THE FAILURE of APA Group to submit an Environmental Impact Statement for the controversial Western Slopes Pipeline to meet the NSW Planning department's deadline last week has ignited hopes that the project may yet be shelved and increased speculation that the economics of the project do not stack up.

Coonamble-based stock and station agent and beef producer David Chadwick, whose property would have three kilometres of APA’s pipeline, said he was cautiously optimistic following the news.

“Given the performance of the gas industry, and all the smoke and mirrors it puts up, perhaps APA has looked at the economics of and massive community opposition to Santos’ Narrabri project and determined it would become a stranded asset and a very bad business decision to base a pipeline on,” he said.

“The market is moving at breakneck speed towards renewables, and to think the Morrison Government is subsidising this filthy industry using taxpayer money and almost unanimous community opposition, really makes you wonder what’s going on between the government and gas industry."

Lock the Gate Alliance NSW spokesperson Georgina Woods said the APA announcement meant Santos was looking “increasingly isolated”.

“The local community has been waiting and worrying about this pipeline, just like it is waiting and worrying about the zombie PELs,” she said.

“We’re sick and tired of the government dancing to the tune of the gas industry and making rural communities live in uncertainty for years.”

A statement received on Monday 10 May from a spokesperson for APA Group has done little to address the uncertainty for landholders and communities across the seven shires on the proposed route for the pipeline.

“APA is continuing to work with Santos and the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment on the development of the Western Slopes Pipeline project,” the spokesperson said.

The progress of the APA pipeline hinges on the progress of Santos' Narrabri Gas Project and there are no clear indications on that front as the airwaves churn with announcements on other corporate energy initiatives, political posturing around the Hunter By-election and the federal budget, and the continuing pressure of Morrison's 'gas-led recovery'.

It seems the APA Group, are waiting for a signal to move forward but have given no indication that the Western Slopes Pipeline is off the table.

After first being issued in 2017, the departmental Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) for the project had been re-issued on 6 May 2019, giving APA a further two years to conduct the necessary consultation and show how the project complies with relevant legislation, plans, policies and guidelines.

As of 10 May 2021, APA Group had not lodged it's EIS for the Western Slopes Pipeline however, according to the current requirements the passing of the deadline merely requires the applicant to "consult further with the Secretary in relation to the preparation of the EIS."  

An approach to the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment failed to yield any further clarity on what this means for the project.

Draft Guidelines for State Significant Infrastructure projects in NSW which were circulated in December 2020 would have provided much-needed clarity.

They clearly outline the repercussions for project proponents if deadlines are not met.

However, as these guidelines require a change to legislation and have not yet been submitted to parliament, landowners and other stakeholders remain in the dark about the future of the project.