Project background
The Queensland Hunter Gas Pipeline (QHGP) is a proposal by Hunter Gas Pipeline Pty Ltd to construct an underground natural gas pipeline from south central Queensland to Newcastle in NSW. The pipeline will transport coal seam methane gas collected in the southern Queensland fields.
The QHGP is considered to be a critical energy service, which will provide greater security of gas supply to NSW and also has the potential to deliver gas to areas where it is currently not available. The project will be privately funded.
The proposed pipeline will provide additional gas supplies to the Newcastle region, helping to create more competitive pricing and choice for consumers in the NSW energy market. The pipeline also has potential to stimulate industry and create employment.
Pipeline facts
The pipeline will be approximately 820km in length, with 220km in Queensland and the balance in NSW.
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A small lateral (around 10km in length) will also extend from the main corridor to the Maitland area. The pipeline will be buried for its entire length, and once the land above has been rehabilitated, where possible, it can be returned to its original use.
Approval process
The planning and approvals process for this project began in early 2006. The environmental assessment for the Queensland portion of the project has been approved and a pipeline licence granted effective from 1 May 2007.
In NSW, the project is being assessed as a major project under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A) by the Department of Planning (DoP).
A preliminary environmental assessment was submitted to the DoP in November 2007, and the project team is in the process of preparing the concept plan environmental assessment to the DoP.
On 13 June 2008 the QHGP was gazetted as critical infrastructure under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
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