Narrabri Gas

The Great Artesian Basin is finite, vulnerable & Australia's most important resource. It will undoubtedly become even more important with the changing climate. Mining threatens the security of the Great Artesian basin and is a risk we cannot take. I have read the following points laid out by various organisations and I agree with them. I have set them out below and I ask that you consider these points along with my post above as my personal submission against Santos' Narrabri Gas project. in the Pilliga.
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.

The project is a great theat to humanity and nature. The polution of gas and coal industry is a main force of global warming and researches warn with new findings every day.
The industry is on a dead end and should rather be transformed into renewable energy industry instead of funding gas projects like this.
This is not only my oppinion, but local communities, farmers and the traditional custodians of the land reject the project as well.

We absolutely must protect the Pilliga forest and Great Artesian Basin. This is a matter of national pride, integrity and wise stewardship for our environment. I speak on behalf of myself and so many of those in my community and workplace who are against the plans that Santos has to drill coal seam gas wells right through the heart of the Pilliga.

This is an emphatic and determined NO to CSG in the Pilliga!

Any human activity that affects the quality and supply of water in and to natural systems and for communities' needs constitutes a criminal act.
The Narrabri Gas Project will permanently affect irreplaceable underground water reserves.
It will significantly damage the Pilliga's ecosystems and compromise then survival of wildlife and plant species.

The NARRABRI GAS PROJECT MUST NOT PROCEED.

STOP ALL FRACKING!
YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DESTROY THIS LAND FOR YOUR SHORT TERM GAINS!

I object to the Narrabri gas project

I object to this project because I believe not enough research has been carried out so far to ensure that environmental damage will not be a side effect of the mining. There is a huge potential for underground water reserves to be irrevocably contaminated.

I strongly object to the development of the gas project. Destroying the natural habitat for wildlife is not ok. Poisoning and treating drinking water with chemicals is not ok. When solutions such as solar power exist why is such a prehistoric idea such as coal mining still even in the mix. Fossil fuel development in Australia needs to be abolished. Put the money into renewable energy.

Putting sô much of the State's environment at risk for short-term gain (with no gain to the environment and people and non-Santos activities) is short-sighted in the extreme. To put at risk the Great Artesian Basin, with water the requirement for all life and activities, farming, the Observatory, Aboriginal heritage, is unethical, and impractical long-term, with so many other activities and uses being put at risk.

I grew up in the Narrabri shire and my family have built a highly successful cropping and agribusiness enterprise 6 Kms downstream from the proposed Santos CSG site.

The key to the success of this multi-million dollar enterprise has been hard work, high capital investment in plant and equipment, great soil conservation and rotation, and most importantly - access to clean and uncontaminated sub-artesian water.

The Santos EIS indicates that there will be no interference with the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) re-charge zone. However, Government hydrogeological mapping of the GAB shows the project will straddle the most important inflow zone to the GAB in NSW (see Hydrogeological Atlas of the GAB - 2016). It is well documented that CSG production can have an impact on groundwater quality and quantity in adjacent and overlaying aquifiers. Given the proposal plans to extract over 35 billion litres of water it is alarming that the EIS provides no evidence to show there is no connectivity between aquifier strata. Why is this missing? Given the clear risks to water access and quality for other industries in the area, the EIS should be rejected until this matter is resolved safely and fairly. Furthermore, it is clear from the EIS that Santos propose to release treated water into Bohena Creek during high to moderate flows. The EIS ignores the existing role of Bohena Creek as a recognised surface groundwater ecosystem.

From the gaslands experience of Tara in Queensland, it is clear that the EIS ignores public health risks from fugitive emissions, particularly on respiratory illness and foetal development, along with the recent science that shows that the level of methane emissions from CSG operations are high enough to pose significant risks through rising greenhouse gas levels.

The project MUST NOT PROCEED as the risks are too high for existing agribusinesses which provide the bulk of productive output from the district, including the highest employment and long term social and economic benefit to NSW. Santos' EIS does not stack up against these risks and the community will hold its elected officials and the government accountable for not listening to and acknowledging these real and valid concerns! A quick buck for a 'sugar hit' in royalties (if these ever eventuate) that ruins the established ecology and economy of the Narrabri shire will not be ignored by those who will have to live with the consequence of a decision to go ahead with this fractured proposal.

I'm writing to object to the gas project because there is to much risk to the environment.

CountryMinded is opposed to the proposed Narrabri CSG development.
In the current economic paradigm there is politically driven conflict around the prioritisation of resources to finite production of extractive industries as opposed to the comparatively infinite production of agricultural industries.
There is a clear political bias toward energy companies and subsequent planning arrangements demonstrate this. In the competition for access to resources for development, agriculture is not proffered the same access or leniency in regards to environmental constraints.
If the proposed Narrabri CSG development were assessed with the same standards applied to any agricultural development it would necessarily not be approved. It is unacceptable that planning arrangements can be inconsistent in this context.
Australia has enjoyed an abundance of agricultural lands with little regard for food security based on consistent export surpluses. However, the global food challenge paints a bleak picture for regional food security into the future. Future demands on agricultural production demand that the natural resources that underpin that production must be protected for future generations.
Extractive industries must operate with a genuine "do no harm" commitment that is not time-framed. It is a matter of strategic national importance and national security.
Clearly the threats to agricultural land vary between the nature of the extraction method, the intensity of the agricultural enterprise and the ability of the two activities to coexist.
It is increasingly apparent that the larger issue around extractive industries and their impact on agricultural productions systems is in relation to direct and collateral impacts on ground water assets.
In most agricultural landscapes, water is the most limiting resource. The complexity of the hydrology in ground water systems presents difficulties for the assessment of impacts of a particular activity until after the activity is undertaken and even then it is not always clear what the causes and effects are.
CountryMinded is committed to the prioritisation of agriculture and the protection of agriculturally important natural resources.
CountryMinded is also committed to objective evidence based policy. In the situation of extractive industries and the conflicting science, biased as it may be, the precautionary principle must prevail. Consideration must be given both to the likelihood of a particular outcome and the severity of a particular outcome.
In relation to disruption of essential ground water supplies and its impact on current and future production, CountryMinded is conservative in its view and would necessarily oppose any extractive industry that poses a threat to these resources.
The onus of proof must lie with the extractive industry proponents to prove that their intended activity will have no lasting impact on the productivity of the agricultural landscape.
In response to the issues raised above CountryMinded must:
* Oppose CSG and the extension of coal extraction until there is no risk to groundwater assets, productive agricultural land and human health.
* Prioritise the right of agricultural enterprise over extractive industries in access negotiations.

climate change is real, the earth is hurrying to its destruction, profit before looking after the only place we have to live is behind this. The precious water resources are ruined by coal seam gas exploration and extraction, native habitat is threatened and could lead to the extinction of endangered species. The Pilliga region is unique, and must be kept untouched not vandalised by mining companies.

1. 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.


2. 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.


3. 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.


4. 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.


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. 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.


7. 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.


8. 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.


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. 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.

To Allow Foreign Interests to extract GAS ,to the detriment to our
country is crime against the Traditional,current and future generations,flora and Fauna of Australia.

This is now a PROVEN Scientifically unsound and damaging process, and has been outlawed in countries such as Germany and Scotland (to name a few).

We should follow these countries in developing renewable energy methods, that help correct humans destruction of the environment
and look to the future,instead of the greedy short sighted practices of these evil corporations,run by evil people.

Without clean water,we ALL die ! Do you want you and your children and theirs to live in a world we destroyed, or one we turned around and cared for ?

The people are waking up, it's time those who represent the people did the same, OH SHAME SHAME SHAME !!!!

I understand that Australians need a reliable source of fuel supplies
BUT
I object to the mining in the Pillaga Region going ahead until research can PROVE that there will be no lasting damaging consequences to our vital water and food supplies. We cannot afford to contaminate the water and food from this region with salt and other chemical waste.

What is the point of providing gas if we do not have sufficient food and water to live?

I am originally from rural NSW and have travelled this area extensively. I love this country and cant imagine it being exploited and destroyed for gas wells. This is absolutely appalling, I am truely devastated that the Australian government would allow such a practice.

The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian BasinÂ--AustraliaÂ'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 areasÂ--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 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.


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 waterÂ--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 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.


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 nationÂ'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 Â`dark sky parkÂ'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 PilligaÂ'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.

due to the large amout of data created from similar well projects internationally Its clear that the damage caused bby such a project would be vast and irreparable.

Surely a renewable energy project away from water and wildlife is far more beneficial to australkia in to the future than such a project.

I strongly protest this and I find the environmental impact assessments to be ill conceived and unaccountable.

Do not go ahead with this project

kindly

JC

1. The Great Artesian Basin will have almost 40 million litres of fresh drinking water for this critical source of water, the treatment of the water produces around 115 tonnes of salt per day which will be buried as landfill.
2. Santos are completely untrustworthy, a few years ago the NSW Environmental Protection Authority discovered Uranium levels were 20 times higher than safe drinking water levels- this is the water in your homes people- THEY ARE POISINING OUR WATER! Their current Environmental Impact Statement is out of date and highly inadequate for a project of this destructive calibre.
3. The Pilliga is a spiritual, cultural and social icon for the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people and this project cuts these custodians off from their heritage and deep connection to country.
4. There is not even any economic justification, previous coal seam gas projects by Santos drove UP the price of existing gas whilst plundering the limited resources.