Surat Basin gas hub to boost job-creating industry
INDUSTRY groups have welcomed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s push to set up a gas hub at Wallumbilla.
Toowoomba
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INDUSTRY groups have welcomed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s push to set up a gas hub at Wallumbilla.
In his first major pre-budget speech today, Mr Morrison announced the government would investigate the potential for the hub.
Part of the Federal Government’s gas-led recovery plan, the project would be known as the Australian Gas Hub and would be a central hub linking gas fields and export ports across the country through pipelines, bringing down the cost of production.
In his first major pre-budget speech today, Scott Morrison announced the government would investigate the potential for the hub.
Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Ali Davenport said while the details still needed to be fleshed out, anything that was going to support local jobs and the development of the gas industry was good news for the region.
“Resources is one of the most important sectors in our region,” Ms Davenport said.
“Anything that is going to support local jobs and development of that industry, which we know generates so much revenue locally, is good news.”
Yesterday’s announcement from the Prime Minister also included $28m for developing “strategic blueprints” to further open up five gas fields across the country, including the North Bowen, Galilee and Cooper basins in Queensland.
Not everyone has been supportive of the recovery plan, with Lock the Gate Alliance national co-ordinator Naomi Hogan slamming the proposal.
“Governments should not be subsidising an economically unstable, polluting industry, let alone one that leads to the destruction of farmland and the draining of precious underground water,” she said.