Narrabri Gas - Bibblewindi Exploration

The Pilliga is a national treasure. I spent my childhood camping, bushwalking and enjoying the great outdoors there. I am devastated that you are selling it out and destroying it for the sake of a few years of gas.
The well pads and network of roads will decimate the wildlife. The groundwater table will drawdown and suck the local streams dry. Wildlife will be killed. And all for what? A few years of gas and to line the pockets of big companies. What happens when it all ends? We will be left with a destroyed environment and nothing to show for it. Please think about the future, our children need these wild places. A State Forest should stay just that, and not become a mining site.

The Pilliga State Forest is a public icon with unique wildlife which exists nowhere else. It also sits on the Great Artesian Basin.
Santos, together with Eastern Star have already done severe damage to the Pilliga including the deliberate discharge of toxic water into a creek which eventually feeds into the Namoi and then Murray/Darling.
You have no right to allow this dangerous and toxic form of mining onto publicly owned land when the objections to Coal Seam Gas mining are over 80pc of the population.
It doesnt belong to you, it doesnt belong to Santos, it belongs to the PEOPLE of New South Wales.

RESPONSE TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - Despite the Director General requiring Santos to state "the likely interactions between the development and existing, approved and proposed gas exploration and production" Santos have not yet come clean with their future developments in the area.

WATER - The Pilliga Forest is an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin. The Director General requires baseline monitoring, however there is still no baseline water study completed for the Pilliga groundwater systems. The aquifer monitoring bores required to do this have not even been constructed.

In addition, the cumulative water model used by Santos lacks the basic data required to assess the impacts of drilling for coal seam gas on groundwater in the future. There must be thorough sampling and testing across the project area to enable modelling of regional groundwater flows and a comprehensive assessment of Groundwater Dependant Ecosystems in the Pilliga region including the potential impacts any groundwater drawdown or contamination may have.

These two Bohena wells are part of an exploration program that involves the multi-lateral drilling. The drilling through the casing of wells poses a risk to the Great Artesian Basin and other aquifers as it is very difficult, if not impossible, to seal the junction between the casing and the lateral.

BIODIVERSITY - Santos have admitted that their CSG exploration will destroy habitat for the Pilliga Mouse. The breeding status and population dynamics of the threatened species in the Pilliga are very poorly understood. There must be baseline ecological surveys to assess the population dynamics and status of the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern Pygmy Possum and Barking Owl.

AIR QUALITY - Another requirement is to assess the risk of fugitive emissions on environmental and human health. The baseline atmospheric methane data collection against which to assess any future potential fugitive emissions and Independent Health Impact Assessment of north-west NSW to establish baseline health data and air quality information has not yet been conducted.

HAZARDS - The Pilliga is highly susceptible to fires, largely due to the high incidence of ironstone attracting lightning strikes. It is not unusual for the Rural Fire Service to record up to 1000 over a 24 hour period in the Pilliga region. Santos does not appear to have a clear bushfire strategy, especially for gas flaring which cannot be shut down on catastrophic fire days.

CONSULTATION - It is extremely disappointing that Aboriginal Heritage requirements for were taken out of the Director General Requirements. There is a Native Title claim over the project area and Santos must include the Gomeroi Native Title Claimnts, Gomeroi Traditional Owners of the Pilliga and the Narrabri Local Aboriginal Land Council in their consultation.

Given the wealth of scientific information available, and studies conducted, I believe that granting approving to Santos is short-sighted, and all about the money. We need to look at the long-term consequences of this action; and preserve the land, flora and fauna for future generations. There is also the long-term damage to the underground water table to be considered; these potential effects are unknown, and could have far-reaching consequences. I believe that Governments should be looking at alternative, clean, power sources.

I am putting my personal submission to object in the strongest terms to any form of mining in the Pilliga because it is in direct conflict with farming and rural life as we know it.

There is more than enough evidence out there proving that the putting down of wells will eventually destroy the environment as we know it for the quick buck. Dont try and frighten us with rubbish like we will run out of gas. Stop selliing our natural gas overseas and we have plenty of the stuff.

Australia would seem to be going to the dogs and we need to stop this happening. Regards, Ted Borowski.

CSG mining at the Bibblewindi Pilot well and for that matter the whole of Pilliga Forest , Conservation area and Namoi Valley should not proceed for reasons listed below .
The Pilliga region is the Eastern recharge area for the Great Artesion Basin , with the potential of more than 1400 CSG wells up to 1200 mtrs deep cross contamination of water acquifers will occur either during drilling or at a later stage in the life of each well. This water is the life blood of all towns , villages and farms east of the divide .
Water for these people comes from the top 70 mtrs and must not under any circumstances be cross contaminated with the lower levels which contain high levels of salts , heavy metals (lead etc) ,and radio active particles which reverse osmosis does not remove.
Another reason is the extreme danger of wild fires which regularly devastate this region. A massive fire just last year burnt 10s of thousands of hectares in the Pilliga and could not be controlled until rain came .
Santos does not have Community licence for this project.
Worlds best practice of today will be worlds worst tomorrow.
Pilliga Forest and Conservation area is a rich and diverse area that is like no where else in the world.
It also has cultural significance for the First Nation People of this area . It has been set aside for these reasons and needs to be kept for our Children and Childrens Children for generations to come not for corporate greed and some short term royalties ,Bass Strait has enough gas for all East Coasts needs.

Dear Sir / Madam,
The short term benefit of extracting gas does not warrant the long term affect of destruction of a native forest.
Please consider the saving of a forest as a top priority.
Thank you,
Don Mantack

This is an aera where mining of any type should be banned environmental impact notwithsdanding.. Controlled logging maybe but preferably Not. The concencis globally that this type of extraction is completely that 'fracking" to use the last little drop of coal seam gas is an antisocial act.
Santos would wreck all and any for a profit to themselves and leave a wastland. Of NO benifit to the citizens of country.

Coal seam gas extraction has been accompanied by water and soil pollution everywhere it has been done. If the safety protocols are carried out with 100
5 efficiency, then it is possible there is no health hazard, but no human enterprise in history has ever achieved that. Therefore, all such fracking must stop and the vast sums of money re-directed to renewable energy. The planet does not need any more CO2 pumped into it from the burning of fossil fuels.
A Government must protect the land and citizens, they should nt need protecting from their elected government.

I strongly object to the proposed expansion of the Bibblewindi Gas Exploration Pilot for the following reasons:
The Pilliga is an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin and there needs to be much more scientific investigation into the risks associated with gas drilling fracking and lateral drilling before approval.
The Pilliga Forest is an important region for biodiversity in NSW. The safety of the Pilliga mouse for example cannot be assured under this proposal.
Bushfire is a major concern in this area and the effects of Climate Change will exacerbate this. The fugitive emissions from a gas field will increase the danger of fire and will add to green-house gases.

Too much damage to forests, animals, water already in Australia. When is it going to stop?

The recent federal approval of 18 new exploration wells in the Pilliga Forest has been brought to my attention. I do not support this CSG mining activity while no consideration is given to the devastation of the areas biodiversity, and there is no guarentee that the groundwater of the pilliga will not be affected by this activity. Thus I object to santos intent to begin their CSG exploration in the Pilliga Nature Reserve for the following reasons:

Santos have admitted that their CSG exploration will destroy habitat for the Pilliga Mouse. The breeding status and population dynamics of the threatened species in the Pilliga are very poorly understood. There must be baseline ecological surveys to assess the population dynamics and status of the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern Pygmy Possum and Barking Owl.

The Pilliga Forest is an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin. The Director General requires baseline monitoring, however there is still no baseline water study completed for the Pilliga groundwater systems. The aquifer monitoring bores required to do this have not even been constructed.

The Pilliga is highly susceptible to fires, largely due to the high incidence of ironstone attracting lightning strikes. It is not unusual for the Rural Fire Service to record up to 1000 over a 24 hour period in the Pilliga region. Santos does not appear to have a clear bushfire strategy, especially for gas flaring which cannot be shut down on catastrophic fire days.

Personal submission in respect of:
Bibblewindi Gas Exploration Pilot Expansion

I have both general and specific objections to the proposal. My general objections concern the continued mining, export and combustion of fossil fuels, to which this proposal will contribute. It is abundantly clear from five IPCC reports, consensus statements from all independent, reputable scientific associations globally, including the British Royal Society and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and thousands of peer reviewed studies that collectively our global civilization must transition off fossil fuels as a matter of the utmost urgency. Coal seam gas is not a transition fuel. Rather it can be just as polluting as coal once fugitive emissions are accurately accounted. It also has numerous adverse side effects, not least of which are draw-down and pollution of water tables, production of huge quantities of toxic liquid and solid wastes, triggering of earthquakes via 'deep well injection' of wastes, and earth tremors via hydraulic fracturing, the destruction of conservation land and/or important agricultural land, and illness in affected parties, with all the upheavals to biodiversity and rural communities such destruction entails. For all these reasons it is well past time for Australia to become a leader in developing and implementing clean renewable energy systems both within Australia and as part of our exports. To continue to develop fossil fuels is to abrogate the solemn responsibility given to government in respect of intergenerational equity.

My specific objections to this proposal are outlined below:

RESPONSE TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - Despite the Director General requiring Santos to state "the likely interactions between the development and existing, approved and proposed gas exploration and production" Santos have not yet come clean with their future developments in the area.

WATER - The Pilliga Forest is an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin. The Director General requires baseline monitoring, however there is still no baseline water study completed for the Pilliga groundwater systems. The aquifer monitoring bores required to do this have not even been constructed.

In addition, the cumulative water model used by Santos lacks the basic data required to assess the impacts of drilling for coal seam gas on groundwater in the future. There must be thorough sampling and testing across the project area to enable modelling of regional groundwater flows and a comprehensive assessment of Groundwater Dependant Ecosystems in the Pilliga region including the potential impacts any groundwater drawdown or contamination may have.

These two Bohena wells are part of an exploration program that involves the multi-lateral drilling. The drilling through the casing of wells poses a risk to the Great Artesian Basin and other aquifers as it is very difficult, if not impossible, to seal the junction between the casing and the lateral.

BIODIVERSITY - Santos have admitted that their CSG exploration will destroy habitat for the Pilliga Mouse. The breeding status and population dynamics of the threatened species in the Pilliga are very poorly understood. There must be baseline ecological surveys to assess the population dynamics and status of the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern Pygmy Possum and Barking Owl.

AIR QUALITY - Another requirement is to assess the risk of fugitive emissions on environmental and human health. The baseline atmospheric methane data collection against which to assess any future potential fugitive emissions and Independent Health Impact Assessment of north-west NSW to establish baseline health data and air quality information has not yet been conducted.

HAZARDS - The Pilliga is highly susceptible to fires, largely due to the high incidence of ironstone attracting lightning strikes. It is not unusual for the Rural Fire Service to record up to 1000 over a 24 hour period in the Pilliga region. Santos does not appear to have a clear bushfire strategy, especially for gas flaring which cannot be shut down on catastrophic fire days.

CONSULTATION - It is extremely disappointing that Aboriginal Heritage requirements for were taken out of the Director General Requirements. There is a Native Title claim over the project area and Santos must include the Gomeroi Native Title Claimnts, Gomeroi Traditional Owners of the Pilliga and the Narrabri Local Aboriginal Land Council in their consultation.

RESPONSE TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - Despite the Director General requiring Santos to state "the likely interactions between the development and existing, approved and proposed gas exploration and production" Santos have not yet come clean with their future developments in the area.

WATER - The Pilliga Forest is an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin. The Director General requires baseline monitoring, however there is still no baseline water study completed for the Pilliga groundwater systems. The aquifer monitoring bores required to do this have not even been constructed.

In addition, the cumulative water model used by Santos lacks the basic data required to assess the impacts of drilling for coal seam gas on groundwater in the future. There must be thorough sampling and testing across the project area to enable modelling of regional groundwater flows and a comprehensive assessment of Groundwater Dependant Ecosystems in the Pilliga region including the potential impacts any groundwater drawdown or contamination may have.

These two Bohena wells are part of an exploration program that involves the multi-lateral drilling. The drilling through the casing of wells poses a risk to the Great Artesian Basin and other aquifers as it is very difficult, if not impossible, to seal the junction between the casing and the lateral.

BIODIVERSITY - Santos have admitted that their CSG exploration will destroy habitat for the Pilliga Mouse. The breeding status and population dynamics of the threatened species in the Pilliga are very poorly understood. There must be baseline ecological surveys to assess the population dynamics and status of the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern Pygmy Possum and Barking Owl.

AIR QUALITY - Another requirement is to assess the risk of fugitive emissions on environmental and human health. The baseline atmospheric methane data collection against which to assess any future potential fugitive emissions and Independent Health Impact Assessment of north-west NSW to establish baseline health data and air quality information has not yet been conducted.

HAZARDS - The Pilliga is highly susceptible to fires, largely due to the high incidence of ironstone attracting lightning strikes. It is not unusual for the Rural Fire Service to record up to 1000 over a 24 hour period in the Pilliga region. Santos does not appear to have a clear bushfire strategy, especially for gas flaring which cannot be shut down on catastrophic fire days.

CONSULTATION - It is extremely disappointing that Aboriginal Heritage requirements for were taken out of the Director General Requirements. There is a Native Title claim over the project area and Santos must include the Gomeroi Native Title Claimnts, Gomeroi Traditional Owners of the Pilliga and the Narrabri Local Aboriginal Land Council in their consultation.

I fiercely object to the Bibblewind Gas Exploration Pilot Expansion because:-

The Pilliga Forest is an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin. The Director General requires baseline monitoring, however there is still no baseline water study completed for the Pilliga groundwater systems. In fact the aquifer monitoring bores required to do this have not even been constructed.

In addition, the cumulative water model used by Santos lacks the basic data required to assess the impacts of drilling for coal seam gas on groundwater in the future. There must be thorough sampling and testing across the project area to enable modelling of regional groundwater flows and a comprehensive assessment of Groundwater dependent Ecosystems in the Pilliga region including the potential impacts any groundwater draw-down or contamination may have. Water is precious..the polluting activities of Santos are grave cause for concern and pose a real risk to the Great Artesian Basin and other aquifers.

Santos has admitted that their CSG exploration will destroy habitat for the Pilliga Mouse and other rare biodiversity. The breeding status and population dynamics of the threatened species in the Pilliga are very poorly understood. What is understood, however, is that clearing and degrading their habitat with cause untold damage.

The Pilliga is highly susceptible to fires, largely due to the high incidence of ironstone attracting lightning strikes and the inherant dryness of the woodlands. It is not unusual for the Rural Fire Service to record up to 1000 over a 24 hour period in the Pilliga region. Santos does not appear to have a clear bushfire strategy, especially for gas flaring which cannot be shut down on catastrophic fire days. In fact on days of extreme fire danger, with fire bans implemented across NSW, Santos continuines this high risk activity with careless abandon!

It is also extremely disappointing that Aboriginal Heritage requirements for were taken out of the Director General Requirements. There is a Native Title claim over the project area and Santos must include the Gomeroi Native Title Claimnts, Gomeroi Traditional Owners of the Pilliga and the Narrabri Local Aboriginal Land Council in their consultation.

I oppose allowing CSG exploration and mining operations in the Pilliga

RESPONSE TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - Despite the Director General requiring Santos to state "the likely interactions between the development and existing, approved and proposed gas exploration and production" Santos have not yet come clean with their future developments in the area.

WATER - The Pilliga Forest is an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin. The Director General requires baseline monitoring, however there is still no baseline water study completed for the Pilliga groundwater systems. The aquifer monitoring bores required to do this have not even been constructed.

In addition, the cumulative water model used by Santos lacks the basic data required to assess the impacts of drilling for coal seam gas on groundwater in the future. There must be thorough sampling and testing across the project area to enable modelling of regional groundwater flows and a comprehensive assessment of Groundwater Dependant Ecosystems in the Pilliga region including the potential impacts any groundwater drawdown or contamination may have.

These two Bohena wells are part of an exploration program that involves the multi-lateral drilling. The drilling through the casing of wells poses a risk to the Great Artesian Basin and other aquifers as it is very difficult, if not impossible, to seal the junction between the casing and the lateral.

BIODIVERSITY - Santos have admitted that their CSG exploration will destroy habitat for the Pilliga Mouse. The breeding status and population dynamics of the threatened species in the Pilliga are very poorly understood. There must be baseline ecological surveys to assess the population dynamics and status of the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern Pygmy Possum and Barking Owl.

AIR QUALITY - Another requirement is to assess the risk of fugitive emissions on environmental and human health. The baseline atmospheric methane data collection against which to assess any future potential fugitive emissions and Independent Health Impact Assessment of north-west NSW to establish baseline health data and air quality information has not yet been conducted.

HAZARDS - The Pilliga is highly susceptible to fires, largely due to the high incidence of ironstone attracting lightning strikes. It is not unusual for the Rural Fire Service to record up to 1000 over a 24 hour period in the Pilliga region. Santos does not appear to have a clear bushfire strategy, especially for gas flaring which cannot be shut down on catastrophic fire days.

CONSULTATION - It is extremely disappointing that Aboriginal Heritage requirements for were taken out of the Director General Requirements. There is a Native Title claim over the project area and Santos must include the Gomeroi Native Title Claimnts, Gomeroi Traditional Owners of the Pilliga and the Narrabri Local Aboriginal Land Council in their consultation.

We do not need gas from CSG, it is mostly destined for export and designed to line the pockets of rich companies, executives and politicians. We can extract methane from garbage dumps and sewerage treatment plants and produce hydrogen gas from solar PV. Baseload sustainable power can be produced from solar thermal, solar PV, wind, wave, tidal & geothermal and we can extract oil directly from plants. In order to prevent catastrophic climate change which will affect all of humanity we must move quickly away from coal, CSG & natural gas.

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to voice my objection to the proposed Bibblewindi Gas Exploration Pilot Expansion for the reasons listed below:

CONSULTATION - It is extremely disappointing that Aboriginal Heritage requirements for were taken out of the Director General Requirements. There is a Native Title claim over the project area and Santos must include the Gomeroi Native Title Claimnts, Gomeroi Traditional Owners of the Pilliga and the Narrabri Local Aboriginal Land Council in their consultation.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - Despite the Director General requiring Santos to state "the likely interactions between the development and existing, approved and proposed gas exploration and production" Santos have not yet come clean with their future developments in the area.

WATER - The Pilliga Forest is an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin. The Director General requires baseline monitoring, however there is still no baseline water study completed for the Pilliga groundwater systems. The aquifer monitoring bores required to do this have not even been constructed.

In addition, the cumulative water model used by Santos lacks the basic data required to assess the impacts of drilling for coal seam gas on groundwater in the future. There must be thorough sampling and testing across the project area to enable modelling of regional groundwater flows and a comprehensive assessment of Groundwater Dependant Ecosystems in the Pilliga region including the potential impacts any groundwater drawdown or contamination may have.

These two Bohena wells are part of an exploration program that involves the multi-lateral drilling. The drilling through the casing of wells poses a risk to the Great Artesian Basin and other aquifers as it is very difficult, if not impossible, to seal the junction between the casing and the lateral.

BIODIVERSITY - Santos have admitted that their CSG exploration will destroy habitat for the Pilliga Mouse. The breeding status and population dynamics of the threatened species in the Pilliga are very poorly understood. There must be baseline ecological surveys to assess the population dynamics and status of the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern Pygmy Possum and Barking Owl.

AIR QUALITY - Another requirement is to assess the risk of fugitive emissions on environmental and human health. The baseline atmospheric methane data collection against which to assess any future potential fugitive emissions and Independent Health Impact Assessment of north-west NSW to establish baseline health data and air quality information has not yet been conducted.

HAZARDS - The Pilliga is highly susceptible to fires, largely due to the high incidence of ironstone attracting lightning strikes. It is not unusual for the Rural Fire Service to record up to 1000 over a 24 hour period in the Pilliga region. Santos does not appear to have a clear bushfire strategy, especially for gas flaring which cannot be shut down on catastrophic fire days.

the dangers of coalseamgasmining are well documented,so anyone in their right mind will oppose it.please,don't do something you will regret.the watertable could be polluted through fracking.farms destroyed.who's gonna support us in essentials if we can no longer support ourself through farming?please whomever it do concern,have a long hard think&make the right decision.yours sincerely,sophia weigang.

i oppose coalseamgasmining.please be considerate,yours sincerely.

Dear Director for Planning & Infrastructure, NSW Government

Please consider my responses to the Director General's requirements:

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - Despite the Director General requiring Santos to state "the likely interactions between the development and existing, approved and proposed gas exploration and production" Santos have not yet come clean with their future developments in the area.

WATER - The Pilliga Forest is an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin. The Director General requires baseline monitoring, however there is still no baseline water study completed for the Pilliga groundwater systems. The aquifer monitoring bores required to do this have not even been constructed.

In addition, the cumulative water model used by Santos lacks the basic data required to assess the impacts of drilling for coal seam gas on groundwater in the future. There must be thorough sampling and testing across the project area to enable modelling of regional groundwater flows and a comprehensive assessment of Groundwater Dependant Ecosystems in the Pilliga region including the potential impacts any groundwater drawdown or contamination may have.

These two Bohena wells are part of an exploration program that involves the multi-lateral drilling. The drilling through the casing of wells poses a risk to the Great Artesian Basin and other aquifers as it is very difficult, if not impossible, to seal the junction between the casing and the lateral.

BIODIVERSITY - Santos have admitted that their CSG exploration will destroy habitat for the Pilliga Mouse. The breeding status and population dynamics of the threatened species in the Pilliga are very poorly understood. There must be baseline ecological surveys to assess the population dynamics and status of the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern Pygmy Possum and Barking Owl.

AIR QUALITY - Another requirement is to assess the risk of fugitive emissions on environmental and human health. The baseline atmospheric methane data collection against which to assess any future potential fugitive emissions and Independent Health Impact Assessment of north-west NSW to establish baseline health data and air quality information has not yet been conducted.

HAZARDS - The Pilliga is highly susceptible to fires, largely due to the high incidence of ironstone attracting lightning strikes. It is not unusual for the Rural Fire Service to record up to 1000 over a 24 hour period in the Pilliga region. Santos does not appear to have a clear bushfire strategy, especially for gas flaring which cannot be shut down on catastrophic fire days.

CONSULTATION - It is extremely disappointing that Aboriginal Heritage requirements for were taken out of the Director General Requirements. There is a Native Title claim over the project area and Santos must include the Gomeroi Native Title Claimnts, Gomeroi Traditional Owners of the Pilliga and the Narrabri Local Aboriginal Land Council in their consultation.

A comprehensive Social Impact Statement is essential and must be completed for full consideration before any more steps are taken to mine the Pilliga.

Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Sue Collings