Narrabri Gas

The contamination threat to the great Artesian Basin is far too great. This system feeds most of our southern arable land including the Murray Darling Basin an already stressed and vulnerable ecosystem.
Spills and leaks are commonplace in the industry and cannot be adequately contained or remedied. Poisoning of the ground water systems as has occurred elsewhere overseas spy this industry could never be worth the risk to the future health of our land and people no matter sharpe the profit.
I implore you to make what must be a sane decision. Do not allow gas mining in the Pilliga

There is a high probability that the drilling of these wells may adversely and irreversibly permanently damage the artesian water supply which would cause closure to many rural industries. The recent demonstrations of the escape of methane from these wells will contribute to Australia's contribution to Climate Change.
Drilling for gas in these regions should be completely banned.

I want to ask that the gas project not go ahead. Mining always releases poison into the environment. We have better ways to produce energy now. Please consider that the earth and water and atmosphere keep us alive. We must keep it clean. It is a violation to pollute the wilderness. All people need nature to heal, all of us are sustained by the earth, it soothes our inevitable grief and pain and keeps are bodies strong and healthy. I ask you not to go ahead.

Water is life, the earth and the air. We cannot continue to pollute these resources when there are more economical alternatives, even countries with more challenges than Australua embrace renewable energy sources. I absolutely object to this proposal!

I oppose the Narrabri gas project based on the severe environmental impact it would have on the region and further a field through ground water contamination.

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)

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 barium (2). 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.

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.

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 Area (3). 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.

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 coordination (4). These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gasfields in Queensland, Sydney and in America.

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.

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.

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.


References

(1) SoilFutures Consulting 2014, Great Artesian Basin Recharge Systems and Extent of Petroleum and Gas Leases. http://www.gabpg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/GAB-Report1.pdf

(2) http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-coal-seam-gas-project-contaminates-aquifer-20140307-34csb.html

(3) BirdLife International (2017) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pilliga http://www.birdlife.org

(4) Marion Carey Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), Air pollution from coal seam gas may put public health at risk The Conversation, November 20, 2012

The risks to a major long-term resource, the Great Artesian Basin, have not been adequately addressed in the proposal to mine the Pilliga forest area - a neglect apparently driven by narrow short-term vested financial interests at the expense of the whole Australian community.

This is tantamount to cutting off the branch we're all sitting on because a small group can't see beyond making a quick dollar for themselves. It is appalling almost beyond belief.

I would beg you to put a stop to this madness by disallowing any and all coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga forest area.

Thank you

No no no and no

I would have thought by now that the message of the evil being perpetrated through unconventional gas extraction to the Pilliga forest aquifers has sunk into the common sense part of governmental decision making. Surely clean fresh water is a priority of life and health and should should not be compromised by the fossil fuel industry. Enlightened European countries have realised this for many years. Must we follow Americas lead in everything Australia does? Let's sort out the wheat from the chart and become a country that the world admires.

Please do not approve any santos expansion in the Pilliga.

I am opposed to CSG extraction in the Pilliga region for many reasons.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. I have been bird watching there in groups from all over Australia on several occasions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I use gas for heating but am prepared to give that up rather than destroy important rural, agricultural and national treasures of natural environment for a short term gain.

Please do not extract gas in this vital area.

The risk to the environment in general, and to the Great Artesian Basin in particular, are enormous. They should be sufficient for any prudent risk-benefit analysis to lead to its complete rejection.

I urge those assessing the Narrabri Gas Project on behalf of all citizens of Australia to reject the project on environmental grounds.

To whom it may concern,
This submission has been written to draw attention to the unacceptable impacts of Santos current plan with light pollution from their upcoming 850 gaswells and flares near Siding Spring Observatory. It is a simple solution, as recommended by the NSW EPA to enclose all flares, not just for emissions and cleaner burning, but also to reduce the amount of unnecessary light pollution from giant flames lighting the night sky.
Siding Spring Observatory is Australia's only unique science research facility using the largest optical telescopes for astrophysics and astronomy. First established in Coonabarabran NSW, on the Warrumbungle Ranges in the 1960's it was built here because of the dark skies in this region. While there is historic value of this site from telescopes established over 50 years ago, this observatory hosts the largest optical telescopes from national and international universities and research entities. Not only hosting the largest, this site hosts the second, third, fourth, fifth largest telescopes etc in Australia, playing a key role in science research across the Southern Hemisphere. Over 50 telescopes are listed across the site being used by over 30 universities, institutions and private businesses using cutting edge technology, with some of the most advanced telescopes being used is astrophysical research. Future plans include another 50 telescopes to be built on site within the next decade. All this is reliant on keeping the dark sky dark! If this area was to lose the dark sky, this observatory would not be replicated again in Australia, but moved elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
From 2013 onwards light emissions from the Santos gasfield exploration have increased to the point that, just the Bibblewindi large flare and unmanned facility alone, creates more light pollution than the entire town of nearby Coonabarabran with over 3500 people residing there. Santos have listed plans to triple the amount of pilot flares and double the amount of large flares including constructing 50 metre high flare stacks, with an average 30 metre high flame above it. Nowhere do they list the EPAs recommended practice to enclose flares, as has been done in NSW areas such as Gloucester. Enclosing flares is the only acceptable mitigation to protect the scientific community from the unnecessary light pollution they plan to emit. Siding Spring Observatory already has to deal with light pollution from existing mining and regional towns. Even Sydney itself, from over 400kms away can affect research from its light glow. Santos are a lot closer than this. Every bit of extra light pollution is making it more difficult to continue the leading scientific research, and while each pollute in different levels, most consider they aren't doing any damage. But it's the combination with the existing light sources, adding a cumulative effect which is becoming worse as more pollution is created.
In summary, this is a simple fix in this case, as while Santos building infrastructure is willing to comply with shielded lights for buildings, they need to go a step further and enclose all current and future flares as the NSW EPA recommend. It is the only acceptable solution.
Thanks,

Elizabeth Haller

I object strongly!

1. It is safehaven 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.

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.

CSG in the Pilliga is an absolute national disgrace. This will poison ground water and release massive amounts of methane that will ultimately kill millions. The days will come when the mass murders responsible will be brought to justice like any other criminal or war criminal has in the past. No doubt this is gong ahead through mass corruption in the form of political donations and jobs for the boys.
NO JOBS ON A DEAD PLANET!!
Time to allow private sale of power through private grids but currently illegal because of mass corruption!!

I am a biologist and I oppose the Narrabri gas project because of it inevitable catastrophic effects on the water table, the Artesian Basin recharge system and the fragmentation of the Pillega ecosystem.
There is no proposal for handling the salt waste from this project and Santos has a terrible record of handling the environmental consequences of its projects.

We live on the driest continent and water quality and volume are too valuable to screw up for short term gain by Santos.

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. 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.
This is an environmentally disastrous project and the world is watching.

Scientific evidence suggests that these type's of projects have a strong environmental negative influence.
There is no sense in poisoning our water supplies with old resource methods when there are alternative methods of producing energy.
Forests are our water catchments and humans have already destroyed enough of these precious habitats across Australia and worldwide.
The Gamilaraay people, have the right to their sacred land, for it is this land that is crucially important to the spiritual, cultural and social life these people and all that hold a connection to this land.
To go ahead with this project is amongst the many crimes against humanity and this corporation and it's directors will held responsible for the entirety of life by the people.
I urge the NSW Government to strongly take a stance against this project going ahead, for the good of mankind, the greater growth of society, it's economy, and evolution.
With respect, alternative resources of energy will thrive and sustain the biosphere for the prolonged life of all beings on this Earth.

1. I object to any new fossil fuel drilling or mining for the sake of our planet, and that means for the sake of my children, grandchildren and great grand children , all other of the human family, to whom I am kin and to the rest of my kin the wonderfully diverse network of life.
2. I object to any further CSG wells being drilled in the Pilliga region. CSG is not the answer to Climate Change and destroys the land above ground and the water below ground as well as feeding methane into the atmosphere, and to be burnt. This accelerates climate change. These wells also use huge amounts of energy in their construction, which we need for other more important use, whether it is the diesel or the energy imbedded in the infra structure.
3. I object to central gas processing for compression, dehydration and water treatment. These facilities are 24 hour a day and energy intensive, noisy, light polluting and if we don't have the gas field, not required. They also involve flaring of methane gas as well as leakage. Not what our very special Australian people and environment need.
4. I object to the water facility for storage and treatment of produced water and to the infield gas compression and water management facility. Firstly produced water is an anathema to the environment and much of it would not be in the massive holding ponds, but still in the below ground water system. In the holding ponds it can leak into the environment and in the nature of any holding pond will eventually fail. If we do not drill we do not have to cope with this insurmountable problem, which would be left for the citizens of NSW to remedy. Using it for any purpose only spreads the problem. Our rivers, our roads, etc are not sewers for toxic waste. If any attempt were made to even approach some truly appropriate action on produced water it would be astronomically expensive of personnel and energy resources.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WE CAN DO WHICH MUST NOT BE DONE.

We need a national plan to bring Australia into the 21st century, which is the century of renewables. If we had stayed with Labor's plan of a price on carbon and had removed all subsidies to fossil fuels we would have been well on the way towards taking advantage of Australia's abundant wind and solar resources and the necessary infra structure, of more localised grids, and storage of energy would be flourishing.

Coal Seam Gas is no answer to Climate Change. It is ENERGY INTENSIVE industrialisation, destructiVE of water resources on a massive scale with massive pollution by unknown, toxic materials as well as massive leaks of methane. It destroys habitat, productive land and its attendant water supply. Not at any level "green" or the answer to climate change.

I am making my submission to reject any and all Coal Seam Gas exploration or extraction in the Pilliga, or indeed elsewhere.
Coal Seam Gas is an unviable product for a number of reasons, negatively impacting local community rights, water security, as well as the local and global environment.

Communities should have a right to reject mining proposals on the land they live on. mining is a single-use, high-impact consumption of land, that cannot be repeated. The tax on mining extraction should be a minimum 90% of profits - ensuring that extraction is only used when needed, in areas people can agree on.

Coal Seam Gas has a strong global history of destroying water security and land stability. It is unreasonable to subject local communities and environments to this sort of disruption.

The upheaval caused by CSG extraction is incredibly damaging to local environments as well. The loss of biodiversity is something Australia can ill-afford.

The world cannot sustain energy-intensive extraction like Coal Seam Gas, Shale Gas. It can not even sustain conventional energy sources like Coal.

Australia needs a rapid shift to renewables if we are to curb the harshest effects of climate change. Government bodies have to accept this reality as apolitical, and act accordingly. To allow gas miners access to people's land is to politicise a dire global emergency and deliberately frustrate solutions.

The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources.

The area of the Great Artesian Basin - Australia's largest groundwater aquifer - with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. The water removed for CSG extraction could stop the free flow of waters to the 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.

Santos has 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. Air pollution from CSG operations compromises human health⁴, as documented in populations nearby to existing gasfields in Queensland and Sydney.

Hundreds of farmers have participated in massive protest actions. Extensive community surveys have shown an average of 96% opposition to CSG across 99 communities living on the 3.2 million hectares of country around the Pilliga forest.

The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots', home to Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat, as well as over 200 bird species, and an Important Bird Area³. The gasfield would fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga, threatening the survival of endangered species.

The nation's premier optical astronomical observatory, the Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungles and adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the 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. They would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is already extremely fire-prone, which would be made much worse by the project working with a highly flammable gas right within it.

Do not destroy the cultural heritage of Gamilaraay people for one more drop of gas in the world where domestic gas market is finally catching up with the reality of international gas shortage and resulting high prices. Invest in renewable energy sources and help farmers, instead of turning the forest into a wasteland.

¹SoilFutures Consulting 2014, Great Artesian Basin Recharge Systems and Extent of Petroleum and Gas Leases. http://www.gabpg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/GAB-Report1.pdf
²http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-coal-seam-gas-project-contaminates-aquifer-20140307-34csb.html
³BirdLife International (2017) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pilliga http://www.birdlife.org
⁴Marion Carey Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), Air pollution from coal seam gas may put public health at risk The Conversation, November 20, 2012
⁵https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/21/siding-spring-observatory-threat-coal-seam-gas-light-pollution
⁶http://darksky.org/first-dark-sky-park-in-australia-designated/

Please leave the Pilliga forest. untouched. Coal seam gas exploration is very harmful to the environment and underground water. We need to find our sources of energy above the earth....Solar,wind.... waves...not by scaring and polluting the earth.