Confirmation that APA Group will not pursue its fiercely opposed Western Slopes Pipeline has strengthened landholder resolve to send Santos and its Hunter Gas Pipeline packing.
The Western Slopes Pipeline is the second high pressure gas pipeline planned for the Narrabri Gas Project which farmers and communities have defeated, with the Narrabri to Wellington pipeline scrapped in 2011.
Landholders along the Western Slopes Pipeline route received emails today from APA, confirming the project was terminated (see attached).
Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord spokesperson Margaret Fleck said landholders up against Santos’ Hunter Gas Pipeline held the same determination as those further west to protect land and water from dangerous gas pipelines and gasfields.
“All along the Hunter Gas Pipeline corridor, landholders are refusing to cooperate with Santos’ representatives as they go door to door, demanding access to properties for surveys.
“We know the Hunter Gas Pipeline is Santos’ last hope to get gas from its yet-to-be-built gasfield in the Pilliga Forest to the coast, and we will not let Santos build it.
“Australia and the world is on the cusp of truly transitioning to clean energy alternatives. We don’t want a stranded asset lying across our farms for decades to come.”
Boggabri farmer Sally Hunter said if Santos wanted to remain a profitable company into the future, it needed to shift to renewables.
“There is no future for gas in a decarbonising world,” she said.
“APA has been shifting towards renewables for a decade, having invested over $750m in solar and wind farms. Removing themselves from the Narrabri Gas Project is another, welcome step towards meeting its sustainability goals.
“Gas has no social licence at the community level, it has no social licence when you’re talking about climate, and increasingly, people don’t want gas appliances in their homes because they know cooking with gas comes with health risks.
“The sooner Santos realises this and shifts its focus towards renewable projects that don’t foul the water farmers rely on, the better.”
ENDS