Narrabri Gas

I am so against CSG, I believe it to be a danger to our water, our land, our health, I see it being destructive, a horrible eyesore to our once beautiful landscape, it's nothing more than a moneygrabbing scheme for big organizations, STOP this vandalism, the majority are sick and tired of this continuous fight on behalf of our planet, there are better ways!

I object to the Natrabri Gas Project, I believe this project is detrimental to the environment and contributes to Global warming on a greater scale.

My Mum and I run a small business from our private studio in Neutral Bay called Art Box Workshops, we teach children not only modalities of creative expression through our art classes but also an appreciation for Australian flora and fauna which we often use as a reference point for a theme.
Last year we taught a term of art experiences using endangered species for our inspiration. The children's awareness about the fragility of the environment, often created by human development land clearing and mining, was expressed through their art.

16 Art Box Workshops students were invited to Parliament House for awards presented for there art works. Our talented young artists were part of the 40 finalists selected from over 600 entries which had been submitted by primary school students of N.S.W for the "N.S.W Threatened species Art Competition", hosted by Forest media.

With already over 1800 Australian species and ecological communities at risk of extinction. 1000 species are at risk in N.S.W alone. I object to the Pilliga project as I don't want to have these numbers increasing for the sake of our future generations having to witness more extinctions of local flora and fauna, when there are other renewable energy sources that can be used.
On behalf of Art Box Workshops I object to further mining using F racking at Pilliga National forest as it will increase the endangered species of N.S.W dramatically from the following issues caused by fracking.

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 gas field 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 recognized 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 50 m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is prone to severe bush fires. 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 strongly object to the Narrabri Gas Project on the following grounds:

1. Rural communities across western NSW rely on the Great Artesian Basin for water. The project will compromise this water supply by diverting water from a recharge aquifer.

2. Large deliberate and incidental release of methane will add to the problem of climate change.

3. Billions of litres of toxic groundwater will be treated, generating tens of thousands of tonnes of salt for which there is no safe disposal plan.

4. The Pilliga Forest, the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales and home to unique wildlife, will be fragmented by the clearing of an area of almost 1000 hectares.

5. The regional Aboriginal community will endure more trauma as the area of impact is crucially important to the spiritual, cultural and social life of Gamilaraay people.

6. Serious health effects of coal seam gas are now appearing in peer-reviewed research in the United States. Neither the NSW Government nor Santos have investigated or dealt with these emerging health issues.

7. 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 by investing in more reliable and ultimately cheaper renewable energy, not by allowing Santos to inflict more environmental, social and economic harm.

8. 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.

Outside of the gas industry's rhetoric please consider the evidence widely available, proving how environmentally detrimental coal seam gas mining is. It is complete insanity to allow this industry to operate/expand in Australia.

Protect, land, air, water & communities. Supporting the coal seam gas industry is simply not worth it. Allowing an industry to operate just because of their potential to profit should not be the priority. We should be backing industry that works with the environment and causes no harm. The health and welfare of land, water and communities should be the priority and when the evidence is clear, giving this industry the green light can not be made with a clear conscience.

Regards,

It is an absolute joke that all the evidence and history over the world where this type of mining has been able to take place there is so much damage to the water, environment and communities.. Please stop this in Australia... I object to the approval of the Narrabri Gas Project involving the progressive development of a coal seam gas field...

Gas fracking is an absolute outrage. The damage fracking does to the land and the people who have this toxic scandal forced upon them is disgusting and unacceptable. You do not have authorisation to frack any land anywhere.

Too precious to contaminate

There are ZERO positive outcomes from CSG mining. Short term financial gain from selling off our finite resources to overseas business and desicrating our backyard in the process. It's short sighted, disgusting, unfair and criminal.
This proposal makes me sick.

We need much more information on the effect this could have to the great artesian basin before we let one company threaten our nation's groundwater

This project will be devastating for the environment, the livelihood of local people and it will harm the indigenous people. It must not proceed. There are plenty of intelligent alternatives.

Fracking produces massive amounts of contaminated water that often is pumped back into the ground. Fracking destroys water sources so that people living around the area can no longer obtain clean water for their land. Coal seam gas production creates multitudes of irreversible environmental problems which are minimized by the company and government. It is a scourge on our country, an evil to our future generations. Our water is precious. Our lakes and creeks do not need to be contaminated with gas bubbling through. Coal seam gas production must not proceed in this area.

I am against the development and expansion of the CSG industry until much more investigation is done into the effects it is having on people and the surrounding environment. The dangers are real and it should NEVER be allowed in prime agricultural areas or anywhere where the is risk of polluting the aquifers. This project should not go ahead.

I do not believe that the benefits outweigh the massive disadvantages for CSG projects. It is unacceptable to risk our future including water, soil and air quality with such dangerous technology.

There are many reasons, environmental degradation, contamination of water supply, community fragmentation, Santos past record in Queensland why I am registering my concerns
Over 35 billion litres of groundwater are to be extracted. Much of this is to be extracted in the first five years. The treated water will generate tens of thousands of tons of salt, and there is no safe disposal plan for this.
The Pilliga Forest, the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales with its unique wild life will have close to 1000 acres cleared with subsequent catastrophic affect to this unique wild life.
It will cause significant diversion of water from a recharge aquifer of the Great artesian Basin and this will affect the rural communities across Western New South Wales. New South Wales should learn from the negative consequences of Santos venture in Queensland.
This "development" will be detrimental to the aboriginal community, the farming community and the cohesion of community life.
The peer research in the USA has identified the negative effects of coal seam gas extraction to the community in that country.
We, you, cannot plead ignorance of the many negative consequences. I have stated only a few here.
Please act responsibly and reject Santos application. We have enough sun, wind and sea to provide safe energy.
Our country should, could be leading instead of lagging in
New technology

I totally support the Lock the Gate Alliance. Any government that flies in the face of evidence that fracking is unharmful is disingenuous in the extreme. Our water and farming land must be protected at all costs.

I do not believe that evidence from coal seam gas exploration and drilling in the United States suggest that it is fine to do here in our country. I totally want our EPA to be strong in it's research into the affects of CSG exploration and err completely on the side of conservative caution.

I do not believe that giving farmers more money is any solution to the future of our farming land. The Pilliga is too important to have CSG destruction.

Please protect our Narrabri Plains from this atrocity

Yours sincerely

Moira Bishop

 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.

t 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.

As is now only starting to become obvious to the greater public, this project is essential to contribute to the energy security of east coast Australia, and particularly NSW. Reliable indigenous supply of gas to the NSW manufacturing industry and households must be a priority long term for the government, and I advocate the government being involved in the solution. One option to contribute to the solution might be that the government builds the pipeline connecting the gas resources to market - the most logical route to ensure lowest cost gas long term, would be Wallumbilla to Newcastle (via the Gunnedah Basin's potential gas project areas, including Narrabri).

The time to get it right is now! The Narrabri Gas Project should be the first step in a strategic long term plan to secure gas for NSW, and needs to be approved promptly. I know that Santos operates to the highest standard, and will execute this project well. It's in the best interest of the Narrabri area, NSW and east coast Australia.

I strongly oppose Santos being granted license for the Narrabri Gas Project for the following reasons:
Santos has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG. Lodging an EIS with the NSW Govt will not protect the environment. Santos cannot be trusted. A freshwater aquifier has already been contaminated in the Pilliga with uranium levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium2.
Contaminated drinking water poses huge health problems now and into the future, which puts a huge drain on the health system which is already compromised. How will the Government pay for extra pressure on the health system? An unhealthy environment means a sick economy. Our children and their children do not deserve this fate.
Farmers and local communities surveys have shown an average of 96% opposition to CSG. They know that contaminated water and land cannot produce healthy food bowls. Agriculture and Habitat is our most precious asset for the survival of humans and wildlife for the future.
Our dwindling Wildlife does not need CSG mining. Survival is vital for our threatened species such as Koalas, Spotted Tailed Quoll, Black Stripe Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy Possum, Pilliga Mouse and South Eastern Long Eared Bat along with over 200 Bird Species. 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga would be fragmented by the Santos gasfields with well pads, roads, water and gas pipelines damaging vital habitat, this will ensure Wildlife will not survive.
Tourists come from all over the World to take in the wonders of our beautiful Forests and Wildlife. This ensures a healthy economy well into the future while providing many thousands of jobs.
Santos will destroy the Environment, Water, Agricultural Land, then walk away. The devastating damage cannot be retrieved.
Santos will walk away with the profits, they will be the only winners.
CSG mining belongs in the dark ages, the world has changed with climate change, mining is a major contributor. The way of the future is renewable energy. Please do not allow Santos to proceed with CSG mining.