Narrabri Gas

This proposal is too risky in terms of its possibly impact on the Great Artesian Basin and The Murray-Darling Basin.

1.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.

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 - 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. CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas. Methane is by far the major component of natural gas, and is a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than CO².


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.

This project is just as objectionable as the now abandoned AGL GSG project around Gloucester, and for similar reasons...

* loss of native vegetation
* "fugitive" emissions - leaking of potent green house gas
* damage to the artesian basin
* chemically polluted waste water from the fracking process

Australia is already extracting vast amounts of gas and sending it overseas. This project would not even be considered if some of this gas was retained for local consumption.

I object to the mining of CSG because of the risk to our most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. Climate change science indicates arise in temperature and longer periods without rainfall.We need to protect our water resources.

I object to the proposal because:
The Pilliga Forest must be conserved as an intact rare ecosystem, not riddled with roads and industrial gas extraction infrastructure.
The Traditional Owners object to the proposal and their voice must be heard.
The work of the long-established Siding Springs Observatory would be placed at risk by light pollution.
The extraction of coal seam gas will contribute tomClimate Change.
The proposal is unacceptable to the local farming community
The proposal will damage this precious region for the very long term, and the damage will be irreversible, and unable to be restored

I object to the pilliga gas mine. 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.

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.



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 strongly object to any sort of mining in areas such as this, it is an area important for our farming communities as well as being reservoirs of important vegetation preventing soil degradation.

I object to this project on the following grounds:
- The Narrabri Gas Project risks AustraliaÂ's largest groundwater aquifer
- local farmers object to it, and any state/ federal resources spent supporting the project would be better off supporting the local economy in more sustainable industries

Thank you for your consideration.

1. First and Foremost! 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.

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.

Thank you for the opportunity to give my opinions about the extensive coal seam gas field proposed for the Pilliga Forest.

The only reason that Santos can bring such a proposal as this to our government is that Pilliga is a remote location in a nation where most of our inhabitants live in a few big cities. Few people in NSW know what is proposed or why Pilliga is so significant.

Unlike them, I have lived in North-west NSW and have had the privilege of travelling through and flying over Pilliga many times, so I know what a beautiful, biodiverse and unique place it is. I am distressed to hear that anyone thinks it is acceptable to put mines in any forest, let alone one which is so important to the health of the Great Artesian Basin. The GAB is already severely compromised due to water extraction by mines and agriculture and CSG mining threatens to contaminate and deplete this ancient water source even further.

I am also aware that the human activity associated with mining is extremely disruptive to fauna and flora: roads, vehicle and machinery noise and human presence will all affect natural habitats and their occupants adversely. Small bush birds, for example, will leave and not return. As for the koalas of the Pilliga, we need to give them every chance to rebuild population numbers at a time when climatic extremes, on top of habitat destruction and diseases, are threatening their survival. Koala extinction is not a good look for Australia.

I fear that the current NSW government is beholden to the mining sector, while the wishes of local people and those who wish to protect the natural environment are being ignored. So I hope my voice, and those many other voices which are calling for sanity to prevail in relation to the Pilliga, are heard and taken into account by decision-makers. Mining comes and goes, and mining profits benefit a few company shareholders, but healthy forests are essential to the health of our planet. And the waters of the Great Artesian Basin are essential to the survival of life in the arid regions of Australia and therefore must not be further contaminated and exploited.

As a long-term inhabitant of this Planet, some 76 + years, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we are rapidly making the Planet unfit for human, and all life, un-inhabitable!
There have been ample examples of this proposed type of Gas extraction causing multiple environmental problems world-wide, surely this must be reason enough for this devastating project not to proceed.
As a user of LP Gas in my vehicle, ( a decision I now regret),I would welcome some other type of propulsion that would be less harmful to the environment.
The untold likely harm to our precious Groundwater Aquifers, our Natural Environment, our Native Wildlife...all of which cannot be replaced, is simply sacrilege and debasement of the Planet.

Long term degradation and destruction of aquifers, farm land, air quality, for short term profit does not add up. Santos must provide a war chest of billions of dollars for compensation, 20, 30, 40, 50 years down the road for loss of business, health and land value, as this is what would realistically need to be set aside because this is will be the costs from land value loss, health costs, farming revenue loss, and potential restoration costs.
Then there is the contribution this industry adds the global warming, which does not appear to have any value to either the government or Santos.
Then there is a massive move away from dependence on fossil fuels anyway. Profit projections and royalties to the government are not certain and highly likely not to be realised.
Track record of mining businesses repairing the destruction they have reeked to fragile eco-systems, is very poor, usually leaving the tax payers of Australia to foot the massive restoration bill. And even if there was money set aside for restoration, it is highly likely that restoration is not possible, no matter how much money is thrown at it.
There are far too many losers than winners with this project. Losers being, farmers, land value, government, Murray Darling basin, physical health of local people, soil fertility, forests, local wildlife, Siding Springs Observatory, traditional land owners, just to name a few. Winner - Santos.
Santos fails to convince me that there is anything good about this project. Their EIS does not address concerns raised.
A short term gain for one business, for long term pain for thousands of people, plus irreversible destruction to healthy eco-systems and farming land, fails the sensibility test, especially when Santos can make more profit and employ more people in investing in renewable technologies.

Australia has a lot of potential and ongoing projects that are destroying our natural resources on which our lives and health rely.
I have made a long study and concluded that we can totally replace dangerous forms of energy with clean and safe, renewable energy sources before the current mining dries up. We do not need to sign our resources over to overseas companies in the interim.
Please do not give in to the powerful mining companies but rather, do what you know the people want and in a democracy, this is supposed to be the governments prime responsibility.
Thank you.

It's terrible environmental and economic management.

It's stupid and reckless.

To the Planning & Environment minister,
I object to all mining in the Pilliga Forest, as it will do irretrievable damage to the local and surrounding environment, which cannot be reversed. If you have children, or care about someone else's children, I implore you to see the bigger picture and put the health of the environment before profits. It is incredibly selfish to all future generations to ignore the future and pretend that this course of action is quite fine. It is not!
The decision to do permanent damage to the environment is happening on your watch and you will be held accountable in years to come. Make the right and only choice now. No more mining.
Yours sincerely, Emily Hay.

I am very concerned about The Narrabri Gas Project for a number of reasons. First and foremost is the risks to precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer.

Secondly, The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed
and there are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay to the forest and to the groundwater beneath.

Thirdly, 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.

Also, 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.

In addition, The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife and 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.

Plus, Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change and Methane is by far the major component of natural gas, and is a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than CO².

For the reasons outlined above, I ask you to reject this project.

Thank you,

Nicky Gordon

I am in support of this Project, but we need to ensure that Project gas is reserved for Domestic use only. We need this gas to be delivered to Newcastle to sustain struggling manufacturing businesses, and to secure local jobs. Project gas should not be destined for LNG export.

I am glad I was alerted to this site so that I have the opportunity to voice my strong opposition to ALL COAL SEAM GAS in Australia and particularly in the Piliga. My reasons are many but number one is it's negative and disasterous impact on the envoironment. (the mining and burning the gas)