Narrabri Gas

Water is Life!
Please care 4 our planet, 4 our & future generations!

I object to Santos plans for the Narrabri Gas project for the following reasons
1 it has already a long history of spills and leeks of toxic CSG water. 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.
2 with this history the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin are both at risk of contamination and 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 - having a major impact on other areas of Australia.
3 Farmers and local communities reject the project
4 The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife and this project with its use of well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelines will damage vital habitat and threaten the survival of endangered species.
5 The nation's premier optical astronomical observatory is at risk due to dust pollution and light from gas flares
6 and not least of all the climate change because CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas.
Please do not approve this Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga

I object to all CSG exploration it's dangerous and not necessary. I object to all political donations by corporations it's bribery and unethical. Only the poor donate without expectation, corporations and the wealthy are not generous and do not care about anything but money.

A minimum of 93% of residents in communities around the Pilliga Region have said they don't want Santos to be allowed to begin digging CSG wells in the area. So, who would the NSW Government be working for if this application is approved?
It's unethical, immoral and environmental vandalism.
Say no to Santos. It's never wrong to do what's right.

As a professional ecologist, I am most concerned about this project's impact on flora and fauna in the Pilliga, which is currently 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.

In addition to this, 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.

Moreover, if this project goes ahead the risk of fires will increase throughout the Pilliga.

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.

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. 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.
There are many other, nature related, risks but I have chosen to keep things simple and concentrate on just one; the massive amount of salt water which will need to be dumped, somewhere. The consequences of dumping this waste in the ground or waterways will be the total and irrecoverable loss of not only natural habitat for many animals, but also any flora or fauna within the area.

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.

CSG FRACKING
Too risky to water supplies for all lifeforms. Too risky to geological foundations.
Minuscule advantages do not compare to value of clean water, air, secure foundations, & psychological affects.

To Whom It May Concern,

I am very concerned about the detrimental impacts the proposed Narrabri coal seam gas project will have on people's health, water quality and quantity, wildlife and the natural environment. Please abandon all plans for coal seam gas wells.

Yours sincerely,
Alice Graham

I have visited the Pilliga forest some years ago and remember seeing herds of kangaroos dashing across the waterways. I remember the beautiful paperbacks and grasslands and the many meandering pristine streams. It seemed a wonderful and magicall natural environment.

It makes me very sad to think that the Pilliga won't be the same for my grandchildren to visit in future years.

Please protect it and do not let mining ever go ahead there.

I am a supporter of the Narrabri Gas Project for the following reasons
Small country towns like Narrabri need big business infrastructure to survive.
Santos will provide huge employment opportunities for many local people not just working foe Santos but working for business's supplying and contracting to Santos.
I own a small Hire Service supplying the local area employing 9 people until the Narrabri Gas Project slowed down, we now employ 6. These figures show the effect big business has on small country towns.
I have watched Santos over the past few years and am satisfied that their practices are not detrimental to the environment.
They have been drilling through the Great Artesian Basin at Moomba for 50 years and haven't damaged it yet in fact have probably done less damage than the farmers and graziers who draw water from it seemingly at will.
Santos support and sponsor numerous sporting and charitable organisations in the town and district and are great members of the community.
I find that most negative comments on CSG are based on falsehoods and ignorance with most people choosing to believe the naysayers rather than going to the effort of finding out the truth for themselves.
This project is not only great for the Narrabri economy ,it is a good thing for the Australian economy and should be supported.

I object to this proposed project and believe that it should be rejected.

The NSW State Government has already recognised the many dangers of coal seam gas extraction and wisely controlled it's expansion across our landscape. This policy should continue to be strictly adhered to with all future gas extraction proposals.

This project is four times the size of the only other two CSG extraction projects approved in NSW. It involves 850 wells over 95,000 hectares including processing and storage facilities. It involves an infrastructure corridor through the forest, worker accommodation, the discharge of polluted water and the burial of vast quantities of salt. Such activity can only be detrimental to the landscape and it's effects will be far reaching.

The Pilliga is recognised as a most valuable region of high biodiversity, the largest temperate woodland in NSW. It must be protected from the dangers of gas extraction that would affect it so detrimentally, over such a large area with permanent effect. The fragmentation of the landscape is a significant issue for biodiversity values. The threats to the increasingly vulnerable koala population and other endangered species are reason alone to reject this proposal.

CSG requires significant quantities of water which would be obtained from a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin. Santos has rightly acknowledged that there will be water loss from the Great Artesian Basin. This should be unacceptable. The GAB is a most vital source of water for our arid inland, with climate change it's supply is increasingly unpredictable, it is vital for sustaining not only our natural environment but also for essential food production. It must not be compromised by the relatively short term gain of gas extraction.
Additionally, the associated problem of polluted waste water disposal will have a significantly detrimental effect on the environment.

Climate change is the challenge of our time. CSG extraction should be totally unacceptable if we are to combat the effects of climate change. Fugitive methane emissions are inevitable, as is habitat destruction, gas itself emits CO2, the whole process is a contributor to climate change and should not be permitted.

With our much greater understanding of the effects of projects such as this on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and the destruction of Country, yet another significant reason exists for it's refusal.

The expected effect of CSG extraction in the Pilliga on agricultural industries is of great concern. The long term viability of the area must be put ahead of any short term extraction process. Similarly, the adverse health effects, now well documented, indicate that CSG is unacceptable.

Protection of The Pilliga and the Great Artesian Basin are reasons alone to refuse this project.

I urge the government to reject this proposal due to the adverse, and permanently detrimental effects, that it will have on the environment, biodiversity, water supplies, agriculture, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, human health as well as due to it's significant contribution to climate change.

I believe this gas exploration submission is unnecessary as we could export less gas and use our existing supplies. Why would we risk our farmland, water and communities for Santos' profit?
Malcom Turnbull said himself that there can be restrictions on exports if the government chooses.
Use the Trade agreement Loophole to protect our State.

Barnaby's call for yet more special treatment for the unpopular native forest logging industry comes at a time when the Yarra Valley is choking with smoke from logging burns (see image).

Reform of the native forest logging industry is long overdue, and right now, panicking over timber jobs is not a sustainable strategy for the Andrews State Government. It's time for the Great Forest National Park--for clean air, sustainable jobs, and a sanctuary for wildlife.

Submission re Narrabri Gas Project

I wish to lodge my strong objection to the proposed Narrabri Coal Seam Gas (CSG) extraction project. I am opposed to this project proceeding for the following reasons.

Firstly, the Gamilaraay traditional custodians of the land are opposed to this CSG mining on their land due to their strong connections to land - both above and below the ground. Indigenous connections to land through cultural sites and songlines have in the past been too frequently ignored. The reconciliation agenda must be kept alive and active for the wellbeing of the Australian nation. Do not walk all over the expressed wishes of the Gamilaraay people.

Secondly, protection of our water resources is far more important than CSG extraction. The risk to water pressure in the key recharge areas (Pilliga East Forest) of the Great Artesian Basin, and of contamination, from spills and/or salty treated water, of rivers that form part of the Murray Darling Basin is just too great. Already, hundreds of farmers and the communities of the region have shown their overwhelming opposition to CSG extraction. These are Australians and this is their land. It is time to end the greed and self-interest of the oil and gas extraction companies and protect what is vital to the Australian environment and food production.

Thirdly, the Pilliga is one of Australia's biodiversity hotspots and an important birdlife area. Australia has an appalling record of losing species to extinction. We cannot let extractive industries and irresponsible companies like Santos threaten yet more endangered species. Already Santos has contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with heavy chemicals and has allowed spills and leaks of toxic CSG water. This lax behaviour will not change under full CSG extraction production. More risks will become apparent: forest fires and the dumping of toxic salt wastes.

Fourthly, human health is impacted in various ways by the hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds released from CSG operations. In a budgetary environment where Australian governments find it difficult to fund adequate health systems (because the extractors don't pay tax), who will provide the resources to care for an increasingly unwell population? And how will governments support the Australian population as it suffers the consequences of climate change; change that is enhanced with the release of methane during the production, transport and processing of CSG?

Thank you for this opportunity to lodge my objection to Santos' Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga.

I am very disappointed in a political process which still requires citizens to beg governments to act on behalf of our interests, rather than in support of mining companies. The environmental risks of this project are clearly too great for it to proceed and traditional owners, farmers and local community members have made their opposition clear for good reasons.

The project threatens a critical recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin. Protection of this critical resource should take precedence over any short term gain to mining companies or to gas availability for the new overseas markets. In addition, the project threatens contamination to the Namoi River--a part of the Murray Darling Basin. Here again, the priority should be protection of our precious river system, not the profits of mining companies.

Further to what should already be enough reasons to reject the project, Santos cannot be trusted. They have contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga and there have been numerous spills and leaks of toxic water.

Arguments that there is some sort of gas shortage crisis threatening Australia are a confection. The 'shortage' is due to mismanagement of existing resources in a bid to make a fortune selling our gas overseas. Governments should be ashamed of this kind of mismanagement of resources, not scrabbling around to give the mining companies more.

I call on the NSW government to reject the Narrabri Gas Project. The protection of the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray Darling river system is of critical concern for all Australians. Further, the needs of farmers and of traditional owners should take precedence over short term gains for mining companies.

Yours sincerely
Patsy Lisle

To the powers that Be,

I would like to know how the NSW Government can even remotely consider the Pilliga CSG project. Is there no one in government who reads the facts regarding these so called projects. I can not understand that in knowing the DESTRUCTION this Drilling will cause plus the ongoing ramifications that will not cease to result in more DESTRUCTION, that his project is given any consideration.

I am sure I will not be alone in mentioning the points below and I would sincerely like the NSW Governing Bodies to not be swayed by $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Try to think of our environment the people (including you) and other species of life that will be DESTROYED FOREVER if this project is allowed to go ahead.

Please consider these points as they are all relative to making this decision which will effect our future. A future that the NSW Government will be denying all life of.

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--Which is proof that 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. What you are reading ARE FACTS NOT FICTION, This is happening NOW,

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. THE QUESTION IS WHY IS THIS PROJECT EVEN BEING CONSIDERED??????????

5. The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife
The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hot spots' 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 recognized 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. WHY ARE YOU CONSIDERING THIS MASS DESTRUCTION???????

6. Coal seam gas fuels are dangerous and are considered to be playing a major part in 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. AGAIN WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE HOW CAN THIS PROJECT BE A CONSIDERATION.

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. Even the nation's premier optical astronomical observatory is at risk.

The Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungles and adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution⁵. The area has been internationally recognized as a `dark sky park'⁶ and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of the facility.

9.Thousands of tonnes of salt waste will result from the project:

SANTOS HAS NO SOLUTION for disposing of the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt that will be produced. Between 17,000 and 42,000 tonnes of salt waste would be produced each year.

A realistic evaluation of this project is that this industry would leave a toxic legacy in NSW.

10. The 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. ARE YOU GETTING THIS - CONSIDER WHAT TOTAL FIRE BANS ARE - YET THIS PROJECT IS STILL BEING CONSIDERED?????????

The Pilliga is prone to severe bush fires. The project would increase ignition sources as well as extracting, transporting and storing a highly flammable gas right within this extremely fire-prone forest. DO YOU NEED MORE EVIDENCE?


This project is a recipe for DISASTER AND DESTRUCTION and one does not need to be a rocket scientist to know what will be the results if this project gets the green light.

I am asking you to make a conscious decision being given the facts and I am asking you not to consider any monetary value from this project ..........because at the end of the day we need clean water to live.

Please consider the obvious result of your decision. Will you really be able to live with yourself knowing YOU HAVE BEEN Instrumental in the DESTRUCTION of this area and all that once lived there?

Warm Regards

Ilma Hynson

I am so disgusted by the short-sighted, money grubbing self centredness and lies of Santos and the Liberal and Labour politicians. THE PEOPLE want clean air, water and soil!. We want our fauna and flora protected! WE care about this country and this planet. WE WILL BE HEARD!!!!!!!!

Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to object vehemently to the Narrabri Gas Project. It is an unnecessary and potential fatal project with consequences that will be felt by many generations to come..
First of all, this project poses a major risk to both the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray Darling Basin , which are the life blood for ALL Australians on the east coast ...who can predict the affects of drilling with this new technology? Just look at the effects this industry has had in the US and in Queensland!! The only winners are Big Multinationals who don't give a damn about people!! Just share market profits.. Can you say with out a doubt that they have our best interests in mind? NO! They don't!
The Gamilaraay people have many sacred sites, many songlines, in this region, they have more rights to this land than anyone! These sites will be devastated, turned into wastelands if this project is allowed to proceed. We can not survive as a race if we don't respect the land that nourishes and feeds us.
Think about the farmers, who grow our food... without food, we won't be needing much gas, because we will all be dead! That may sound like an exaggeration, but it's not! We all need clean food and water. Farmers help keep us city folk from starving, without them, there would be no commerce, no one to buy brands and consume products... it makes no sense at all to have a gas project to the detriment of the land and water..
The Pilliga area is also home to much wildlife, including Australia's most beloved Koalas. The gas project will damage and destroy habitats... and for what? A few years of greedy dollars for foreign companies who pay no taxes..
It has also been proven scientifically that coal seam gas is deadly to humans.. It's poisonous, and no amount of lies can disprove that...
The internationally recognised Siding Springs will also be threatened by dust and pollution, threatening the viability of this facility with gas flames from the project.. It just gets more insane with every point against this project.
...and then there is the increased risk of fires, ... as if we don't already have enough fires in NSW!...with forests right beside this gas project.
Are we willing to risk so much, to allow this industry, which is proven to be toxic, access to our land? I say NO.
Kind regards,

Betty Panayiotou

I recently visited Baradine and was amazed with the incredible country side and history of the area. The area has already been logged extensively, surely it should be allowed to regenerate, not be further destroyed.

Water is our most precious resource, we should give it's protection our highest priority.

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.

There must be another way to create electricity without destroying our land and water source.