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Narrabri Gas Project (PEL 238)
Activities Update
December 2023
Welcome to the December issue of the Narrabri Gas Project (PEL238) Monthly Activities Update for 2023.
Pilliga bushfires
Santos continues to work closely with the Rural Fire Service and the Forestry Corporation in relation to the bushfires in the Pilliga. We are offering our full support to the response effort, including access to our water tanks and use of our facilities as a safe refuge for firefighting crews if needed. While there is minimal risk to our facilities, we have proactively shut in our operations within the fire affected area. Our equipment is designed to Australian standards to withstand the intensity of the fires.
Santos continues to remotely monitor our infrastructure. A full inspection and integrity check of all equipment will be undertaken when it is safe to do so and to ensure a safe return to normal operations.
We are also offering assistance to our landholders in the event they are impacted by the fires. Santos will continue to support the Rural Fire Service in any way we can and hope that everyone remains safe in these times.
Our thoughts are with the community at this difficult time.
2023 A year in review
Operations update
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 wells are currently shut in as a precautionary measure due to the Pilliga fires. Tintsfield wells remain 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
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 Review of Environmental Factors.
This application has been reviewed and approved by the NSW Resources Regulator. To view the approval, please click here.
The approved activities have commenced and continue to be undertaken in accordance with strict regulatory requirements.
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 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
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. 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.
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.
Hunter Gas Pipeline
The Hunter Gas Pipeline (HGP) Pty Ltd is 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 HGP project team has had a busy year, conducting almost 6,000 consultations with landholders to date. This showcases our collaborative approach in working closely with landholders along the route, ensuring their questions and feedback are taken into account as the project moves forward. Discussions about easement agreements with landholders began in the latter half of 2023 and are set to continue into 2024. Survey activities have been ongoing along the alignment where agreements have been established.
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.
Santos recently commenced construction on the first laydown yard as part of approved stage one early works. The laydown yard will be utilised to store construction equipment, pipe and other construction related materials. The site will be utilised by the project team to support material logistics coordinator, survey and land access activities to finalise the 30 metre pipeline easement. These works are anticipated to take approximately three months and should be completed early 2024 weather permitting. Approvals and approved management plans are available on the HGP website here.
Photos – commencement of early works to support the HGP
Santos recently received notification of two reconsideration requests made under section 78A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Santos will actively participate in the process outlined by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
If you would like to speak to a member of the team or arrange a meeting, please call 1300 427 546.
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.
The NLP SEARs can be viewed on the NSW Planning portal website here.
Merry Christmas
Wishing you and your families a safe and happy festive season.
Please note, the Narrabri shopfront will be closed during the Christmas/New Year period from 5.00pm Thursday, 21 December 2023 and will re-open 9.00am Monday, 8 January.
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