Harden Shire Council and the Australian Pipeline Authority Group (APA) are in discussions to provide cheap natural gas to the Harden Shire, with undisclosed quotes given to Council to build a pipeline from Wallendbeen to supply it. APA is Australia’s largest natural gas infrastructure business, and owns/operates approximately $19 billion of energy assets, including Australian Gas Networks (AGN). This includes the Moomba to Sydney Pipeline, which was built between 1971 and 1976, which passes through Young and Boorowa. Spurs from Young go to Lithgow, and another through Cootamundra and Wagga Wagga where it connects to the Victorian Pipeline System at Culcairn.
The Young to Culcairn spur is able to transport gas bi-directionally, supplying townships with gas either from Victoria or the Northern Territory. “It’s the chicken and the egg scenario, we need natural gas to attract more industry and on the other hand we need to have industry to attract natural gas,” said Karen Kemp, who has been working with local businesses and industries to develop a strong business case for bringing natural gas to the Shire. “Bringing natural gas to Harden has been on the drawing board for many years, but we just haven’t had the volumes to support the capital cost of infrastructure. We are surrounded by natural gas and we are the hole in the doughnut,” she added.
In May this year, Cliff Priest from AGN was shown through the Shire in order to impress upon him the viability of the area for natural gas. He was shown, among other locations, Pepe’s Ducks and the Sibelco site at Galong, both developments which would greatly benefit from natural gas. In regard to the latter, gas would be a far more viable and cleaner source of energy to provide heat for a kiln, used to make Quicklime, which is to be fired using coal. Gas to Sibleco would have the added benefit of reducing heavy vehicle traffic. “We’ve been negotiating with the gas company, and we have received quotes from them to bring gas to the Shire,” said Harden Shire Council Mayor, John Horton. “Natural gas gives the Shire a chance to attract more industry.” “It’s looking very positive,” he added.
