On 12 October 2011 APTPPL submitted an access arrangement proposal for the RBP. The AER has conducted a preliminary examination of the access arrangement proposal and found that there are a number of omissions from the proposal.

In accordance with sub-rule 43(3) of the National Gas Rules (NGR), the information submitted in APTPPL's access arrangement information is, in the AER's opinion, deficient in its comprehensiveness or some other respect. The AER has requested APTPPL, in accordance with sub-rule 43(3)(b) of the NGR, to submit further access arrangement information as an addendum to the information already submitted.

The AER has requested APTPPL to nominate an averaging period for the market data such as risk free rate and debt risk premium, provide customer numbers and demand at each receipt or delivery point on the pipeline, and provide some other required information.

In accordance with sub-rule 11(1)(b) of the NGR, any period taken by APTPPL to provide further information in response to the notice issued by the AER, shall be disregarded for the purpose of calculating elapsed time for the decision on the Roma to Brisbane Pipeline access arrangement proposal.

On 30 November 2011, the AER held a public forum in Brisbane to discuss APTPPL's RBP access arrangement proposal. 

The public forum provided an opportunity for APT Petroleum Pipeline Limited (APTTPL), service provider for the RBP, to explain its access arrangement proposal. Interested parties were given an opportunity to ask questions regarding the access arrangement proposal.

Submissions closed 19 December 2011.

On 20 December 2011 the AER served a section 42 Notice on APTPPL as service provider for the RBP, requesting that it provide information outlined in that Notice.

In accordance with sub-rule 11(1)(b) of the NGR, any period taken by APTPPL to provide further information in response to the Notice issued by the AER, shall be disregarded for the purpose of calculating elapsed time for the decision on the RBP access arrangement proposal (i.e. the Board decided to stop the clock).

In response to the AER's request to APTPPL on 21 October 2011 for further information, APTPPL provided additional information and the clock was restarted on 11 November 2011.

The AER held an industry workshop on 12 January 2012 to discuss the queuing requirements in the RBP access arrangement proposal. The workshop provided an opportunity for industry participants to discuss the proposed queuing requirements with APTPPL.

On 20 March 2012 APTPPL submitted the NERA report - Assessment of Alternative Auction Designs. The AER did not take this report into account in the draft decision. However, the AER seeks submissions on the NERA report in the context of its draft decision, and will take the report into account in its final decision.