Narrabri Gas

Dear Sir/Madam,

I lived on the outskirts of the Pilliga for 18 years from 1989 to 2008. The Pilliga is a very special place, from it's natural beauty, wildlife, sandstone formations through to be a recharge supply for the aquifers that so much of the country depends upon.

To cause damage to that natural area for it's beauty alone would be a tragedy, let alone the future economic costs of loss of tourism and loss of underground water for agricuture, all for a short term financial gain.

I'd love to see my children and their children enjoy it in it's natural state, and for it to continue to contribute to our state's future.

CSG projects have proven to be environmentally hazardous, contaminating ground water with toxic treatment water and thus threatening the health of ground water dependent life. Agriculture and communities relying on it also come under threat by CSG projects in their area. Entire ecosystems are threatened by the lack of clean water available as well as by toxic residue or waste produced by CSG.

I do not agree with SANTOS continuing with CSG proposals in the Pilliga Forest.

It has been shown that "produced water" spills in areas of the Pilliga Forest have been badly contaminated and have not been able to be rehabilitated.

CSG drilling is also unsafe contaminating air land and water.

The Pilliga Forest is NO place for CSG drilling.

I do not condone the environmental pollution caused by CSG exploration and retrieval. It is vandalism

The time for extracting more gas is passed. The planet cannot cope with more released carbon. Our society must find alternative ways to achieve what would have been the uses of gas. Such alternatives will create jobs as well as giving the planet a chance to recover.

NSW Planning & Environment Dept.---Dear Sir / Madam / Committee---I am a private citizen & represent only myself & have no formal Political affiliation/membership.---I have holidayed & used the Pilliga Scrub area in the past, but not recently.---I cannot see the good of this 'Fracking' / Mining proposal, other than to see some company / persons richer financially.---I consider it to be 'well established' that 'Fracking' as this proposed process is known, will be to the permanent DETRIMENT of the Pilliga Scrub area as a whole & to the local people, flora & fauna specifically.---Please accept this formal OBJECTION to this proposal.
I have made NO Political Donation or Gift.

I am no activist, but am so concerned about the damage this project could do - particularly to Australia's Great Artesian Basin that I am compelled to place on record my objection to this project and the lack of information being provided by Santos on waste disposal in particular.
It seems 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

I object to any coal seam gas project , and especially the one proposed for the Piliga .

The potential risk to ground and underground water is too high to allow any drilling and or fracking .

The destruction of habitat is to be avoided.....we are running out of natural bush areas for our native animals to call home .

The risk of fire from gas flares is too high .

This proposal threatens water quality in the Great Artesian Basin as well as the Murray Darling catchment, risks damage to the habitat of many native animals as well as adding to atmospheric CO2 levels by burning off excess methane on site & the eventual end use as fuel.
CSG extraction uses hydraulic fracturing which has been shown to release VOC's & heavy metals trapped in the seam to the detriment of the environment.
The treatment & storage plants plus the access roads can cover thousands of hectares, necessitating the removal of native vegetation.
Waste water, unless treated offsite, will chemically contaminate our precious water supply.

Please do not approve this damaging project which will not benefit the people of NSW.

Sincerely,
Jill O'Loughlin

We need to protect the Pilliga Forest, not destroy it. Coal seam gas threatens our way of life, we should be investing in renewable energy sources. This Gas Project is and will potentially destroy Australian land and environment. Stop before it is too late.

SANTOS
Leave our precious Pilliga out of your plans!!!

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.

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

CSG mining will increase carbon dioxide gas emission from the present atmospheric concentration because of the fossil fuel burnt and because of fugitive emission during the extraction process.
Global warming is already unacceptable and the Narrabri proposal will increase global warming.
The Narrabri development will decrease biodiversity because of global warming and because of the destruction of the local environment at each of the local well sites.

We are only now realising the destruction of habitat and aquifers from fossil fuel extraction, for example the draining of Thirlmere Lakes by Tahmoor Colliery. Tahmoor Colliery is an important lesson because we were assured its approval was safe before it was approved, yet it was not. Now that Thirlmere Lakes have been drained, Tahmoor Colliery denies it is the cause. Mr Angus Taylor, Federal Member for Hume, says the NSW and Federal legislation is adequate to protect our natural resources, yet that legislation has not protected Thirlmere Lakes. Mr Jai Rowell, NSW Member for Macarthur, was not able to protect Camden residents from the environmental damage still being caused by the fracking and gas extraction caused by and continuing to be caused by the AGL owned and operated Camden Gas Field.

CSG extraction has known health effects on humans and on agriculture. Global warming has deleterious health effects on biodiversity.

In addition to the important reasons above, I also object for the following five reasons:
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.

Dear Sirs/Ms
It is beyond my comprehension that this government is even considering to allow the desecration of the Pilliga.There is a barrage of proof of the inevitable destruction of land, water, ecosystems, air quality, the environment, farming,local economy, real estate values, and health. WHY? CSG is sold overseas at a cost considerably less than we are charged in Australia, so it simply makes no sense to destroy everything we value just to supply very cheap gas overseas. On top of that, with Climate Change impacting the number & intensity of electrical storms in a dry land, the risk is even greater of fire - &
even further destruction - of homes, stock, & lives.
Why are you not supporting the generation of alternative, responsible energy? I am a 75 year old retired professional who will NEVER vote again for a government that irresponsibly & recklessly facilitates the mining of CSG.

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.


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

- See more at: https://www.wilderness.org.au/final-push-pilliga#sthash.Jq1mOpKf.dpuf

I am deeply concerned about the plan to place up to 850 coal seam gas wells in the heart of the Pilliga Forest in NSW.

Chief amongst my concern is the very real risk to the Great Artesian Basin. Since my childhood, when I first learned of this precious water resource, I have marvelled at its existence - an existence which has far greater significance today, in the face of climate change. The demand for water will increase and our relatively dry country requires us to exert extreme diligence in caring for our water resources. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest.

In addition, is the risk to the Murray Darling 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.

It is my strong belief that the extraction of coal seam gas cannot be justified. Other forms of energy generation, not based on fossil fuels, are available and pose much less risk to our fragile environment.

There is widespread objection from local communities to this scheme. In our "supposed" democracy it is unconscionable that the views of citizens can be ignored.
I haven't even touched on the health risks....or the soul-felt opposition of the Gamilaraay people.

Finally, I write as a University graduate, a mother and a grandmother with a heart-felt sense of responsibility towards our country Australia, needing it to be a fit place for habitation for our future generations.

Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission on the Narrabri Gas Project. I most definitely oppose and disapprove of the project. We need to learn, collectively, that we cannot keep assaulting the land, the water, the air; removing things from the ground that should be left, taking water from where it should be left, poisoning water, and poisoning air.

I support the traditional owners in opposing this project. You must listen to what they say, and large companies and corporations need to listen to what they say. There is a deep understanding of the country, and of course they do not want the country destroyed, important sites desecrated, songlines broken.

I support the whole community opposing this project. They must be heard, it is their lives and well being, their livelihoods, their futures. Please listen to the people, people do not want the Pilliga forest put under such threat.

The detrimental impact on the groundwater alone should be enough to set alarm bells ringing. But there are so many more environmental threats on top; further clearing of trees, contamination of water sources, huge amounts of water being removed from where it naturally flows, further destruction of habitat of important species, contamination of air, huge amounts of salt as a bi-product of the project, increased danger of bush fire.

Santos have already caused serious environmental impact with spills resulting in contamination of water. Please don't hand them the ability to do further damage. Let's say no to CSG full stop, why allow Santos to continue wreaking destruction, contamination, risk to health, and the environment?

Expanding CSG in the Pilliga to over 850 wells is an extremely bad idea. It will be lethal as far as the peace and culture of the local community goes. Some people in the area are all for it, because they think it provides jobs, but thes are few and short term, especially when it comes to setting them of against jobs in farming, tourism and at research at the Siding Springs Observatory. Build more renewable energy projects instead.

Santos thinks it has science on its side, but the science used to justify this proposed gasfield is cherry-picked and inadequate. There has been so much research into the deleterious effects of living in and around a coal seam gas field from places like the USA and Europe. let alone Queensland, that the very idea of turning one of Australia's most productive farming areas into a gasfield is downright evil.

Farmers are not stupid. They know that 850 gas wells is only just a start, and that they will spread over past Maules Creek and onto the Liverpool plains, the courtry's food bowl. Gasfields do not only cause cancer, but they act like a cancer. They are harmful and uncontrollable. Let them get a foot in and they will take over. Santos has conveniently swept under the carpet, the latest peer reviewed research from the USA on the health effects of living with CSG.

Where there are bad effects on humans, there are also ill effects on the health of animals. At least 1000 hectares of biodiverse forest habitat will be removed. The biodiversity of the Pilliga forest and waterways is under threat. From the stygofauna of the Great Artesian Basin to the rare birds, bats, reptiles and marsupials in the Pilliga Forest, none will be unaffected by this gross incursion on their home. Water is life.

The Gamilaraay people, as custodians of this rare remnant forest are being disposessed once again, their traditions, sacred sites and culture will be disrupted or destroyed. There will be clashes between Aboriginal people and the company, and farmers, youthful protestors and grey nomads will support them, with greatly increased cost of policing. It is not at all right for our police and courts to be used to protect and support a fossil fuel company like Santos against the community.

There have been suspiciously corrupt dealings and donations towards councils and other levels of government. All donations and sponsorships from Santos should be banned. The EIS just skips over the real problem of pollution. How is all that salt to be disposed of? We will have saline rivers and pastures which will affect everyone downstream as well as agricultural production.

Why would one even consider drilling and fracking over the Great Artesian Basin? CSG is a leading cause of fugitive emmission of greenhouse gas. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. As the climate becomes increasingly catastrophic and unstable due to out over-use of fossil fuel, we will need our best soil and water protected or there will be mass famine and refugees clamouring to come to Australia.

Gas is no transition fuel. We have waited around for renewables for so long. Let's grasp the change. There is no gas shortage in Australia, just a glut of greed. Most of the gas produce by wrecking the Pilliga will just be piped to be exported from industrial sites in Qld. This is not good enough. Please knock back this toxic gasfield.

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.

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.

In summary, exploiting extra gas resources is a "nice to have" for NSW, but access to fresh water is an "essential". If gas extraction comes at the cost of pollution to our fresh water resources then NSW is paying too high a price