On 22 December 2005, APC lodged an Initial Advice Statement with the Coordinator-General for the Ballera Lateral, a 1200 km long gas pipeline to connect the mainline south of Townsville to Ballera in southwest Queensland. The Ballera Lateral pipeline is designed to deliver natural gas from PNG to markets in south-eastern Australia via the Omicron mainline valve on the Moomba fto Sydney gas pipeline. The proposed pipeline includes possible connections to the Carpentaria gas pipeline, the Ballera to Wallumbilla gas pipeline and the Ballera gas plant. These connections would also provide access to potential markets in Mount Isa and Brisbane.

The estimated capital cost of the Ballera Lateral is $1 billion and the project is expected to generate up to 500 direct jobs during a two-and-a-half-year construction phase. Subject to project approval, APC expects to commence construction of the Ballera Lateral in mid 2007.

Environmental Impact Statement process

On 20 January 2006, the Coordinator-General declared the PNG to Queensland Gas Pipeline: Ballera Lateral Project to be a ‘significant project’ for which an EIS is required, pursuant to section 26(1)(a) of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld).

On 10 February 2006 the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage determined that the Project is a controlled action under the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The controlling provisions are listed threatened species and ecological communities.

An EIS prepared under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 would meet the requirements for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, under the terms of a Bilateral Agreement between the State of Queensland and the Commonwealth.

The Coordinator-General prepared Draft Terms of Reference for the EIS for the Ballera Lateral and invited submissions on the Draft Terms of Reference. The comment period closed on 17 March 2006.

Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Statement have been finalised following public and advisory agency submissions. Final Terms of Reference for the EIS have now been issued and are available for viewing and download.

• Terms of Reference (167 KB) (124kb txt)

On 20 September 2006, APC formally advised The Coordinator-General that the PNG to Queensland Gas Pipeline - Ballera Lateral Project has been placed on hold due to a lack of foundation load customers and escalating construction costs. Subsequently any further work on the Project, including environmental approvals has been suspended until such time as the issues can be resolved.

Pursuant to s.27A(1) of SDPWOA, the ‘significant project’ declaration for the Project and the associated TOR will lapse if the proponent does not submit an EIS to the Coordinator-General within two years of the TOR being finalised, ie by 26 April 2008.

Resources

• IAS - Part 1 (284 KB)
• IAS - Part 2 (461 KB)
• IAS - Part 3 (479 KB)
• IAS - Part 4 (474 KB)

Further information

For further information regarding the EIS process for the project, contact Infrastructure and Economic Development Group and address your enquiry to the PNG to Queensland Gas Pipeline project.