The Queensland Government is committed to planning infrastructure for the sustainable future of the State, especially its key regional areas. Rockhampton and Gladstone are among Queensland’s fastest growing areas, and this growth is increasing demand for essential services such as water and gas and placing pressure on the infrastructure required to provide these services. There is also industry demand to transport materials such as mineral slurry through the area. Industry is an important economic driver for the region.

As existing land corridors are unavailable or unsuitable to accommodate this type of infrastructure, the Coordinator-General has recognised the need to create a designated infrastructure corridor in the region to house multiple underground pipelines.

Purpose of the Stanwell—Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor

The Coordinator-General has identified a corridor of land between Stanwell Energy Park and the Gladstone State Development Area that it proposes to declare a State development area. If approved, the corridor will be able to accommodate up to seven underground pipelines in a single area for uses including raw, treated and sea water, gas, and mineral slurries, as well as telecommunication cables.

This will help in:

• delivering essential services throughout the region
• efficiently transporting industrial materials throughout the area
• discouraging future private or public infrastructure providers from investigating project-specific pipeline routes outside the designated corridor
• lessening the disruption of such investigation and construction on individual landowners, surrounding communities and the environment that would otherwise occur if access to multiple pipeline routes was sought on a project-by-project basis.

As the first potential user of the corridor, should it be approved, the Gladstone Area Water Board (GAWB) plans to lay an underground water pipeline that could transport water to and from the Fitzroy and Gladstone region. The pipeline would become an important part of Queensland’s water grid.

Preferred Corridor Route

Every effort has been made to select a route that minimises the impact on landowners and the environment.

An independent land management consultant with extensive experience in the region assessed the route as the most suitable against a number of geographic, social, cultural and environmental criteria. It also assessed the preferred route as the most practical and functional for a broad range of pipelines because it is as straight and relatively flat.

The preferred route is approximately 90 kilometres long and is generally 100 metres wide. In specific areas where environmental, geographic and construction issues exist, additional width may be required for pipe separation and construction purposes.

Maps of the preferred route for the proposed Stanwell—Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor can be viewed or downloaded below:

• General Map ( 2.8 MB)
• Detailed Map 1 ( 282 KB)
• Detailed Map 2 ( 202 KB)
• Detailed Map 3 ( 247 KB)
• Detailed Map 4 ( 227 KB)
• Detailed Map 5 ( 260 KB)

Acquiring land for the State development area

Under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971, the Governor-in-Council can declare any part of the State a State development area if it is in the public interest, or the general welfare of residents requires it.

A State development area does not change the ownership of the land within the declared area. However, the Queensland Government, through the Coordinator-General, may acquire land and/or easements (by agreement or compulsorily) within a State development area for purposes which can include the establishment of industry, essential services or infrastructure corridors. If the Queensland Government approves the proposed State development area for the Stanwell – Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor, in the majority of cases the Coordinator-General will compulsorily acquire the land required as easements. In a very small number of cases, acquisition of freehold interest in property may be necessary due to the alignment of the preferred corridor route.

The Coordinator-General will work with each directly affected landowner to assess fair and reasonable compensation on a case-by-case basis.

Public Consultation Period

A period of public consultation for the proposal to declare a State development area for the proposed Stanwell—Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor and the associated development scheme commenced on 25 November and concluded on 18 December 2006.

Timeline of Events

The current timeline of events to complete the Stanwell—Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor follows:

September 2006

Land management consultant investigates route options, identifies a preferred route and provides a report to the Coordinator-General.

25 November – 18 December 2006

Public consultation:

• displays in local Council libraries in – Rockhampton, Gladstone, Mt Larcom and Gracemere
• display in the Coordinator-General’s office in Brisbane
• written comments on the State development area proposal and associated draft Development Scheme received by the Coordinator-General.

January – June 2007

The Coordinator-General analyses consultation comments, writes a consultation report and makes a recommendation to the Queensland Government.

July – August 2007

The Queensland Government considers whether to declare the corridor a State development area and introduce the Development Scheme.

August – December 2007

If the Queensland Government decides to establish the State development area, the Coordinator-General commences the easement and land acquisition process.

January 2008 onwards

Corridor available for use.

Resources

Draft Development Scheme

Further information

For further information or enquires regarding the proposal to declare a State Development Area for the Stanwell-Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor, call the corridor hotline on 1800 153 262 (freecall) or contact the Infrastructure and Economic Development Group and address your enquiry to the Stanwell Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor Project.