Gas pipeline link given ‘critical’ status by Premier

The NSW government has declared a 50-kilometre-long pipeline, linking Santos’ Narrabri gas project to the Hunter Gas Pipeline, as essential to the state.

Premier Dominic Perrottet described the pipeline, now classified as Critical State Significant Infrastructure, as a crucial link to connect the gas project to the East Coast gas network.

“The Narrabri project will be vital to securing affordable and reliable gas for more than one million NSW households and thousands of businesses, who rely on natural gas for heating, cooking and power generation,” he said when announcing the pipeline’s ‘critical’ status on Friday afternoon.

“Once up and running, Narrabri will be the backbone of our state’s gas needs, supporting our transition to renewable power sources.”

Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the pipeline, if approved, would inject up to $90 million into the economy during construction and create up to 200 construction jobs.

“Together, this pipeline, with the initial stages of the Narrabri gas project and the Hunter gas pipeline, equate to more than $1.5 billion in spending and 1,750 jobs during construction, and 225 operational jobs,” Mr Roberts said.

“The project would enable supply of about 70 petajoules of gas a year to the NSW market via the Hunter Gas Pipeline, which still needs to be constructed once the final route is selected and management plans and studies are done,” he said.

The announcement follows recent statements in support of the Narrabri gas project from the Premier as well as the Prime Minister.

In an interview with the ABC last week, NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns also voiced support for the wider Narrabri gas project.

“We’re not getting in the way of Narrabri. We need it in terms of the energy mix in NSW,” Mr Minns told the ABC.

Following Friday’s critical status declaration, Santos can now request assessment requirements to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

The project’s critical state significant infrastructure status means no third party can stage a legal appeal against the development without consent from the minister.

However, the status doesn’t guarantee the project’s ultimate approval, and it will be subject to extensive community consultation and a full environmental assessment.

In response to Mr Perrottet’s announcement on Friday, environmental group Lock the Gate described the move as exposing the Premier’s hypocrisy on climate change.

“Premier Perrottet is on a tear to prop up fossil fuel companies and fast-track global warming with his move today,” Lock the Gate Alliance national coordinator Carmel Flint said.

“This decision and the push to ram through the Narrabri gas project makes a complete mockery of the climate credentials the Premier and his Treasurer Matt Kean have worked so hard to burnish.”