In its first reporting tranche, the Namoi Water Study nominated service provider, Schlumberger Water Services , today held local public meetings. Its essential brief: to develop water models anticipating the impact of gas and coal extraction. The technically impressive analysis requires entering all available information into a database to create a mathematical model and GIS (Geographic Information System), with the ultimate goal of delivering analysis of surface and subsurface waters and geological features.

The ambitious timeline drawn by MOC chair Mal Peters for a March 2012 completion, belied the enormous task, the inevitable data gaps, ambiguous and conflicting historical data from previous analyzes, the tight funding, as well as political input and pressures from commercial interest groups.

It’s a big job. CCAG wish them well.