No images? Click here January 2023
Hunter Gas Pipeline monthly update
The Hunter Gas Pipeline Welcome to the January Hunter Gas Pipeline (HGP) monthly update, the first one for 2023. The purpose of the regular monthly updates is to keep landholders and interested community members informed of project progress. January project status As we enter 2023, Santos continues its commitment to meet and liaise with landholders along the route to discuss land access agreements that are required for field survey investigations. Field survey investigations continue to assist in the design and environmental assessment of the potential pipeline alignment. In 2023 we will continue to work with landholders to finalise the route. Where are we up to? Santos continues to consult closely with landholders, councils representing the broader communities, and all other stakeholders. 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. We have provided answers to these questions in a comprehensive FAQ document that can be found on the HGP website here. Some of the topics included in the FAQ document include: + Authority to Survey + Field survey + Pipeline alignment + Biosecurity FAQs spotlight - Authority to Survey (ATS) An application for an ATS was submitted in July 2022. This application was assessed by the NSW Government and approved on 16 January 2023. The below information is contained in our FAQ on the HGP website. What is an Authority to Survey (ATS)? + The Pipelines Act 1967 (NSW) enables a project proponent to seek an Authority to Survey (ATS) from the responsible Minister for a proposed pipeline. An ATS provides a mechanism for the proponent (in this case, Santos) to be permitted to enter private property for the purpose of undertaking surveys of the pipeline alignment. + An application for an ATS was submitted to the NSW Government in July 2022. + We recognise landholder interest in the location of the survey work and have worked quickly to provide certainty about our proposed survey areas. Since the ATS was submitted in July, Santos has reduced the number of properties impacted by the ATS by 379 and will continue to reduce this as the alignment is refined as informed by landholder engagement and the survey process. What happens once the ATS is approved? + Santos wants to build positive long-term relationships with all landholders along the proposed pipeline corridor. We hope to reach voluntary access agreements with all landholders. + The ATS allows Santos to access properties where reasonable attempts to negotiate access with the landholder or resident have been unsuccessful and will only be used as a last resort in the few cases where we have been unsuccessful in contacting landholders or reaching an access agreement. What stage of the approval process is the ATS at now? + In January 2023, the NSW Treasurer and Minister for Energy approved the ATS application. + The approval includes additional reasonable conditions beyond the standard conditions of Authority. Community Engagement Following on from engagement sessions held in September and November 2022, Santos will be arranging additional sessions along the proposed route in 2023. Previous sessions have provided valuable feedback from landholders and community members who have specific local knowledge that has been taken into consideration. Future sessions will be held at different times and locations to provide alternative opportunities for people to attend. Our project team is always available by phone or email to discuss the project or arrange to meet with landholders at a time that is convenient to them. 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 essential to NSW for economic reasons. Santos has lodged a Scoping Report and requested Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements, which specify what issues are required to be addressed within the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Santos will now begin preparing an Environmental Impact Statement, which will be subject to extensive community consultation and a full environmental assessment. A factsheet on the project is available on the HGP website here Narrabri Lateral Map The Narrabri Lateral map is available 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 and environmental considerations. Narrabri Lateral Pipeline project timeline Landholder engagement for the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline project commenced in November 2022. Santos looks forward to continuing to engage with landholders along the proposed route in 2023 as the project progresses through the approvals process. In partnership with Queensland Rugby Union and New South Wales Rugby Union, Santos is pleased to present the Santos Festival of Rugby at Dangar Park in Narrabri on, 10-11 February 2023. The centrepiece of the festival will once again be a pre-season game between the Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs Super Rugby teams. The annual celebration of rugby will also include elite Sevens, country representative matches and men’s and women’s Super Rugby fixtures. We have a number of complimentary general admission double pass tickets available for HGP landholders who are interested in attending. Please email info@huntergaspipeline.com.au if you are interested. Limited tickets are available so be quick to secure yours! The program of events includes junior coaching clinics and family fun activities. There will also be live concerts on the Friday and Saturday nights with performances by star country music acts Brad Cox and Casey Barnes. To view the festival program of events click here 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. A detailed FAQ has also been uploaded to the website. It can be viewed here |