The project is currently on public exhibition with the Department of Planning and submissions can be made up until October 20.

The underground pipeline travels through a number of country towns on its path to Newcastle, but the majority of the Singleton local government area is unaffected due to the pipeline’s need to steer a course clear of coal mining leases.

The path of the pipeline passes well wide of the Singleton township, with the nearest community to the path being Glendonbrook, with around 15 to 20 landholders within 200 metres of the pipeline.

The proposed $700 million gas pipeline has been declared a critical infrastructure project by NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor.

The proposed 850 kilometre pipeline would run from South Central Queensland to the Hunter, where it will feed into the existing Sydney to Newcastle pipeline at Hexham.

The pipeline would connect the gas from coal seams in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales with the Hunter industrial region.

It will provide a greater security of natural gas supplies to the Hunter, with the possibility the pipeline could supply future gas-fired power stations in the Hunter.

The project is regarded as the missing link in the East Coast Gas network from Queensland through to Victoria.

Project manager, Bob Otjen, has previously stated that, subject to approval, he hoped construction of the pipeline would commence late next year and gas flow is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2011.