The government approval stipulates Macquarie Generation will need to submit a watercourse crossing risk assessment, and to utilise horizontal directional drilling techniques to cross at least three creeks, as well as all permanent watercourses along the planned pipeline route, with trenching to take place only through intermittent watercourses.
The 500 mm diameter, 25 kilometre pipeline will extend west of the Liddell Power Station towards the Mt Arthur Coal Mine and south-eastwards near Ravensworth, transporting coal seam gas obtained from Hunter Valley coal mines to the power station for use as a supplementary fuel for electricity generation.
Associated infrastructure to be constructed will include mainline valves, condensate drainage points and a scraper station. A gas regulation station will also be located on the power station site.
Macquarie Generation is waiting for approval on the 500 mm diameter, 51 kilometre north-south component of the pipeline, which is still undergoing environmental assessment from the Department of Planning. The company has engaged Parsons Brinckerhoff to provide environmental consultancy services for the project.
Macquarie spokesman Rob Cooper said the company would begin negotiations with mining companies for gas access agreements when both pipelines had been approved, and would also look more closely at a timeline for a tendering and construction.
The two separate pipelines will carry pre-mine drainage and post-mine drainage, and there will be provision for looping.
Macquarie Generation has said that the project has the potential to reduce methane gas emissions from the mines, eliminating up to 41 million tonnes of greenhouse gas by 2020.