New opportunities for apprenticeships in the Surat Basin could become available following news that thousands of jobs may be created with the development of a gas field in the region.
The Santos GLNG (Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas) expansion project would involve progressively extending coal seam gas in the Surat and Bowen basins, with 2,700 construction positions generated during peak building phases.
There would also be 200 operational vacancies created throughout the lifecycle of the initiative, which is expected to be approximately 20 years.
The Queensland government is now urging the public to come forward and comment on the scheme’s draft terms of reference for an environmental impact statement (EIS).
Jeff Seeney, deputy premier and minister for state development, infrastructure and planning, said it is a “significant” venture that will include 35 petroleum tenures across Queensland.
Coordinator-general Barry Broe admitted the approvals process for the initiative would be complex, involving a number of local and state agencies, as well as the federal government.
Mr Broe will be carrying out the EIS, as well as reviewing the draft terms of reference and releasing a final document to address proponents for the EIS.
Information about the process, a project description document and the draft terms of reference were made available on Saturday (December 15).
