Narrabri Gas

I wish to add my objection to this project. Non-renewables are a dying industry and continue governmental support is tantamount to subsidising wainwrights, coachmakers and whip manufacturers in the face of automobiles. It is just pork barrel politics as usual in a state that is famed for such foolishness.

I object to this project and believe it should be rejected due to the inability to guarantee that irreversible damage to the environment and great artesian basin will not occur as a result of this project.
The environmental elements of concern include the water treatment plan, which will generate excessive amounts of salt waste in the absence of a safe disposal plan.
Additionally, this EIS can not guarantee the effects of this project on the great artesian basin, which is an irreplaceable and essential water source for many rural communities across western New South Wales.
This project will also cause the emission of large amounts of methane gas and clearing of substantial area of forest, both factors proven to add to climate change.
Environmental concerns aside, the approval of this project would demonstrate complete disregard for the opinion of the local Aboriginal community, who view this area as being of historical and cultural significance.
Significantly more research is needed before this project should even be considered as the potential damage caused by this decision is irreversible, and I urge the Government to reject this project.

I object

The Narrabri gasfield poses a risk to the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. By removing the water for the CSG extraction could reduce the water pressure, potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface across the whole Great Australian Basin.
The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed. This area is well documented as being part of their history and this should be kept. We have already taken their best locations by settling near the shores and we should not ruin another part of their land for a coal seam gas field. They are not the only people who oppose to this project. The local farmers and local community have rejected the project and we should listen to them. It is their home.
Santos is not a company to be trusted - all they are after is profits and they don't care if they cause damage. They have already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines as well other unsafe chemicals.
Finally, the Pilliga is a safe heaven for threatened wildlife. By allowing Santos' gasfield, we will be damaging this vital habitat of our wildlife.

The following are my principal objections to this project:

1. Further gas supplies are not needed in Australia. What we are seeing is not a shortage of gas supplies but a failure of the market and of Government. These issues need addressing prior to issuing any new licences.

2. The project does not have a community licence. We should not be riding roughshod over the wishes of local community just to serve the interests of big business.

3. Due to climate change we should not be approving further fossil fuel projects especially those with a high risk, such as this one, of significant increases in GHG emissions.

4. Additional fossil fuel projects are not needed (see 1 above) at a time when existing and emerging renewables and storage projects make them unnecessary.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7.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.

8. 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.

Please do not allow tHe Narrabri Gas Project - it risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer. In Australia, water and our waterways are the most precious and important resource we have. Much, much more important than short term gas mining.

Please think about Australia's future.

Stop pillaging 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.



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 am deeply concerned that further CSG wells will contaminate the recharge basin of the Great Artesian Basin. Conclusive evidence from around the world shows that CSG is unsafe and contaminates fresh water aquifers. Not only that but the off gassing poses a substantial threat to community health. The Pilliga is the last remaining natural woodland in Western NSW and should be protected from further habitat fragmentation. Further energy investments should focus on clean energy such as solar and wind, not dirty practices that are contributing to climate change and degrading our environment and public health. Please do not approve this destructive and unnecessary project.

The aquifers under the Pilliga State Forest will be irrevocably damaged by CSG drilling. This resource needs to be protected for all Australians into the future.

This project runs in the face of the vast body of science which dictates that fossil fuels MUST remain in the ground in order to avoid catastrophic climate change.
It also runs in the face of the moral issues of a people whose land would be usurped, denuded, toxified by its activation, to say nothing of the violation of their sacred areas.
The only question that remains is: in the face of the above two facts, why is the government pushing for its approval? Should the project go ahead, I personally will be pursuing an official investigation into the connections between elected officials and government decision makers and the oil and gas industry, as this seems to be the only possible driving force behind the activation of the project.

I object to the construction of the coal seam gas field because it is dangerous for human health and the environment. I want to protect Pilinga forest instead and have the government to invest in sustainable renewable energy to produce electricity and have hot water in our households. It is very easy to do and it doesn't cost too much. It will provide jobs to lots of small businesses and create a better community.

Thank you for reading my submission.

I object to this project as it is clear that the adverse environmental and social impacts far outweigh any potential positive economic or social impacts. Furthermore to approve of the project would be a clear breach of the precautionary principle and inter-generational equity which underpins ecologically sustainable development as included in ss 5 and 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) given the adverse impacts the project will result in, not only short term, but and in particular long term environmental impacts. Approving the project would blatantly neglect a careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the environment. This is because The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer; The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed as the project would have a destructive effect on their traditions, livelihood and culture; Farmers and other local community reject the project raising concerns about negative impact on local business and living conditions; The Narrabri Gas Project has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG water--Santos cannot be trusted to manage the project safely ; the Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife listed as one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots; Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change; there are known health impacts on local communities from similar operations; 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 pollution; 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 and Risk of fires would increase throughout the Pilliga's tinder-box conditions.

Totally object to this project ,this area should be protected instead of destroyed in the name of greed

To whom it may concern
This Gas Project is not in the public interest. There is too greater risk that this will affect the Artesian water and negatively affect the environment.

Santos has been responsible for other environmental damage in the past and there is no guarantee this will not happen again. Once Australia loses its water supply there is little chance of being able to run agriculture. Agricultural businesses are likely to be a major providers of income for Australia in the future. It is not good planning to destroy Australia's prospects for agriculture.

Please do not allow this Project to go ahead.

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.
- See more at: https://www.wilderness.org.au/final-push-pilliga#sthash.wyakuDXN.dpuf

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. It is their land, they should have the say in what happens to it.

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. The project threatens the local astronomy industry too - the area is one of the few "dark spots" in the world, and invaluable to astronomy and tourism for it. Don't ruin it with flares.

The Narrabri Gas Project has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG water--Santos cannot be trusted to manage the project safely.
Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium. In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads. Which have not been properly cleaned up, or a bush regeneration strategy found successful. Santos cannot be trusted.

Coal seam gas contributes to anthropogenic climate change -
a serious issue with enormous ramifications for both humans and nonhumans worldwide if not addressed urgently. Methane is a lethal greenhouse gas, and the leaks associated with coal seam gas mining will greatly contribute to NSWs level of greenhouse gas emissions which already need to be reduced urgently.

Coal seam gas operations have also been known to have significant health effects due to the volatile organic compounds released into the air. This has been experienced by communities in Queensland, Sydney and the USA who are located near coal seam gas operations.

Most importantly, the Narrabri Gas Project is a breach of democracy. Decision-making by the NSW State Government has occurred without satisfactory consultation with or consensus from the local community. This project has been rejected by local farmers. This project has been rejected by the Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians of the Pilbara.

I do not think that Gas Projects are sustainable, do not comply with Australia's obligations to protect human rights and the environment. As well as:

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.

julie dorron