AGL has been given State Government approval for Stage 1 of its gas project, which includes the development of 110 gas wells and associated infrastructure, a central processing facility to treat gas and water and a gas transmission pipeline between Gloucester and Hexham, a $300 million investment in the state’s gas industry.
The approval also includes a delivery station at Hexham to connect the gas supply to the existing Sydney-Newcastle trunk pipeline.
AGL welcomed the announcement by the New South Wales Planning Committee last Tuesday.
“AGL is grateful for the efforts of its Gloucester project team, and the support of many individuals in the Gloucester community,” said Toni Laurie, land and approvals manager for the project. “We look forward to continuing to work with the community on the development.”
Gloucester Shire Council Mayor Geoff Slack said council had been in ongoing discussions with AGL for five years in relation to the development and when public comment on the proposal was sought 18 months ago council lodged a submission supporting the proposal in principle, subject to addressing 19 suggested conditions.
“The approval has 36 pages of conditions and council will be reviewing these to ensure that our wishes have been addressed,” Cr Slack said.
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“The reality is we now have certainty that the project is proceeding and council will be doing whatever it can to ensure positive outcomes for Gloucester as a result of this decision.
“One of the things I think council may look at is to see if the project can be extended to include a power station that could then attract industry reliant on energy to our district. To attract young people to stay in the area or to move to the area we need employment opportunities,” he said.
The timing of the AGL decision was criticised by Member for Upper Hunter George Souris and independent candidate for the seat Tim Duddy.
Mr Souris said the decision was made just days before the government went into caretaker mode in the lead up to the March 26 election.
He said the decision was given in a rush with an element of stealth to beat the caretaker mode “during which no major decisions, expenditure of senior Public Service appointments are to be made.”
Independent candidate Tim Duddy described the decision as a disgrace.
“This decision has been made in the dying days of a disgraceful government and caps off 16 years of Labor abuse of regional NSW.
“The Gloucester Valley is unique with its pristine waters flowing down to Port Stephens. This decision puts the local water supply and sustainable agriculture industries at risk,” he said.
The Barrington-Gloucester-Stroud Preservation Alliance described the AGL project approval as a black day for the residents of the Gloucester Valley.
AGL said approval from the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is expected within the next two months.
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