PNG pipeline lays down its route

THE multi-national group proposing to construct a billion dollar PNG gas pipeline across Western Queensland held a meeting last Thursday evening to address concerns from Longreach residents.

AGL Petronas Consortium (APC) engineers and land agents laid on a spread for community groups, businesses and landholders at the Albert Park Motor Inn, as a platform for discussing the potential consequences of laying 1,200 kilometres of pipe from Townsville to the State’s south-west, passing close to Muttaburra, Longreach and Windorah along the way.

The use of groundwater, Mitchell grasslands preservation and the spread of parthenium and other weeds via the project’s construction traffic were among some of the concerns addressed at the meeting.

"All the landholders we have met with during the FEED (Front End Engineering and Design) process have expressed their concerns over the spread of weeds," project director Gary Voss assured.

"We’ve designed a comprehensive weed control program which we’re committed to uphold.
"We want to do the right thing, that’s why we’re here to discuss this with everyone.
"We don’t want any nasty surprises once we’ve begun the work; we want to eliminate any potential problems now, before we begin."

Mr Voss said 500 crew would work on the pipeline for the estimated 18-month construction period.

"We'll have our own mobile camps outside the town areas where the crew will live, so you won’t be overun.

"We’re eager to support local communities and there are bound to be knock-on effects for local businesses.
"Jobs on the construction crew will be available to those with the appropriate skills and time committment."

The APC team were asked about the maintenance of public roads used by the consortium’s construction traffic, which could see 20 to 30 pipe-laden road trains per day along the route.

"We’ll be in discussion with government bodies about road maintenance," Mr Voss said.

"We’re keen to pay for what we use and we certainly don’t want to leave any infrastructure in a worse state than when we arrived."

Sourced from the highlands of Papua New Guinea, the APC Queensland gas pipeline project begins at the Australian under-sea border in the Torres Strait and leads to Townsville.

Lateral pipelines are proposed to Weipa and onto the Gove aluminium smelter in the Northern Territory and across Western Queensland to Ballera and Omicron in the south-west.

If the project is given the go ahead by State and federal Governments, construction should begin next year with completion estimated for 2009.

APC are meeting with stakeholders and communities as they prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for government approval.

If you'd like to make any comments on the project, write to PNG Gas Pipeline Project, reply paid 2256, Brisbane 4001, email pipeline@jtaa.com.au, or call APC toll free on 1800 632 984.