The real price of gas: Massive Santos pipeline could destroy rare native grasslands

Australian oil and gas giant Santos wants to build an 833-kilometer gas pipeline stretching from southern Queensland to Newcastle in New South Wales. Details released by the company show the project would traverse highly ...
The would run underground. Even still, the proposed path is a real risk to and ecological communities, due to the need to clear a 30m-wide corridor to install the pipeline.

In January, the NSW government granted Santos authority to survey land along the route, with or without permission from landholders. This brings this massive infrastructure project closer to construction.
Many landscapes along the pipeline's path are already denuded of native vegetation. The threatened ecosystems that remain, including , must be protected.

Expanding the gas network across the Liverpool Plains

The proposed pipeline route passes close to Santos' controversial Narrabri Gas Project. The company claims the pipeline will help alleviate gas shortages along Australia's east coast.

Credit: Shutterstock
Read more

Map showing the proposed pipeline route. https://majorprojects.planningportal.nsw.gov.au
Read more

Map of the Liverpool Plains grasslands prepared by scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney (Allen and Benson, 2012; used with permission). The outer black line shows Liverpool Plains catchment. Inner black line shows estimated naturally treeless grasslands. Grey shows estimated pre-European extent of grasslands. Known remnant stands of grassland are shown in green, purple, light blue, yellow and red. Note the linear nature of many of these stands, reflecting their presence along stock routes, reserves and roadsides. Credit: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261216605_Floristic_Composition_of_the_Liverpool_Plains_Grasslands_Report_for_printing
Read more

Native grassland on Liverpool Plains, south-east of Gunnedah. The tall grass is plains grass (Austrostipa aristiglumis). Credit: Tim Curran
Read more