Narrabri Gas

Dear Sir,

I strongly object to the SantosÂ' Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga

Firstly, 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 areasÂ--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 RiverÂ--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.

Secondly, 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.

Thirdly, although most Australians have zero interest in nature and bio-diversity, domestic
and foreign holiday makers are interested in visiting these shrinking areas. The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally
listed Â`biodiversity hotspotsÂ' 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 pipelinesÂ--damaging vital habitat
and threatening the survival of endangered species.

Michael Kiddle

I am very concerned about this project's risk to pollute and / or deplete extremely important ground water aquifers and surface water streams and lakes, as has been the experience in many other other places in Australia and overseas, with similar projects.

Traditional land owners, farmers, and the general community of the area is opposed to this project, for good reasons. CSG has a very bad reputation world-wide for polluting land and water, and negatively impacting on environment and communities.

CSG is not a sustainable practice and has no place in a renewable energy future.

Why is the government even considering more fossil fuel energy when we should be only focussing on renewables? If this goes ahead it will spell trouble for millions of flora and fauna, wildlife and our own water supplies. This simply cannot and will not go ahead.

This project should not be allowed, it will destroy the aquifers... it will produce toxic waste that cannot be used in any shape..... it will also destroy very productive farming land.....and the gas is not needed at the moment...

I object to SANTOS' plan to drill into the Great Artesian Basin in the Piliga Forest, the largest woodland in eastern Australia. Take the lead of Westpac and consider climate change please.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Cramond

The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer

The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed and we owe it to the Indigenous peoples of the land you're about to destroy to respect their opinions and input.

Farmers and other local community reject the project and the fundamental, constitutional responsibility of the government is to be representative of the people. If you won't listen to the 96% of the community who are opposed to CSG then what kind of democratic and effective government are you?

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. They've 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.

The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife.

Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change. You guys might be in denial about this issue but we aren't, and you work for us. Human health is compromised by coal seam gas. You know it, you've seen it. 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 gas fields in Queensland, Sydney and in America.

You must be daft if you think you can possibly get away with this kind of destruction to the community, local economy, environment and quality of life like this - and still be re-elected.

Please save my country. My heart aches to see it being destroyed for no good reason. I am so tired of a sanctimonious government warning us of the need to balance the budget and not saddle coming generations with debt while the same government sanctions environmental destruction with unnecessary coal and gas mining instead of embracing sustainable energy.

How stupid can our Government become?

The Australian people get it ... renewable energy is the only way to secure a future where we have fresh water, unpolluted air, uncontaminated food supplies and plenty of all three.

For short term financial gains for multinational companies, and the short term thinking of present politicians we risk losing everything that makes this country rich and proud.

How dare energy companies tell our Government s what to do. How dare our politicians think they have the right to risk our natural wealth.

Coal seam gas is an incredible danger to our natural resources. We don't need tit, there are better alternatives and it is time that the power brokers stopped pretending that we do.

It is a no brainer. Can we have some intelligent decision makers stand up for what is right ... for a much needed change???

Stop CSG it does way too much damage to our environment. Please think of our kids futures.

We do not want any more Fracking in NSW.
We especially don't want fracking in the Narrabri area.
IT is way past time to create jobs in renewable energy sources...
Take a look at other countries efforts to face the energy crisis!
and then take a look at the disasters created by fracking in the US.. where it is toooo late!!!
I am 64 years old and am now determined to march in the streets for this issue.

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 have had the most amazing holidays in the Pilliga area. I have followed the proposed Santos Coal Seam Gas Project in this area with utter astonishment and dismay. This must not be allowed to happen.
My submission is to make sure that the relevant authorities deny Santos any rights to drill for gas in the Pilliga area for the following reasons:-
The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources including the Great Artesian Basin. The water removed from the basin for extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas- potentially stopping the free flow of water to springs and bores across the whole of the Great Artesian Basin!
The Namoi River will be vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluids and salty treated water.
The Gamilaraay traditional custodians are opposed to the drilling.
A staggering 90% of farmers and local communities reject the project.
Appalling problems have already occurred with Santos' operations- they can't be trusted to manage the project safely.
The building of well pads, roads, gas and water pipelines will fragment 95 thousand hectares of area used by many threatened and non-threatened species and so endanger their survival.
The risk of fires will increase with the dangerous gases released and these gases will also threaten human health.
There is no solution for disposing of the masses of salt which will occur.
These factors and so many more should be an ample reason to say no to Santos.
We cannot allow this Project to proceed!
Yours Truly,
Maria Pegg.

The project causes a major risk to our water, public health and the environment of the area. In addition, it is strongly opposed by the local community including the traditional owners.

This is my third attempt to document my concerns about this proposal.

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.

I just think we as human beings on this planet need to look at alternative, non-damaging, sustainable ways to source energy. I think we can do it using natural processes i.e. solar, wind, sea / river turbines rather than digging gas wells. We need to put our environment first.

I strongly oppose the development of the Narrabri gas Fields for reasons listed below.

Both Santos and APA have very poor records in environmental protection. This is well documented

There is signigicant risk of contamination/ polluton to subterranian aquifers

There is signigicant risk of contamination/ polluton to surface water creeks, rivers and farm dams.

There is no approved waste dump in NSW to handle the toxic byproducts of Coal Seam Gas production

Gas wells are located on productive farming land.

There are high health risks to residents from polution and stress.

The cost of gas production will be too high and the project is uneconomical.

The benefit to the taxpayers is non existant as large foriegn company will ultimately own this infrastructure and ship the gas and profits offshore. The tax Payer will be left with the mess.

I strongly oppose the development of the Narrabri gas Fields for reasons listed below.

Both Santos and APA have very poor records in environmental protection. This is well documented

There is signigicant risk of contamination/ polluton to subterranian aquifers

There is signigicant risk of contamination/ polluton to surface water creeks, rivers and farm dams.

There is no approved waste dump in NSW to handle the toxic byproducts of Coal Seam Gas production

Gas wells are located on productive farming land.

There are high health risks to residents from polution and stress.

The cost of gas production will be too high and the project is uneconomical.

The benefit to the taxpayers is non existant as large foriegn company will ultimately own this infrastructure and ship the gas and profits offshore. The tax Payer will be left with the mess.

I strongly oppose the development of the Narrabri gas Fields for reasons listed below.

Both Santos and APA have very poor records in environmental protection. This is well documented

There is signigicant risk of contamination/ polluton to subterranian aquifers

There is signigicant risk of contamination/ polluton to surface water creeks, rivers and farm dams.

There is no approved waste dump in NSW to handle the toxic byproducts of Coal Seam Gas production

Gas wells are located on productive farming land.

There are high health risks to residents from polution and stress.

The cost of gas production will be too high and the project is uneconomical.

The benefit to the taxpayers is non existant as large foriegn company will ultimately own this infrastructure and ship the gas and profits offshore. The tax Payer will be left with the mess.

I strongly oppose the development of the Narrabri gas Fields for reasons listed below.

Both Santos and APA have very poor records in environmental protection. This is well documented

There is signigicant risk of contamination/ polluton to subterranian aquifers

There is signigicant risk of contamination/ polluton to surface water creeks, rivers and farm dams.

There is no approved waste dump in NSW to handle the toxic byproducts of Coal Seam Gas production

Gas wells are located on productive farming land.

There are high health risks to residents from polution and stress.

The cost of gas production will be too high and the project is uneconomical.

The benefit to the taxpayers is non existant as large foriegn company will ultimately own this infrastructure and ship the gas and profits offshore. The tax Payer will be left with the mess.

I strongly oppose the development of the Narrabri gas Fields for reasons listed below.

Both Santos and APA have very poor records in environmental protection. This is well documented

There is signigicant risk of contamination/ polluton to subterranian aquifers

There is signigicant risk of contamination/ polluton to surface water creeks, rivers and farm dams.

There is no approved waste dump in NSW to handle the toxic byproducts of Coal Seam Gas production

Gas wells are located on productive farming land.

There are high health risks to residents from polution and stress.

The cost of gas production will be too high and the project is uneconomical.

The benefit to the taxpayers is non existant as large foriegn company will ultimately own this infrastructure and ship the gas and profits offshore. The tax Payer will be left with the mess.