Narrabri Gas

Fracking was wrong in the Northern Rivers & is just as wrong in the Pilliga & all over NSW.The damage to health, our agriculture & the environment is potentially disastrous. Wisdom & common sense prevailed in our politicians for the Northern Rivers. It must prevail again. Make the Pilliga & all of NSW, CSG free.
This is not only for this generation. It is for your children & grandchildren as well.

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.



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

Great Artesian Basin coal-seam gas 'risk', The Australian, 7 November 2014
'Not seen anything like it': Pleas for extension to examine huge Santos CSG plan, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 February 2017

All Australians rely, in one way or another, on the health of our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. Contamination of these water catchment areas (entirely likely given the history of Santos' previous spillages) would prove catastrophic to our country.

Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed to this project. that fact, in and of its own standing, should be sufficient to put the brakes permanently on this ill-conceived project.

Gamilaraay people are deeply opposed to this project, in the battle against CSG, and have stated unambiguously that Santos is not welcome and they value their sacred land and songlines immeasurably above the Fool's gold promised by the production of coal seam gas.

When an average of 96% of well-sampled communities surveyed throughout the region oppose csg, and hundreds of farmers have participated in protest actions unlike any previously seen in the region, it is blatantly obvious that santos and CSG companies have NO social licence, and landholders, residents and taxpayers will continue to oppose it.

Based on its own history, Santos cannot be trusted to manage the project safely. It 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.

Australia already has an appalling reputation for encouraging the extinction of our species. As 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 as well as being home to over 200 bird species, it is absolutely ludicrous to allow gas fields in this area. Any hope for Australia's reputation as an environmentally responsible country will be shattered in the long term, should our decision-makers welcome in the destruction of many more vulnerable and threatened species.

CSG projects have proven to be responsible for Methane leaks.
As Methane is by far the major component of natural gas, and is a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than CO², it's easy to see that CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas. In short, coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change, and responsible people would not condone such projects.

Human health is compromised by coal seam gas. These health issues stretch far beyond the immediate and longer term physiological issues relating to CSG-related toxicity. We are witnessing unprecedented suicide rates in farmers previously untouched by depression and etc.

Seeing the government continually short-selling the environment, prioritising the promise of $$$s (despite the short-term nature of such pursuits), over the wellbeing of present and future generations, it is unsurprising that the impacted farmers and families and the larger community feel completely powerless when faced with completely ignored, even in issues pertaining to their own land, food, lifestyle and well-being.

There are many issues adding to the complexity that is CSG, and showing it up as a completely inappropriate option within the Pilliga and anywhere else where the environment and wellbeing are placed at risk.

Salt residues, fire hazards, solastalgia, and life-threatening depression, interference to essential science facilities due to light and dust pollution, all of these factors simply offer even more reason to stop this industry and the destruction so patently associated with it.

Please stop this now!

Fracking destroys the Great Artesian Basin, fouls farm land and grazing land destroys hope. Please prevent this in the Pilliga and other NSW areas. We will never support fracking.

This is a submission to the Narrabri Gas EIS.

I strongly object to Santos' proposed Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga.

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.

Sincerely
Lisa Ronneberg

THE NARRABRI GAS PROJECT MUST NOT BE ALLOWED GO AHEAD. IT WILL ONLY CAUSE POLLUTION AND DAMAGE THE ENVIRONMENT. RENEWABLE ENERGY - WIND AND SUN MUST BECOME THE SOLE SOURCE OF OUR COUNTRY'S ELECTRICITY. I AM 79 I WANT TO SEE THAT MY GRAND-CHILDREN AND HOPEFULLY I WILL LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE GREAT GRAND-CHILDREN. FUTURE GENERATIONS MUST HAVE A CLEAN INVIRONMENT.

the Narrabri Gas Project must not go ahead because:
*it threatens the Great Artesian Basin and Murray-Darling Basin;
*it violates indigenous people's sacred and cultural sites;
*local communities are against it ;
*it will damage vital habitats for endangered and other flora and fauna and will increase the risk of fires in this already fire-prone area;
*the methane produced will fuel climate change and there is no plan to address the problem of the huge amounts of salt produced;
*the Narrabri Gas Project already has a very poor record with over 20 reported spills and leaks, so far.

I object to the Narrabri Coal Seam Gas project -- a project that will see 850 gas wells drilled in and around the Pilliga Forest for the following reasons.

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.

Coal seam gas is a known high-risk energy source with many examples of serious irreversible damage to the surrounding environment. This particular project puts at risk a water source that a huge amount of people and agriculture depend on. Santos has a poor track record of pollution from similar projects.

There are many better energy sources than CSG that do not come with the massive risks to the environment that this project does. Our children deserve better than this.

This application shows complete contempt for the local communites ,indigenous lands & unique flora & fauna

I strongly object to the Narrabri Coal Seam Gas project for all the following reasons -

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.

I am very concerned about the Narabri Gasfield and sincerely object to this going ahead

Our water is so important to us, it isn't plentiful and to place it at risk with these gas extraction systems is just ridiculous. We are not in need of this. We have solar and storage systems to provide energy.
Placing at risk the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer will threaten our clean water, the flow of water to other areas, springs and bores. Our threatened wildlife also relies on clean, non toxic water just like we do. Our Traditional Custodians do not agree with this and our farmers do not agree.
Research has shown that the company does not have a good history regarding spills etc - why would we allow this??
The problems of contamination are immense, the salt and the spills horrendous.
Please do not allow this project to take place
Thank you

References

Great Artesian Basin coal-seam gas 'risk', The Australian, 7 November 2014
'Not seen anything like it': Pleas for extension to examine huge Santos CSG plan, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 February 2017

I object to this project on several grounds:
1. Santos has a poor safety record at its current operations. It has contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium². In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads.
2. We should do all we can to conserve and improve the condition of the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin, our two most precious water resources. The gas project poses unacceptable risks to these resources. 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 which is 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.
3. Local communities are opposed to the project. The Gamilaraay traditional custodians have stated their opposition to a coal seam gas field on their country. Farmers and other local community members have participated in protest actions against the mining project.
4. The Pilliga has high ecological significance. I have participated as a volunteer in biodiversity surveys of the area which, as a designated Key Biodiversity Area, is one of 15 nationally listed 'biodiversity hotspots'. It is home to several threatened fauna species including Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby and Eastern Pygmy-possum. 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.

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.

Even if Australia needed CSG (it does not) it would be an idiot thing to do; which is why, despite all the evidence to the contrary, it will go ahead.

And when the inevitable happens, I can at least have the pleasure(?) to say I told you so.

I object to the proposal as
- it will significantly damage the Pilliga Forest.
- it is likely to damage artesian water both locally and in the Great Artesian Basin
- Santos has already polluted aquifers and had surface water leaks. They are likely to be unable to comply with any environmental safeguards placed on them.
- it's key purpose is to provide a short term gain to Santos at a long term expense to the environment and farmers livelihood.
- as a community we should be investing in renewable energy not extracting more fossil fuels and damaging the environment.

There is absolutely no reason to drill for gas in this region.
CSG mining has been proven time and time again to destroy the environment. Over Christmas 2016, on a trip to Gunnedah to visit family, I witnessed huge fields of growing crops. Also, I witnessed many trains laden with coal heading to Newcastle port for overseas shipment. It is obvious these two industries of farming and open cut mining are doing well. The extraction of coal seam gas added to this mix is not needed as it will poison valuable water resources.Santos has done their homework by opening a brand new Information Centre in Conadily Street Gunnedah. Santos has been extremely generous helping with the building of much needed local community buildings. Why you may ask? We all need friends when we are in need as many
country towns are struggling at this time.

No more drilling / fracking in NSW. It's too dangerous and we need all the agricultural land we have to meet our food needs now and Niro the future

I wish to make a submission for the Department's consideration regarding the Narrabri Gas Project.
I object to this project. This project will affect me as a resident of NSW and it will more particularly affect members of my extended family living and working on farmland in the area surrounding the proposed gas fields and mining related operations.
My objection to the project is based on 3 main grounds.
1. The project will cause farmers and graziers in NSW to feel insecure about their future and the ongoing viability of their properties and contribute to the loss of experienced farmers from the agriculture and grazing industries.
My relatives point to the fact that food production is an essential industry and also a sustainable one. Coal Seam gas production is neither of these things. Australia cannot afford to lose more members of the farming community because of the stress caused by CSG mining activity. This stress is real - and it arises because of the lack of transparency and clarity around CSG projects and because of the history of damage to land and water resources caused by CSG mining operators (including Santos) and the frequently inadequate remediation of affected land after mining operations have ceased.
The lack of detail in the EIS prepared by Santos contributes to farmers' growing concerns about the risks posed to the quality of their soil and water. Farmers have good reason to fear salinity especially. Reversing any contamination is likely to take much longer than the lifespan of this project. Farmers have no confidence that mining companies will be around to foot the bill as they see evidence of degraded sites left behind by them across the state.

2. The project entails an unjustifiable risk to groundwater and the Great Artesian Basin.
Because Australia is such an arid continent I would argue that any risk to our water resources, even a negligible one, is unacceptable. Australia's agriculture industry should have a bright future. Of all the sectors in our economy, Deloitte has identified agribusiness as having the strongest combination of playing most to Australia's competitive advantages and being a sector producing what the world increasingly wants. It is predicted that by 2050 the world's population will need 60 -70 per cent more food than is currently available. By comparison, it is acknowledged that the demand for coal seam gas exists only in the short term and many point to there being no shortage of supply. By 2050, this gas project will have expired.

3. The project will contribute further to climate change.
The levels of fugitive methane emissions from unconventional gas mining are likely to have been seriously underestimated in Australia according to research by the Melbourne Energy Institute. Scientists are already warning that global warming is occurring much faster than predicted and that the consequences of breaching the 2-degree threshold could be catastrophic. Our moral obligation is to combat climate change through sustainable development. The Narrabri gas project is not an example of sustainable development.

For all of the above reasons I object to the Narrabri gas project.

I am AGAINST allowing any mining company into the narrabi area to mine for gas ! The track record of these companies is appalling and the damage they do for short term gain is outstanding. We have alternative energy that is clean and safe. Why should Australia destroy more of its land and water?
Water is life and our soil is more important than a companies bottom line ! Time to think of the future and not the make decisions on short term gain !
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
INVEST IN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND PLEDGE YOUR AUPPORT FOR OUR CHILDRENS FUTURE
Sincerely Kris Heather