No images? Click here June 2023
Hunter Gas Pipeline monthly update
The Hunter Gas Pipeline Welcome to the June 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. June project status Santos recently hosted seven drop-in community information sessions at multiple locations along the Narrabri to Hexham section of the proposed HGP route. Sessions were well attended with landholders, key industry group representatives and interested community members amongst those who took the time to come and speak to our team about the HGP and Narrabri Lateral Pipeline (NLP) projects. In addition to the community information sessions, our team continues to engage with stakeholders to ensure that project information is shared in an open and timely manner. Our land access team has commenced engagement with landholders regarding easement agreements. A fact sheet outlining the easement agreement process is available on the HGP website. Where are we up to? Santos continues to consult closely with landholders, councils representing the broader communities, and all other stakeholders. Santos has commenced the next phase of the project which includes landholder engagement about easement agreements and associated compensation. Frequently Asked Questions Santos has developed a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document that provides information to commonly asked questions about the project. The FAQ document has recently been updated and can be found on the HGP website here. FAQs spotlight - Easement & Compensation Structure What is an easement? + Easements allow access to property to construct, inspect, operate and maintain assets located on private property and to regulate the activities within the easement to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the pipeline. + The width of the easement will vary over the length of the pipeline but will generally be 30 metres in the majority of locations. Do I get compensated for having the pipeline easement on my property? + Yes, Santos will pay compensation for entering into the Deed of Option for easement. + Landholders will be entitled to compensation for the granting of the easement as well as for any loss of production during construction and ongoing operations. + During negotiations, we will seek to agree a fair value for compensation based on relevant external advice from valuers and agronomy professionals. We will also contribute towards your reasonable legal and valuation costs incurred from reviewing and advising on the agreement. + Santos will attempt to minimise any impacts on a landowners’ usual business activities by meeting at a time which is most convenient. Why does Santos need to acquire an easement on my property? + Santos is seeking an easement as long term tenure for the pipeline. + The easement will allow Santos access to land to construct, operate and maintain the pipeline. + Ownership of the underlying land will remain with the landholder. Community Engagement Community information sessions were held from Monday 29 May 2023 to Thursday 1 June 2023. The sessions were held in Hexham, Tocal, Singleton, Aberdeen, Murrurundi, Gunnedah, Boggabri with each session attracting a number of attendees. This was the third round of information sessions facilitated by Santos since August 2022. Thanks to feedback received previously, these sessions were held at different times and locations along the alignment. Future community engagement sessions will be advertised in monthly updates, the HGP website, and via local media outlets however, please know that 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. If you would like to speak to a member of the team or arrange a meeting, please call 1300 427 546. Narrabri Lateral Pipeline Santos' land access team is continuing to engage with landholders along the proposed alignment. A number of landholders and interested community members attended the recent community information sessions to discuss the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline project. 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. The Narrabri Lateral Pipeline project 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 Narrabri Lateral Pipeline has been declared by the NSW Government as a Critical State Significant Infrastructure project on the basis that it is deemed essential to NSW for economic reasons. Santos is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement, which will be subject to extensive community consultation and a full environmental assessment. The Narrabri Lateral Pipeline Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements can be viewed on the NSW Planning portal website here. Narrabri Lateral Pipeline Assessment Process Hunter Gas Pipeline and Narrabri Lateral map The Hunter Gas Pipeline and Narrabri Lateral 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 and environmental considerations. Narrabri Lateral Pipeline project timeline 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 updated in May and contains detailed information on the project. |