http://www.singletonargus.com.au/news/local/news/general/gas-pipe...

http://www.singletonargus.com.au/news/local/news/general/gas-pipeline-open-to-debate/2282450.aspx?storypage=0

Gas pipeline open to debate

BY PAUL MAGUIRE
06 Sep, 2011 11:53 AM

PLANS for a $300million coal seam gas pipeline through the Singleton shire will continue despite a federal government inquiry into the development company.

Several environmental groups also want to halt the project, which involves more than 1000 wells in central western New South Wales and a $1.5billion liquefied natural gas export terminal on Newcastle?s Kooragang Island.

Eastern Star Gas spokesman Peter Fox told The Singleton Argus at a public information meeting at Elderslie Community Hall last week that he was ?comfortable? with the situation and the project?s plans would proceed as scheduled.

The 286 kilometre pipeline is proposed to start near Coolah, run past Cassilis and Merriwa, skirt to the south of Lake Liddell before travelling through Dyrring, Mitchells Flat, Elderslie and Stanhope on its way past Morpeth and Hexham to Kooragang.

The federal government is investigating Eastern Star for alleged coal seam gas exploration, without approval, in nationally threatened species habitat.

New South Wales Nature Conservation Council chief executive Pepe Clarke said: ?We want to see the clock stopped on the Pilliga production proposal until the legal investigation into exploration has run its course.?

She was supported by Wilderness Society campaign manager Belinda Fairbrother and Northern Inland Environment Council spokeswoman Carmel Flint.

Ms Flint said: ?The proposed production project will destroy 2400 hectares of our most iconic bushland and clear 1000 kilometres of pipelines, carving the Pilliga forest up into a large industrial zone.

?It will risk the water resources of the Great Artesian Basin by drilling 1100 coal seam gas wells right through the basin and produce vast quantities of toxic saline water.?

Ms Fairbrother said the project should be halted until the legal issues were resolved, and if mining was approved, it should be subjected to the strictest environmental regulations.

Mr Fox said his opponents used colourful words, exaggerated numbers and overestimates of consequences.

?These groups are entitled to put their views to the federal government, but I?m comfortable that we have completely complied with our requirements,? he said.

?About 40 per cent of the area cleared for a pipeline can be rehabilitated immediately after the pipe goes in and the area can be fully rehabilitated after 25 years.

?We see gas as a low impact industry and alternative energy that has better environmental outcomes than coal.?

The Eastern Star pipeline is expected to carry about 100 petajoules of gas a year, about two thirds of the state?s entire current gas demand.

Mr Fox?s company representatives were well progressed with landholder discussions to establish the pipeline route.

The route alignment should be largely settled by early next year, he said.

Environmental assessments are expected to be finished in the next few months and lodged with state and federal governments before Christmas.

And final investment decisions should be made around the middle of next year.

Mr Fox said more than 40 people attended Tuesday?s information session, asking many questions about things such as compensation if their land was used for the pipeline, environmental impacts and how to get on-going details of the project.

Singleton mayor Sue Moore was pleased about the information meeting.

?Gas is an alternative energy that is well worth considering,? she said.

?There are many problems with coal and alternative energies such as solar and wind power have their limitations.

?Gas has its issues too, but what we?re looking at for the Singleton local government area is the gas transport system, a pipeline.?