Summary
Santos Welcomes Protection for Coongie Lakes
Santos Limited welcomes the South Australian Governments announcement today that it will move forward with the protection of the Coongie Lakes.
Santos has entered into a Memorandum of Understand that the company brokered with South Australian conservation groups, recommending permanent protection for the Coongie Lakes area not currently covered by petroleum licenses.
The Memorandum of Understanding recommends that the Rann Government make the Coongie Lakes Control Zone (CLCZ) a no-go area for new petroleum activity and to nearly treble the size of the CLCZ to capture all of the important wetland areas.
The Coongie Lakes are a South Australian icon. Santos is working to make sure it is protected. said Santos Managing Director, John Ellice-Flint.
While Santos has operated inside the Coongie Lakes we have a community responsibility to protect this important wildlife habitat and refuge.
The Coongie Lakes wetlands, in far north-eastern South Australia are of international significance and protected under the Ramsar convention.
Santos has carried out environmentally sensitive exploration activity in the area. However the area is currently not under licence following the relinquishment of the exploration acreage by Santos in 1999.
The Memorandum of Understanding was presented to the State government as part of its multi- disciplinary review of the future of the Coongie Lakes wetlands with regard to oil and gas exploration.
