Liquigas concerned about definition in new bill

Press, 27 November 1982, Page 5

Liquigas concerned about definition in new bill

Parliamentary reporter Liquigas is disturbed that a definition in a new bill may subject it to the planning consents of local authorities. Liquigas is responsible for setting --.up an L.P.G. bulk distribution network in New Zealand, and its application to build a pipeline between Lyttelton and Woolston has been the subject of a fivemonth Commission of Inquiry which has just ended. Liquigas told the Commerce and Energy Parliamentary Select Committee that the Petroleum Amendment Bill exempted pipeline between a “transport system” and a “bulk storage installation" from pipeline needing authorisation to proceed from the Minister of Energy. "The Lyttelton-Woolston stretch of pipeline was subject to such an authorisation, but the Minister used his prerogative to call a Commission of Inquiry into it.The authorisation procedure required the Minister to

take into account "all matters. circumstances and representation" considered relevant, but avoids the need for planning hearings by local authorities. Liquigas told the committee that if pipeline between harbours and bulk storage depots was not “pipeline" subject to Ministerial authorisation. the company would be obliged to gain consents under the Town and Planning Act, 1977, from up to four local authorities in some cases. This would cause time delays. contradictory results, appeals and confusion in the public mind over procedures. Liquigas said.

It asked for an amendment to the bill defining pipeline to include “any pipeline for the conveyance of L.P.G. between bulk storage and wharf unloading other than pipelines purely within the harbour area." BP Gas and Oil said that pipeline between a bulk installation and another bulk installation also appeared to be excluded from the authorisation procedures. It believed that the point of the exemption in the Government’s mind was to exclude pipelines from ocean installations to wharves, and from depots to railway sidings from authorisation procedures.