The Waimea Valley tender block covers 1214sq km, encompassing the townships of Waikaia, Riversdale and Balfour, plus the confluence and parts of the Mataura and Waikaia rivers.
Before any drilling can take place, resource consent will be required, and while the contentious hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a production technique, not exploration, the subject is likely to be high on the agenda of public questioning in Riversdale next Tuesday.
The predominantly dairy, sheep and beef farming Waimea valley lies within a 45-minute drive between Gore and Lumsden. Historically, the separate Waikaia valley has hosted many gold-mining ventures since the late-1800s, including a current gold-trenching operation across farmland.
The oil and gas proposal is likely to attract the attention of recreational and international fishermen and film-makers often based in the area, rated a world-class fishery.
Environment Southland is organising a community briefing about the tender process, which closes in mid-October, for the oil and gas permits, which would be a first for Southland.
Environment Southland chairman Ali Timms said in a statement yesterday regional councillors would be briefed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment next week.
"So it's a good chance to take that same information direct to the community who are most interested in it," she said.
The ministry's manager of petroleum strategy, planning and promotion, geologist Dr Bradley Ilg, will attend meetings along with Environment Southland's manager of resource planning, Ken Swinney. The latter will explain how oil or gas exploration processes fit within the council's planning requirements.
Dr Ilg will speak about the tender process, timing of activities if tenders are received and the kinds of techniques which could be used in exploration and production.
The Government announced the block offer, covering 23 onshore and offshore areas around the country in June, based on current geology knowledge and the areas' oil and gas prospects.
