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Santos NSW
Monthly Activities Update
September 2024
Welcome to the September issue of our Monthly Activities Update for NSW.
The Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) Community Consultative Committee (CCC) met on Tuesday, 17 September. During the meeting, members received updates about the NGP, as well as the Hunter Gas and Narrabri Lateral Pipeline projects. Minutes from CCC meetings, are made available on the NGP website.
NSW Community Events
Opening Night at the Narrabri High School Outdoor Learning Centre
Santos was delighted to attend the recent opening night of the Narrabri High School Outdoor Learning Centre. As a proud sponsor of the project, it was exciting to see the positive impact this new facility will have on the students and the broader community. The centre is a legacy project that will serve generations of students now and into the future.
This innovative space includes garden beds, an outdoor classroom and kitchen, as well as a stage for music and drama performances. The new precinct will allow students to step outside the classroom, engage in hands-on learning and enhance education by offering practical experience in subjects like food, agriculture, and science.
Image: Opening Night at the Narrabri High School Outdoor Learning Centre
Santos Sponsors Day at the Narrabri Rugby Club
Santos was thrilled to host its recent Sponsors Day at the Narrabri Rugby Club, cheering on the Narrabri Blue Boars as they took on the Tamworth Pirates. It was a fantastic day spent with more than 90 landholders, contractors, and other key stakeholders.
We are proud to have been a major sponsor of the club for the past 12 years, supporting its commitment to increasing the number of registered female players annually, boosting indigenous participation, and raising awareness of mental health issues and the available support within our shire.
A highlight of the day was when the women's side wore special jerseys in support of the GI Cancer Institute, raising awareness and funds for this vital cause. We congratulate the Narrabri Rugby Club on the positive impact it is having on the community.
The Narrabri Blue Boars continue to impress on and off the field, but this year’s Central North Grand Final was outstanding - a testament to the talent of a team we are proud to support.
Image: Santos Sponsors Day, Narrabri Rugby Club
Central North Rugby Union Grand Final
The Narrabri Rugby Club delivered an incredible performance at the recent Central North Rugby Union Grand Final to take home the Women’s 10s premiership and clinch the First XV Central North Rugby Union titles with a thrilling, post-siren try.
The Club’s focus on continued growth has paid off with a doubling of the women player registrations and a 25 per cent increase in Indigenous player participation. We are delighted to have played a key role in these achievements! 2024 marks the Club’s 60th anniversary, making the CNRU grand final wins particularly memorable, further highlighted by taking home the Santos Cup.
Image: Central North Rugby Union Grand Final Day
Narrabri Gas Project Activities
Operations update
All gas produced from our Narrabri field appraisal wells is delivered to the Wilga Park Power Station, where it is converted into electricity. Wilga Park Power Station has an electricity generation capacity of 22 megawatts, enough to power 32,000 households across northwest NSW. Production this month has been lower due to planned maintenance.
Drilling activities
There are no further drilling activities planned to be undertaken this year.
Pilot wells
Bibblewindi East, Bibblewindi West and Dewhurst South, Tintsfield and Kahlua 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
Wilga Park Power Station had planned maintenance scheduled in September and was offline for a short period. There was some increased flaring during this time.
Other activities
Groundwater monitoring activities for Environmental Protection Licence compliance are ongoing.
PEL 1
Kahlua pilot construction works were completed in accordance with the Review of Environmental Factors and the wells are now online. To view the approval, please click here.
NSW Community Engagement
Community Information Sessions
Santos will be hosting a sixth round of community information sessions during October 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 Gas Project 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 17th December, 2024.
NGP Community Consultative Committee Minutes are available here
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 former NSW Department of Planning and Environment 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. The advisory groups include:
- Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Group
- Biodiversity Advisory Group
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Advisory Group
- Water Technical Advisory Group
The next advisory group meetings will be held in October, 2024.
Minutes from advisory group meetings are available here
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 continues to progress the construction of the first laydown yard as part of approved stage 1 early works. Construction of the yard is expected to be completed in the coming months. Santos has released management plans for consultation for a second site along the alignment. Once all feedback has been considered, final plans will be submitted to DPHI for approval.
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 continue to liaise with landholders along the route to progress discussions regarding the alignment, survey and deed of easement agreements. We encourage landholders to engage with our land access advisors to ensure any feedback, questions or concerns can be addressed as part of the process to finalise the pipeline alignment. Landholders can contact our land access team at any time on 1300 427 546 or via email at info@huntergaspipeline.com.au.
The NSW Government has recently renewed an Authority to Survey (ATS) for the Hunter Gas Pipeline. The Authority to Survey enables Santos to undertake studies regarding the proposed route for the pipeline. Our strong preference is to reach a voluntary agreement with all landholders, and we are committed to fostering an amicable process throughout our discussions and negotiations
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’ between the NGP and HGP, 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), with field studies to inform the environmental assessments now mostly complete.
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.
The NSW Government has recently granted an Authority to Survey for the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline. The Authority to Survey enables Santos to undertake studies regarding the proposed route for the pipeline. Our strong preference is to reach a voluntary agreement with all landholders, and we are committed to fostering an amicable process throughout our discussions and negotiations
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. This month a series of consultation meetings were held with First Nations people across the region in relation to the NLP Social Impact Management Plan and the HGP Social Impact Assessment. Meetings were held in Pilliga, Wee Waa, Narrabri, Coonabarabran and Gunnedah. The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report is being drafted for further consultation with the Registered Aboriginal Parties on its content. Santos is committed to consulting with Indigenous people about the Aboriginal cultural heritage values within the proposed project area to ensure their heritage is protected.
Have your say
Santos is finalising the exact location of the Hunter Gas Pipeline, taking into consideration landholder feedback and preferences, technical constraints and environmental factors.
We encourage all landholders located along the pipeline alignment to talk to our Land Access Advisors. We will consider all feedback to ensure, where possible, we deliver the best outcome for each landholder and their property. Take this opportunity to have your say – your feedback is important to us.
To get more information about the project or to check the pipeline alignment, you can visit www.huntergaspipeline.com.au or call 1300 427 546.
NSW Project Approvals
Narrabri Gas Project approvals, fact sheets and Community Consultative Committee and advisory group meeting minutes are available on our website.
Hunter Gas Pipeline approvals, fact sheets, project details, and interactive map are available on our website.
Narrabri Lateral Pipeline fact sheets and project details can be found on our Narrabri Lateral Pipeline page on the HGP website.
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