Narrabri Gas

I object to the development of a coal seam gas field in the Pilliga region for many reasons including the impacts and the risks involved to native fauna and flora in the region, the extensive forests, respect for the indiginous people of the region and their significant cultural sites, and our water, the water for many Australians flowing through the great Artesian Basin and the Murray Darling Basin. The risk of damage and contamination is too great, including damage to our health, directly and indirectly. These natural ecological systems are too important to all Australians. Tell Santos NO. Thank you for listening.

Reject this project to protect the environment. Wicked to spoil the environment and the groundwater for short term gain. Selling the family cow for a handful of magic beans is not the way to go. Keep gas and oil in the ground and invest in renewables. Protect groundwater - it will be life or death for Australia. It will be the most precious resource on the planet.

I oppose the Pilliga coal seam gas project because like most people I believe that our water should be protected from a disaster. We cannot have life without water so why not protecting it?
We know that Australia has plenty of Natural Gas and is a big exporter of it. Governments should make sure that Australia does not export most of it and leave the people of Australia who own the land without it.
We also know that some governments only see the short term gain without taking into consideration the long term damage to our health and quality of life.
I agree with the following points from the Nature Conservation Group:

Â"1. It is safehaven for threatened wildlife
The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed Â`biodiversity hotspotsÂ' 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.Â"
Finally, I also agree with the statement from the New Premier of Western Australia on his winning speech "Today we showed we are a state of decency and intelligence, not a state of stupidity and ignoranceÂ". Those are the qualities we expect from our elected members to Parliament.

Yours sincerely

Fernanda Rodas

The effect this development could have on our life support system, namely water, would be detrimental. CSG is a high risk type of unconventional mining that is so fraught with danger local farmers can't get their properties ensured. This type of mining has been banned in many countries world wide with good reason- water is worth more to us than whatever benefit this provides to the economy. T
Finally, Santos have no social licence to operate in this region as evidenced by polls conducted.

Regards,
Ross

I object to the Narrabri Gas Project going ahead for the following 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.

The Great Artisian Basin does not belong to NSW alone and should not be subjected to gas exploration or extraction in any way.

I object

Please disallow Santos from digging wells in The Pilliga. We can do without coal seam gas. It's high time we put the environment first. Clean water and maintenance of habitats for native species are crucial to our country and people's future.

I oppose development of the Narrabri Gas Project, due the destructive effects involved, with building & operating the proposed coal seam gas wells.

Herein lie 10 reasons I oppose the Narrabi Gas Project


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 Wilderness Society eloquently summarised these points. I wholeheartedly agree so I shared them here.

We need to block Santos and the government from ruining our land and water. The pilliga is near where I grew up, the coal seam gas drilling will not only ruin the environment but poses danger to the drinking water, native wildlife, increases severe bushfire risk and will disrupt the beautiful dark night sky which is because of the observatory, many people's in Coonabarabran's source of income. What Santos is proposing will irreversibly scar the land. The Pilliga will never recover if they go ahead. Effects can already be seen from a test fracking site. This effects everyone, it's farm country, if we poison the land and water we don't get to eat or drink. Stop Santos. Lock the gate. No CSG.

I Strongly believe that any benefits this gas well plan has, are far outweighed by the very real risk to the future wellbeing of the surrounding communities, and the biodiversity of this unique and fragile ecosystem.
My concerns are for the artesian basin and surrounding food production areas, and especially for the health of those in the surrounding lands.
Santos has a very questionable record where pollution is concerned, and have not taken adequete steps in the past to prevent environmental damage at other mining sites.

I seriously doubt you have any idea of the impact this mining activity will cause to the environment and water of the region.
It is not appropriate to say Oops and walk away after the waters of the area are trashed. This activity is/has been been banned in so many countries after they have had to experience failure. It is not a sustainable, guaranteed or safe activity. you are to provide for the community not destroy it.

The following two paragraphs, from the Wilderness Society website, as far as I'm concerned, outweigh any economic arguments that Santos can put forward to go ahead with CSG in the Pilliga Forest.

The Pilliga forest is the largest intact woodland in eastern Australia ..... and a unique ecological refuge, home to 25 nationally listed and 48 state-listed threatened species ... 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.

I am a member of a variety of online environmental and humanitarian organisations, who constantly reads and listens to articles on issues affecting the planet and all its inhabitants, As a mother and a teacher, I am strongly invested in the next generation, and therefore I have a strong view on the subject of mining in the Pilliga.

How can Santos sanely consider taking such HUGE RISKS as the possibilities of destroying some of NSW most fertile farmland and hastening the extinction of seventy-three threatened species? Just as companies like True Value Solar, Urban Group Energy, Origin, Green Engineering and many others are investing in solar and wind power, so too should Santos.

Putting short term economic gains ahead of long-term environmental health is completely unacceptable in 2017, given the widely available and accepted climate change statistics.

This CSG mining SHOULD NOT go ahead. A line must be drawn in the Pilliga State Forest!

Yours faithfully,
A concerned fellow citizen of this beautiful but troubled planet,
Margaret Vaccari

February 11th and12th, Long hot dry summer, bushfire out of control section 44, Sir Ivan fire fuelled by high summer temperatures, low humidity, hot strong north westerly winds. People told to evacuate homes major bushfire. Add 850 coal seam gas wells. No this is not from a sci-fi book. The Pilliga is already prone to bushfires. No one could protect or save these gas wells from a fire like the Sir Ivan fire. The Methane gas would only add to the fire risks. No voluntary firefighters should be expected to protect these gas wells. Water is going to be a more of a problem in the future with climate change. Longer hotter dry periods in a country that already has dry climate. The Narrabri gas fields could destroy two of our major water resources The Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The Pilliga, one of the 15 nationally listed biodiversity hotspots is vital to the survival of threatened species of Australian wildlife The Pilliga must be protected at all costs Destroy this area and when it is gone there is no returning to it. There fore we must respect the traditional owners who have looked after the area for hundreds of years.

I object to the drilling

I oppose Santos' CSG project in the Pilliga and in any part of New South Wales because I support people's right to clean water, uncontaminated food, and a clean environment. I support the will of the local community, farming community and the Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians of the land, who oppose the project.

Santos and method of CSG extraction has a proven track record, internationally as well as in Australia, of causing irreversible damage to the environment and local water supplies. The gas project is a huge risk to the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer. Damage to this aquifer threatens people's health, agriculture and the livelihood of the farming community. I want people, including myself, to be safe from the contamination this project would cause our food supply and the health of the community. There is no proven way of reversing the damage to the aquifer once it's been done. No amount of money would be able to compensate the many people affected by the damage. I and 96% of the local community believe it is not worth the risk. Santos cannot be trusted. They have already been found to have contaminated water in the Pilliga region with uranium and other metals.

The Victorian government has put a permanent ban on fracking/CSG to protect the community, and I think NSW would benefit from taking the same strong action. It would be a meaningful and welcome show of support to rural communities, the environment and farming industries.

NSW was hit with a huge heat wave this summer. The Bureau of Meteorology has announced 2016 as the fourth hottest year on record in a row, and it is only going to get worse with our lack of action. The methane stacks at the gas project will be a huge risk to the region on total fire ban days. The project poses a huge fire risk to the region, threatening communities and the habitat of local wildlife.

The forest is home to over 200 bird species and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area. The Santos gasfield would also fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelines--damaging vital habitat and threatening endangered species.

Not only that but the chemicals and hydrocarbons released from the gas wells will contaminate the air and pose a health risk to local communities.
The pollution 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.

Methane, will also be released. As well as being flammable, Methane is scientifically proven to be three times more warming than carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere, making it a foolish way to transition to renewable energy and tackle climate change.

The Narrabri gas project is an expensive risk to take that is hardly worth the effort.

I urge you to reject the gas project and make a motion to permanently ban CSG and further fracking throughout the state.

On the basis of track record alone Santos is not a company which can be trusted to self regulate it exploration and development of CSG.
THis country needs our politicianand public servants to start preparing for a new era of clean energy.
It amases that some corporate leader are light years ahead in their thinking that our Governments.
Regretably this does not include the management of Santos

The proposed santos 850 coal seam gas fields in the Pilliga are opposed by the traditional owners and me. The Pilliga is a safe haven for threatened species. The Pilliga is one of the 15 nationally listed hotspots and is vital to their survival. Methane is by far the worst component of natural gas and as a greenhouse gas is far more powerful than CO2. Coal seam gas contributes to climate change. Bushfires will rise as the methane at coal seam gas fields flare up to 50 meters high and they run 24hrs/7days a week there is no turning them off even when there is total fire bans or catastrophic fire days like we experienced in February this year. The Pilliga is already a severe bushfire prone area and this project increases the risk of ignition. the proposed coal seam gasfields in the Pilliga pose a real risk to our water tables. We already know what methane can do to these water resources

If the NSW Govt is to allow 850 gas wells in the Pillage State Forest, you might as well clear fell the lot. It won't be worth saving as a natural resource and safe haven, because it will have become accessible to all and sundry, with roads and pipelines throughout, not to mention regular maintenance inspections, etc., zombie trail bike riders, etc.

Quite apart from the loss of a unique habitat, there is as yet no proof that the chemicals used in fracking will not have long-term, and perhaps irreversible, impact on the Great Artesian Basin.

It's about time Governments stopped being seduced by 'big money' and exercised some social responsibility!