Mod 2 - Extension of Time

I am against coal seam gas mining in such a sensitive area as water catchment area and our beautiful escarpment.All scientific evidence confirms my belief that this is not acceptable.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I was dismayed to learn of proposals to allow CSG exploration in our drinking water catchment. There seems to a a move to ram through CSG exploration in the face of widespread community opposition.

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."

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.

I am aboslutely disgusted that this decision has been made. From the research I have done and the documentries I have seen I am amazed that a State and a Country such as ours would even consider to undertake such damaging enviromental activies in and around populated area's let alone in our water catchment region in the Illawarra. This activity must be stopped immediately before any further damage is done to our environment.

I am disgusted in the lack of vision succesive govts, and in particular the newly elected NSW Govt have in allowing a threat to our water and environment to go ahead dispite the obviuos troubles in QLD. Maybe cutbacks in the number of beaurocracies and cutbacks at the top of your beaurocracies (not at the coal face )will help in saving the state money instead of searching for the next exploitable resource , cashing in on the tax income. Good work parliment you are working to the lowest possible denominator.

Hi

In the absence of a proper 'environmental assessment' (the 10 pages documents doesn't provide a description of the geology, water system, connectiveness between groundwater, ..) it is not possible to support this project.

It appears topical to base any of these decisions on sound scientific and transparent studies, which is not the case at the moment. In addition, a full assessment of the use/efficiency and impacts of existing boreholes is necessary.

I object to the lease extention.

I find it very difficult to understand why the NSW Govt is allowing itself to be rushed headlong into this coalseam gas exploitation. The experience elsewhere in Aust and overseas is that problems are arising from this type of exploration and extraction and in my view it would prudent to hasten slowly and cautiously. Looking to the future what will happen if NSW chooses to leave this resource in the ground a bit longer? The asset will become more valuable and we the current generation might just leave something for future generations.
With more time we might just be able to confirm whether these practices are safe or dangerous. I don't consider these companies that you are allowing into the precious catchment areas have the interests of the community at heart. They are chasing quick profits. What is the rush. What is the governments view on what we as a state do in 50 or 100 or 200 years. Think long term and produce a careful and safe methodology and stop this madness of waiving royalties . The state needs to understand that these resources are finite and should be treasured and not ripped out of the ground for quick profit.

keep CSG extraction out of our soils

Too hasty, take time to research before acting for $

Do not allow the Apex CSG project to gain time. In a sensitive water catchment area, it is a completely inappropriate development and should not be permitted.

I strongly oppose allowing drilling for Coal Seam Gas in any of our water catchment areas such as the Woronora and Nepean as well as the "Special areas".

To do so shows that the Premier Barry O'Farrell would have broken his promised to ban exploration and mining in the drinking water catchments.

The lifting of the freeze on fracking and exploration in areas considered sensitive is absolutely disgusting.

No words and assurances can put the wool over the peoples eyes that this is other than a retraction of previous promises..

To Whom it May Concern,

I am writing to you to point out that there is widespread public disapproval of Coal Seam Gas Exploration/Mining(CSG) . This seems to have bypassed your information base. A drive down my street will verify that almost every resident in Lawrence Hargrave Drive is opposed to the very idea of CSG.

I am opposed to the very thought of CSG mining in a water catchment area. Barry O'Farrell himself claimed as a pre-election promise that it would not occur. Secondly, it appears CSG is trying to extract gas from areas that have been extensively mined. This is at least foolhardy, for areas such as the Illawarra escarpment for reasons that are obvious to anyone.

The short term benefit of money for your current government from CSGmining does not take into consideration long term effects on the environment.
I urge you to do the right thing, listen to public opinion, and reject coal seam gas mining and exploration.

I am very concerned about development approval regarding Coal Seam Gas mining in the Illawarra. The following issues are of great concern:

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.

Yours sincerly,
Rowan Keyzer.

Until late 2011, I was a resident of northern Illawarra and am still very concerned about major negative impacts and degradation of an environment I worked in and fought to protect over many years. The risks of CSG mining are well-known and the Premier has acknowledged that the current legislation is not adequate to manage development of the industry. Therefore 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.

My object is simply that my personal research suggests that there is not conclusive evidence to suggest that CSG gas extraction in the water catchments is completely safe in terms of water contamination.

That being the case the project should not proceed until comprehend peer reviewed research is completed, directly referencing the target areas, showing the practice is safe in all aspects.

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.

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.

We live at the foothill of the Illawarra escarpment. There is a ban on development along this area because of landslide and bushfire. Coal gas seam exploration will affect the water quality for the vegetation and native lives. We are very worried about the effect of the seam on the bushfire season because there is a good supply of fuels around. Any spark will result in a complete disastrous fire for us. We trusted the NSW State Government to do the right thing by us and not let this happen. AMEN

I am sad that the NSW gov should ever even consider this. Are we that desperate?

What a sad it will be for the residents of NSW if CSG mining were to go ahead. What hope is there for communities and our children if the Government doesn't put a stop to this NOW. It is beyond comprehension that anyone would even consider mining near fresh water supplies. STOP CSG MINING NOW