UPDATE: Gas Pipeline Go-Ahead Faces Push-Back

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A local MP is pushing to get the Hunter Gas Pipeline put on public land, rather than private property. 

Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell, is calling for Santos to consider running the Pipeline through public land like travelling stock routes, to avoid disruption to locals. 

"It has to be something that's considered under this approval," Mr Layzell said.

Mr Layzell said consultation between Santos and local landowners needs to take place, before the best outcome for all parties can be achieved. 

"At this stage it's about surveying the land where the Pipeline is actually going through at the moment, and then we can actually try to look at alternatives, options, things that actually work for the community and landholders, rather than having a rigid pathway through their properties," he said.  

He also said moving the Pipeline onto public lands, would be an "appropriate way to gain community support for something that the state needs in general." 

EARLIER

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean's decision to give the Hunter Gas Pipeline the go-ahead is facing backlash. 

On January 13th, Mr Kean gave energy giant Santos, permission to explore possible routes from its Narrabri Gas project, to the east coast gas network. 

The project has the potential to provide up to half of the state's natural gas needs over the next 20 years, providing up to one million households with affordable gas. 

However, Greens MP and Spokesperson for Coal and Gas Sue Higginson, said the decision to green-light has been rushed. 

"Unfortunately, as it has been described by many experts, this project is a 'climate bomb'. We know right now, opening up new gas reserves is dangerous and reckless policy," she said. 

"The Santos project is too late. We are rushing through it. This is a project about delivering Santos profits. This is not a project in the national, regional or local interest."

Ms Higginson said the Pipeline is projected to lock-in an additional 5 megatons of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere every year, at a time when Australia and NSW are trying to find more than 7 megatons in reductions per year. 

The corridor would cross through 95,000 hectares of Pilliga Forest, and is facing push-back from landowners and First Nation's custodians. 

Ms Higginson said their voices are not being considered. 

"We know this project is going to harm cultural heritage and of course, it's likely to harm the land and the water. We know the Gomeroi are standing strong and fierce in resistance. They do not consent to Santos and this project," she said.  

Whitehaven Proposal Gains Planning Approval

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Whitehaven Coal's underground Narrabri mine has received planning approval for its proposed extension. 

The proposal will see the mine's longwall operations extended, and the life of the site will be prolonged by 13 years until 2044. 

The company says the move will be a lifeline for hundreds of jobs in the region, while also allowing royalty payments to the NSW government to continue for more than a decade. 

However, opponents of the project, including the Lock the Gate Alliance, say the extension will also be responsible for nearly half a billion tonnes of carbon emissions.

National Coordinator for the Lock the Gate Alliance, Georgina Woods, said the expansion of the Narrabri mine will make the site responsible for the highest volume of direct and indirect carbon emissions of any coal project regulated by the Independent Planning Commission. 

"We simply can't afford to lock in further methane and carbon dioxide emissions in the form of a coal mine expansion on this scale, especially when people in Australia are suffering the really terrible consequences of extreme climate change," she said. 

Ms Woods also expressed concern for farmers in the region, noting the impacts of drawn-down groundwater on the surrounding area. She said there is expected to be "at least eight or nine" farm bores affected by the coal mine, however local farmers believe this number to be much higher. 

"The underground mine also goes beneath the Pilliga Forest, which is a really crucial habitat refuge for threatened species, and because the longwall panels are so wide and so long, it's going to cause significant disruption on the surface and require clearing in the forest," she said. 

The project will go before a public hearing of the state's Independent Planning Commission on February 14. 

"We are now relying on the Independent Planning Commission to review this mining project in detail and hear from the local community, just how poor a record Whitehaven Coal has. They need to reject this coal mine expansion, not just in the interest of preventing climate change, but also to safeguard the groundwater resources that farmers in the Namoi rely on for their livelihoods," Ms Woods said. 

Image: Whitehaven Coal website

 

Federal Government Announces Inland Rail Link for Port of Newcastle

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Federal Government announced on Thursday a $44.7 million rail link between the Hunter coal line and the Inland Rail at Narrabri. 

Through the Australian Rail Track Corporation, the thirty-five kilometre connection will allow greater capacity grain trains to come into the Port of Newcastle from western and north-western NSW.

Minister for Regional Communications, Regional Health and Local Government, Mark Coulton, said the project would be beneficial for agriculture amidst current trade tensions with China.

"Not only will this save farmers' money, but it will also make Newcastle Port a favoured destination for export markets for farmers across a large part of New South Wales," Mr Coulton said.

"That project will be well received, not only here in Newcastle, but right across the regions as well."

Image credit: https://inlandrail.artc.com.au/

Hunter Business Chamber Welcomes Narrabri Gas Project

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter Business Chamber has welcomed yesterday's decision by the Independent Planning Commission to approve Santos' Narrabri Gas Project.

CEO Bob Hawes says local industry needed reliable and affordable energy supplied from gas and thermal sources until the renewable energy supply could meet the demand.

"We've got a situation here in the Hunter where the industry have high power usage," Mr Hawes said. "They rely on a source of power that's dispatchable and available 24/7, and we're not quite there with renewables yet." 

A Business NSW report from last December suggested an impending energy shortage as well as a tripling in the price of gas has punished many businesses for a wider failure to make use of the state's rich gas supply.

Mr Hawes says work on the project should begin immediately to ensure the state does not encounter a predicted shortfall in five years time.

“Gas is a complementary energy source to renewables," Mr Hawes said. "Securing our gas supply will help support reliable and affordable power as the energy market continues to evolve and develop emerging technologies like hydrogen."

Mr Hawes rejected claims made by NSW Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean that gas lacked long-term viability and that the Narrabri project was a "gamble".

"We haven't built the bridge properly yet," Mr Hawes said. "When we consider the amount of coal-fired power that is going to be turned off over the next twenty years, over 7000 megawatts of that is going to be in the Hunter, and we're not seeing replacement projects that can supply the same sort of power."

“The Hunter region is ideally placed to continue as a energy hub and powerhouse and building the bridge from where we are now to a secure energy future dominated by renewables will be enormously assisted by firming abundant, affordable and accessible gas supplies."

Image credit: reneweconomy.com.au