Following link is the APA Notice of Intent for those interested...

Following link is the APA Notice of Intent for those interested in the research, design, layout and considerations of the NT Link. Pages 37 & 38 compares the different routes and reasons why APA chose the northern one.
http://www.ntepa.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/358611/noi_nt_link_project.pdf
APA's proposal for the northern route and the Chinese proposal for the southern route covers both of them paying for the pipeline - not the government doing so. Both will stimulate exploration and development along their routes. That's why I think the best economic stimulus would come from the governments approving both pipelines. Competition would be a good thing. There is two pipelines on different routes from the Victorian gas fields to NSW including Sydney.