Narrabri Gas

I am a New South Wales resident and I am writing to object to the proposal of Santos to build 850 gas wells in the Pilliga forest. There are many reasons why this project is a bad idea. This industry has caused serious problems for the environment and the people in other places such as Queensland and the USA. Is strong evidence to suggest that this industry is causing serious health issues to the people who live near it. The process of Fracking uses dangerous chemicals and contaminates the air, water and land.
The Pilliga is an important environmental resource as it not only holds unique ecosystems it also acts as a filter for the Great Artesian Basin.The Basin is one of Australia's most important assets as it provides water for many agricultural industries and people in remote parts of Australia. As one of the driest continents on the planet we can not afford to destroy our water resources. Fracking in this area threatens the Basin.
Santos does not have a very good track record for taking the environment in to consideration as is evident by their shonky holding ponds near Narrabri which have consistently leaked contaminated water into the environment. Even if this industry could gaurentee safety to people land and water, which it can't, I doubt Santos would follow the rules. While they claim it will bring jobs for local people it is also likely that they will bring in workers from out of the area and only provide short term employment, whilst destroying any current or future industries such as agriculture, renewable energy and tourism. The monetary profits made from this project are unlikely to shared with the Australian people and the gas is intended for sale to China and India.
In an age where we need to be preserving our forests and water resources due to climate change a project like this is unwise and short sighted.
If this project proceeds there is going to be opposition and protest from local farmers, indigenous people, environment groups and many others. This will cost tax dollars and take up valuable police time and resources.
I am pleading with the NSW government do not allow this project to progress for sake of future generations, the wildlife and the precious land and water please do not allow this to happen. Please do your job and do what is best for the people of this country and not the corporations.

The artesian basin can't be fixed if Santos get this wrong. Is it worth the risk? What's the plan for water thereafter?

I am opposed to the Narrabri Gas Project which involves the progressive development of a coal seam gas field comprising up to 850 gas wells on up to 425 well pads over 20 years. The community do not want it. Australians do not want it. We need to protect our environment.

I am opposed to the Narrabri Gas Project which involves the progressive development of a coal seam gas field comprising up to 850 gas wells on up to 425 well pads over 20 years. The community do not want it. Australians do not want it. We need to protect our environment.

I strongly object to the Narrabri CSG project; Particularly as this project may have direct impact to pressure and flow of vital water supplies in the Great Artesian Basin and may threaten to contaminate our water with toxic chemicals. I also object to any CSG projects in NSW.

I am absolutely opposed to this, there is too much evidence from around the world of the damage this causes. Why not ask the company to invest in renewable energy sources instead.

I grew up in Coonabarabran and my family still live there, the Pilliga has been a big part of my life. It has the most unique and diverse flora and fauna - spectacular bird life.

Consider the real costs of approving this project:
Consider the destruction of the environmental.
Consider the loss of habitat for the fauna.
Consider the destruction of the most precious resource THE WATER.
Consider CLIMATE CHANGE.
Consider the loss of tourism

If this project is approved this environment will be lost forever

Reneable energy resources are more viable - why are we even considering CSG

It would be a tragedy to lose this precious land to self serving, greedy gas companies.

DONATE
BECOME A MEMBER

The final push for the Pilliga



Now is a critical moment in the campaign to protect the Pilliga forest. We need you to lodge a submission against Santos' Narrabri Gas Project to help end CSG in NSW once and for all.

Santos has filed its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with the NSW Government and we now have just 60 days to voice our opposition. This is the last remaining CSG proposal in NSW, and it's essential we make our powerful opposition clear.

The local community of the Pilliga has spearheaded the campaign against this project for years--now is the time for all Australians to stand with them in the final push for the Pilliga.

Anyone can make a submission and every submission will be counted. We have until 24 April to lodge as many submissions as possible.

How to write a submission
Lodge your objection to Santos' Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga.
Go to the Narrabri Gas Project page on the NSW Department of Planning website.
Choose `I object to it' in the dropdown menu and fill in your personal details.
Add your comment against the project. We have suggested some key points to be included in your submission below. Please consider using these points as a basis and expressing opposition in your own words--your own voice is more powerful.
SHARE this video to multiply your impact.
Suggested points for your submission


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.

I'm making my stand against the Narrabri Gas Project - Goal seam gas wells. This land is to remain untouched for the wildlife and our future generations. It comes down to the wellbeing of our country. The Gas project is not to go ahead.

Human health is compromised by coal seam gas.

I am very concerned that we will end up in a similar situation that the USA is facing right now. The destruction of natural reserves, family livelihood and important resources such as water due to irresponsible mining techniques by overseas companies that are out for a short term monetary gain. We will suffer hundreds of years of severely disturbed water tables and polluted soil and water without any benefits whatsoever apart from a slightly lowered gas price. This is completely unacceptable and the money grabbing, overseas owned, non tax paying multinationals need to be stopped!

I object to CSG in 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.

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

To drill CSG wells in the Pilbara over the Artesian Basin, of all places will be seen in the future as a criminal act. There is no doubt from previous drilling of this type that the ground water will be affected. Secondly, there will be the potential for degradation of what is a beautiful landscape.

I urge you to stop this act of vandalism that threatens the livelihood of our grand children and generations to come.

Dr Stewart Hase

The people of Australia say no. We have had enough!!! Or natural resources are being raped from our land at a huge cost to wildlife, the environment, and farmers. All for the sake of money. I beg for my children and their children do not allow this to happen. And further more Why is Santos allowed to pay NO tax in our country? Now change that situation. Our government is a disgrace to its people.

The long term sustainability and quality of of water, ground, native vegetation and air are too vital to risk destroying and polluting by coal seam gas extraction and I am therefore against any coal seam gas exploration or extraction in the Pillliga.

Mining for fuel especially in pristine environments is not ok. We need to support renewables more the ever and get away from the devastating mining practises of finite resources. No to drilling!!!

I oppose the proposed drilling of coal seam gas in the Pilliga

I do not support the coal seam gas industry or any political parties or local councils who allow this industry to operate in rural Australia. I might consider supporting political parties or local councils who agreed to open CSG operations in the middle of densely populated cities, simply because it would create a far greater level of public awareness and media coverage of the environmental and health concerns of these operations.

There are numerous other ways to create jobs and income and access energy that communities have at their disposal. There is no valid reason to put rural Australia's natural environment at risk. One of the key things we have to legitimately protect in this country above all else is our food and water supply. Pretty much, without that, all Australian's will suffer. Approving CSG operations puts our natural environment at risk, and puts our food and water supply at risk which in turn puts all Australian's at risk.

This is one of the most expensive countries to live in, in the world already. How do you think every day Australian people will afford to feed themselves or access water if our food and water supplies are contaminated, compromised or ruined by the CSG industry? None of this is acceptable. I do not in any way support any industry or political party that puts the livelihood or lives of Australian's at risk.

I also do not support any industry or political party that contaminates the earth's natural environment with long term consequences for short term monetary gain...or even for long term monetary gain. Without a stable, thriving food and water supply and an uncontaminated, natural environment, there is no quality of life, health or wealth available to us anyway.

Please don't allow the Narrabri Gas project to go ahead. The community has voiced their desire strong and clear. It is the Government's responsibility to represent the people of Australia, not be the lapdog of the large powerful corporations.

Please consider this deeply and with forsight for the wellbeing of future generations and the Earths long term sustainability.

Many thanks
Raphael