QUESTIONS have been raised why the company behind a proposed $1-billion gas pipeline did not placed adverts in local newspapers, as required by the state's planning laws, to notify residents of modifications to the project.
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However, the state government and the company behind the project say the obligation was met, as an advert was placed in a state-wide paper, which circulates in the local region.
Hunter Gas Pipeline, the company behind the project, placed ads in all the local newspapers along the 700-kilometre pipeline route - except for those in the Gunnedah and Liverpool Plains shires - advertising its plan to apply for a five-year extension, which was recently granted.
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The company's managing director Garbis Simonian said his company had complied with statue to advertise locally.
"I'm sorry if I forgot one or two shires along the route," Mr Simonian said.
"The project is so long, it's possible we just over looked some towns. For that reason, we placed ads in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Newcastle Herald."
Breeza farmer Peter Wills was disappointed the Gunnedah and Liverpool Shire LGAs were not treated the same as other regions.
"The company has afforded other communities the benefit of local advertising, why have our communities been admitted from that basic statutory responsibility?" he asked.
NSW Department of Planning is also required to place newspaper adverts regarding modifications.
A department spokesperson said the requirement states the advert must be placed in a newspaper that "circulates" in the local area.
"The department and the company advertised the application in local and state-wide newspapers," they said.
"Advertisements were placed in newspapers with circulations covering the entire pipeline route, in accordance with regulations."
Of the almost 200 submissions regarding the five-year extension, only one was in favour - Kurri Kurri based business Weston Aluminium, which was founded by Mr Simonian, who is also the company's managing director.
The Leader also recently revealed it's been more than eight years since Hunter Gas Pipeline consulted with local landholders about the project.
Jamieson Murphy
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
