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Narrabri Gas Project (PEL 238)
Activities Update
July 2023
Welcome to the July issue of the Narrabri Gas Project (PEL238) Monthly Activity Update for 2023. There’s been lots of exciting news and events in the Narrabri region over the past month, read on to find out what’s been happening in the Narrabri Gas Project area.
Community Investment Program Highlights
Clontarf Top Bunch Lunch
In recognition of the school attendance for the week, Narrabri Clontarf Academy holds a "Top Bunch Lunch" each Friday. As National Partners with Clontarf, some of the Narrabri Santos team had the opportunity to share lunch with the 30+ students last week. It was a great occasion to celebrate the students’ achievements and spend time getting to know each other.
Before, during and after school, the Academy provides a space for boys to build self-esteem and confidence through supportive relationships and an environment that encourages students to succeed in school, work and society.
A Clontarf football was presented to the team and the students expressed their gratitude for Santos’ support. The Year 11 and 12 Clontarf students will attend a Santos field trip in September in order to gain a better understanding of our operations and explore potential career prospects after graduation.
Community Engagement
NAIDOC Week
In celebration of NAIDOC Week, the Narrabri Public School hosted a ceremony around this year's theme "For Our Elders". Santos was in attendance and proudly donated a NAIDOC cake for the official opening of their festivities.
The ceremony commenced with a morning tea for families followed by a smoking ceremony, a number of amazing performances by the students, education around indigenous artefacts and the spiritual importance they serve. The students then sang the National Anthem in language before the event concluded with NAIDOC awards. The local Clontarf Academy donated their time teaching performances and manning a BBQ for all the students and families to enjoy.
Santos was kindly gifted a hamper of local produce from the schools "Gardening Gurus". We value the opportunity to not only contribute but attend such important events for the community and look forward to hearing about the other schools NAIDOC celebrations we supported.
Hunter Gas Pipeline
The Hunter Gas Pipeline (HGP) Pty Ltd is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Santos. The proposed underground pipeline route passes close to Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project (NGP). The goal is to work with infrastructure developers and landholders to construct a pipeline that will deliver much-needed gas to the east coast domestic market in the shortest timeframe possible.
The 833-kilometre pipeline already has planning approval from the NSW and Queensland governments. Once constructed, it will potentially connect the Wallumbilla Gas Supply Hub in Queensland to NSW, providing a second route to southern markets for Queensland gas and adding competition to the domestic market. The HGP has been designed with offtake points at various regional towns along the route, and the corridor was selected to ensure minimum impact on communities, landowners, and the environment.
Santos continues to work with all stakeholders including Government, local councils, Traditional Owners and landholders along the proposed Hunter Gas Pipeline and Narrabri Lateral Pipeline routes to progress the projects.
Field surveys continue to be undertaken along the proposed alignment where voluntary land access agreements are in place.
If you would like to speak to a member of the team or arrange a meeting, please call 1300 427 546.
Narrabri Lateral Pipeline
The Narrabri Lateral Pipeline will connect the approved Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) and Hunter Gas Pipeline (HGP), transporting natural gas to the existing transmission network near Newcastle.
On 9 December 2022, the NSW Government declared the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline a Critical State Significant Infrastructure project on the basis that it is deemed essential to NSW for economic reasons.
Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) were issued by the NSW Government on 9 February 2023 which specify what issues are required to be addressed within the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Santos will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, which will be subject to extensive community consultation and a full environmental assessment.
The Narrabri Lateral Pipeline SEARs can be viewed on the NSW Planning portal website here.
Registration of Interested Aboriginal Parties
In late February Santos commenced advertising seeking registrations for interested Aboriginal parties for consultation regarding the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline. Santos is committed to consulting with Indigenous people about the Aboriginal cultural heritage values within the proposed project area.
Working collaboratively with local Indigenous people, a Cultural Heritage Assessment Report will be prepared that takes into consideration local Indigenous knowledge.
Operations Update
Drilling activities
Santos continues to drill shallow water monitoring bores in accordance with project approvals.
Santos will undertake a workover program through Q3 and Q4 2023.
Pilot wells
Bibblewindi East, Bibblewindi West and Dewhurst South pilot 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.
Ecological surveyts are underway to support the NGP, HGP and NLP projects.
PEL 1
In accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021, on 12 January 2023, Santos lodged with the NSW Resources Regulator an application to conduct exploration activities for assessable prospecting operations, PEL 1 – Kahlua Pilot Reactivation including a Guideline Review of Environmental Factors.
This application has been reviewed and approved by the NSW Resources Regulator. 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 has 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, 12 September 2023.
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
Project Approvals
NSW Government
On 30 September 2020, the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) approved the Narrabri Gas 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.
The Tribunal imposed a condition, in each case, that Santos takes all necessary steps to ensure the Additional Research Program – as identified in paragraph 5.7 of the Narrabri Gas Project Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan – be implemented. This must be completed prior to the commencement of Phase 2 of the Narrabri Gas Project, pursuant to the Development Consent granted by the Independent Planning Commission of New South Wales on 30 September 2020.
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 a strong track record of working collaboratively with First Nations peoples in Australia and internationally.
The company has a range of cultural heritage and native title agreements in place with 23 Traditional Owner Groups and six Aboriginal Land Councils around Australia.
Santos has been consulting and working with the Gomeroi people since 2012, and in formal negotiations regarding the Narrabri Gas Project since 2015.
Narrabri natural gas is essential to ensure Australia’s energy transition to renewables and cleaner energy technologies maintains both energy security and affordability for all Australians over the coming decades.
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