LNP happy with LNG approval October 22, 2010 - 5:29PM
AAP
Queensland's opposition has welcomed a federal government decision to approve two major gas projects in central Queensland.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke on Friday conditionally approved the Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas (GLNG) - a joint venture between Santos, Malaysia's Petronas and France's Total - and BG Group's Queensland Curtis LNG.
The two projects, worth $30 billion, aim to produce a combined 15.7 million tonnes per annum of LNG, equivalent to nearly 90 per cent of current Australian LNG exports. Advertisement: Story continues below
Mr Burke placed 300 conditions on the approval.
They include protection measures for the Great Artesian Basin, threatened species, waterways and the Great Barrier Reef.
Liberal National Party (LNP) leader John-Paul Langbroek said the economic boost to Central Queensland, Gladstone and the Queensland economy would be significant and thousands of new jobs would be created.
"(The projects) represent the most significant new energy development in Queensland's history," Mr Langbroek said in a statement.
He said the wealth generated from the projects should be shared fairly and regional Queensland should receive increased spending on infrastructure and services.
? 2010 AAP
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