Narrabri Gas

When is Australia going to wake up to the pressing and very real threat of climate change? When is it going to stop trashing the very little it has left of its natural environment? Why can't elected leaders and their representatives do the right thing and stop pandering to greedy fossil fuel corporations? You must not allow this environmental treason to take place, please.

I submit that the risk to environment, including habitat, water, animals and humans, is too great to warrant the attempt of this venture to seek any positive gains that the project hopes to acquire.
The clearing of land around the Pilligia forest makes the project site un-sacrificeable for the purpose of pulling non-renewable profits/ non-renewable energy out from underneath it, as it is a unique ecological refuge, the only home the wildlife has available.

Yours sincerely, Holle Torens.

There are many justified concerns regarding the adverse affects on the environment that the Narrabri Gas Project may have if it goes ahead. Issues such as: toxic water, damage to the Great Artesian Basin, loss of important habitat, and destroying an area of significant cultural value to the local Aboriginal people.
Modern Australian culture has a sad history of taking land and resources and not giving respect or honouring the sovereignty of the original inhabitants of our country, time to change.

pristine nature and clean water and air should always come before profit!

This project is inconsiderate of the adverse affects that it will have on the people of the region and surrounding regions, which greatly outweighs any potential benefits. It's ignorance of the role of the natural environment is disgusting and moreover this industry adversely affects the greater region especially in the long term.
The Environmental Impact Statement attached leaves many aspects open to interpretation and does not impose strict guidelines that ensures the safe use, re-use, storage, disposal, and containment of waste water and other wastes produced during the project.
The Environmental Impact Statement intentially phrases many aspects of the waste management process to avoid responsibility for produced wastes, which is substantial and could easily have adverse affects on all industries and people across the community and in surrounding communities.
The process of this gas extraction is rife with pollutants and waste from the start and any sensible choice would steer clear of allowing such poor industrial practices to propagate or become commonplace in our backyard.
The old saying, "two wrongs don't make a right" applies here, just because other places have allowed santos to make a dogs breakfast of their surroundings does not mean that it's ok to do here or anywhere.
There are examples of irresponsible waste management throughout the statement and (the statement) needs to be dissected separately and in full, to ensure the proposing company is accepting accountability for the correct and sustainable management of all waste processes. Funds need to be allocated to ensure this done with an unbiased perspective towards Santos' agenda.
Doing something the right way that costs more the first time is far better than doing it the wrong way and paying doubly more later.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards

Projects such as these produce, at best, short term income and fuel, but they have long term disastrous impacts on our planet. They rob future generations of quality of life and reduce the viability of our planet. There should be zero investment in fossil fuel projects as they have no future.

Specifically, the risks and negative impact include -

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.

Proven...Coal seam gas is harmful to health.
Proven...coal seam gas exploration will cause upheaval in Narrabri and surrounding areas,
Proven...contamination of water and the NGP will cause drawdown of the Great Artesian Basin. No water, no agriculture.
Santos cannot say exactly where the salt will be dumped. They only say "landfill". it begs the question, if they can't say where that "landfill" dumping ground will be, will it end up in waterways.

Please I urge the Government to reject this NGP and make the Great Artesian Basin of limits for coal seam gas mining.

This is yet another move of pure negligence and disregard for the longevity of our environment.

The Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) 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.

The NGP will clear close to 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest, fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife.

The NGP 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.

The NGP will lead to large deliberate and fugitive emissions of methane, adding to climate change.

The NGP 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.

The NGP 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.

The NGP 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.

There are so many reasons to oppose this application. It poses a risk to human health and that of wildlife, and the prospect of lasting damage to our ecosystem and increased risk of fire. Traditional custodians and farmers alike are opposed as it threatens to destroy and poison their land.
The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer. 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.

The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed to this project as it compromises their cultural sites.

Farmers and other local community reject the project, in fact 96%of the community are opposed to CSG.

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 .

The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife and these endangered species must be protected not threatened.

Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change. Methane is a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than CO² and leaks out during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas.

Human health is compromised by coal seam gas.
A range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air from coal seam gas operations, causing eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination.

Thousands of tonnes of salt waste will result from the project, for which Santos has no solution for disposing of. This industry would leave a toxic legacy in NSW.

Risk of fires would increase throughout the Pilliga's tinder-box conditions due to Methane flare stacks up to 50m high running day and night, even on total fire ban days. 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 object to the Narrabri Gas Project because it will not only destroy the physical environment and its evolutionary habitats - billions of years in the making - that support the greater web of life on the planet, but also because it will destroy the natural aesthetic - the beauty and sanctuary of nature that can never be restored, ever. The ugliness of coal-seam gas fields sickens my soul to the core. My additional objections are:
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.



¹SoilFutures 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
²http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-coal-seam-gas-project-contaminates-aquifer-20140307-34csb.html
³BirdLife International (2017) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pilliga http://www.birdlife.org
⁴Marion Carey Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), Air pollution from coal seam gas may put public health at risk The Conversation, November 20, 2012
⁵https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/21/siding-spring-observatory-threat-coal-seam-gas-light-pollution
⁶http://darksky.org/first-dark-sky-park-in-australia-designated/
- See more at: https://www.wilderness.org.au/final-push-pilliga?utm_source=phplist&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=April_17_wildnews-%5Bmessageid%5D&utm_content=story2#sthash.6tkWDpaw.dpuf

Listen to the community living in the Pilliga area!
Their concerns are overwhelmingly valid for Australia. The Great Artesian Basinwater source is vital for environmental & agricultural needs. CSG not only consumes vast amounts of water, but leaves unusable salt waste, not to mention the roads needed to be built in order to access the drilling sites.
The Narrabri Gas Project is detrimental and unwanted by local citizens. It's their 'habitat' shared with Australian fauna & flora.
Please keep CSG from ravaging the marvellous Pilliga Forest & surrounding areas. The damage caused would be irreversible.

As a member and financial supporter of the Greens, I am opposed to the Santos ecological lack of ethic in particular and to the negative environmental impact of this project in general.

Please refuse this application on the grounds that it is unsafe and damaging to our environment. This company is solely concerned on the bottom line of their balance sheet and has little or no care above that. They will not be there to make good any damage down to the soil or water table. Thank you

More clearing of the Piliga is vandalism. Remember everyone has a vote. !!!

Coal seam gas has been proven to be unsafe, causing earthquakes, poisoning the water table, taking over farmers' land and causing incredible stress, and all the while not investing in alternative safe clean energy. It is people profiting at the expense of others, and this is against the laws of the universe.

I strongly oppose the Narrabri Gas Project as it has the potential to damage our precious and dwindling natural forests and I am concerned also about the impact on our underground water supplies being compromised.

Water is of a greater importance than short term fracking that risks the artesian basin and all the benefits that water has for landholders. The fracking industry has a record of non-compliance with regulations and will not disclose the contents of the fluids it uses in the ground. The Condamine river is bubbling gas and can be set alight, the result of fracking. We have a lot of gas, but, the company profits will not compensate the 1000's of Landholders that will be harmed as a result of a toxic legacy from fracking, make a decision: water for agriculture OR profits for a very few at the expense of the many.

I strongly object to the development of the Narrabri Coal Seam Gas project in the Pilliga.

The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians, farmers and the local community are overwhelmingly opposed to the development of the Narrabri gasfield.

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.

Coal Seam Gas also poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. In a worst-case scenario, the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas--potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin.

Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River--a part of the Murray Darling Basin. This system is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.

Coal Seam Gas is also a threat to human health, a range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air from coal seam gas operations, including flaring of gas wells. The effects of volatile organic compounds vary, but can cause eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination.

The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife and 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.

What price is the Australian government prepared to put on the Australia's natural water resources, environment, global warming and health of the community for the sake of a short term financial benefit and profits for an overseas company, which will not be around for the cleanup?

1) The Narrabri gasfield poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin.
In a worst-case scenario, the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas--potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin.
Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River--a part of the Murray Darling Basin. This system is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.

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 barium. In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads. Santos cannot be trusted.

5) The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife'
The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots' and is vital to the survival of threatened species like the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat. The forest is home to over 200 bird species and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area. The Santos 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. In spite of what politicians might think, climate change is real. Methane is by far the major component of natural gas, and is a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than CO². CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas.

7) Human health is compromised by coal seam gas
A range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air from coal seam gas operations, including flaring of gas wells. The effects of volatile organic compounds vary, but can cause eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination. These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gasfields in Queensland, Sydney and the USA.

8) 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.

9) Risk of fires would increase throughout the Pilliga forest.
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.