Narrabri Gas

I believe that gas if a needed necessity. It I believe is one of the lowest fossil fuels that can be used. Santos have completed exhaustive testing to ensure the safe operations which is a good thing. If the project was to go ahead it would promote growth, be very good for the economy and certainly would employ a lot of locals.
To date living here in Narrabri Santos have certainly behaved in an extremely professional manner, not hiding anything, they have numerous tours, if asked will present any documentation that is asked of them and all staff here have bought into the local township and contribute both professionally and personally. I can only see positive rather than negative outcomes for this which unfortunately has been reiterated to the wider public of late and I must say by non locals. We live and work here and our opinions should be taken into positive consideration.

The Narrabri Gas Project will be a great thing for Narrabri. Not only for employment, economic growth but for the upcoming generation. Gas is a needed commodity and it is the lesser detriment to the environment of all the fossil fuels. It is a fact of life we need a reliable energy source. Santos are preparing for a long term investment and it can only be a positive outlook for the town. The amount of farmers who live in the district are very minimal who are against it.

Please do not desecrate these Aboriginal lands by mining for coal seam gas.

The Narrabri Project will be positive for Narrabri. I am local and believe that Santos have completed and completing all relevant regulations towards a safe operation here in Narrabri. Gas is a needed necessity and irrespective of anything a fossil fuel is needed to generate energy. Gas is the most cleanest of the fossil fuels to the environment and I would not appose the project. From what I am hearing around town the majority of people on the land are not opposed and believe that Santos are and will operate a safe environment. All of the staff are local and contribute to our town, children go to local schools and our economy here would benefit greatly. Everyone can work together.

The Pilliga is a significant forest and farming area. It is a recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin and the intrusion of a gas field may have seriously negative affects on the Flora, Fauna and People in the area. Santos cannot guarantee their gas extraction will not harm the Pilliga, and perhaps much more, so it is too great a risk to allow this gas field to happen.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Santos' Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga.

The Pilliga is a very special place with the largest intact woodland in eastern Australia. The sandstone under the Pilliga is important for the maintenance of the Great Artesian Basin. Farmers and towns depend on the clean water the Pilliga provides in the Murray Darling Basin. 850 wells for coal seam gas would threaten this heritage. Now is the time to focus on renewables that do not threaten our precious environment.
The people of NSW and of Australia are counting on NSW to make the right decision and stop the Santos proposal. Thank you.

I object to the proposed Narrabri Gas Project and the sacrificing of our precious environment for a coal seam gas field. I object for the following reasons:

It poses a huge risk to our precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer
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

The Namoi River system --a part of the Murray Darling Basin,.is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

. 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.

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.

. 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.

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.

With all of these risks I am totlally confused as to why you would go ahead with such a treacherous and unintelligent proposal.

With kind regards
Linda Pratt

Re: Submission Narrabri Gas Coal Project

Dear Sir/Madam

Given the many damaging and uncertain issues surrounding the development of Coal Seam Gas projects in Australia, I am writing to express my deep concern and profound opposition to the development of the Narrabri Gas Coal Project.

Coal seam gas is now being touted as a "transition" fuel - given the potential and unknown long term environmental damage and health effects found with coal seam gas in the United States, why are our Australian State and Federal Governments in Australia considering the development of this profoundly polluting industry in Australia?

Why do our politicians never learn from others lessons, but just blindly follow them down the path, ignoring the outcomes? it's madness!!

An article from Peter Hannam in the SMH as long ago as July 2016 for example outlined that:

"US regulators have lifted estimates of annual methane emissions from the oil and gas industry by 13%

Methane clouds have been detected near gasfields with thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes, with the leak venting almost 100,000 tonnes of methane over 16 weeks in October 2016 from a gas storage site near Los Angeles.

There are no baseline studies to determine the impact of drilling and fracking of wells from natural methane seepage

Professor Rayner in Australia has said that the uncertainties around CSG in particular "are really very large" - as it is closer to the surface and therefore the "chances for something to go wrong are much higher"

Our own Government estimates show that Queensland's greenhouse gas emissions will rise to 35 percent between 2014 and 2030.

We have little or no understanding about how drilling and fracking may create conditions for leakage through the soil long after a well has been decommissioned with possible long term post production fugitive emissions.

A former Geoscientist at energy Giant Shell - Dimitri Lafleur said that the industry has little idea of how much "migratory emissions" are making it to the surface. And there is no requirement for these mining companies to minimize fugitive emissions anyway.

There has been no systematic studies of disused gas wells as they age and concrete casing break down, risking further leaks for decades to come."

This all came from just one article as early as 2016 - the evidence is in, in spades! both in the US and here ... so why do our politicians continue to proceed in this ignorant manner .... it simply beggars belief! and hubris I believe.

The potential costs to our environment, global warming, Australian health and social impacts on our farming communities are just too high to continue down this surreal and ignorance based path.

And all of this is before we even begin to consider the overwhelming damaging effects to the beautiful Pilliga, our underground aquifers and wilful damage to the environment.

What are our Government's smoking! - please take into consideration scientific research, the major environmental damage and health outcomes in the United States, the Australian communities complete lack of support for this terrible industry and do not proceed with the Narrabri Gas Coal Project in any guise whatsoever.

Nikki Rivers
65 York Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Underground water (GAB) must be protected for future agricultural pursuits.
Energy will come from renewables in a relatively short time, (keep an eye on China's manufacturing progress AND ITS DIRECTION) so make sure we don't do anything (with a short term outlook) to compromise our food production capacity now and continuing.

Ask yourself the question why are we allowing a compqny to put 850 holes in our ground then chsrge us inflated cost to buy gas back when a solar or wind farm would supply similar amounts of energy more jobs and not leave 850 holes in the ground when they leave wake up australia

To All Government Bodies ,

This project is obserd ! I am not going to divulge into specific details why when and how ! Reavulate the circumstance and act NOW for declining in the project !

I am deeply ashamed to call myself an Australian citizen who obeys your laws whilst this is taking place we are meant to be developing not undermining the freedom of what we have left.

I some how am constantly repeating myself which is getting very frustrating . I have made my input very clear to you now please respect my views, animals, the land and your so called citizens.

Thank you

Yours Sincerely

Miss Stevie Bamford

No need for any CSG as hydrogen can be easily collected from methane from digested sewage and cracked into hydrogen and carbon black. The hydrogen can then be converted directly into electricity and clean reconstituted water. A project Ecocern P/L has been researching.

Drilling and potentially fracking 850 gas wells through the Great Artesian Basin will bring to the surface huge amounts of salt and chemically-laden water, threatening farmland and water resources.
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.

This project risks not only important water sources, but also the Murray Darling Basin and the Great Australian Basin.

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.


Further risks to water supplies will be due to the waste water created by 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.

This project ignores the wishes of the Indigenous Custodians of this area, who have connection with this land and do not want it vandalised.

Local farmers are opposed, as they know that fracking damages water in agricultural land.

Santos can not be trusted to follow safeguards, which in my opinion are inadequate in themselves. 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.

The environment is at risk, and being so special, should not be placed at risk. 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.

There are serious impacts on human health. 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.

And finally and most importantly, because if we do not take Climate Change seriously, our Earth is in peril - fracking will cause Climate Change through release of methane. 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.

The Pilliga Woodland is the largest and most intact temperate eucalypt woodland in eastern Australia. It is a unique refuge in a heavily cleared agricultural belt. Many woodland species which are struggling to survive including the unique Pilliga mouse call this amazing woodland home. All up, 25 nationally listed and 48 state listed threatened species rely on the Pilliga for survival. - So why would we willing have it destroyed? Australia has already lost more of its flora and fauna to extinction in the last 150 years than most anywhere else on earth. We don't need the gas fracking would release. We don't need the potential for pollution of the ground water in this agricultural area. Australia DOES NOT need to become the next USA, where fracking is causing increases in ethane levels which leads to eye irritations, breathing problems and damage to crops.
Do not allow Santos mine the Pilliga Woodlands.
Please protect what is most precious ... OUR HOME!

I am experiencing the rape of my homeland Australia, on all levels of resource mining sell offs, with the inclusion of Santos plans to construct 850 coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga forest. Australia has been my family's homeland for over 170 years. My ancestors and my family and grandchildren have never seen such a rape of country in the face of climate change and our pride in our Australian natural indigenous and agricultural environment.
The project would extract over 35 billion litres of toxic groundwater and drill right through the recharge area of the Great Artesian Basin. It would generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt waste, for which Santos has still not offered any waste disposal plans. This gasfield would fragment over 90,000 hectares of the Pilliga forest, industrialising the largest temperate woodland in eastern Australia.
We are not indigenous, but now we weep for our country like the indigenous before us. The rich and greedy would destroy all we hold dear in our country, all that is meaningful and wonderful. What shall you tell YOUR grandchildren?

My objection is as follows:

Although I live in Tasmania I have travelled extensively and I do not want to see this beautiful area destroyed.

Ninety-nine communities in the Pilliga region oppose coal seam gas extraction with a 96% opposition. The community's wishes should come before those of a multinational especially when there is so much at risk.

Mining companies pollute and contaminate in varying degrees which puts at risk the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray Darling Basin.

This area is a bio-diversity hot spot and with our precious wildlife already under pressure from climate change we must not add further pressure to the many threatened species which reside in the Pilliga.

The Great Artesian Basin must be protected at all costs.. The 850 gas wells will destroy the landscape as we know it not to mention our ancient artesian water.

There is too much at risk to support CSG extraction in the Pilliga. Please do the right thing.

I am vehemently opposed to the establishment of a coal seam gas field and gas wells anywhere in the Pilliga on environmental grounds.

Re Santos Narrabri Gas Project:
The value of the Pillaga artesian waters cannot be put into figures and the proposed Santos Narrabri Gas project will disrupt the area where the rare rainfall recharges those waters.
The value of the extensive wilderness above them has to be above the value of money. It is well known that vegetation attracts the clouds which hold rain.
It sounds as if we are risking the creation of a desert and further temperature rises.
Is this the right time to be doing that?

I am totally opposed to this CSG development.
Aquifers will be endangered. Holding ponds nearly always leak. Renewable Energy is a much cleaner and is the future.
This proposal is antiquated environmental destruction and greed on the part of Santos.. The state government should bite the bullet and stop all CSG mining in NSW. In the long run it will cost more to clean up the inevitable spills,greenhouse gas emission s[often fugitive] than the relatively small income that will be derived from it. Build a wind farm instead or a solar thermal or geothermal power station.