentifykeyresearchpartnerships,fromanexpertise(input)andstakeholder(output)perspective

• Beamenabletoengagingcommunitystakeholdersindiscussionaroundprojectvalueandpriority


• Investinprojecttopicsinproportiontotheirriskandopportunity

Figure1:7-stepresearchselectionprocess

4.1 Allocatingthebudgetacrossresearchthemes

Anotherresearchprogrammanagementfeatureistoallocatefundsbasedongoodtransparency,economy and reason. The proportion of funds allocated to projects is influenced by a range offactors including stakeholder surveys, collaborationwith selected subjectmatter experts acrossCSIRO, academia, government and industry, consideration of the reputational risks, gaps inknowledge,capacityforresearch,andcost.

Asequenceoffundingtranchesmaybeusedtoallocatefunds.Forexample,afirsttranchemaybeaimed at identifying areas requiring early impact such as baselining or profiling elementaryindicatorsacrossair,waterand thecommunity, includingcurrentwaterallocations,backgroundpollutant levels, local demographics and industry profiles. Later funding tranches are aimed atdevelopingprojectstounderstandandaddressabroadersuiteoftopicsputforwardbystakeholdersorderivedfromotherinquiries,reviews,reportsandpolicymaking.Thesetranchesandprojectsareaimedataddressingoutstandingissuesandknowledgegapsidentifiedthroughdeeperinquiryandconsultation.Latertranchestakethetimetoreviewanddiscussstakeholderinputthathasbeen


compiledovertime,reviewotherresearchprogramsandinquiries,andconductfocusedworkshops.Asmallbudgetisheldforexpenditureneartheendofourprogramsanditislikelysmalladjustmentstoproportionsaremadeasadditionalprojectsareaddedorothersterminatedwherenecessarytomeetcommunityneedsforcurrent,independent,trustedscience-basedinformation.

Researchrequirementsforthevariousstatesandterritorieswillbedifferent.Forexample,theNSWscopeofresearchdoesnotincludeLNGforexportandthereforedoesnotrequireanymarine-basedresearch.Andfinally,extensionandleverageoptionswithotherregionsmayincreasinglybecomeavailablewhenenablingresourcesinthoseregionsarefinalisedaspartofthenationalexpansion.

ThecurrentapproximateproportionalspendonourresearchthemesacrosstheNewSouthWalesandQueenslandportfoliosis:

• SurfaceandGroundwater,34%• SocialandEconomic,13%• Greenhousegasandairquality,16%• Agriculture,15%• TerrestrialBiodiversity,12%• Marine,9%• Health,1%


5 ATTACHMENTA–Summaryofleadingstakeholderquestionsandconcerns

Followingextensive consultation since2011withvariousCSGstakeholders, a listof stakeholderquestions and concerns has been developed. While many of these issues have cementedthemselvesaskeyareasofconcernthatwehavedirectedourresearchefforttowards,itisalsolikelythislistwillcontinuetoevolveovertimeasmorestakeholdersaresurveyedanddifferentissuesareidentifiedindifferentregions.

Table5.1Stakeholderquestionsandconcerns

SUBJECTAREA IDNO. KEYISSUE/QUESTION

Water WQ01 WhatamountofwaterisusedbytheCSGindustry,andwheredoesitcomefrom?

WQ02 HowmuchgroundwaterisbeingextractedfromCSGwells;andhowmuchfromotherboresandindustries?

WQ03 Howdocoalseamsandaquifersandgroundwatersystemsinteract?

WQ04 Isfrackingdangerousforwater,theenvironmentorpeople?

WQ05 WhatarethemajorwaterimpactsfromCSG;andwhatarethecumulativeimpactsalongwithagricultureandmining?

WQ06 Isthereasufficientamountofwaterforeveryone,includingfuturegenerations?

WQ07 Whatwillhappenwithproducedwater?Whatamountofwaterisrecycledandreused?Willthisbeanoverallnetgain?

WQ08 DoesCSGdevelopmentaffectanyparticularwatersources(suchastheGreatArtesianBasin(GAB)),orotherpeople’swaterusessuchasfarmers?

WQ09 HowwillthebrineresultingfromCSGactivitiesbecost-effectivelyandsustainablymanaged?

GreenhouseFootprint

GQ01 WhatistheoverallcarbonaccountandbaselineofgreenhousegasesandairpollutantsnaturalgasregionsandwhatcontributionwillcomefromCSG?

GQ02 WhatisthegapbetweenthecarboncontentofCSGandcoal,andcouldfugitiveemissionsandseepsaffectthatgap?

GQ03 WhataretherisksandopportunitiesforCSGaroundclimatechange?

GQ04 UnderwhatclimatechangemitigationscenariosisCSGanadvantage;andwhenaregasresourcesatriskofbeingunderused(i.e.,creatingstrandedassets)?

GQ05 Whatisthefullbreadthofscientificresearchbeingundertakeninnaturalgasregionsregardinggreenhousegasesandwhatarethecollectivefindings?

Health HQ01 DopeoplegetsickfromCSG?



HQ02 Whatarethepotentialexposurepathwaysorsituationswherepeople’shealthorlivelihoodscanbeaffectedandwhatistheprobabilityofbeingaffected?

HQ03 Howdopeopletypicallyassessrisk;anddoesthisaffectthewaypeopleinterpretbothfactualandnon-factualdata?

ImpactsonCommunities

SQ01 Whichcommunities,andwhointhosecommunities,areimpactedbyCSG?

SQ02 Areimpactsbeingmanagedtothesatisfactionandacceptanceoftheimpactedcommunities?

SQ03 DoesCSGdevelopment,andtheactivitiesdesignedtoattenuateitsimpositionsuchascommunityinvestment,alignwithcommunityaspirations?

SQ04 Whatarethemosteffectiveandefficientsocialimpactmitigationprogramsthatcanbeimplemented?

Landmanagementissues(alsoincludescommunityandeconomicquestions)

LQ01 HowmuchlanddoCSGcompaniesneedaccesstoandwhattypeoflandwillitbe?

LQ02 Willaccesstolandbegainedvoluntarily?Andatwhatcostandbenefittolocals?

LQ03 DolandholdersobtainanoverallnetgainfromthepresenceofCSG?

LQ04 HowmanylandholdersareaggrievedbyCSGandwhy?Whatproportionarecontent?

LQ05 Whatistheestimatednetresultforecosystemservicesandagricultureproductivityforthelandstobeimpacted?

Biodiversity BQ01 WhatcanbedoneaboutthecumulativeimpactsoftheCSGindustry,agriculture,transportandminingonbiodiversity?

BQ02 WhichCSGprojectsaretobelocatedinornearprotectedorhighvalueareas?

BQ03 HasCSGornaturalgasdevelopmenthadanydetrimentalimpactsonbiodiversityanywhereinAustralia?

BQ04 Isthereanypossibledangertoanythreatenedspecies?

BQ05 Howmuchlandwillbedisturbedandhowmuchofthiswillhavetoberehabilitated?Willthisreducebiodiversity?

BQ06 Whatisthepotentialandactualsuccessoftherelevantbiodiversityoffsetprograms?

BQ07 Willcurrentpoliciesandstrategiesprotectbiodiversitygoingforward?

Economics EQ01 Howmuchmoneywillbespentatthelocal/regional/statelevelsinthefutureandbywhom,becauseofthedevelopmentofnaturalgas?Willthisexpendituremeetcommunityaspirations?

EQ02 HowmanyjobswilltheCSGindustrycreateinthefuture;howmanywillbedirectlyemployedbycompaniesvscontractorsvssupplychainimpacts?



EQ03 HowareotherindustriesaffectedbytheCSGindustrye.g.growth/declineintheserviceindustry,agriculture,incubationofnewindustries?

EQ04 Aretherepotentialinnovationstoconsider(suchasusingmethaneforenergyusebyfarmers)?

EQ05 Whatinterventionscanberecommendedtomakeiteasierforlocalbusinessestosupplygoodsandservicestotheindustry?

EQ06 WhatmarketpositiondoesAustralianunconventionalgashaveundervariousclimatechangemitigationscenarios?

Decommissioningandlegacyissues

DQ01 Whathappenstowells,andanycontaminants,oncetheyarepluggedandabandoned?

DQ02 WhohasthelegalandfinancialresponsibilityforthemaintenanceandintegrityofCSGassetsovertime?Isthisadequate?

DQ03 Whatinnovationsorimprovementscanbefoundtodecommissioningapproachesandtechnologies?

DQ04 Whatlegacyissuesbotherthecommunityandwhatissociallyandenvironmentallyacceptable?


6 ATTACHMENTB–ResearchselectioncriteriaThefollowingcriteriaisusedtotesttherelativestrengthsandweaknessesamongstprojects

GISERAProjectAttributes

Tractabilityofproblemoropportunity

Inherentresearchorpracticalinnovation

Urgencyofproblemoropportunity

Likelihoodofmeetingprojectgoals

Addressescumulativeimpactsofdevelopment

Wideaudienceacrossindustry,community,andregulators

Directlyinformsregulatoryorpolicyframeworks

Directlyenablesnegativeimpactsofgasdevelopmenttobeaddressed

Directlyenablesnewopportunitiesfromnaturalgasdevelopmenttobesought

Directlybuildscommunityunderstandingofnaturalgasdevelopmentimpactsandopportunities

Directlybuildscommunitycapacitytorespondpositivelytodevelopment

Directlyunderpinsadaptivemanagementofdevelopmentimpactsbyindustryorcommunity

Likelihoodofcreatingrefereedsciencepublications

CreationofHons,MScandPhDresearchstudentships

Mutualcapacitybuildingviadirectinvolvementofindustryand/orgovernmentstaff

Regionalcapacitybuildingviaengagementwilllocalcommunities

Timeframefordeliveryisappropriate

Financialleverageachieved


Contactus

DanO’SullivanEmail:[email protected]

gisera’s research selection and approval process · 2017-05-10 · gisera’s research selection...

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