Narrabri gas pipeline to be fast tracked after NSW government deems it ‘critical’ infrastructure

The NSW government has made a significant decision on a pipeline connecting the long-awaited Narrabri Gas Project to the east coast market, which will see the infrastructure fast tracked.

A pipeline to connect the Narrabri Gas Project to the east coast market has been declared “critical” infrastructure by the Perrottet government, in a move which will fast-track the planning approval process and help deliver much-needed gas supply as quickly as possible.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the NSW Government has declared the new pipeline between the Narrabri project and the Hunter Gas Pipeline as “Critical State Significant Infrastructure,” considered essential to the state for economic reasons.

The announcement comes ahead of a crucial meeting of national cabinet where leaders will be tasked with thrashing out a deal to bring power costs down.

Mining giant Santos will now be able to start the process of preparing an environmental-impact statement which will be subject to community consultation.

It comes amid Santos and the NSW Government blaming each other for delays to the long-awaited $3.5 billion gas project.

A pipeline to connect the Narrabri Gas Project to the east coast market will be fast tracked. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg

Declaring the pipeline “Critical State Significant Infrastructure” means Planning Minister Anthony Roberts will have the final say on whether it goes ahead.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the approximately 50-kilometre-long pipeline was a crucial link needed to connect the Narrabri Gas Project into the east coast gas network.

The projects are expected to create 2100 jobs during construction. Picture: Brendon Thorne

“The Narrabri project will vital to securing affordable and reliable gas for more than one million NSW households and thousands of small businesses, who rely on natural gas for heating, cooking and power generation,” Mr Perrottet said.

“By getting NSW gas into our system we will provide greater reliability and downward pressure on natural gas and electricity prices.

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

Mr Roberts said the pipeline – if approved – would inject $90 million into the economy during the construction phase, creating hundreds of 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.

Santos has previously blamed the planning process for delays to the project.

Energy Minister Matt Kean has previously said it was up to Santos to “crack on with the job” of delivering the project.

Originally published as Narrabri gas pipeline to be fast tracked after NSW government deems it ‘critical’ infrastructure