Backbone of Queensland’s Gas Industry Turns 30

A piece of Queensland gas infrastructure that laid the foundation for thousands of jobs in Queensland’s gas and manufacturing industries – the Queensland gas pipeline – turned 30 on Saturday 25 July.

Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said thousands of jobs, hundreds of petajoules of gas and multi-billions in economic stimulus had flowed from the pipeline over the past three decades.

“Queensland’s gas and manufacturing industries support more than 200,000 jobs now, and have generated thousands more pay packets across the state since 1990,” he said.

“Government, industry, unions and health authorities have worked closely together throughout the pandemic to keep the resources sector operating and keep safe their people, and the communities they live and work in. The health response has been managed well, and resources and manufacturing remain central to Queensland’s economic strategy to create jobs.

“That’s why the Government continues to support gas development, releasing almost 80,000 square kilometres of land for gas exploration over the past five years, over a quarter of it guaranteeing the gas will be for Australian consumers.”

The original 530 km pipeline was built to deliver gas from Wallumbilla to Gladstone. Commissioned by the Queensland Government, it was built by global construction company Saipem for $90 million – the equivalent of about $205 million today. More than 300 Queenslanders worked to build the pipeline from 1989 to 1990 and the pipeline was officially opened on 25 July 1990.

The current 627 km pipeline connects the Wallumbilla Gas Hub in south west Queensland to large industrial gas users in Gladstone and Rockhampton. Gas from the pipeline supports the production of everyday items used by Australian homes and businesses including: aluminium, plasterboard and oil.

Click to read the full Queensland Government Media Statement: https://bit.ly/QldGovt-GasPipe

How can landholders prepare for gas field developments?

If you’re a landholder in the Surat, Galilee or Bowen Basins and wish to know more about what to expect with gas field developments, the GasFields Commission (the Commission) strongly encourages you to download a copy of our flagship publication, The Gas Guide 2.0, to obtain all the information you need to negotiate a fair and reasonable outcome should a resource company request to operate on your land.

Gas Guide 2.0 catalogues pertinent information that landholders need to know about the various stages of petroleum and gas development in Queensland – beginning with the advertisement and awarding of new exploration tenders (see Chapter 3 – Exploration Phase).

If you have any questions regarding the exploration process, Queensland’s onshore gas industry or you would like to receive a hard copy (ring binder) of The Gas Guide 2.0, please contact us directly via:

• Web: Contact Form
• Phone: (07) 3067 9400
• Email: enquiries@gfcq.org.au

Who are the GasFields Commission Queensland?

Established as an independent statutory body in 2013, the Commission’s purpose is to manage and improve the sustainable coexistence of landholders, regional communities and the onshore gas industry in Queensland. The Commission manages sustainable coexistence in petroleum and gas producing regions of Queensland, and will continue to do so as the industry expands into new and emerging basins.

Our vision is to achieve thriving communities in areas of gas development that are free from discord and supported by well-informed, respectful and balanced stakeholder relationships.

One way the Commission is endeavouring to realise this vision is by providing transparency and independent assurances that the onshore gas industry is appropriately regulated and held to account when needed. This in turn will help cultivate sustainable coexistence, whilst ensuring community and landholder confidence in the regulators and gas industry increases.

Drawing on its wealth of experience in the development of the gas industry and by collaborating with other relevant entities, the Commission provides a range of support to communities and landholders, primarily through education and engagement. These education and engagement activities occur with individual landholders via Commission facilitated webinars, information sessions, publications (The Gas Guide, Shared Landscapes Reports), face-to-face meetings and public workshops.

It should be noted that the Commission does not engage in individual negotiations between landholders and gas companies, but rather provides communities and landholders with the information and support they need to make informed decisions and achieve good outcomes.