Ensuring Pipeline Safety Amid Changing Land Use
Australian high pressure gas pipelines have an excellent safety record, and we want to keep it that way.
But, as the land use changes around the gas pipelines, the risk to pipeline safety increases.
High pressure pipelines are designed for the land uses that exist, or are envisaged, at the time of construction. But, because pipelines typically have long operational lives (up to 80 years), some land use change over time is likely.
APA’s pipelines are designed, constructed, operated and maintained in accordance with Australian Standards (AS 2885 Pipelines − gas and liquid petroleum) to ensure the integrity of the pipeline and community safety. We must manage any emerging risks in keeping with AS 2885.
Planners and developers play a key role in managing this risk by identifying and locating gas pipelines early in the planning process. This ensures that the associated requirements, risks and issues around pipeline safety are incorporated in the design phase of any planning scheme or developments. This is particularly the case when planning for sensitive-type land uses such as retirement homes, hospitals and schools.