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Santos NSW
Monthly Activities Update
February 2024
Welcome to the February issue of the Santos NSW Monthly Activities Update. It has been a busy start to 2024 with the fifth round of community information sessions being organised at various locations along the Hunter Gas Pipeline and Narrabri Lateral Pipeline routes. Interested community members and landholders are welcome to drop in at any time during the advertised session times to meet the team and discuss our activities in NSW.
Narrabri Gas Project Activities
Operations update
The Narrabri Gas Project Independent Environmental Audit for 2023 has been finalised and is available to view on the Narrabri Gas Project website.
Drilling activities
Santos completed drilling of the shallow water monitoring bores during November in accordance with project approvals. Further drilling activities are planned throughout 2024.
Pilot wells
Bibblewindi East, Bibblewindi West and Dewhurst South and Tintsfield wells are online.
Leewood
Santos does not need to irrigate at this time and water is stored in the holding ponds at Leewood.
Wilga Park Power Station
The Wilga Park Power Station is online.
Other activities
Groundwater monitoring activities for Environmental Protection Licence compliance are ongoing.
PEL 1
Kahlua pilot construction works continue to be undertaken in accordance with the Review of Environmental Factors and is expected to come online in the coming months. To view the approval, please click here.
Community Consultation
Community Consultative Committee
A condition of the IPC consent for the Narrabri Gas Project is the establishment and operation of a Community Consultative Committee in accordance with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment's (DPE) Community Consultative Committee Guidelines: State Significant Projects. DPE appointed Mr Garry West to the position of Independent Chair of the committee.
The purpose of a Community Consultative Committee is to provide a forum for discussion between a proponent and representatives of the community, stakeholder groups and the local council on issues directly relating to a specific state significant project.
The next meeting of the Narrabri Gas Project Community Consultative Committee will be held on Tuesday 19 March, 2024.
NGP Advisory Groups
A condition of the IPC consent for the Narrabri Gas Project is the establishment and operation of a number of advisory groups. The NSW Department of Planning and Environment has appointed Mr Garry West to the position of Independent Chair of these Advisory Groups.
These groups provide a forum for open dialogue between Santos, independent experts, key stakeholder groups and the local community.
- Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Group
- Biodiversity Advisory Group
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Advisory Group
- Water Technical Advisory Group
NGP in the Community
New shade shelter at Yarrie Lake
Santos recently collaborated with the Yarrie Lake Flora and Fauna Trust to build a new shade shelter at the lake, providing an opportunity for increased visitation and enjoyment without the need for visitors to bring their own shelters and chairs.
Santos is pleased to be able to assist in delivering this durable infrastructure that will benefit our local community and visitors to Yarrie Lake.
Keeping Challenge cool
Challenge Community Services Narrabri is a dedicated workplace focused on generating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities while simultaneously offering essential recycling services to the local community. When Challenge reached out enquiring about cooling towels, the Narrabri community team were pleased to be able to deliver.
Santos were delighted to contribute to the well-being of Challenge employees by supplying them with cooling towels as well as hats. The team at Challenge work extremely hard in trying conditions at times, particularly during the gruelling summer months.
Supporting local initiatives such as Challenge serves as a prime example of the diverse approach Santos takes to cultivating a positive and enduring impact within our community.
Narrabri Gas Project Approvals
NSW Government
On 30 September 2020, the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) approved the Narrabri Gas Project with the Commission concluding that the Project is in the public interest and that any negative impacts can be effectively mitigated with strict conditions.
Australian Government
On 24 November 2020, the Federal Minister for the Environment approved the Narrabri Gas Project pursuant to Sections 130(1) and 133(1) of the EPBC Act, subject to conditions.
Santos will undertake an appraisal program ahead of a Final Investment Decision for the next phase of project development.
Santos continues work on the preparation and approval of the management plans required as a condition of consent by IPC. Copies of plans approved by the NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment are available from the Narrabri Gas Project website.
Native Title
Santos notes the determination of the National Native Title Tribunal handed down on Monday 19 December 2022, that proposed future acts, being the grants of Petroleum Production Lease Application Numbers 13, 14, 15 and 16 for the Narrabri Gas Project, may be done. On 13 January 2023, the Gomeroi People filed an appeal in the Federal Court of Australia in respect to this determination. This appeal was heard in Brisbane in August, with a decision anticipated in early 2024.
Santos will continue to engage constructively with the Gomeroi people and work closely with them to ensure their heritage is protected and they benefit from the project development in a range of ways, including through training and employment, and involvement in all aspects of their cultural heritage protection and management.
Santos has been consulting and working with the Gomeroi people since 2012, and in formal negotiations regarding the Narrabri Gas Project since 2015.
Hunter Gas Pipeline and Narrabri Lateral Pipeline Activities
Hunter Gas Pipeline
The Hunter Gas Pipeline (HGP) is a critical piece of infrastructure that, once constructed, will deliver 100 per cent of Narrabri natural gas to the east coast domestic market. This will put downward pressure on gas and electricity prices for NSW households, manufacturers and businesses.
Santos staff will be hosting the fifth round of drop-in community information sessions at various locations along the alignment. The full list of locations, dates, and times can be in the community engagement section of this newsletter or found on the Hunter Gas Pipeline website here.
Laydown yard construction as part of approved stage one early works has continued to be progressed and is expected to be completed in the coming months.
Survey activities continue to be undertaken on both public and private lands to finalise the alignment within the approved 200m corridor.
Our land access team has continued to liaise with landholders along the route to continue discussions regarding the alignment, survey and deed of easement agreements. Landholders can contact our land access team at any time on 1300 427 546 or via email at info@huntergaspipeline.com.au.
Approvals and approved management plans relating to the Hunter Gas Pipeline and Narrabri Lateral Pipeline are available on the HGP website here.
Image: Early works to support the HGP
HGP in the Community
Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund Presentation Ceremony
Santos is pleased to partner with the Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund in providing two students with Santos STEM scholarships valued at $1000 each. Goran Kelly (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering) and Paul Cabanas (Bachelor of Software Engineering) were the recipients of the Santos STEM scholarships.
The fund is a community-based initiative that provides support to Gunnedah youth in their pursuit of tertiary education.
The fund began 21 years ago and has awarded more than 400 scholarships. The scholarship can help with expenses including purchasing textbooks, relocation and other travel costs, living expenses, and contribution towards tuition fees.
The fund is open to all local students under 25 years who are looking to further their training and education at university, TAFE, or an accredited training organisation. Past scholarship recipients have been from a field of diverse courses including accounting, agriculture, allied health, animal science, law, architecture, arts/theatre, civil engineering, education, information technology, medicine, nursing and social work.
Image: Santos in attendance at the Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund Ceremony.
Community engagement
Santos will be hosting a fifth round of community information sessions from Monday, 4 March 2024. These sessions provide landholders, stakeholders and interested community members the opportunity to come and speak to staff about the Hunter Gas Pipeline, Narrabri Lateral Pipeline or any other NSW Santos project they may be interested in.
Landholders do not have to wait for an engagement session to contact us. Our project team is always available by phone or email to discuss the project or arrange to meet landholders at a time that is convenient to them.
Narrabri Lateral Pipeline
To connect the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) to the Hunter Gas Pipeline (HGP), Santos is progressing plans for the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline (NLP).
The proposed pipeline will provide the ‘missing link’ to allow for the transmission of natural gas to the existing NSW natural gas transmission network near Newcastle.
Santos is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which will be subject to extensive community consultation and a full environmental assessment. More information about the EIS assessment process is available on the HGP website here.
More information about the NLP including factsheets can be viewed on the HGP website here. The NLP SEARs can be viewed on the NSW Planning portal website here.
Engagement with Registered Aboriginal Parties
Santos is continuing to liaise with the Registered Aboriginal Parties regarding the assessment of the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline project corridor. Santos is committed to consulting with Indigenous people about the Aboriginal cultural heritage values within the proposed project area.
Narrabri Lateral Pipeline Assessment Process
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