Narrabri Gas

Having had the privilege of visiting the Pilliga forest area a number of years ago, I am distraught at the thought of it being savaged by 850 coal seam gas exploration wells. This is an area unique to NSW, and probably the whole of the east; an area I would like to know my children and grandchildren can visit and be awed by, as I was. It is classified as a biodiversity hot spot; what a privilege to have this in our state.
With the information now coming through on the risks to our water and air, associated with CSG exploration, and the continuing research indicating that gas is NOT a solution to the huge and looming environmental problems associated with climate change, how could any planner consider that this is a sensible option?
Please look further ahead than the next dollar. Please consider all our futures and do not proceed down this hideous path.
Please of please preserve the Pilliga.

No gas fields should ever be allowed in NSW. it is a risk not worth it

I oppose the Santos submission. It places ground and recharge water at risk, will fragment the surrounding forest and further endanger wildlife.

The project would extract over 35 billion litres of toxic groundwater and drill right through the recharge area of the Great Artesian Basin. It would generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt waste for which Santos has still not offered any waste disposal plans. This gasfield would fragment over 90,000 hectares of the the Pilliga forest, industrialising the largest temperate woodland in eastern Australia. Please acknowledge my support of the local people and future generations by reversing this abominable plan.

I am writing for formally request our government stop the Narrabri and Pilliga gas projects.

There is no way of treating the toxic waste and water is a finite resource we need to treasure not destroy. So much is unknown about the impacts and it is not worth the risk.

Smarten Up & Wake UP our country has other resources that are renewable. Please don't progress with anymore of this environmental vandalism and halt the Pillaga development.

I object to the Santos proposal. 850 coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga forest will totally disrupt this essential natural heritage area. The project would extract over 35 billion litres of toxic groundwater and drill right through the recharge area of the Great Artesian Basin. It would generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt waste for which Santos has still not offered any waste disposal plans. This gasfield would fragment over 90,000 hectares of the the Pilliga forest, industrialising the largest temperate woodland in eastern Australia. All this for a temporary industry that then moves on. Coal seam gas wells do not last long, but the damage they cause will live on.
Dr Haydn Washington

We must stop raping our land, especially that which is productive farmland, in the pursuit of CSG, which only brings profit to big business and ruins the ecology. Australians don't benefit from this, unless they hold shares in the company.

There's no justification: The significant harm on the social, environmental and economic values of the Narrabri Shire and New South Wales that this project will inflict needs to be
weighed against the economic justification for the project, but there is no such economic justification. Santos is one of several large gas companies that threw the east coast gas
market and the industries that rely on it into turmoil by pening up CSG fields in Queensland and contracting to sell more gas than those fields can produce to overseas customers. They drove up the price of gas and are plundering supplies previously available to manufacturers and power stations.
The gas produced at Narrabri might be as little as 4.9% of the volume contracted for sale out of Gladstone. It's not going to bring down prices. In fact, it will force prices up, because
unconventional gas like CSG is so expensive to produce and yields are so low. Research undertaken by gas company AGL shows that gas from the Pilliga would be the most
expensive gas of anywhere in the current east coast gas market. The number of jobs the project will support once the construction is over is just 145. Weighed against damage to
the land, and the Great Artesian Basin, this makes no sense. We need sustainable jobs, not plunder for profit.

The Great Artesian Basin supports the entire inland of Australia. Cattle stations, tourism, biodiversity like no other.
Don't screw it up for short term gain

I am against the Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga forest.

Below are a number of reasons why this project is not a good idea. To push ahead with this project despite the breadth of opposition is political suicide.
1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer
The Narrabri gasfield poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. In a worst-case scenario, the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas--potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin.¹

Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River--a part of the Murray Darling Basin. This system is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.

2. The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed
There are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay to the forest and to the groundwater beneath. Gamilaraay people are deeply involved in the battle against CSG, and have told Santos they do not want their country sacrificed for a coal seam gas field.

3. Farmers and other local community reject the project
Extensive community surveys have shown an average of 96% opposition to CSG. This stretches across a massive 3.2 million hectares of country surrounding the Pilliga forest, including 99 communities. Hundreds of farmers have participated in protest actions unlike any previously seen in the region.

4. The Narrabri Gas Project has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG water--Santos cannot be trusted to manage the project safely
Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium². In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads. Santos cannot be trusted.

5. The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife
The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots' and is vital to the survival of threatened species like the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat. The forest is home to over 200 bird species and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area². The Santos gasfield would fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelines--damaging vital habitat and threatening the survival of endangered species.

6. Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change
Methane is by far the major component of natural gas, and is a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than CO². CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas.

7. Human health is compromised by coal seam gas
A range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air from coal seam gas operations, including flaring of gas wells. The effects of volatile organic compounds vary, but can cause eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination⁴. These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gasfields in Queensland, Sydney and in America.

8. The nation's premier optical astronomical observatory is at risk
The Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungles and adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution⁵. The area has been internationally recognised as a `dark sky park'⁶ and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of the facility.

9. Thousands of tonnes of salt waste will result from the project
Santos has no solution for disposing of the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt that will be produced. Between 17,000 and 42,000 tonnes of salt waste would be produced each year. This industry would leave a toxic legacy in NSW.

10. Risk of fires would increase throughout the Pilliga's tinder-box conditions
Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is prone to severe bushfires. The project would increase ignition sources as well as extracting, transporting and storing a highly flammable gas right within this extremely fire-prone forest.
- See more at: https://www.wilderness.org.au/final-push-pilliga#sthash.wnW2pmvK.dpuf

The Pilliga is an ancient forest, of which there are far too few in the world. I have grandchildren and I want then to have the natural world to nurture them in all the important ways.

Please do not mine the Pilliga for gas. We are a country well able to support eternal renewables, and gas is a finite resource. I beg you not to allow anymore mining i the Pilliga.

Why won't the government get a spine and invest on a huge scale in renewable energy? It's what the people want, It's what the planet needs. Why can't we be counted among the smart nations who are looking to the future and harness the vast renewable resources that are at our fingertips? Why can't we be an intelligent perceptive species? Our leaders have been fluffing around with this for so long now...what will it take for someone at the top to act? Very disheartening to see our government and business pulling more out of this deteriorating planet. We are already taking to much from Mother Earth.

Please stop meddling with these precious eco systems and destroying our waterways and forests, water is more precious then gas!

I am writing to oppose the proposed Santos' Narrabri Gas Project.
I have read that this project would extract over 35 billion litres of toxic groundwater and drill right through the recharge area of the Great Artesian Basin. This would generate thousands of tonnes of salt waste. It is my understanding that Santos has still not offered any waste disposal plans! This is completely unacceptable.
This gasfield would fragment over 90,000 hectares of the Pilliga forest, industrialising the largest temperate woodland in eastern Australia.
I believe that this project is not in the best interest of the local community of the Pilliga or the environment.
i strongly object to this project. Please do not allow this project to go ahead.

Surely we cannot risk the long term future of the Great Artisan Basin for short term gain of gas supply which will most likely be exported overseas - no real gain for Australia and a big risk of damaging the priceless water supply from the Artisan basin.
Stop the drilling!!

Please do not rape this beautiful region of nature and natural significance to all Australians.
Please put your energies into finding far better ways of producing energy. Gas drilling has been proven over and over to be a disaster for any area that it has been allowed into.
When will these big companies and our government realise money is far better being spent in finding sustainable energy sources and to get away from using fossil fuels. Please listen to the Australian people we do not want this.

The Pilliga coal seam gas project is a disaster for our climate, local bushland and wildlife and for the Traditional Owners and farmers who call the region home.

Some more detailed reasons:
1. It is safe haven for threatened wildlife
The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots' and is vital to the survival of threatened species like the koala, spotted-tailed quoll, black-striped wallaby, eastern pygmy-possum, pilliga mouse and south-eastern long-eared Bat.

2. Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change
Methane is by far the major component of natural gas, and is a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than CO². CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas. recent IR filming has shown the vast amounts of methane released in and around gas fields. Just because we cannot see it with the naked eye does not mean it's not escaping into the atmosphere and having adverse effects globally as well as locally (poisoning water and making air unsafe to breathe.)

3. It risks our clean water
The Narrabri gasfield poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest.

4. The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed
There are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay to the forest and to the groundwater beneath. Gamilaraay people are deeply involved in the battle against CSG, and have told Santos they do not want their country sacrificed for a coal seam gas field.

5. Bushfire risk will rise
Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is already prone to severe bushfires, this project will increase the risk of ignition.

The risks associated with these proposals cannot be sufficiently quantified let alone ameliorated. Concentrate on making renewable energy work, not destroying the environment in unknowable ways.

Honestly , please leave this small remaining significant area of Pillaga scrub for future generations to enjoy
Why on earth we would risk our greatest asset IMHO (the Great Artesian Basin) is beyond
Tell Santos to go away the thieving mongrels