Inspectors investigate underground gas leak at Bauhinia, Central Queensland

A fiery explosion has prompted a call for better monitoring of leaks in Queensland’s underground gas pipelines as new details about the investigation into the blaze are revealed. VIDEO, UPDATES.

Fire crews were called to a gas leak at Bauhinia on Tuesday March 5.

The huge inferno from an underground gas pipeline explosion is finally out and calls are underway for better monitoring of gas leaks as investigations officially begin into how the incident occurred.

Authorities were first alerted to the serious leak at the pipeline at Bauhinia, 220km southwest of Rockhampton, that links to major LNG and coal gas plants across Central Queensland at 7.30am on Tuesday, March 5.

Local rural firies and fire crews from Moura remained on scene battling the blaze for most of the day and by the afternoon it had been isolated and stable and was extinguished later that night.

Work began on Wednesday to excavate around the pipeline, with the incident occurring between the Rolleston Compressor Station and Oombabeer.

Queensland Conservation Council's Clare Silcock.

Environmental advocacy body Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) said there needed to be better monitoring of pipeline leaks.

“We need strict regulation to make sure these are built well, and safely for nature and communities,” QCC energy analyst Clare Silcock said.

“We can learn a lot from the regulations which have enabled us to light a highly flammable gas inside our homes and businesses, but we can’t keep relying on this old technology.”

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) has launched an investigation and “make-safe activities” are underway at the Queensland Gap Pipeline, operated by Jemena, six hours from Gladstone.

IMPACT ON INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY

Two RSHQ immediately travelled to the site after the explosion.

“It will be a while until we have any further information, including a cause,” a RSHQ spokesperson said.

The Australian Energy Market Operator advised the incident impacted supply into Gladstone and the depleted gas availability has required large industrial users to cease or reduce gas usage.

“AEMO has issued directions under the East Coast Gas Supply Function to divert gas from the Westside Meridian production facility to Gladstone for residential, small commercial and select industrial users,” the AEMO statement on Wednesday morning said.

“AEMO will continue working with the Queensland Government, Jemena and industry to manage the impact of this issue.

“There is no material impact on the National Electricity Market.”

Rio Tinto's Yarwun alumina refinery.

Among the industrial customers of the pipeline are major Gladstone companies Boyne Aluminium Smelter, Yarwun Alumina Refinery and Queensland Alumina Limited, which Rio Tinto are major shareholders.

“Rio Tinto can confirm it received notification from Jemena of an incident impacting the Queensland Gas Pipeline,” a Rio Tinto spokesperson said.

“We are working with Jemena and the Australian Energy Market Operator to understand the full impact to our Gladstone operations.”

CALL FOR BETTER MONITORING OF PIPELINE LEAKS

The QCC has described the pipeline fire as a “reminder of the unreliability and danger of gas as an energy source”.

“This incident shows that gas is inherently dangerous for our climate and communities, and we need to prioritise the transition to safe, reliable renewable energy,” Ms Silcock said.

“A large part of our industrial energy in Queensland is met by compressing an extremely explosive hydrocarbon into pressurised pipes which run across huge tracts of Queensland before being burnt to create heat.

JEMENA BEGINS RESTORATION PLAN

Jemena advised in a statement at 11am the day after the incident that the Jemena crew had completed all “make-safe activities” on the impacted portion of the pipeline.

“As a next step, we are now developing our restoration plan, working with stakeholders involved in supplying gas to the QGP,” the statement read.

“This work involves mobilising additional crew to the region and securing equipment and materials required to conduct the repair.

“Once the restoration plan has been completed, we will share our anticipated restoration timeframe.”

ENERGY MINISTER SPEAKS IN PARLIAMENT

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni spoke in parliament hours after the incident and said he had spoken to the chief executive of private company Jemena.

The cause of the rupture remains unknown.

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said Gladstone’s gas supply is expected to be disrupted following the pipeline explosion. Picture: John Gass

“The Australian Energy Market Operator advises that this drop in gas availability requires them to make decisions in relation to temporary gas rationing,” Mr de Brenni said.

“These are decisions that must be made in the interest of community safety and economic security.

“It will be of course important for Jemena to confirm that they have appropriate arrangements in place to ensure companies and therefore their workforce do not suffer adverse impacts as a result of this incident.”

Mr de Brenni said the incident was under control and the site was being investigated by relevant authorities.

He committed to providing an update as more information came to hand.

“Thankfully nobody was injured and the relevant authorities and companies are working together to resolve the situation safely and with minimum disruption to the community,” Mr de Brenni said.

LOCAL WORKER HEARS JET ROAR

Local Greta Coyne was cooking burgers at the Bauhinia Roadhouse when she heard what she described as a “roar”.

“I thought it was a jet plane flying over doing training like they used to years ago,” she said.

Her husband called to see if she was okay and when she went outside, she could see the fire explosion “going right up to the sky”.

In her 33 years of working at the roadhouse, she said she had never seen anything like the blaze or that noise.

“Just the noise, it went for a while,” she said.

“Very lucky no one was injured, just goes to show what could have happened.”

Greta is also the fire warden for the Bauhinia rural fire service and said they were not allowed to enter due to the gas but had a team on standby.

She said the fire was still burning at 3.30pm, but was “down low”.

A video has been shared by Harry Hardachre to YouTube of a fire, reportedly of the gas explosion.

EARLY IN INVESTIGATION

In the immediate aftermath of the incident on Tuesday, March 7, Resources Minister Scott Stewart said there may be impacts to gas transmission from this incident and the Department of Resources and the Department of Energy and Climate will work with operators through this,” he said.

“This is very early preliminary information and we will continue to keep people updated as more details comes to hand.”

State Resources Minister Scott Stewart. Picture: Blair Jackson

QUEENSLAND GAS PIPELINE

The line links the Wallumbilla gas hub in south central Queensland to large industrial gas users in Gladstone and Rockhampton.

Map of the Jemena Queensland Gas Pipeline.

The 627km line was commissioned in 1990 by the Queensland Government and natural gas and coal gas enters the line at Wallumbilla and has receipt points at Gooimbah, Fairview, Westgrove, Rolleston and Moura.

There is a Scraper Station marked on the map at Oombabeer, a neighbouring locality next to Bauhinia.

A number of industrial businesses are connected to line include Queensland Nitrates, Boyne Smelters, Rio Tinto Yarwun Refinery, Orica Yarwun, Queensland Magnesia Facility and Queensland Alumina Limited Refinery.

Jemena stated in a release on Tuesday its current focus was on ensuring the safety of the site, community, and our personnel.

“Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) have control of the impacted site,” the statement read.

“We apologise for the inconvenience to those who may be impacted by this incident.

“We will then move to develop our restoration plan.”

Bauhinia is located 75km west of Moura.

It has a primary school and roadhouse service station.

The area lies in the shire of the Central Highlands Regional Council.

Central Highlands Mayor Kerry Hayes says the council is ready to help with the gas leak, if called upon. Pics Adam Head

COUNCIL OFFERS SUPPORT

Mayor Kerry Hayes said council would be able to offer support to Jemena, if necessary.

“This is a very specialised and technical operation,” he said.

“We are always there to assist.”

The township population has dwindled in recent years.

In the 2016 Census it had a population of 47 people and in 2021 had just 28.

There was previously a maintenance camp in the township for the gas line but it has since been closed down.

Last week, a man died in a cattle truck accident near Bauhinia and another man is in a Gold Coast hospital with serious leg and pelvic injuries.

This is after the deck of a cattle truck collapsed on top of the two men.

Originally published as Inspectors investigate underground gas leak at Bauhinia, Central Queensland