October 2023
The Hunter Gas Pipeline
Welcome to the October Hunter Gas Pipeline (HGP) monthly update. The purpose of the regular monthly update is to keep landholders and interested community members informed of project progress.
October project status
Santos hosted seven community information drop-in sessions and two pop-up stalls at various locations along the pipeline route during October. The pop-up stalls were held in prominent public locations and gave members of the community an opportunity to come and chat with staff and learn about our projects. Approximately 70 stakeholders dropped in to ask questions and meet with the team at these sessions. Visitors ranged from directly and indirectly affected landholders, interested community members, contractors and suppliers, and representatives from various key community and stakeholder groups. Santos also took the opportunity to meet with a number of local councils along the alignment between sessions to provide a project update.
Our land access team continue to engage with landholders in relation to the survey agreements, with the environment team undertaking ecological survey activities along the alignment where voluntary survey agreements are in place. In addition to surveys, our land access team continue to discuss and deliver deed of option agreements to landholders along the alignment where the pipeline route has been finalised.
Staff pictured at one of the seven drop-in community information sessions held in October.
Where are we up to?
Santos continues to consult closely with landholders, councils representing the broader communities, and all other stakeholders. Santos has been continuing landholder engagement regarding easement agreements and associated compensation.
Frequently asked questions
Santos has developed a frequently asked questions (FAQs) document that provides information to questions landholders and the community have asked about the project.
The comprehensive FAQ document can be found on the HGP website here.
Community engagement
Santos hosted a fourth round of community information drop-in sessions during October. Staff from our community, land access and development teams were available to answer any questions landholders or interested community members had about the HGP, Narrabri Lateral Pipeline (NLP), exploration activities or any other Santos activities in NSW.
Since acquiring the HGP in September 2022, Santos has held 30 community information sessions in various locations along the alignment. Future sessions will continue to be advertised in our monthly newsletter, the HGP website, and regional newspapers.
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.
The Narrabri shopfront is open to the public Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm with staff available during these times to speak in person or over the phone.
If you would like to speak to a member of the team or arrange a meeting, please call 1300 427 546.
Staff pictured at one of the two pop-up community information sessions held in October.
Narrabri Lateral Pipeline
The Narrabri Lateral Pipeline (NLP) will connect the approved Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) and the HGP, transporting natural gas to the existing transmission network near Newcastle.
The NLP will extend for about 50-60 kilometres from the approved NGP gas processing facility at Leewood to the HGP east of Baan Baa. The final length of the pipeline will be dependent on the selection of the alignment. The pipeline will be primarily located underground, with associated aboveground infrastructure including isolation valves, meters, and regulators.
The NLP has been declared a Critical State Significant Infrastructure project by the NSW Government as a on the basis that it is deemed essential to NSW for economic reasons.
In August 2023, Santos lodged an application to the NSW Government for an Authority to Survey (ATS) for the NLP pursuant to section 5E of the Pipelines Act 1967. Santos has carried out extensive consultation with directly affected landholders and is committed to building long-term positive relationships with all landholders as the project progresses. More information about the ATS process is available on the NSW Government website here.
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.
The NLP Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements can be viewed on the NSW Planning portal website here.
Narrabri Lateral Pipeline assessment process
Narrabri Lateral Pipeline project timeline
Hunter Gas Pipeline and Narrabri Lateral Pipeline map
The Hunter Gas Pipeline and Narrabri Lateral Pipeline interactive map can be viewed on the HGP website here. The interactive map contains the proposed route with a search and zoom function.
The alignment of the pipeline corridor will be finalised following landholder consultation, constructability assessments and environmental considerations.
Hunter Gas Pipeline website
The HGP website contains information about the project including details around insurance, biosecurity as well as an interactive map with details of the proposed route and survey areas. The FAQ document has been recently updated and contains detailed information on the project.
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