project.
The APA Group last week updated Cobar Shire Council on the Western Slopes Gas Pipeline Project.
APA Group’s Western Slopes Pipeline Project access and approvals manager Jim Fjeldsoe was invited by council to speak at Thursday’s meeting about the project and answer any of the councillors’ questions.
Council has been lobbying for some time to try and get the new gas pipeline re-routed thro-ugh or close to Cobar so that local industries and residents would have access to a natural gas source.
Council’s bid for a re-route was also supported by the Bourke, Brewarrina and Walgett shires whose residents and industries could also stand to benefit.
“APA appreciates Cobar Shire Council’s identification of the role that gas might play in the Shire’s future economic development and corresponding desire to bring gas to Cobar,” Mr Fjeldsoe said.
“The distances involved make a reroute of the proposed Western Slopes Pipeline to service Cobar and its surrounding mines uneconomic.
“However, APA also presented to Council high level modelling of the level of demand required to underpin a dedicated small diameter lateral connecting Cobar directly to the existing Moomba Sydney Pipeline.
“APA believes this type of connection is the most likely option for bringing gas to Cobar, although we recognise there are challenges in aggregating suitable demand across multiple customers and over the required term.
“APA is also investigating a range of options for providing gas supply to customers along the route of the Western Slopes Pipeline, including opportunities for a regional Compressed Natural Gas filling station.
“APA will keep Council abreast of developments in relation to these opportunities when further information is available,” Mr Fjeldsoe told The Cobar Weekly.
