This Report is required under Section 16 of the Gas Act 2000

OVERVIEW and ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
The administration of the Gas Act 2000 has been undertaken by the Gas Standards and Safety (GSS) section of Workplace Standards Tasmania, under the direction of Mr Stephen James Hyam, the appointed Director of Gas Safety under Section 9(i) of the Act.
The GSS unit comprises five authorised officers and an Administrative officer who report through the Chief Inspector of Industry Safety.
GSS administrative functions are centralised in Launceston with regional support in Hobart and Burnie as shown in the following table:

Launceston Staff  Hobart Staff  Burnie Staff 
Manager of Gas Safety  Principal Gas Standards & Policy Officer  Infrastructure Quality Assurance Officer 
Infrastructure Quality Assurance Officer  Infrastructure Quality Assurance Officer   
Administrative Officer     

The administrative function is centralised in Launceston to harmonise with the administrative structures of Alinta DAO Pty Ltd (the operators of the Tasmanian Gas Pipeline) and Powerco Tasmania Pty Ltd (the licensed constructors of the Tasmanian 1st stage gas distribution network). Network construction and commissioning is expected to continue until 2007.

SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS
OUTPUT BENEFIT LINK TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DIRECTOR OF GAS SAFETY 
GAS TRANSMISSION
Develop and implement an audit process for gas transmission pipelines Ensure a comprehensive assessment of safe maintenance and operational systems. Administration of the approved Safety & Operating Plan
GAS DISTRIBUTION
Review and approve gas distribution networks plans. Ensure integrity of proposed gas networks. Regulate safe gas networks.
Approve Powerco Tasmania Pty Ltd. Safety & Operating Plan. Ensure a comprehensive construction, operations and maintenance program is implemented. Director of Gas Safety Acceptance of gas distributor's Safety & Operating Plans
Develop and implement a compliance program for construction and commissioning of stage 1 gas networks. Ensure safe construction and commissioning of the distribution networks. Regulate safe gas networks.
GAS FITTER LICENSING
Promote natural gas fitters licensing scheme to industry Ensure new comprehensive natural gas industry standards. Regulate and administer gas fitter licensing.
Promote training and skills development in gas fitting and gas workers. Ensure that comprehensive standards for training reflect national competency standards. Implement provision of adequate training standards pursuant to the Act.
GAS APPLIANCES AND INSTALLATIONS
Implement gas appliance and installation acceptance process to both LP and Natural Gas industry. Ensure robust approval and commissioning verification standards for the industry. Implement installations and appliance acceptance provision of the Act.
GAS TECHNICAL STANDARDS & WORKING GROUPS
Review and adopt relevant standards and codes for gas distribution and gas appliances. Ensure consistent national standards apply to Tasmanian industry. Adoption of appropriate technical standards.
STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS
Member of the Occupational Licensing Act development committee. Promote safe standards of work Development of statutory licensing standards
Attend national gas technical regulator meetings. Promote economic and environmental competition. Development of uniform national gas industry technical standards.
Assist and promote the formation of the Electrolysis committee. Promote safe maintenance of gas distribution infrastructure. Administration of the Gas Act 2000 and gas pipeline standards.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Provide nationally recognised staff training. Develop staff specialisation in the natural gas industry. Maintenance of appropriate technical knowledge.

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS
1. GAS DISTRIBUTION
The Gas Standards and Safety section has worked closely with Powerco Tasmania Pty Ltd (Powerco) and the Office of the Energy Regulator to enable the Director of Gas Safety to approve the Safety and Operating Plans for the 1st Stage gas distribution network to occur without delaying the project. The Director of Gas Safety must approve the Safety and Operating Plan in order that the Director of Gas can issue a licence to operate the proposed gas distribution network.
The gas distribution network facilities have been completed and successfully commissioned at Longford, Bell Bay and Westbury. Major industrial consumers on these systems are now receiving gas supplies from the Powerco 1st stage gas networks.
Construction of the gas networks at Burnie, Devonport, Hobart, Launceston and Wynyard is continuing with inspection and auditing by members of the Gas Standards and Safety section.

GAS DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS FACILITY - SCHEDULE OF COMPLETION

GAS FACILITY LICENCE TO OPERATE DESIGN CERTIFICATION ACCEPTED COMMISSION PLAN ACCEPTED SAFETY & OPERATING PLAN ACCEPTED GAS FACILITY OPERATING

BURNIE √  √       
BELL BAY √  √  √  √  √ 
DEVONPORT √  √2      
HOBART √  √2      
LAUNCESTON √  √2      
LONGFORD √  √  √  √  √ 
ULVERSTONE √         
WESTBURY √  √  √  √1 √ 
WYNYARD √  √  √     

1 Denotes Provisional Approval
2.Denotes Acceptance of Polyethylene mains only

The regulatory and administrative arrangements are being developed for the Stage 2 gas rollout which will enable the delivery of natural gas to a significant proportion of the Tasmanian domestic and commercial market through gas reticulation networks.

2. GAS INSTALLATIONS and APPLIANCES
The administrative arrangements for acceptance of complex gas installations and type “B” gas appliances have been implemented for both Natural Gas and Liquid Petroleum Gas.

Administrative arrangements are being developed with stakeholders for:

Standard gas installations; and
Prescribed Standard Installations
in readiness for the 2nd stage gas rollout construction program.

3. GAS TECHNICAL STANDARDS & WORKING GROUPS
Technical regulation is a very dominant feature of the gas safety environment. Tasmania participates in the technical standards and regulatory committees listed in the table below:

COMMITTEE MEMBER ORGANISATIONS COMMITTEE PURPOSE
Gas Regulatory Working Group Office of Energy Regulator

DIER, WST

Dept of Economic Development Development of economic, environmental and technical gas industry standards
Gas Technical Regulators Committee All states and NZ gas technical Regulators Development of national gas safety standards for distribution and appliances
Gas Technical Certification Committee Some state and NZ gas technical Regulators

Gas appliance manufacturers Development and implementation of appliance manufacturing standards

The committee forms part of the governance arrangements for the AGA Product Certification Scheme

4. GAS APPLIANCE CERTIFICATION
The Director has approved the Australian Gas Association (AGA) as an external certifying authority for the certification of individual gas appliances imported into Tasmania.
The AGA certification system is a national system providing a comprehensive system of gas appliance and component certification.

5. STAFF TRAINING
GSS authorised officers have received specialised training in gas transmission, gas distribution and appliance design and operational safety standards.

6. GAS WORKER TRAINING and ACCREDITATION
“Gas worker” training programs continue to be developed to meet the need to have persons who are competent to construct and operate the gas distribution networks in Tasmania.
These programs are developed collaboratively involving TAFE Tasmanian, the National Training Framework, Powerco Tasmania Pty Ltd and Agility Pty Ltd. Sufficient competent workers were available for the 1st stage gas distribution construction rollout in Hobart.
Competent persons will be required in 2005 by the local natural gas industry for the construction of the 2nd stage distribution and the operation and maintenance of the existing infrastructure.
Tasmanian gas workers will have nationally portable competency at six specific levels from certificate II through to advanced diploma qualification under the Australian National Training Authority and the Electro Technology, Communications and Energy Utilities network.

7. GAS FITTER TRAINING and ACCREDITATION
Gas fitter, natural gas and restricted electrical, training programs have been conducted by TAFE for the NG industry.
An exponential increase in demand for accredited natural gas workers is expected as the stage 2 distribution rollout progresses. The shortfall in gas fitter numbers is expected to be met by interstate workers.
Until the new Occupational Licensing legislation has been passed by Parliament, natural gas fitter certificates of competency are issued under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 by the Director of Industry Safety.
GSS staff utilise specific assessment programs for type B gas fitters provided by the Victorian Plumbing Industry Commission.(PIC).

8. GENERAL OUTPUTS
The development and amendment of the legislation controlling the natural gas industry will continue to place a heavy load on resources.
General statistical information on the field operations of the GSS unit is shown in the following table

CRITERIA (Field Operations) 3-Apr 2-Mar
Gas Appliances and Installations    
General Gas Act enquiries processed. 1755 1273
Complex Gas Installations assessed. 68 27
Complex Gas Installation Field Assessments. 114 120
Type "B" Appliances Accepted. 44 41
Type "B" field assessments. 83 167
Standard Gas Installation field assessments. 86 72
Information packages released on gas fitter assessment and certification. 83 85
Number of Type B Gas Fitters certificate of competency issued. 12 20
Gas Distribution    
Gas mains route variations assessed. 10 -
Gas Mains construction audits. 24 -
Gas Transmission receiving station construction audits. 28 -

SJ Hyam
DIRECTOR OF GAS SAFETY