Australian appeals court throws out appeal from developer Santos regarding planned offshore gas pipeline project

Australian Broadcasting Corporation:

Gas company Santos has lost its appeal against a landmark decision that overturned approvals for its $4.7 billion Barossa offshore gas project, in a major legal victory for traditional owners on the Tiwi Islands.

The full Federal Court has rejected the company's appeal against an earlier decision that found the project's environmental approval was invalid.  

The court agreed with the original finding that Santos and the federal government regulator failed to ensure traditional owners were properly consulted. 

But the gas company says it still expects the project to go ahead, flagging plans to submit a fresh application in the wake of the court's decision.

The company wants to pipe gas past the Tiwi Islands to Darwin, largely for export to South Korea and Japan.

[Jacqueline Breen]

More: Santos loses Federal Court appeal over Barossa gas project after challenge by Tiwi Island traditional owners