The Queensland Government has declared Stage 2 of the proposed AU$3 billion North to East Australia Pipeline a Coordinated Project, triggering a streamlined, whole-of-government planning and environmental assessment for the major energy infrastructure.
Proposed by APT Petroleum Pipelines, a subsidiary of energy infrastructure giant APA Group, the project involves constructing an 899-kilometre natural gas pipeline from the Northern Territory–Queensland border to the South West Queensland Pipeline near Ballera.
The line forms the eastern leg of a broader 1,561-kilometre link designed to transport natural gas directly from the Northern Territory’s resource-rich Beetaloo Sub-basin into Queensland’s distribution network.
Once operational, the pipeline will carry up to 600 terajoules of gas per day, with potential peak capacity reaching 1,000 terajoules daily.
The state government expects the major development to create up to 800 construction jobs alongside long-term operational roles and extensive regional supply chain opportunities. Construction could begin as early as 2029, pending regulatory approvals.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Jarrod Bleijie said the declaration aligns with the state’s pragmatic energy framework to secure reliable domestic power.
“This project will help power two big priorities for Queensland – deliver jobs and investment as well as affordable, reliable and sustainable power for Queenslanders,” Bleijie said.
“The coordinated project process ensures this multi-billion-dollar project will be subject to a rigorous assessment of its environmental, social and economic impacts, while allowing a whole-of-government approach to approvals.”
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last added that boosting domestic gas supply remained the primary mechanism to drive down power prices for regional industries.
As a Coordinated Project, the Office of the Coordinator-General will oversee evaluations covering native title, landholder impacts, traffic, biodiversity, and local water sourcing.
APA Group CEO Adam Watson welcomed the decision, confirming the company would engage closely with local communities, Traditional Owners, and state regulators as formal environmental studies progress.
