Narrabri Gas

Stop the destroying of the natural environment and the polluting of groundwater by this nonsensical Narrabri Gas Project.
Think of the generations to come and their needs instead of greedy self interests.

Humans need clean water, clean air and clean land for survival. I want my children to still have a livable planet and not fight for survival. To industrialize the Pilliga with 850 coal seam gas wells is threatening this natural refuge, our precious groundwater, and the communities who rely on it.
Coal Seam gas has been proven to cause higher earth quake activity and house explosions from gas building up. Rivers have been poisoned and are flammable, so is tap water in effected areas.
We also know that if we're to maintain a safe climate and keep global warming below 2 degrees, projects like this cannot go ahead. We need clean energy, which Australia has an abundance on offer - solar, wind, waves, heat, methane.....Please stop Energy giant Santos' plans.

SANTOS HANDS OFF THE GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN

NO FRACK'IN FRACKING IN THE PILLIGA.

YOU CAN'T STUFF-UP OUR BEST WATER SYSTEMS

WE NEED RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES NOT CSG

NO THANKS!

1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Artesian 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.tEoDWF6P.dpuf

Let's look harder at renewable and far less destructive methods for generating power.

I disagree with the proposed Narrabri CSG Project.
In the long run Conservation is much more important.

Firstly and most importantly the Narrabri Gas Project not only will risk precious water sources but denigrate them, this will largely effect the Great Artesian Basin needless to say destroying many livelihoods. Not worth the risk.

If the Narrabri gas field was to be adopted by the Government it will pose to much of a 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. CSG extraction could and gauging on past experience with these people who care not for the environment not only pollute the water but reduce water pressure in the recharge which has the potentially to stop flow of waters to the surface effecting 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.

The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed to this proposed development, 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 short term profits with 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 not only in this area but across the country. This proposed area stretches across a massive 3.2 million hectares of country surrounding the Pilliga forest, including 99 communities. Because of this hundreds of farmers have participated in protest actions unlike any previously seen in the region.

The Narrabri Gas Project already has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG water--Santos cannot be trusted at all 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.

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 gas field 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. Putting it mildly making a mess of the place.

Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change. Methane is by far one of 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 are 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 gas fields 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 wild 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 proposed project would increase ignition sources as well as extracting, transporting and storing a highly flammable gas right within this extremely fire-prone forest.

i STRONGLY PROTEST the mining of CSG in the PILLIGA on every imaginable environmental study.
I would instead prefer our elected representatives to do the research necessary and promote renewable energy.
This will prevent further degredation of our precious dwindling natural resources and move in the right direction for a better future for our children and future generations.
THE TIME IS NOW

Marie Nitschke

This madness must be stopped, it would be truly insane to mess with artesian basin. I am appalled that the NSW government actually has to be told this. If you allow it to go ahead the extent of your greed and corruption will be revealed. Does it know no bounds, don't you want to protect water for future generations. This government must be made up of complete morons and/ or sociopaths, which is it?

The Pilliga forest is the largest intact woodland in eastern Australia, stretching across half a million hectares in north-western New South Wales. It is a unique ecological refuge, home to 25 nationally listed and 48 state-listed threatened species, such as the Pilliga Mouse, which rely on the Pilliga for survival.

The sandstone under the Pilliga is a vital recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin, and creeks that flow through the Pilliga provide clean water into the Murray Darling Basin. These water sources are the lifeblood of farming communities throughout the southeast and inland Australia.

Energy giant Santos has plans to industrialise the Pilliga with 850 coal seam gas wells--threatening this natural refuge, our precious groundwater, and the communities who rely on it. We also know that if we're to maintain a safe climate and keep global warming below 2 degrees, projects like this cannot go ahead.

For years, locals like Anne Kennedy and Jane Judd have lead community protests against this bizarre and risky project--and for years they've managed to keep the project from progressing.

Santos has just submitted its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Under law, there is now a public feedback period of 60 days, and it is critical that I write this and that you should read it. It doesn't matter if one is not directly affected or doe not live in NSW--if this project goes ahead, it will affect all Australians.

The NSW Government has ignored the voice of the community in this project--so we must stand with the community, that has been tirelessly campaigning against this project for so long. We can stop this dangerous industry in NSW--once and for all if we are successful now.

The proposal should be rejected on 2 key issues.
The first is the risk to the water resources for farming and human use.
The second is the urgent need to limit fossil fuel use so that dangerous global warming can be avoided. Heatwaves will ( are already) become more common with warming caused by burning gas. During these heatwaves there will be (already are) significant increases in human mortality. This is an unacceptable byproduct of this approval process.

The NSW Government is a representative of the people of NSW. I believe the people of NSW have spoken in opposition to the proposal to allow Santos to drill 850 wells to access the natural gasses of the Pilliga region. I am one of those people and oppose this development. I fear that the negative environmental impacts it will have on the area outweigh any financial benefits for the people of NSW.

The Narrabri Gas Project risks vital water sources, including the Great Artesian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer.
The aboriginal people who live there object to the Narrabri Gas Project.
Many endangered animals live in this area and will be put at risk of dying if this project goes ahead.

I object to the Narrabri Gas project in full due to the following reasons:

The drilling and fracking of the proposed 850 CSG wells is likely to cause irreversible contamination to subsurface water feeding into the Great Artesian Basin, disrupting the use by landholders and towns west of Narrabri who are entirely reliant on this artesian water source. Surface water contamination due to licensed and unlicensed saline discharges will flow into the Murray Darling basin and in times of low flow rates and drought will render the river system unusable for water users and degrade already stressed river ecosystems. Unlicensed discharges by the proponent on other projects in the Pilliga have already contaminated a freshwater aquifer with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium (SMH, 7/3/2014).

Operation of the wells within the Piliga State Forest and on private land will result in the construction of vast numbers of tracks fragmenting and degrading a large and intact threatened ecosystems and critical habitat for endangered species including the Koala. Dust produced by vehicle use over the tracks and hydrocarbon fumes produced will further degrade the Piliga forest and on private land, render it unsuitable for human habitation and agricultural use, as has been experienced in Tara, Queensland.

Given the relatively temporary nature of the project and the potentially permanent and cumulative environmental damage as well as little justification in boosting gas supply in an already flooded gas market I believe the precautionary principle should be applied and the project rejected.

I strongly oppose the gas mining scheme in the pilbarra. It is enviromentally and spiritually maddness. I believe the goverment is more focused on the monetary value of the land. Rather than peoples livelyhoods and natures ecosystems. Please stop the mining.

I object most strongly to the environmental devastation proposed by Santos.
I believe the region will become unlivable.
We should not risk contaminating the artesian basin, or are we idiots?
Santos has proved to be unreliable in protecting the environment.

I am opposed to CSG projects - they are harmful to the environment and serve no one except big business and their profits. I want a clean and beautiful Earth kept for myself, and for future inhabitants, of all species. I think it is wrong that indigenous rights are being ignored and it is a case of bullying to force people off areas where they have lived for tens of thousands of years.

I wish to express my total objection to Santos' plans to attempt to establish 850 CSG wells over 20 years. Santos has already created unacceptable levels of pollution to waterways in the Pilliga region and has a poor environmental record. they also have a record of heavy handed treatment of farmers in Queensland in their attempts to establish CSG wells on prime farmland. I know the Pilliga region and have visited there on several occasions on holidays in my lifetime. As a grandmother, I would like my children and grandchildren to be able to visit this largely unspoiled region. I stand with the over 90% of the local community who object to Santos' plans because of the impact on wilderness, farmland, waterways and the Great Artesian Basin, one of Australia's most precious resources. Australia does not need these gas wells. We need an assured local gas supply from existing gas sources before gas is exported. We also need the views of the vast majority of citizens of this state to prevail against mining lobbyists. Farmland, wilderness and water resources are of far greater long term value to NSW than the royalties that would be paid if these CSG wells went ahead. It is time that the views of citizens and taxpayers and not mining companies are listened to and their objections to such inappropriate developments must take precedence over the plans of highly irresponsible companies such as Santos.

I wish to express my opposition to the development proposal as I consider:
1. It damages a delicate ecosystem in the vicinity
2. It is an unnecessary addition to an already oversupplied gas market
3 trhe products will contribute to further climate change

The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots' and is vital to the survival of threatened species like the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat. The forest is home to over 200 bird species and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area. The Santos gasfield would fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelines--damaging vital habitat and threatening the survival of endangered species.