Mod 2 - Extension of Time

I am writing to advise that I am against the proposed modification to the Apex gas exploration conditions of approval. I am against coal seam gas mining and exploration generally, especially in drinkiing water catchment areas!

Stop it now

Firstly, I advise that Nowra is a city, not a suburb - how about reflecting the actuality that people live outside of Sydney??
I oppose the extension as it relates firstly to drilling in a water catchment area. The current premier gave a 'no ifs, not buts' promise pre-election that this would not happen. Secondly, fracking is a seriously flawed process that is shown already to be detrimental to the environment and to health.
Again, I therefore state emphatically my opposition to this proposed extension to a programme that should not have been allowed in the first place.

I object to this action due to the risk of the water supply for Sydney being contaminated by fracking practises. There is still not enough satisfactory research into the damages goal seam gas exploration is doing to the environment.

This will be a disaster for our water catchments and for future generations!

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

I object to this development in such a sensitive area. Development must always be considered in the context of the surrounding area, and 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.

Please DO NOT grant any additional permits or extensions to existing permits until there is peer reviewed, reproducible and incontrovertible evidence that it can be enacted safely.

CSG Exploration should not be allowed in the Illarwarra region until alternative forms of energy supply are investigated and compared directly to the enviornmental, socio-economic and cultural impact possed by all forms of energy supply. According to Apenx Energy's web site, the proposed scheme is estimated to realise only 15MW electricity production. The enviormmental impact in terms of CO2 emissions and direct impact to the plants and animals across the area will be very high. This application must be compared directly with alternative energy supplies, such as wind power or solar power, for effective use of our regions natural resources. For example, 5 to 6 x 3MW wind turbines will likely produce equivalent energy supply to the 150 CSG wells proposed by Apex Energy. The physical impact will be far less in the case of wind turbines. As a further example, a 15MW solar farm would occupy approximately 75 hectares of land (that's less than 1km2), which could be placed on existing agricultural or industrialised (present or past) lands.
There are alternatives, all of which need to be investigated before proceeding with further exploration of coal seam gas in the Illawarra. We have magnificient limited resources in the Illawarra. We are the lucky ones. Let's make sure we used them wisely, in the best intrests of today and for tomorrow.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I understand that APEX Energy has apparently applied for a 3 year extension to their Coal Seam Gas entitlements, due to expire on 22 September, 2012, resulting from Part 3A of the NSW Planning Act under the disgraced Labor State Government.

I hereby lodge my OBJECTION to granting any approvals which could allow CSG drilling in our local Illawarra region, for the following reasons.

a) The Illawarra region north of Wollongong is a major collection source of DRINKING water for many thousands of citizens, and proposed CSG operations pose a high-risk threat to the future health of those consumers.

b) The chemicals injected sub-surface, into water tables and aquifers by CSG are recognised as being quite toxic, even carcinogenic. Saline tailings and wastes generated by CSG are also very damaging to the existing natural environment.

c) There is NO credible scientist who could GUARANTEE that there would be no future health risk from CSG operations in these areas.

d) These Illawarra areas are recognised as high BUSHFIRE RISK areas, and CSG operations constitute an obvious pathway for instigating bushfires. It was only a few years ago (Christmas Day 2001) that Helensburgh was partially evacuated due to wildfires, said to have been started by Integral Energy power lines as far away as Appin. Those wildfires destroyed houses at Stanwell Tops, and very nearly caused fatalities.

e) It is widely known that methane is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide, as a 'Greenhouse Gas', and unburnt escapes to the atmosphere, into the far-distant future from abandoned wells, cannot be fully captured.

f) The general public is excluded from these Water Catchment areas, with signs warning of $11,000 fines, but CSG wastes would obviously be far more toxic than anything the normal general public would generate.

g) The Illawarra is renowned for its scenic beauty - CSG well sites leave a trail of unsightly visual destruction.

CONCLUSION
Clearly, CSG operations MUST be EXCLUDED from Sydney's drinking water catchments.

It would be sheer insanity for ANY Government to risk the future health of the populace, by granting approval to such controversial activities.

I strongly oppose any extension to Apex exploration as it is too risky for both water catchment, fire risk and on top of all the previous coal industry, a huge risk to other consequences like seismic shifts.
Please do not grant any extension to the drilling.
Regards,
Amanda

Clean drinking water is the life blood of any community.
There should be NO CSG mining in the Sydney water catchment.

I am totally against coal seam gas mining and exploration within my community. All other methods of generation should be investigated such as solar and wind before such invasive and environmantally damaging methods are considered.

In the interests of the environment, the water supply, the health of the community and of common sense this project cannot be allowed to go ahead.
Surely protecting our water supply should be of paramount importance. The area where this drilling is being considered has previously been off limits for people to even walk in. It seems to me if it was considered dangerous to the water supply for people to walk in this area it would be madness to allow the questionable practice of Coal Seam Gas (CSG) mining with all its documented polluting effects.
Are you aware that a bushfire recently (August 2012) burnt through A109 and A110 in this project? It would be another demonstration of madness and total irresponsibility to allow gas mines in a bush fire prone area.
Before the last election Barry O'Farrell guaranteed that his government would not allow mining to occur in any water catchment area. I want this guarantee to be honoured. As Mr O'Farrell said at the time it is common sense.
The Government has ignored public sentiment on this topic of CSG exploration and mining in this area. A petition of 20,000+ signatures was treated with contempt by the Government. Mr O'Farrell did not even show his face to accept the petition and he was absent from Parliament when it was debated. It is way past time that he started listening to the people he represents.
Local councils are also opposed to CSG mining in this area. They have also been ignored.
I wish the decision makers the wisdom and strength to make the right decisions.

RE: Apex Gas Exploration Project Mod 2 - Application Number 07_0103 MOD2

Rivers SOS is an alliance of over 45 groups throughout NSW committed to the protection of river systems and water sources against the impacts of extractive industries.

Rivers SOS opposes this application for the following reasons:

1. Sydney's 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."

2. 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.

3. The development of this coal seam gas project is being layered on top of extensive underground coal mining and a fault line, without an assessment of the combined impacts. Existing coal mining already has resulted in unacceptable intrusion of surface infrastructure such as roads, power lines and vent shafts into the otherwise pristine Special Areas which have been set aside for the protection of Sydney's drinking water.

It would be quite reckless to permit yet more of this intrusion which would accompany the drilling of gas wells. The 16 exploratory wells would be bad enough but the likelihood of this becoming a production gas field with 150-200 wells, as quoted in the media last week, would seriously compromise the area's function as a so-called "Special Area". Not only would the surface be criss-crossed with a spider web of connecting roads, but the impacts on aquifers, some of which are already being damaged by longwall coal mining, are unknown and unquantified and therefore the development should not be allowed.

Yours faithfully,
Julie Sheppard
Rivers SOS
Management Committee

I believe the long term economic interests of this region are inextricably interwoven with its great natural coastal beauty and the unique quality of life it affords so close to the greater metropolitan region of Sydney. Developments such as coal seam gas extraction may provide some relatively short term economic return for vested commercial interests, not even necessarily associated with the region, but very likely at the expense of far greater long term benefits to the Illawarra's actual residents. Certainly the careful preservation of this regions unique environmental assets and the quality of life it supports involves arguments that are as compelling economically as they are socially. It should be the determination of responsible local and state governments agencies to preserve and secure this regions environment at all costs no matter the temptation to succumb to considerations of dubious short term economic gain from increased mining activity.

Coal seam gas mining is a hazard to our environment. No amount of regulation will prevent contamination of our environment. By allowing any further exploration or production is a travesty. 85% of Lismore residents do not want coal seam gas mining their region. I believe that this is the same across NSW including in the Illawarra. You are fracturing communities across NSW. Put an end to it. There is a gas glut across the world. We do not need to mine our agriculural lands to get gas. The greed of the mining lobby is horrendous. Do not follow suit. No more coal seam gas mining, ever.

Please consider this carefully. The impact of making a wrong decision is difficult to contemplate. Can the government say for certain that this project will not impact Sydney's water supplies?

http://stop-csg-illawarra.org/csg-in-water-catchments/

I am totally opposed to the Implementation
Of Coal Seam Gas.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am greatly concerned about the CSG mining in Australia, particularly in the Illawarra region which I call home. The following points express my greatest concerns:

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 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 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."

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.

I hence urge you to cease any intentions of approvals for Appex drilling projects. The future of our environment and communities health is not worth gambling away for pretty profits.

Thank you,

Lucia

Attention: Director, Mining and Industry Projects
Major Projects Assessment
Department of Planning
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001


To Whom It May Concern,
Objections to the Modification Proposal 07_0103 MOD2 from Apex Energy N.L.

I write to strongly object to the proposal from Apex Energy to renew and indefinitely extend their 2009 major project to undertake coal seam gas operations in the catchment lands of the Northern Illawarra. Regardless of current Government policy, shaped as it is by royalty interests, scientific uncertainty remains and risk taking in the catchments and high value conservation lands is unacceptable. The Special Areas have already suffered significant damage as a result of coal mining.

At a public rally before the last election, the then Opposition Leader stated that the next Liberal and National Government would "... ensure mining cannot occur in any water catchment area and that any mining leases and exploration permits will reflect that common sense. No ifs, no buts, a guarantee."

On December 1, 2011 the Premier told 2GB's Alan Jones: "I don't intend to allow -- particularly after the drought we went through over a decade -- mining or any other activity to threaten water resources." He also stated that "... exploration licences have been granted, in some cases permission to mine has been granted, in areas, frankly, that should never ever have been on the list."

In light of this, the catchment areas supplying water to Greater Sydney and the Illawarra should surely never have been on that list. These are areas considered so ecologically sensitive that locals are not even allowed to bushwalk there. The financial gains from any CSG mining projects in these catchments will be short-lived, while the damage caused will be extensive and irreversable.

There is a ground swell of opposition to coal seam gas mining in the catchments, with large rallies and a petition that now has more than 30,000 signatures. Wollongong City Council, Sutherland Shire Council, Campbelltown City Council and many other council's in NSW are opposed to coal seam gas development. Towns and districts are declaring CSG free zones.

Yours faithfully,
Vincent Bicego