A PUSH to try and reroute the Queensland-Hunter Gas Pipeline Project has been knocked back by Liverpool Plains Shire Council.
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The motion urged the council to consult with the NSW Department of Industry and Environment (DPIE) about the potential to reroute the pipeline further away from the town's water supply.
Councillor Virginia Black put forward the motion after several concerns regarding water security were raised by the community.
The project was initially approved in 2008 and Hunter Gas, the company putting forward the project, successfully applied for an extension of time on the project last year.
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"We as a council cannot interfere with the Hunter Gas pipeline project as it is a state government matter," Cr Black said.
"What we can do is ensure that the concerns of our community are heard and that we ask the governing body of LPSC to do all things that are right to ensure due diligence has been observed, in terms of ensuring our town water security.
"I wish to advise the community, and the affected landholders, that on July 18, with thanks to our general manager (GM) Joanne Sangster, Cr Moules, Cr Lobsey, Cr Hawkins and myself, had a teleconference with Mr Stephen O'Donohue from NSW DPIE.
"We spoke at length about the security of our water and the possibility of rerouting the pipeline and Stephen stated there would be flexibility in the 200m corridor, and that bio-security requires very-high compliance on the condition of approval.
"He has stated that he is more than willing to come to Quirindi to meet with affected landholders to discuss the many aspects of the project, with the hope of dispelling some of the genuine concerns that landholders have as part of this pipeline."
However, Cr Hope, who voted against the motion, said any further negotiations on the project's route would be up to the affected landholders and the company.
"The thing that concerned me from day one was the claim the company wasn't prepared to negotiate and as Cr Black pointed out, when our GM contacted them they were more than happy to negotiate," Cr Hope said.
"We certainly facilitated that negation by using the council chambers to make sure our landholders are being heard.
"From what I have seen in those meetings, I think there is a good will there from the company to negotiate with these landholders, but at the end of the day, that is a private negotiation between that company and those landholders.
"There is always a way forward and I think the best move forward is negotiation."