Mod 2 - Extension of Time

Point 1.
The Illawarra Escarpment is a high risk bush fire area, exacerbated by its highly combustible peat base.
August 2012 a bush fire burnt through AI09 and AI10 in this project. Extracting and piping gas in this environment will increase fire risks.

Point 2.
The development of this coal seam gas project is being layered on top of extensive coal mining and a fault line, without an assessment of the combined impacts.

Point 3.
The drinking water catchment is unsuitable for CSG exploration and production.

Point 4.
There is widespread public opposition to CSG exploration and mining in the area. This includes a public petition of over 30,000 signatures and formal votes against CSG mining by local councils.

I am deeply distressed that Apex Energy are planning to drill 150 coal seam gas (CSG) wells in Sydney's water supply catchment between Wollongong and Sydney.

CSG must be put on pause in NSW until the science and regulation catches up.

Please don't shirk your responsibilities to the next generation! It's not worth the risk until we know more!

I object to the proposed extenstion beyond 22 September 2012. Testing in the subject area may lead to full production and this cannot be tollerated in water catchments and wildlife habit when the negative impacts are not (and cannot be) fully known. Please exercise the precautionary principle as called up by the EP&A Act and reject the proposed extension so that all testing and production dwelling can cease.

This proposal is dangerous to the environment and locals. CSG must be put on pause in NSW until the science and regulation catches up.

See attached

Development must always be considered in the context of the surrounding area. This can change over time. Given this, a modification for an indefinite start date is irresponsible.

The risks of CSG mining are well evidenced and the Premier has acknowledged that the current legislation is not adequate to manage development of the industry. In this context, no new applications or modifications should be approved and existing projects should be frozen, to conduct an investigation into the full impacts of CSG development.

The drinking water catchment is unsuitable for CSG exploration and production. Allowing this development to go ahead contradicts the pre-election promise from Barry O'Farrell: "The next Liberal/National Government will ensure that mining cannot occur... in any water catchment area, and will ensure that mining leases and mining exploration permits reflect that common sense; no ifs, no buts, a guarantee."

The Illawarra Escarpment is a high risk bush fire area, exacerbated by its highly combustible peat base. Indeed, in August 2012 a bush fire burnt through AI09 and AI10 in this project. Extracting and piping gas in this environment will increase fire risks.

The development of this coal seam gas project is being layered on top of extensive coal mining and a fault line, without an assessment of the combined impacts.

There is widespread public opposition to CSG exploration and mining in the area. This includes a public petition of over 30,000 signatures, formal votes against CSG mining by local councils and two actions opposing CSG development attended by over 3,000 people each.

Strongly object to coal seam gas operating in the areas of Darkes Forest and surrounding suberbs. Darkes Forest is a peaceful, and quiet location, it has a National Park, a conservation area, orchard and riding school in it and there is no place for mining!!! All residents I have spoken to believe that this is not acceptable. The fruit may be damaged/polluted which will go onto affect our health status, the water catchment area may be damaged and it will destroy the National Park and conservation area. Please, from all concerned, do not let the application for coal seam gas go ahead.

Dear sir/madam,

Apex Energy has lodged a modification to their currently frozen coal seam gas development approval in the Illawarra. They have applied to extend drilling deadlines to "three years from commencement of drilling of the first bore hole" for 16 wells spanning two drinking water catchments (Woronora and Nepean).

Development must always be considered in the context of the surrounding area. This can change over time. Given this, a modification for an indefinite start date is irresponsible.

The risks of CSG mining are well evidenced and the Premier has acknowledged that the current legislation is not adequate to manage development of the industry. In this context, no new applications or modifications should be approved and existing projects should be frozen, to conduct an investigation into the full impacts of CSG development.

The drinking water catchment is unsuitable for CSG exploration and production. Allowing this development to go ahead contradicts the pre-election promise from Barry O'Farrell: "The next Liberal/National Government will ensure that mining cannot occur... in any water catchment area, and will ensure that mining leases and mining exploration permits reflect that common sense; no ifs, no buts, a guarantee."

The Illawarra Escarpment is a high risk bush fire area, exacerbated by its highly combustible peat base. Indeed, in August 2012 a bush fire burnt through AI09 and AI10 in this project. Extracting and piping gas in this environment will increase fire risks.

The development of this coal seam gas project is being layered on top of extensive coal mining and a fault line, without an assessment of the combined impacts.

There is widespread public opposition to CSG exploration and mining in the area. This includes a public petition of over 30,000 signatures, formal votes against CSG mining by local councils and two actions opposing CSG development attended by over 3,000 people each.

For all these reasons, the permission sought by Apex Energy to modify their Coal Seam Gas developments in the Illawarra must not be granted.

Yours sincerely
Vincent Bicego

Please add my name to the list of protesters against the request by Apex to extend their time for Coal Seam Gas exploration.

I stongly disagree to the 3 year extension for Apex Energy Coal Seam /gas Entitlements.

I strongly disagree to the continuation for the further 3 years for Coal Seam Gas Entitlements for Apex Energy

I strongly disagree to the extension for a further 3 years for Coal Seam Gas Entitlements with Apex Energy

I strongly disagree for Apex Energy to have a 3 year extension to their Coal Seam Gas entitlements in our local community

CSG mining is harmful in every respect. It uses too much water, pollutes the water and the land, is a danger to health. The damage it does is uncontrollable and irreversible. Once drilled the holes leak. This has been proven in every location around the world where it has been practised. It is a scandal that we are still forced to discuss this in a country that is plagued by drought and bushfires. I can't water my vegies but Apex & Co can take all the water and ruin our immediate environment. The cost of this is unforeseeable, even the miners in this area are against it. Let alone that this is a watercatchment area. if I walk near it I get fined thousands $$$ but multinationals do as they like? Barry O Farrel gave his promise! How far do you think you can go? if you pass permission you better gear up for a long long protest.

CSG mining is another name for destroying our precious resources and making us all sick. Who cares how many jobs it will create when it makes people sick. Just looking at the wells in Queensland from the air is shocking: it's not just the wells they dig they destroy hundreds and hundreds of kilometers of land with transport and infra structure. The mere suggestion is an insult to citizen's intelligence and conscience. Barry O Farrel promises one thing and then does another.
People around here from all parties and backgrounds will not tolerate this.

Dear Sir,

I wish to lodge an my opposition to the proposed application by APEX Energy for an extension of the License for Coal Seam Gas in our community on the following points:-
- The Industry as in Coal Seam Gas cannot guarantee the existing water quality for the Woronora Dam - which is critical for the surrounding area, as the community cannot live or survive without a good supply of quality water.
- Apex cannot give any assurances to the when they leave the area that it will be in the same condition as when they first started drilling.
-The Coal Seam Gas Industry - doesn't seem to have answer or techniques to repair any damages caused by their operation of Coal Seam Gas Wells. For instance how do they stop the gas escaping from the surrounding areas and in this location of Darkes Forest which has had some major Bushfires - this escaping methane would add only more fuel to the fire, which could lead to putting fire fighting personnel at futher risk than they are already. As they could be walking through the scrub fighting an outbreak and the fire could flare up in front of them from the additional fuel provided by the Methane Gas, putting their lives at risk.
- Apex don't seem to have any "duty of care" commitment towards the community, environment, existing Agriculture and Horse riding Industries, Water Facilities only to succeed at all cost - and to put profit ahead of everything else.

My family has lived in this area for over 100 years and I wouldn't like our lifestyle, environment to be destroyed by an industry which doesn't have the answers to repair any damages caused by their operation.

- Why should APEX be able to put Water quality at risk when the community/households has great difficulty in getting any sort of Waste Septic/ Sewerage system passed by the Council, Sydney Water and NSW National Parks. What APEX is proposing has a far greater potential of devistating outcome towards our Water and Environment quality than any small Septic/ Sewerage system.

-My Family and I strongly object to APEX Energy gaining any extension to their COAL SEAM GAS MINING Application.

Yours Sincerely
David Harper

Hi All,

Please do no approve Apex an extension. I beg you. Think of your children and grandchildren and realise we need food and water more than short term economic stimulus. Apex only care about the water table and aquifers as much as necessary to ensure their project goes ahead. the truth is that it is not safe to mine CSG in fragile water catchment areas, or areas that could be used for agriculture and farming in the future.

Please do the right thing, i can attest that you dont need money to be happy, just strong morals, and a life lived helping your fellow humans!

I strongly object to coal gas mining in the Illawarra area.

Keep our water safe-No ifs no buts, Barry. No mining in catchments.

To the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure,

This submission is on behalf of Gamarada Indigenous Healing and Life Training Ltd. We are a community group that meet each week to support each other in dealing with the aftermath of loss of land, culture, connection and continued grief that has persisted for over 220 years.

We make strong objection to the proposal submitted by Apex Energy to extend their licence to destroy the sacred, beautiful and bountiful area of the Northern Illawarra escarpment that has been cared for by our brothers and sisters of the Wodi Wodi and Dharawal people, the traditional owners of this land, for thousands of years. It is absolutely wrong for this to be destroyed with 150 gas wells, roads and infrastructure. It is also totally wrong to threaten the safety of one of our key water supplies for growing Sydney.

The members of Gamarada urge the NSW Government to SAY NO to Apex Energy and act on the voice of the community of both Aboriginal and non-Indigenous people of the Illawarra, Sydney and the entire nation. We all want the government to put the health and wellbeing of the people, water and land at the top of the agenda- not at the bottom.

Thank you.