November 2023 The Hunter Gas Pipeline Welcome to the November 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. November project status Community engagement along the HGP alignment continued during November with Santos hosting a pop-up session at the Singleton Square Shopping Centre. Sessions like these provide opportunities for community members to chat to staff from our community and land access teams about the Hunter Gas Pipeline as well as other Santos projects in NSW. Community staff were pleased to attend the Business Singleton Infrastructure Luncheon to hear from guest speakers from Transport for NSW, Newcastle Airport, and EnergyCo who provided updates on their current projects. The event provided great insight into the diverse range of projects currently underway in the Hunter region. Santos is planning the fifth round of community information sessions for early 2024. These sessions will be advertised in future editions of the HGP monthly update, in regional newspapers and on the HGP website. 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. Image: Ecological survey work being conducted along the HGP route. On 17 November 2023 the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) advised that a valid reconsideration request in relation to the Hunter Gas Pipeline Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 decision had been received. For more information or to make public comment visit the DCCEEW website here. 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 Since acquiring the HGP in September 2022, Santos has held 30 community information sessions in various locations along the alignment. Future sessions are being planned for early 2024 and will 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. Image: Pop-up session held at Singleton Square Shopping Centre in November. 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. |