A Sydney company is looking to build a 37-kilometre gas pipeline between Port Kembla and Wilton, which will run under Illawarra suburbs.
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The APA Group, which owns pipelines and power stations in other parts of the country, is behind the plan and an early scoping report has been lodged with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
The department has labelled the project State Significant Infrastructure.
The proposed pipeline would provide a link between the approved Port Kembla Gas Terminal and The APA Group's Moomba to Sydney pipeline network east of Wilton.
The scoping report said The APA Group was working with terminal owners Australian Industrial Energy on the pipeline plans.
"The new pipeline will provide for flexibility of supply to Sydney, regional NSW and interstate via the existing gas transmission network," the study stated.
In developing the route for the pipeline The APA Group spoke to a number of organisations, including Wollongong and Wollondilly councils, BlueScope, Sydney Water and National Parks and Wildlife Service.
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According to preliminary mapping of the possible pipeline route, it would travel out of Port Kembla and under the ground beneath Figtree, in the vicinity of O'Briens Road.
"The eastern section of the preliminary route options, west from Port Kembla through the suburb of Figtree, traverses predominantly cleared and developed residential, commercial and industrial land," the scoping study stated.
From there, it looks to follow Harry Graham Drive and Mt Keira Road over the escarpment - several different route options have been identified - and then running along Picton Road to Wilton.
The area it will cross the escarpment includes sections managed by Water NSW "which comprises predominantly undisturbed bushland on the Woronora Plateau".
"Existing disturbance in this area is generally restricted to access roads and electricity and gas easements," the study stated.
Most of the pipeline route will be constructed using trenches to place the pipes; however some sensitive areas will see the use of "trenchless methods", such as horizontal boring.
The report identified as many as 125 "threatened flora and fauna species" recorded within a five-kilometre buffer of the route options.
"Surveys will be undertaken to determine the species and communities present and likely to be impacted," the study states.
The next step in the project is to develop an Environmental Impact Statement.
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
