APA Group has reached a key milestone in the development of the Bulloo Interlink Pipeline (BIL), with the Queensland and New South Wales sections of the project entering the Commonwealth environmental assessment process.
The proposed pipeline has been referred to the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, marking an important step towards the delivery of the project. APA said it is awaiting the outcome of the referrals while continuing environmental assessments, engineering design and corridor studies in consultation with key stakeholders.
The Bulloo Interlink Pipeline forms part of Stage 3 of APA’s East Coast Gas Grid Expansion Plan. The proposed underground high-pressure natural gas pipeline will connect the South West Queensland Pipeline with the Moomba to Sydney Pipeline, creating a more direct gas transport route between Queensland and New South Wales. The new link is expected to shorten the existing north-to-south corridor by approximately 240 kilometres and increase the capacity of APA’s east coast gas network.
According to the company, the Stage 3 expansion is expected to increase north-to-south gas transport capacity by around 30 percent, helping address forecast gas supply shortfalls in Australia’s southern states from 2028 onwards. APA said the project would improve access to natural gas reserves in Queensland and the Northern Territory while supporting energy security during the country’s energy transition.
The company is targeting a final investment decision on the Bulloo Interlink Pipeline later this year. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and board approval, with completion planned for 2028. Once operational, the pipeline is designed to transport up to 800 terajoules of natural gas per day.
APA announced Stage 3 of its East Coast Gas Grid Expansion Plan in February 2026. The programme includes a A$260 million investment in three new compressor stations to increase north-to-south capacity, alongside a A$220 million investment to support early works and the procurement of long-lead equipment for the Bulloo Interlink Pipeline. Work on the compressor station project is already underway and remains on schedule for completion in 2028.
For more information visit www.apa.com.au
