Apply for a pipeline licence

A pipeline licence gives you the right to construct and operate a pipeline within a specific area along a specific route.

It is not consent to actually do so. It just establishes your claim across the land.

You need separate consents and management plans to construct and operate a pipeline.

How to apply

Section 13 of the Energy Pipelines Act 1981 provides detailed information on the supporting information to be provided with your pipeline licence application.

To apply for a pipeline licence, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application for pipeline licence.

Application for pipeline licence PDF (178.6 KB)
Application for pipeline licence DOCX (66.4 KB)

Step 2. Provide the following information:

• technical and engineering details about the design and construction of the pipeline
• the pipelines size and capacity
• the substance to be conveyed
• the provisions for cathodic protection
• proposed work and expenditure for construction of the pipeline
• machinery and equipment to be used for construction of the pipeline
• a map showing:
  • the proposed pipeline route
  • the proposed licence area and pipeline corridor
  • the location of proposed apparatus or works
  • the land required for access
  • any Aboriginal land and land held by the Commonwealth as well as any easements or land acquired or agreed to be acquired
• details of existing or proposed land access agreements
• name and address of each person whose operation or interest in the land may be affected by section 66 of the Act including details of any agreements or arrangements
• details of financial and technical resources.

Step 3. Serve a notice to the following and attach a copy:

• each local government council where the proposed pipeline is intended to be situated
• each owner and occupier of land and each person whose operation or interest in the land may be affected by the operation of section 66 of the Act
• the registered native title claimants and registered native title body corporate (if any) for any affected land or waters
• the representative Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander body for any affected land or waters unless the grant of the licence is not a future Act.

• Each notice must include:
  • a description of the affected land or waters of the land
  • statements to the following effect:
    • a map showing the proposed pipeline route and that it may be examined at a specified place and time
    • the local government council, a person or body may, within 28 days after the date of service of the notice, lodge in writing with the Minister for Mining and Energy representations about the grant of the licence.
    • if there are no registered native title claimants or registered native title bodies corporation in relation to any of the affected land or waters, the representative Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander body, within 28 days after being served with the notice, may lodge comments in writing about the grant of the licence with the Minister for Mining and Energy.

Step 4. Pay the fee. Read the list of fees to find out how much you will have to pay.

Step 5. Submit the application. Read about how to pay and submit the application.

You can contact the Energy Development Division for assistance with your application.