Narrabri Gas

Please consider carefully the rights of the first people to protect their heritage.

Once the area is mined there is no going back. The natural environment deserves protection and the natural environment should be reserved for future generations.

As an Australian i choose to support the plight of the traditional owners to preserv and protect. This is not your choice to make.

I wish to lodge my objection to the Narrabri Gas Project.
The 850 proposed wells will seriously compromise water supplies, destroy habitat of native species and interfere with farming activities in the area. Moreover use of the gas extracted will add to global warming at a time when it is critical for us to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

1. Water Resources
The Project threatens two major water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin.
-. Water removed for extracting CSG could reduce water pressure in the recharge area of the Great Artesian Basin and stop the free flow of water to the surface at springs and bores.
- The Namoi River is at risk from spills and salty treated water produced from drilling sites.
- There have already been serious episodes of contamination from drilling activities - uranium levels are 20 times higher than acceptable levels in one freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga Forest and there have been at least 20 reported spills and leaks of contaminated water. from storage ponds and wells.
- There will be between 17 000 and 42 000 tonnes of salty waste produced each year from CSG wells and there is no plan of disposal of this toxic material.

2. The Gamilaraay people and 96% of the local farming community oppose the project.

3. The Pilliga Forest is a nationally listed biodiversity hotspot with a large number of endangered species of native animals such as Koalas,Black-striped wallaby , spotted-tail Quollanimals such as Koalas, Spotted-tail Quolls, and at least 200 species of bird. It is vital for the preservation of these species.

4. The gas produced will add considerably to global warming . methane spikes will also be a hazard in an area prone to bush fires.

I do not want Coal Seam Gas extraction in the Pilliga as it cannot be guaranteed that there will be no contamination of our water supply. I am a cattle farmer in the Pilliga district and rely on the underground water for stock and domestic purposes. This most valuable resource must not be put in jeopardy or our livelihood and the environment will be damaged.

This insanity and greed has to stop. The majority of Australians are against these projects. They destroy communities and the environment. It's a disgrace that we keep poisoning our land all for the sake of corporate greed.

I think its disgraceful to disembody a cultural region for the spite of csg and believe the artesian basin should be kept from the taint and blight of which is being pushed upon it

The Great Artesian Basin is Australia's largest ground aquifer. Santos has already reported 20 toxic spills and leaks of CSG water. Of course they will say they can contain the leaks and the ground water is safe but it's not worth taking this risk, especially after their track record.

The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians, farmers and other local community reject the project with an average of 96% opposition to CSG, not to mention the threatened wildlife that live in the area. We live in a democracy, please listen to the people and do not allow this project to go ahead.

CSG is an environmental and ethical disaster. There is so much opposition for many reasons, so please stop Santos' Narrabri Gas Project.

I strongly object to the Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga.
Gas fields cause immeasurable damage.

Fossil fuels have had their day!
The future is renewable energy!
Stop now and transfer the funds for CSG projects to renewables
If you want to export energy from Australia then use hydrogen from renewables and the new CSIRO technology for transport of hydrogen!
Should be more profitable for all of us!
Coral reefs and Pacific Islanders will thank you.
Show some courage!

Use the funds and effort going into CSG on renewable resources!!! Renewable resources don't threaten entire ecosystems, micro climates and a great deal of marine plus terrestrial flora AND fauna, renewables don't contaminate precious clean water, renewables don't harm the health of UTralian people nor do they contribute to the every growing climate change and the 6th greatest mass extinction problem.

Renewables are the way forward! Go forward not backwards or sidewards as the case with non renewables such as CSG.

Please stop. This project is killing animals! It's killing plants! It's killing people ... and it's damping our hearts and confidence in the Australian government to do what's right for our health, Australia's health and the planets health.

I object to the Narrabri Gas Project from personal, environmental and human rights perspectives. I am the granddaughter of Gomeroi woman Nellie Reid from Cuttabri who died in 1913. As one of her descendants I feel strongly connected with what is my land now even though I live away from it to continue the work I do. Each time I return to the Pilliga I see further destruction of what is purportedly a State Forest. Who gave permission for that to change? It does not appear to be a democratic process that has permitted this noxious industry into the Pilliga State Forest. Without due consideration of the ill effects of the traumatic invasion by Santos and other companies, there is certainly a human rights perspective to consider. I respectfully ask that you do everything within your power to cease this catastrophic incursion into the special land of my people.

Fracking is a very dirty business. It will ruin the livelihood of the farming community who live in this area. CSG is not a sustainable energy substitute. It has consequences for the environment, for the flora and fauna of the region and for people living there. It has been proved to be economically unviable. It will causie extensive damage to the natural and farming community and will foster a damage that may take decades to repair.
CSG is part of the polluting last century energy push but it is bound to fail. The community does not want it and large sections of NSW communities do not want it. The Govt will never be voted in again if it does not listen to the people who elected it. I pledge never to support this govt ever again if CSG is given the green light in Narrabri Gas Project.

Dear sirs,
I object to the expansion of CSG in Australia including the Narrabi Gassfield project. I am concerned that the project and CSG in general is a significant threat to both the local and worldwide environment.

In particular there have been a number of environmental protection failures in the trial phase of the Narrabi project, to me these failures seem inherent in the project and will therefore increase with expansion. The cumulative impact will therefore increase, and over time may have greater impacts on the water supply including the great artesian basin which is a major water supply for australian population and agriculture, and must be protected at all cost.

The development of fossil fuels in general must be stopped to prevent further global warming. This major scientific fact seems to be ignored by the Department of Planning. It should NOT be.

The gas production industry is already well established , but does little to pay its fair share. the majority of gas produced in Australia is exported and the companies that do this to the detriment of local supply are actively avoiding paying royalties and tax to Australia. ( as evidenced in recent senate enquiries and government measures to quarantine some production for local use) as such these developments fail on a public interest basis. Any local harm to agriculture and environment needs to prioritised over commercial greed

Dear Planning and Environment, NSW Government,

I strongly object to the Narrabri Gas Project proposal. Coal seam gas has been recognised as dangerous to our precious water resources and able to contaminate large aquifers for centuries. The risks are not acceptable. The Great Artesian basin is a precious resource for many people across many generations. It is not an item to be expended on greedy gas guzzlers over a few decades.

Investing in this type of fossil fuel development at this time, when urgent transition to renewables is indisputable, constitutes the grandest of follies. Investment in CSG only hinders this transition. Approval of such a development proposal would be an act against the people of NSW and the world.

Santos has already shown itself to be reckless in its disregard for environmental values in the Pilliga, having contaminated groundwater with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines (see https://www.wilderness.org.au/final-push-pilliga#sthash.MxTuGouu.dpuf). This is not a company that can be trusted with our Great Artesian basin.

Farmers across the state have opposed CSG for good reason - it trades off long term crucial natural assets (water, land and biodiversity) for short term profits.

The community generally in NSW is opposed to CSG and this has been shown in several surveys.

Traditional landowners too have shown their dismay at the proposal.

Surely this project can be closed down now. It would be an act of common sense.

Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,

The NSW government must reject the Narrabri Gas Project because of its negative impact on the Pilliga forest.

I have driven through the Pilliga many times and am always impressed to see such a large area of intact forest surviving in an otherwise cleared landscape.

My current working role is in phosphate mine-site rehabilitation. Through this work and previous studies I have gained a comprehensive understanding of the severe consequences to natural areas through disturbance caused by mining processes e.g. vegetation clearing, soil compaction, weed dispersal, edge effects and habitat fragmentation. The damage caused by mining operations are never able to be truly rehabilitated.

As the largest area of remaining forest west of the Great Divide it is imperative that the Pilliga is not fragmented by CSG mining.

Please use common sense and do not risk the natural integrity of one of the last great forest landscapes in NSW.

Yours sincerely,

Micah Chataway

Everything else has been stolen from these people. STOP STEALING the land they call Mother.

The district needs a safe alternative industry to agriculture for employment. I fully believe that santos can carry out all their proposed activity in an environmentally safe way and not affect any underground water supplies.

i was born and raised in the local area! I completed my trade at a small local business and have seen the decline in numbers of small businesses in the area and the amount of people that have had to leave town because there isn't enough work! I feel that the Narrabri gas project will be beneficial for the entire area in terms of jobs, infrastructure and opportunities for our communities to grow.

I am absolutely 100% AGAINST the Narrabri Gas Project. My chief concern is the long term damage it will have on the Aquifer. Also the fact that the spider web of sites that chriss cross the landscape destroy the environment, the natural habit for local animals will be destroyed, the likelihood of gas leaks that effect ground water and the land will have a long term impact and could prevent recovery.
This is a very special area which should be cherished, not destroyed.
I see it as short term greed, by self interested groups with no regard at all for the long term wellbeing of the Community and the Environment. It will be destroyed forever.

Please don't go ahead and approve the CSG drilling in the Pilliga Forest. The potential damage this will be likely to do far outweighs the potential benefits even if good reserves of gas are found. Any gas found will give just a short term benefit to the State of NSW while the damage done will last for centuries to come. The potential damage has been extensively documented so I will not elaborate.

We should be preparing for the future by investing in clean renewable energy not more fossil fuels. The age of gas is over. The risk to water supplies is too great.

During the exploration phase Santos has already caused more than 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water, including the contamination of an aquifer with uranium.

I strongly object to allowing a private gas company to plunder our natural environment and cause irreparable damage to water, soil, air and wildlife for their own profit.