Narrabri Gas

My submission in opposition to Santos' Narrabri Gas Project is to assist the end of coal seam gas mining in NSW forever.

The Pilliga forest is the largest intact woodland in eastern Australia, stretching across half a million hectares in north-western New South Wales. It is a unique ecological refuge, home to 25 nationally listed and 48 state-listed threatened species, such as the Pilliga Mouse, which rely on the Pilliga for survival. The sandstone under the Pilliga is a vital recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin, and creeks that flow through the Pilliga provide clean water into the Murray Darling Basin. These water sources are the lifeblood of farming communities throughout the southeast and inland Australia.

Yet Santos plans to drill 850 wells through the Great Artesian Basin in the Pilliga despite scientific evidence to the contrary that coal seam gas mining is hazardous to the environment and the burning of gas for electricity is promoting climate change.

We also know that if we're to maintain a safe climate and keep global warming below 2 degrees, projects like this cannot go ahead.

The following reasons highlight why this project should not go ahead.

1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks valuable water sources, including the Great Australian Basin which is Australia's largest groundwater aquifer
The Narrabri gas field 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 area and potentially stop 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, which is 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 so 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 Area. The Santos gas field would fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelines, thereby 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 coordination. 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 pollution. The area has been internationally recognised as a dark sky park 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.

I wish to add my opposition to the proposed Pilliga gas project.

If it goes ahead it will damage the Great Artesian Basin for all time, scar and pollute the landscape. The local traditional custodians of the land oppose it. This should be respected.

Also Santos has no environmentally acceptable solution for dealing with the vast quantities of salt waste water that will be produced and irrevocably damage the land

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.IBkqJON4.dpuf

Australia as a unified nation is smarter than this proposal.
CSG is for a short term financial advantage. The Pillga environment and drilling through the recharge area of the Great Artesian Basin is forever. CSG would generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt waste for which Santos has still not offered any waste disposal plans.
This proposal will not stand the test of hindsight from the not too distant future.
We are all better than this.

I am shocked to hear this project is still proposed. Most of the community 93% at last count are against this development and last time I looked we lived in a democratic country. How can this sort of thing happen in this day and age against the wishes of the people? Is big business that powerful that they can coerce a government to run rough shod over the people? This is a shameful situation.

In this country water is a very scarce and precious commodity. 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.

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.

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. This crosses all political divides.

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.

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. This is where we should be looking for a growth industry. TOURISM, the first thing visitors to this great land want to see is our unique wildlife. This is at risk and once lost will be gone forever. We are risking all this for a very short term project. CSG is not the way forward.

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.

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

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 pollution. The area has been internationally recognised as a `dark sky park' and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of the facility. How can this project be well thought out?

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.

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.

We have to think of future generations and not short term profits. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND STOP THIS INSANITY.

I strongly oppose the Narrabri Gas Project or any other coal seam gas projects as they are deversating to our natural environment as well as on our water ways.

This would be a complete step backwards! Absolutely ridiculous that this even needs to be objected to- shouldn't be allowed in the first place!

I strongly oppose the Narrabri Gas Project or any other coal seam gas projects as they are deversating to our natural environment as well as on our water ways.

I strongly oppose the Narrabri Gas Project or any other coal seam gas projects as they are deversating to our natural environment as well as on our water ways.

I strongly oppose the Narrabri Gas Project or any other coal seam gas projects as they are deversating to our natural environment as well as on our water ways.

I strongly oppose the Narrabri Gas Project or any other coal seam gas projects as they are deversating to our natural environment as well as on our water ways.

We need to protect for the future not for the pockets of the corporations today !


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.9Fp5yanp.dpuf

Coal seam gas exploration in the Pillaga would most likely damage the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Rivers system.

It would ruin farmland and cause undue hardship and suffering to residents anywhere near to fracking operations, making it impossible for some to remain in their homes, or on their farms, which could become unsellable.

It would ruin the forest environment, causing loss of habitat for countless wildlife, many of which are endangered and could become extinct.

When the supply of gas is exhausted, there would be no going back. All the devastation would be permanent. We could have lost permanent, essential water supplies, food growing farm land, habitat and environmental assets.

All of this is would be in the quest for a fossil fuel which we can no longer afford to burn. During exploration and extraction, there will be leakage of poisonous chemicals and green house gasses.

We already have an ample supply of gas for our needs, while we transition to 100% renewable energy, which we must do as a matter of emergency.

Global Warming is already underway and accelerating faster than predicted. Any benefit from fossil fuel extraction and use will soon be swallowed up by the devastation from Climate Change, which will severely damage infrastructure and our ability to grow food.

For the sake of the next generation we must not proceed with this project.

It is sheer stupidity (& corporate greed) to exploit this forest when we need to be preserving habitat for plants & wildlife
and maintaining the local community's quality of life.
Interfering with the Great Artesian Basin is fraught with danger as it is such an essential water source

I wish to formalise my intense objection to this development. It is foolish and dangerous to potentially sacrifice one of Australia's most important natural assets for the sake of at best questionable benefit to all Australians with such an industry that has not even been universally considered as safe or without catastrophic affects in the future.

PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS TERRIBLE DEVESTATION OF OUR HOME WHAT GOOD IS "ECONOMY " OR JOBS IF WE DONT HAVE CLEAN AIR WATER OR FOOD AND DESTROY OUR WILDLIFE BY DESTROYING OUR HOME AND THEIR HABITAT??
THINK OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND IF YOU BELIEVEVE IN REINCARNATION THINK OF YOUR OWN FUTURE LIFETIMES ON THIS BEAUTIFUL FRAGILE AND ABUSED PLANET OUR HOME DO YOU WISH TO LIVE IN A GARDEN OR A TOXIC WASTELAND ?????

I oppose the Narrabri Gas Project. It is hard to think of a worse environmental outcome for the district than to be peppered with oil and gas exploration. The country can eventually recover from savage bushfires and massive floods, but contamination of water is forever.

Despite promises to restore mine sites, the mining industry has left a ravaged landscape. So why should communities have any illusions that this part of the industry will be any better?

We're poisoning our own land to sell dirty fuel overseas. Lose-lose.

to whom it may concern.
I am a member of the public with grave concerns of this gas project in this region.
I would like to voice my concerns about the dangers with this project named Narrabri Gas project.
We cannot afford to damage our aquafers please do not go ahead with this project its to dangerous when fresh water is involved. There is a lot of documentation of the damage that has occurred around the world with this procedure. Please do not let this happen to our natural environment.

This is a submission to the Narrabri Gas EIS.
I object to this project and believe it should be rejected. I outline several points below regarding the significant detrimental impacts of this proposed project.
 It will extract over 35 billion litres of toxic groundwater, much of it in the first five years. This water will be treated and in the early years will generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt, for which there is no safe disposal plan.
 It will clear close to 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest, fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife.
 It will cause significant diversion of water from a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin, which is a water resource relied upon by rural communities across western NSW.
 It will lead to large deliberate and fugitive emissions of methane, adding to climate change.
 It will cause more trauma to the regional Aboriginal community because the area of impact is crucially important to the spiritual, cultural and social life of Gamilaraay people.
 It is not justified: Santos' own coal seam gas export activities in Queensland have caused gas prices to rise and supply to become unpredictable. NSW should respond to this by investing in more reliable and ultimately cheaper renewable energy, not by letting Santos inflict more environmental, social and economic harm.
 It will cause economic upheaval in Narrabri and put agricultural industries at risk, as well as causing light pollution that will ruin the dark night sky needed by the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory.
 Coal seam gas is harmful to health. Neither the NSW Government nor Santos have investigated or dealt with the serious health effects of coal seam gas now appearing in peer-reviewed research in the United States.
I urge the Government to reject this project and make the Great Artesian Basin recharge off- limits to gas mining.
Yours,
Rebecca Hilder

The Pilliga, a vital recharge area for The Great Artesian Basin. The great Artesian Basin is one of the largest artesian basins in the world, stretching over 1,700,000 sq. kilometres. It underlies 22% of Australia and is our most important water resource and this is just one of the reasons why I object to CSG mining in this most important and amazing part of our country. Aquifers have already been destroyed worldwide because of CSG mining. Overseas mining companies do not give a stuff about Australia, its people or our environment.
It beggars belief that any of our politicians would give the go ahead to allow CSG mining in such a sensitive area. Past environmental destruction to aquifers, farmland, health of the people who live in the vacinity, native flora and fauna including endangered species proves that where there is CSG mining there is environmental destruction and health issues.
Mining companies world wide have a less than satisfactory track record when it comes to looking after the environment. Look at the environmental destruction they have caused in other countries. STOP these environmental vandals from adding Australia to their list of environmental STUFF-UPS.
How is the salt waste going to be disposed of? Toxic Tonnes left to pollute the environment. Have they come up with a solution yet?
The custodians of the land, the Gamilaroi People object to this mining and that should be enough to stop this mine but you ignore their objections. You give them back their land but then you say, 'There is CSG under your land so we are going to ignore your objections and take what we want anyway.' This is so wrong.
Mr Turnbull keeps telling us that there is a gas shortage. There would not be a so called shortage if the greedy mining companies stopped exporting the bulk of it . Problem solved.
CSG mining has to be stopped as it is environmental vandalism at its worst.