Project:
Development Plan for Orbost Gas Plant Upgrade
Meeting:
Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting #2
Date/Time:
Tuesday 16th February 2016, 7:00pm
Location:
Orbost Bowls Club
Present:
Committee:
Cr. Mark Reeves
Terry Gladstone
East Gippsland Shire Council
(Meeting chair)
(In place of Stephen Mathers, Principal)
Newmerella Primary School (Orbost area
schools)
Travis Price
(In place of Andrew Phillips, Orbost Cricket
Club (Orbost Clubs)
Garry Squires
Orbost Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Darren Robinson
Captain Newmerella Country Fire Authority
Theo Mekken
Neighbour & landowner along pipeline
easement
Peter Van den Oever Orbost Regional Health
Liz Sully
Santos
Shaun Noble
Santos Operations Superintendent
Bronwyn Ridgway
Santos
Visitor
Phillip Burn
Jacobs1 Planner
Minute taker
Lauren Bradshaw
Jacobs
Apologies:
Distribution:
1
Russell Bates
Marlo Community and Marlo Hotel
Stephen Mathers
Newmerella Primary School
Andrew Phillips
Orbost Cricket Club
CAC members
Santos
East Gippsland Shire Council
Jacobs is a consulting firm assisting Santos with the design and approvals for the Orbost
Gas Plant Upgrade Project
Minutes
Item
Welcome
1
Cr Mark Reeves opened the meeting with an acknowledgement of
country. He then welcomed all committee members to the meeting and
each person again introduced themselves (for the benefit of new
attendees).
2
Confirmation of Minutes
That the minutes of the previous meeting be confirmed subject to the
correction of the spelling of two people’s names.
Carried unanimously 16th February 2016.
3
Terms of Reference
That the Final Terms of Reference for the committee be confirmed.
Carried unanimously 16th February 2016.
4
Presentation
Santos presented an update on the status of the project to follow up from
the last meeting including:
•
Introductions (new attendees).
•
Recap.
•
Minutes of last meeting.
•
Progress since last meeting.
•
Update on plant layout.
•
Development Plan format and comments.
•
Approvals Processes.
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Review and next meeting.
Recap
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These meetings are being held so that Santos can gain feedback
from the CAC that can be used to improve the Development Plan.
The minutes of these meetings will go into the Development Plan
so EGSC can see what was discussed and what was agreed on.
Environmental Management Plan – It was noted that this
document will also be submitted to Council but at a later stage
than the Development Plan.
Minutes and progress since last meeting
•
•
•
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Clarification was provided on flaring on total fire ban days:
o Santos (when the plant is operational) obtains a permit
to flare over the summer period.
o This is issued on an annual basis.
o Since the last meeting, the flare heat radiation was
modelled to confirm that there is no danger on total fire
ban days. The results showed that the flare would need
to be three times more intense than it can be to ignite
the surrounding vegetation.
Gender representation
o No alternates had been suggested but this will be kept
in mind when forming future committees.
Replacement of faded Santos signs and banners in the local area
o These will be photographed and replaced.
The need to continue the operation of a community committee in
some form during construction and operation as it is a beneficial
forum.
Update on plant layout
•
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The plant layout has been finalised. A plan of the final plant layout
was circulated and discussed including:
o Area to be cleared where the flare will be relocated and
where new equipment is being placed (total of 2
hectares of land being cleared).
o Pipeline layout – coming from offshore, under the dunes
and emerging at the plant.
Santos is satisfied with the layout as there is enough space
between the vegetation and the plant for it to be safe but has
minimised the vegetation removal.
Elevated flare has been avoided.
Diagram of the elevations of the proposed site was circulated and
important aspects highlighted including:
o Lightning poles are the highest part of the plant.
o Relatively low profile.
Santos has talked to the neighbours about visual impact and has
discussed putting mounds (using topsoil from the vegetation
clearance) near the top end of the block and planting some
vegetation to help with the visual impact.
An additional sales gas compressor has been avoided as part of
the upgrade project. This is very beneficial for both air emissions
and noise levels at the plant.
•
Sulphur shed is also a good shield from a noise perspective
Development plan format and comments
•
•
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The draft Development Plan was circulated for all members to
read.
The Special Use Zone requires a Development Plan if any
changes are being made to the plant.
Draft development plan has been prepared and has been
presented to council and the referral agencies.
The purpose of the CAC meeting is to provide feedback on the
Development Plan. Minutes will be incorporated into the
Development Plan in the finalised document.
Santos is expecting the Development Plan to be submitted to
Council by the end of March.
Approvals Processes
•
•
•
EPA Works Approval Application (WAA) draft is being issued to
the EPA this week. The EPA approval (and the WAA) focusses
on the following information:
o Noise modelling.
o Air (eg odour, NOx, SOx).
o Water.
o Waste – specifically the sulphur waste which will come
out of the gas stream. This ends up as a wet powder
and will be taken away from the site by truck.
o Trucking requirements (less condensate but more
sulphur with the Sole gas so trucking will not vary
significantly).
Noise modelling:
o EPA has stringent regulations for noise levels.
o Redundant equipment was initially removed from the
model.
o Noise was remodelled with new equipment and no
attenuation at the plant, resulting in a high noise impact.
o New power generation equipment is proposed which
has gas engines. These will assist with reducing noise
levels at the plant.
o Noise was then remodelled with noise attenuation on
equipment and noise results show that the noise levels
at the nearest sensitive receptors are not any different
from the current plant levels when operating.
The EPA will have two weeks to review the draft WAA document
and the final version will be submitted at the beginning of March.
This document will then go on public display.
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Pipeline Licence Application:
o Required for pipeline that is going under the dunes.
o The Pipeline Consultation Plan has been approved by
the Department of Economic Development, Jobs,
Transport and Resources.
o An advertisement for the Pipeline Licence application
will be put in the paper (state-wide).
o Santos to notify all committee members when the
advertisement for the pipeline licence application has
been put in the paper.
Cultural Heritage Management Plan:
o As expected, Aboriginal artefacts were identified during
a survey that was conducted by the Registered
Aboriginal Party.
o When the site is cleared, the Registered Aboriginal
Party will be present and any artefacts will be managed
as per the requirements of an approved Cultural
Heritage Management Plan (CHMP).
Vegetation removal impact assessment:
o This document is currently being prepared.
o A diagram was circulated that indicated the area being
registered on title as the native vegetation offset.
o Once registered, this area cannot be developed at any
time in the future.
o The clearing of vegetation can only happen after this
area has been registered on title and the offset
approved.
Background odour monitoring for H2S:
o H2S can also be emitted from other sources such as the
creek.
o An H2S monitoring baseline study will be implemented
in the next month and will remain in place for one year
to try and determine whether there is any natural
production of H2S from Corringle Creek or other
waterways local to the plant.
Next steps
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5
The Development Plan will be finalised and submitted to the
EGSC.
It is one of the documents that must be approved to their
satisfaction prior to the commencement of construction.
An Environmental Management Plan will be developed and
submitted to EGSC for approval at a later date.
Fact sheets review
Three draft fact sheets were prepared by Santos to address questions
that were brought up in the last CAC meeting regarding the gas
treatment process. These were handed out to all committee members.
The information covered in these brochures includes details on hydrogen
sulphide, thiobacillus and the sulphur by-product.
Suggestions for improvement were made and these will be updated and
circulated to members for further comment.
6
Development Plan related questions raised by the CAC
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7
Other (non-Development Plan related) questions raised by the CAC
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8
The CAC would like to thank the ladies at the Orbost Bowls Club
for the food provided.
Next meeting
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9
Was it required to have such a large area registered on title as
part of the vegetation offset?
The area was required to cover different types of ecological
vegetation classes for this project and the previous Longtom
project. Following the end of this project the offset will contain
additional vegetation offset credits.
Does this project involve unconventional gas?
This project brings conventional offshore gas to the Victorian
mainland to be processed. There has been a long history of
offshore gas development in Bass Strait and there is significant
goodwill between the industry and the communities of Gippsland.
Has there been any discussion or feedback on aquifers amongst
the local community?
The gas will be withdrawn offshore and 60km away from the
plant. The well is also 700-800m below the sea level and is not
linked to the onshore aquifers.
Thank you
•
8
Will the final Development Plan be submitted to the council before
the next CAC meeting?
The minutes from the next CAC will need to be included in the
Development Plan so this document cannot be issued before the
next meeting.
Does the CAC have to provide written reviews on the
Development Plan?
The views of the CAC are expressed in the minutes which are
attached as an appendix to the Development Plan. Santos is
responsible for making sure that the CAC are aware of what is
included in the Development Plan.
Wednesday 23rd March, 10am, Marlo CFA.
Meeting closed
Meeting closed at 8.10pm.