Narrabri Gas

The Narrabri Gas Project 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. We live in an arid country and need all our water uncontaminated! 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.
It is not justified: Santos' own Coal Seam Gas export activities in Queensland have caused gas prices to rise and supply to become unpredictable. NSW should respond to this by investing in more reliable and ultimately cheaper renewable energy, not by letting Santos inflict more environmental, social and economic harm.
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.

Others, more elequent than me will have stated the case against this action. Firstly, I believe, we, Australia need to protect our natural environment not rape it. Secondly, renewable energy is the only way forward, despite the continued idiocy of our governing bodies who continue to ignore climate change. Alternative renewables mean we can leave the natural spaces alone.

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.


¹SoilFutures Consulting 2014, Great Artesian Basin Recharge Systems and Extent of Petroleum and Gas Leases. http://www.gabpg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/GAB-Report1.pdf
²http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-coal-seam-gas-project-contaminates-aquifer-20140307-34csb.html
³BirdLife International (2017) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pilliga http://www.birdlife.org
⁴Marion Carey Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), Air pollution from coal seam gas may put public health at risk The Conversation, November 20, 2012
⁵https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/21/siding-spring-observatory-threat-coal-seam-gas-light-pollution
⁶http://darksky.org/first-dark-sky-park-in-australia-designated/

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

I am writing of my objection against Santos Narrabri Gas Project and help to end CSG in NSW. Santos negatively impacts the environment adversely affecting animal and environment health and sustainability. The community of Pilliga has pro-actively made objections against this project for years. How is it that the rights of Australians have been ignored. How is it that the rights of the Australian Indigenous Peoples are ignored as this is their country and sacred space. Isn't it about time the Government took decisive action to make sustainable, environmentally friendly choices that allow for future employment for Australians while protecting Australia's natural heritage. Please more details regarding my objection below:

1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Artesian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer
The Narrabri gas field 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 hot spots' 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.

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 gas fields 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 50 m 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 50 m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is prone to severe bush fires. 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.hjcg4YPa.m7BpdxVj.dpuf

Yours sincerely

I am an engineer with over 40 years of research and engineering experience. I recently completed a Risk Management Assessment and concluded with absolute certainty that the long benefits do not justify the long term risks The risks are more than 100 times higher than they should be to consider proceeding with this proposal.
Please do not jeopardise our future for a short financial gain.

I request that no mining exploration be carried out by Santos, or any other miner exploration organisation, the area should be preserved as it stands. Mining exploration and mining will damage the environment and restoration to pre existing conditions is unlikely to be carried out

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.


¹SoilFutures Consulting 2014, Great Artesian Basin Recharge Systems and Extent of Petroleum and Gas Leases. http://www.gabpg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/GAB-Report1.pdf
²http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-coal-seam-gas-project-contaminates-aquifer-20140307-34csb.html
³BirdLife International (2017) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pilliga http://www.birdlife.org
⁴Marion Carey Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), Air pollution from coal seam gas may put public health at risk The Conversation, November 20, 2012
⁵https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/21/siding-spring-observatory-threat-coal-seam-gas-light-pollution
⁶http://darksky.org/first-dark-sky-park-in-australia-designated/

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

The approval of such a project will have a domino effect on the local ecosystem and its ramifications will affect the livelihood of future generations to come.

There are only two natural features in Australia which for decades have been so important to be given the title Great.
They are part of the Australian psyche that must not be handed out for desecration.

The vast Artesian Basin which has supported agriculture for decades and will continue to do so if it is not interfered with.

Recently the Government has realised the importance of saving the water, so the many millions of dollars have been spent capping the wells. Santos is seeking to steal our agricultural heritage and its future.

One hint of Santos contamination from the noxious chemicals will cause the immense quantities of water in the Basin to be unfit for all other purposes.

Take care of Australia and Australians.who are here for ever and say NO to a fly by night foreign mining company.

The furthering of use of Coal Seam Gas in Australia at a time when climate change is already leading to significant temperature rises is unconscionable to say the least. Add to this the risk to the Great Artesian basin and you have a disaster of mammoth proportions just waiting to happen. This does not have to happen and I object to Santos CSG Narrabri Gas project
for all of these reasons.

I wish to voice my opposition to the proposed Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) in the Pilliga Forest. There are many environmental and social reasons why the Project should not gain approval to proceed, but above all the CSG industry represents an outdated way of thinking that belongs in the dustbin of the last century. The idea that we would further develop an industry based on the exploitation and burning of fossil fuels at a time when the earth faces the real prospect of an unfolding climate catastrophe that threatens the survival of our society is absurd enough. But to allow this to happen in one of inland Australia's last intact forests shows a blatant disregard for future generations, the basic tenets of biodiversity conservation, and forward-thinking policy- making.
Having spent the last 20 years of my life working as an ecologist, it has become clear to me that many of the rich ecosystems of eastern Australia are gradually disappearing, due to land clearing, habitat fragmentation, the spread of invasive species, industrial and mining development, and in the past two decades, extreme heatwaves and drought. The Santos NGP will contribute to this process, ultimately leaving our national heritage impoverished, and should therefore be rejected. The specific reasons are as follows:
1. Biodiversity impacts. The Pilliga Forest is a nationally listed biodiversity hotspot home to many threatened species and plant communities. More importantly, it is one of the last remaining large areas of native vegetation in inland NSW, surrounded by a sea of land cleared for agriculture. The Santos NGP would involve the establishment of roads, well pads and other infrastructure across tens of thousands of hectares of native forest, resulting in further fragmentation of associated ecosystems. A century of ecological research shows that fragmentation reduces the dispersal of many native animal and plant species, reducing ecosystem-level functional connectivity. This leads to species loss and biodiversity impoverishment, and facilitates the spread of invasive species, including by vehicles. The prospect of allowing a CSG project in one of the last intact, keystone inland forests in Australia is extremely poor policy, especially when modern landscape management is increasing embracing revegetation, re-wilding, and integration of conservation targets into agricultural production systems in order to promote long-term environmental sustainability. Measures proposed by Santos to reduce these threats are patently unsuitable, especially the landscape-scale fragmentation caused by roads and well pads.
2. Climate change. Anthropogenic CO2 emissions are warming the earth. Recently, global mean temperatures have risen to 1°C above the 20th century average, while atmospheric CO2 concentrations have breached 400 ppm, and continue to increase. The earth's 1.5°C carbon budget will be breached within 5 years, and it is probable that the 2°C carbon budget will be exceeded by 2030. By 2100 the earth is likely to be 3°C warmer. This comes as no surprise to Santos, which has reportedly adopted a `4°C pathway' business plan. The impact of global warming of this magnitude will be catastrophic, both to human societies and to the biosphere. The establishment of a multi-decade long fossil fuel project under these circumstances is contrary to all international efforts to move to a sustainable energy future with a 2°C warming limit. It is essential that this carbon, and associated fugitive methane, stays in the ground. Leaving aside the wisdom of exporting the vast majority of Australian gas production - thus "requiring" development of the NGP - there is no climatically justifiable case to develop any new fossil fuel projects in Australia or elsewhere, when so many sustainable alternatives are available.
Apart from these crucial and unresolvable problems, there are several other reasons why I believe the project should be rejected. These include:
1. Light pollution. Industrial-scale lighting associated with mines is a major source of light pollution globally, and an increasing one in northern NSW, including in the Narrabri area. Historical images show clearly that light pollution has increased significantly in recent decades, greatly exacerbated by the development of the Maules Creek and other local coal mines. The NGP would further increase light pollution in the area, affecting the globally significant Siding Springs Observatory, and also environmental amenity for residents. Santos has not adequately addressed this problem or proposed suitable mitigation measures to protect these values.
2. Cultural values. The majority of the local community, farmers, and the Gamilaraay people are all opposed to the NGP.

Ultimately, it is time for Australia to move away from exploitative, regressive, environmentally damaging fossil fuel industries such as the NGP. The costs to local residents, regional biodiversity and future generations vastly outweigh the putative benefits of this project, and I object to it on these grounds.

I regularly travel in outback NSW in my caravan, and was very distressed when in the little settlement of Pilliga in 2015, to hear the evidence of residents who were already affected by the Gas drilling in the area, and had lost their water supply. Water is the most precious commodity for life, and anything that threatens the life blood of the land is a threat to the whole country of Australia. Food production is our most important industry, and without water there is no food production. Underground water is vital to the vast dryer regions of Australia.

Narrabri Gas Project Should not go ahead. Care taking for our environment & reducing our impact on the earth should be our priority.

Attn: Executive Director, Resource Assessments
Department of Planning and Environment
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

This is a submission to the Narrabri Gas Project EIS.

I object to this project and believe it should be rejected.

This project, if approved, would:
1. Extract over 35 billion litres of salt laden groundwater, much of it in the first five years. This water will be treated and will generate almost 500,000 tonnes of salt waste, for which there is no safe disposal plan.
2. Clear close to 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest, fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife.
3. Drill through a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin and draw water down from a water resource relied upon by rural communities across western NSW.
4. Lead to large deliberate and emissions of methane from venting and leakage, adding to climate change.

The project will also cause more trauma to the regional Aboriginal community because the area of impact is crucially important to the spiritual, cultural and social life of Gamilaraay people.

The project is not justified: Santos' own coal seam gas export activities in Queensland have caused gas prices to rise and supply to become unpredictable.

NSW should respond to this by investing in more reliable and ultimately cheaper renewable energy, not by letting Santos inflict more environmental, social and economic harm.

It will cause economic upheaval in Narrabri and put agricultural industries at risk, as well as causing light pollution that will ruin the dark night sky needed by the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory.

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.

I urge the Government to reject this project and make the Great Artesian Basin recharge off-limits to gas mining.

Signed,
Mrs W.Laird

Coal Seam Gas is a health risk. The NSW government has not looked into the health risks of people living in the vicinity of a gas field

Fugitive emissions and deliberate releases of methane will enhance Climate change

Light pollution caused by the extraction of CSG will be detrimental to the Siding Springs observatory

The project will produce tens of thousands of tons of salt with no plans for its safe disposal.The toxic brine water produced .has the potential risk of leaking into the environment

It will clear 1000 hectares of the Pilliga forest . Causing soil erosian endangering threatened plants and animals and destroying habitat. Access to public land will be restricted

It will cause a large diversion from a recharge aquifer of the great artesian basin which is a water source that supplies communities and farms in Western NSW and QLD

In time all Coal Seam Gas wells will fail, due to corrosion and chemical weathering, eventually leading to cross contamination of aquifers. This will occur long after Santos
Has gone. This will be the legacy they leave behind

Santos's business model is failing, the losses its incurring through its exports,are being offset by its price gouging in the domestic market.
No amount of gas will bring the domestic price to an affordable level while the current cartel arrangement is in place.
A situation that is extremely damaging to the national economy

This project is grossly unsustainable in many ways.
The development of a sustainable renewable Energy industry at Narrabri and across the State would far outweigh this high risk project

This is not rocket science, we need to stop this and find alternatives

Wando Conservation and Cultural Centre
Wando
Maules Creek 2382

Att: Executive Director, Resource Assessments
Dept of Planning and Environment
GPO Box 39
Sydney 2001

This is a submission to the Narrabri Gas EIS
This submission opposes the development of the Narrabri coal seam gas project

There are many reasons why this project should not be approved by the Planning and Assessment Commission. Our Group are most concerned about ground water, as this may damage our ground water locally. Maules Creek is less than 30 km from the Narrabri gas field.

A large number of residents of Boggabri and farms in this district particularly Maules Creek depend on ground water for both domestic and farming activities. Any risk to the ground water is unacceptable. The Precautionary Principle, a strategy to cope with possible risks where scientific understanding is yet incomplete should be implemented in this occasion.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Narrabri Gas Project does not adequately address the risk to ground water.

Santos project expects to remove 37.5 GL of heavily contaminated groundwater from the coal seam gas layer over the life of the gas field in the recharge zone of the Great Artesian Basin. Santos admit that this could reduce the flow to the GAB. We cannot afford this risk. We need this water, deepening bores is very expensive. Will Santos pay this cost? Maules Creek depend on surface aquifers.

There is also the risk of contamination of the ground water. In the past there have been at least 22 spills of contaminated water in the Pilliga Forest. As this contaminated produced water makes it's way to the GAB there is already risk that contamination will occur with around 50 CSG wells. With 850 Gas wells Santos have contaminated at least one aquifer already.

The stygofauna in the ground water are important to maintaining healthy clean ground water. These sensitive crustaceans have not been considered in the Santos EIS, despite their importance in maintaining connectivity of aquifers, and cleaning the water. It is doubtful that they will survive a salty environment in the event of a spill.

Despite improved management of the produced water Santos cannot guarantee that there will not be further spills. As with other projects pipes break. Bushfires, floods and aging cause pipes to deteriorate and will cause further spills. Looking at the history of this project it is extremely unlikely that Santos will not cause further contamination of ground water with 850 or more wells.

In the Maules Creek district the ground water is also at risk from coal mining. Please take the cumulative risk into account.

Farming is a long term industry in this most productive farming district. Farmers contribute to the tax base, to exports, and are also significant employers in rural areas.
Coal seam gas is short term and polluting. We therefore ask that you do not give preference to a short term industry over a very productive industry.

Should any person from the PAC wish to visit Wando, Maules Creek to view the bores and irrigation please contact Cliff Wallace.

Yours Sincerely
Cliff Wallace
Patron
Wando Conservation and Cultural Centre

The Pilliga Forest has immense biodiversity value and is not the place for a coal seam gas field. To contemplate destroying an ecosystem that has evolved over hundreds of thousands of years for a few years of gas extraction, that will fragment a valuable ecosystem and generate tonnes of toxic waste (which will end up where exactly???) represents the most ignorant, greedy and short-sighted thinking. Maybe you could start thinking about our future generations and start treating our environment more responsibly.

I believe this project should not go ahead. We, as a nation, should not be furthering our extraction of resources that have a negative impact on our wonderful, unique natural environment. The Pilliga is a good example of our special natural heritage and should not be put at risk in amy way whatsoever - quite the opposite, it should be treasured dearly for its contribution to the uniqueness that is Australia.
What this project hopes to extract also has a detrimental effect on the planet, our environment, as a whole and it would be highly irresponsible to contribute even more negative effects on this system than we already do. The facts are clear.
For the positive future of our nation, our economy, our children, our planet, we should be diverting our focus towards more sustainable energy sources and not the continuation of those well proven to be ultimately disastrous for all.

Objection to the Proposed APA Western Slopes Pipeline

I am an adversely impacted landholder along the proposed APA Western Slopes Pipeline route and I object to the pipeline crossing my property and I will fight to ensure that it does not cross my property.

I am concerned about the environmental impact of the pipeline on water quality and livestock production on my property. The long-term economic, social and environmental stability of the region would be compromised if the pipeline is installed and results in long-term damage to livestock management in affected areas.

If the NSW Government is committed to the long term viability of the livestock industry, agriculture and rural NSW, it will not support in any way, the installation of the proposed APA Western Slopes Pipeline.