Narrabri Gas

To whom it may concern,

This submission has been written to draw attention to the unacceptable impacts of Santos current plan with light pollution from their upcoming 850 gas wells and flares near Siding Spring Observatory. It is a simple solution, as recommended by the NSW EPA to enclose all flares, not just for emissions and cleaner burning, but also to reduce the amount of unnecessary light pollution from giant flames lighting the night sky.

Siding Spring Observatory is AustraliaÂ's only unique science research facility using the largest optical telescopes for astrophysics and astronomy. First established in Coonabarabran NSW, on the Warrumbungle Ranges in the 1960Â's it was built here because of the dark skies in this region. While there is historic value of this site from telescopes established over 50 years ago, this observatory hosts the largest optical telescopes from national and international universities and research entities. Not only hosting the largest, this site hosts the second, third, fourth, fifth largest telescopes etc in Australia, playing a key role in science research across the Southern Hemisphere. Over 50 telescopes are listed across the site being used by over 30 universities, institutions and private businesses using cutting edge technology, with some of the most advanced telescopes being used is astrophysical research. Future plans include another 50 telescopes to be built on site within the next decade. All this is reliant on keeping the dark sky dark! If this area was to lose the dark sky, this observatory would not be replicated again in Australia, but moved elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere.

From 2013 onwards light emissions from the Santos gas field exploration have increased to the point that, just the Bibblewindi large flare and unmanned facility alone, creates more light pollution than the entire town of nearby Coonabarabran with over 3500 people residing there. Santos have listed plans to triple the amount of pilot flares and double the amount of large flares including constructing 50 metre high flare stacks, with an average 30 metre high flame above it. Nowhere do they list the EPAs recommended practice to enclose flares, as has been done in NSW areas such as Gloucester. Enclosing flares is the only acceptable mitigation to protect the scientific community from the unnecessary light pollution they plan to emit. Siding Spring Observatory already has to deal with light pollution from existing mining and regional towns. Even Sydney itself, from over 400kms away can affect research from its light glow. Santos are a lot closer than this. Every bit of extra light pollution is making it more difficult to continue the leading scientific research, and while each pollute in different levels, most consider they arenÂ't doing any damage. But itÂ's the combination with the existing light sources, adding a cumulative effect which is becoming worse as more pollution is created.

In summary, this is a simple fix in this case, as while Santos building infrastructure is willing to comply with shielded lights for buildings, they need to go a step further and enclose all current and future flares as the NSW EPA recommend. It is the only acceptable solution.

Thanks,

Jonathan Moorfoot

CSG mining is a polluting short term exercise that only benefits a few and damages the environment irrevocably

The Pilliga Scrub is a vast untouched area which should not be compromised for the profit of private organisations. CSG mining has proven to be harmful to the environment and of little benefit to locals or other Australians. Australia biggest drawback is the lack of water and CSG mining puts our underground water resources under great pressure leaving farmers with either polluted or no water to continue their pursuits. Many of these farmers have used this water to get through for generations is it really worth risking them and the survival of their local towns?

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.

Kris Forbes
1 climpson place
Gowrie ACT

To: the NSW Department of Planning and Environment
This is a submission to the Narrabri Gas EIS.
I object to this project.


The water extracted 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, this will clearly have a HUGE impact on 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest, fragmenting the largest temperate
woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife which we cant replace and its time that we starting saving these species.
It will effect the water resources that are relied on by the rural communities of this area

This project will lead and be adding to climate
change which is already scientifically proven is happening at rates we need to work on now for future generations!!

This area is spiritually significant to the indigenous of the land
the Gamilaraay people, once destroyed we cant get these parts of culture, land and there identity back!!!..

Light pollution will effect the night time sky and the
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.

This is a place that is beautiful and please dont allow this to happen we need places like this for our future generations so they can have a chance to learn from the indigenous the land the animals and fauna and to live healthy lives

Coal seam gas is a relatively unproven technology in that it could leak into precious groundwater aquifers. When we look at environmental policy the precautionary principle should be applied first and foremost. At a time when climate change is already changing weather patterns worldwide, and coal seam gas has proven to unlock vast amount of methane which is a more potent greenhouse gas, we need to stop fossil fuel expansion. There are proven renewable energy technologies that will enable the supply of energy in Australia instead of gas projects which have the potential to do untold damage to our fragile ecosystems.

This submission brings my vehement opposition to Santos' proposal to continue its planned construction of 850 wells in the Pillaga Forest, Narrabri.
This proposal must be rejected. Puncturing the earth's surface to extract gas in this manner is fraught with hazards and carries questionable returns.
CSG is not a viable source of fuel. The by products of its extraction create enormous problems (huge quantities of salt, massive amounts of contaminated water, methane gas in quantities that would contribute significantly to climate warming) and these are the known negatives.
Pillaga Forest is the largest inland forest left in Eastern Australia. Santos' plans to industrialise this landscape would have a devastating impact. Leave it alone. Do you truly want to jeopardise the Great Artesian Basin?
Can Australia's skin, its surface, the earth encompassed, endure much more assault before the repercussions become catastrophic? Earthquakes, contamination of groundwater, mountains of salt - the enormity of these potential problems are indisputable arguments against industrialisation of Australia's interior.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife describe the area as follows: Pilliga Forest is an iconic Australian landscape offering rugged beauty on a grand scale.
Santos must not be allowed to destroy this region, its ecosystems, flora and fauna, the rugged beauty on a grand scale.
For the future integrity of NSW's interior landscape, this proposal must not be allowed to proceed.
If the government approves this plan a crime will be committed, against the future of this state and its inhabitants.

Planet eaters and those who promote social engineering are mourned by few upon their passing. It would be well to design for us a world of peace, love and style.

The long term effects of this process are largely unknown and endangering both farming land and irreplaceable water catchment to this practice for short term profits of an international corporation is both ludicrous and short sighted in the extreme. Exposing these lands to the potential for catastrophic environmental damage is both reckless and inevitable and undervalues the land and the people working and living on those lands. With focused actions these areas have the potential to transform into vital food producers on a scale that could dwarf any short term benefit that destructive gas production could ever do while preserving the quality of the land and water catchment.

Our environment and our water must be protected. Clean, green energy must be invested in to secure a future for our children.

I object to CSG exploration in the Pilliga area because it is a threat to water quaility in the Graet Artesian Basin

Stop for profit companies destroying our country .

This is a no brainer. Stop the greed driven poisoning of our planet by greed driven politicians lacking the desirable quality of self-control. Enough is enough.

Take, Destroy, Devastate. There will be a short term financial gain for private corporation, but complete devastation for the land, environment and people of the Pilliga. Water is more valuable than gas.There are, of course, flow on affects to NSW and Australia in economic terms and environmental terms. If we continue down this road we will be buying food from overseas and have a ravaged landscape. When will our own government listen to what the people want. Politicians were not elected with a mandate to make every decision during there term of office. Our opinions matter and it is well past time that servants of the public understood the meaning of good governance.

I say No to the Narrabri Gas Project and all others until there is an investigation into the whole energy industry. I do not believe our government has governed in favour of the nation and the people and these energy companies are taking advantage of our national resources, selling them to the highest bidders and destroying our farming land, threatening water supplies and traumatising our farmers.

I say No to the Narrabri Gas Project and any others because I believe the science of Global warming an the urgent need to keep coal and gas in the ground if we are to arrest a potential catastophe.

Nature provides, let nature prevail and give her a chance to heal from the abuses we have laid upon her in our greed.

I am concerned about the integrity of the different underground water aquifers being cross contaminated.
I don't believe the natural phenomena of earth quake has been properly addressed with regard to the concrete reinforced well hole.
These rare events do happen and need to be properly addressed given the serious possible outcome of a well hole failure, fracture.
Thank you for hearing my concern.
Matthew knight

Key Issues:

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 object to this project going ahead.
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. This is NOT a viable project on this count alone.
Please consider my submission, as a resident of this great country.

For the last thirty years my family, friends, visitors and I have visited the Pilliga to appreciate the peacefulness, the flora, the threatened native fauna and to quietly observe the bird life.
We also visit respectfully to learn about and to appreciate the significance that the Pilliga has regarding Gamilaraay cultural values and the relationship for local people.
We support local businesses when we visit by buying our food and petrol locally and staying in local accommodation.
Over that period we have become increasingly concerned by the damage caused to the integrity of this area and have photographed spills and damage to the environment by Santos activities.
We have driven hundreds of kilometres to the Pilliga to join with large numbers from the rural community in actions to express our concerns and to show we care about the long term viability of the environment and the local economy.
At the current level of gas extraction there are already enough problems, but we are quite horrified about any further expansion.
There is every reason for our government to take a responsible and far-sighted attitude to ensure the well being of our natural & cultural heritage for future generations and every environmental, social and economic reason to put a halt to permitting the expansion of the gas fields into the Pilliga.

For the last thirty years my family, friends, visitors and I have visited the Pilliga to appreciate the peacefulness, the flora, the threatened native fauna and to quietly observe the bird life.
We also visit respectfully to learn about and to appreciate the significance that the Pilliga has regarding Gamilaraay cultural values and the relationship for local people.
We support local businesses when we visit by buying our food and petrol locally and staying in local accommodation.
Over that period we have become increasingly concerned by the damage caused to the integrity of this area and have photographed spills and damage to the environment by Santos activities.
We have driven hundreds of kilometres to the Pilliga to join with large numbers from the rural community in actions to express our concerns and to show we care about the long term viability of the environment and the local economy.
At the current level of gas extraction there are already enough problems, but we are quite horrified about any further expansion.
There is every reason for our government to take a responsible and far-sighted attitude to ensure the well being of our natural & cultural heritage for future generations and every environmental, social and economic reason to put a halt to permitting the expansion of the gas fields into the Pilliga.