Pipeline and facility licences

On this page:

• pipeline licence
• petroleum facility licence
• Part 5 permission.

Pipeline licence

A pipeline is a pipe, or system of pipes, for transporting:

• petroleum
• fuel gas
• produced water
• prescribed storage gases
• regulated hydrogen
• greenhouse gas streams.

To construct a pipeline outside the area of your petroleum lease, you need a pipeline licence.

The pipeline licence gives you the right to construct and operate the pipeline on designated 'pipeline land'. This is defined as land that you either own or over which you have:

• an easement
• a written agreement with the landowner to enter to construct and operate the pipeline
• a Part 5 permission.

Acquiring pipeline land

The preferred way of securing designated pipeline land is usually to use existing road, rail or powerline easements.

However, if the pipeline needs to cross private land, you will have to consult with the landowner about obtaining land for your pipeline. These discussions will usually result in the creation of an easement on private land in return for some form of compensation.

If the landowner refuses to negotiate with you, or refuses you easement access, you can apply for a Part 5 permission (described at the end of this page).

Types of PPLs

There are 2 types of licences available:

• area PPL – allows you to build a system of pipes within the area of the licence without having to have a licence for each single pipeline. An area PPL can extend over several adjacent petroleum leases
• point-to-point PPL – granted from 1 point, or points, to another point, or points.

How to apply

Complete an application form and lodge it through MyMinesOnline or a mines lodgement office.

Read our guide to the application process for resource authorities for more information, including instructions for notifying the public of your application.

Fees

• Application fee: {{ passfee_35477 }}
• Annual licence fee: {{ passfee_35479 }} per km for a point-to-point licence and {{ passfee_35480 }} per km of an area licence

Petroleum facility licence

You will require a petroleum facility licence (PFL) for a processing, refining, storage or transport facility if the facility is not already covered by your petroleum lease or pipeline licence.

The PFL will give you the right to construct and operate the facility on 'petroleum facility land'. This is defined as land that you either own or over which you have:

• an easement
• a written agreement with a landowner to enter to construct and operate the facility on their land
• a Part 5 permission.

Acquiring petroleum facility land

If the petroleum facility needs to be built on private land, you will need to negotiate with the landowner. These discussions will usually result in the creation of an easement on private land in return for some form of compensation.

If the landowner refuses to negotiate with you, or refuses you easement access, you can apply for a Part 5 permission (described at the end of this page).

How to apply

Complete an application form and lodge it through MyMinesOnline or a mines lodgement office.

Fees

• Application fee:{{ pass_35481 }}
• Annual licence fee: {{ pass_35482 }} for an area of 2km² or less, and {{ pass_35483 }} per km² for an area of 2km² or more

Part 5 permission

If, after reasonable consultation with the landowner, you cannot agree about acquiring land for your pipeline or facility, you can apply for a Part 5 permission. This gives the Queensland Government the right to resume the land.

An application for a Part 5 permission should be a last resort. You will need to show strong reasons in support of your application and we will need to be satisfied that there has been continuing negotiation and consultation with the landowner. It is therefore in your best interest to negotiate a fair and reasonable compensation agreement.

If Part 5 permission is granted, resumption can take place within 9 months. Compensation will be paid to the landowner.

How to apply

Complete an application form and lodge it through MyMinesOnline or a mines lodgement office. You must notify the landowner that you have applied.

Once you have applied, there is a consultation period to allow the landowner to lodge a submission.

Fees

• Application fee: {{ pass_35484 }}

Also consider...

• Read our guide to the application process for resource authorities for general information about lodging an application, including instructions for notifying the public of your application.
• Find out how to comply with your resource authority and the land access code.