Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney
27/04/2012
More LNG benefits for the regions
People living and working in the Gladstone, Maranoa and Banana regions will be beneficiaries of a plan committing to major social and community benefits, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney announced today.
Mr Seeney said Queensland Coordinator-General had approved the region’s second social impact management plan – this time for the Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas (GLNG) facility operated by Santos/Petronas/TOTAL.
“Queensland’s LNG industry is on the cusp of a boom that will fundamentally reshape our economy. How we manage that boom and the environmental, social and economic impacts will be crucial for generations to come,” Mr Seeney said.
“As part of the Coordinator-General’s project approval requirements, GLNG is required to manage the impacts of the facility and ensure local communities have a chance to share in the project benefits.
“This investment into Gladstone will lead to improved services and infrastructure for Gladstone residents.
“I t will also enable the community to cope with the extra demands placed on it by the arrival of this new industry in the region.”
Mr Seeney said the plan addressed the social impacts on housing, employment, training, health and community services.
“This is a comprehensive road map of commitments put forward by the proponent for the life of the project, with local residents and businesses emerging as clear winners.”
Mr Seeney said highlights of the plan included:
$13.1 million for affordable housing and $24.75 million for workers seeking to settle in Gladstone
establishing a community investment strategy and committing $6.5 million for three key projects across the region
an extra $500,000 for police services and $50,000 for the Rural Fire Service
• $2.1 million to boost community and acute health services in Gladstone and Maranoa.
“GLNG has also worked with the government to develop a local industry participation plan which has so far generated $1.3 billion worth of contracts for Queensland-based businesses,” he said.
Queensland Coordinator-General Barry Broe in approving the plan paid tribute to all those who were involved in its development.
“This final plan is the culmination of extensive groundwork started even before the project was approved,” Mr Broe said.
“GLNG has already started meeting its commitments, with today’s agreement formalising the local benefits for years to come.
“This GLNG Social Impact Management Plan is a good example of project proponents developing and implementing best practice approaches to manage the impacts of major projects.”
The GLNG Social Impact Management Plan is the second of three such plans underway for the industry.
The government is continuing to work collaboratively with Australia Pacific LNG to finalise the assessment of plans for its projects.
