Construction has started on a 580-kilometre, $460 million pipeline in Western Australia that will take natural gas from the Perth basin out to resources projects in the state's Goldfields.
Key points:
- Construction has begun on a 580-kilometre gas pipeline in Western Australia
- The project would involve up to 600 workers building the line, connecting the Perth basin to the Goldfields
- The project has been delayed due to government approvals, but was expected to be finished in March
The Northern Goldfields Interconnect pipeline will form a 2,690km gas pipeline network in WA and significantly increase the volume of gas available inland.
Infrastructure company APA Group has started building the line about 50 kilometres east of Geraldton, at the intersection of the Dampier to Bunbury pipeline.
Over the coming months it will use up to 600 workers to construct the 30-centimetre diameter pipeline west to the Goldfields gas pipeline south of Leinster.
The project has been delayed due to government approvals, but APA general manager of infrastructure planning and approvals Gerard Coggan hoped the project would be completed in March.
"It is a logistically challenging project but it is something that APA and our principal contractor has done before," he said.
"We've spent a couple of years planning this project, so we are looking forward to executing the project … and delivering gas to the Goldfields region.
He said the gas would help to further stimulate economic development in the eastern Goldfields region and support a range of new projects.
"That will support more employment in the region and the WA government has been very supportive of that project," Mr Coggan said.
Mr Coggan said APA had also created relationship agreements with traditional owner groups along the pipeline to create pathways for business and employment opportunities.
As part of construction, the Yalgoo to Mount Magnet road would be closed for 15-minute intervals once per day from May 30 to June 6.