Narrabri Gas

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.

I OBJECT to the Narrabri Gas Project. Water is our most precious resource and this project has not been able to guarantee it will not effect Groundwater especially the Great Artesian Basin. Excessive Salt can contaminate our soils and is not suitable as landfill. This is our woodland and habitat for many endangered and local species of animals. Not to mention the Cultural significant of this area to Aboriginal people it would be criminal to allow Santos to cut and dig wherever they want. Santos and other CSG companies simply are not welcome to operate here. PEOPLE are our community and should be our main concern NOT PROFIT for big companies at our expense.

We are on the verge of poisoning everything that was once beautiful in this country. I travelled it for two and a half years, 15 years ago. The damage that has been done since, to the reef, to the heritage sites, to the farmers, to the people and to all the great lands is just irraversable. So now we must STOPsetting up new projects that have the chance to stay as they are. Natural as intended. What will we have left to show the next generation? Burning rivers, dead coral, open cut mines, the smell of gas. Honestly. It's time to start being smart and stop being greedy.

I own a property on the southern end of the Liverpool Plains.
The Liverpool Plains is a relatively small area of NSW but consists of the best dryland farming country in the State and arguably Australia.
Underpinning the rich black basalt soils of the plains is series of shallow aquifers that I understand are feed by run off from the Liverpool Range.
The process of coal seam methane gas extraction requires the de-watering of the coal seams and the extraction of vast quantities of water. This water is high is salts and would need to be treated before being available to agriculture.
No one including Santos and the NSW Government are prepared to give guarantees that the shallow aquifers on the plains will not be effected.
Why put at risk Australia's best farming country which will continue to produce food for thousands of years for a 20 year project.
I am not against the extraction of coal seam methane gas provided it takes place in appropriate areas. NSW has no shortage of coal reserves.It does however have a shortage of prime dryland farming country of the quality of the Liverpool Plains.

The ramifications from this mining project in New South Wales would far outweigh the destruction to wildlife and fauna ~in fact the environment.

The Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga must not proceed because:
This area has been a farming community for over 100 years and is totally reliant on current water sources. Any threats to water purity will endanger farming enterprises throughout the region.

Contamination and toxic spills have already occurred with this project and an escalation of gas fields in this area will only exacerbate the pollution disasters.

Climate change is a major factor in the region with heat waves and rising maximum temperatures. Recent reports of large methane leaks in Queensland in CSG fields should demonstrate that this is a highly polluting industry.

The 850 wells expected to be drilled in this area would create roads, wells and pipelines which would fragment the homes of endangered and threatened wildlife such as Quolls, Koalas, Wallabys etc

Fires are a real risk in the Pilliga. With summer temperatures rising to 47 degrees constant methane flares can only increase bushfires and endanger the lives of fire fighters.

As well as these points, the expected salt waste, the light damage to Siding Springs Observatory and the huge amount of opposition from people all over Australia should indicate that this project should never go ahead.

If projects like this continue we may be the last creatures left on the planet.

I find it reprehensible that our government would even think of allowing Santos to create 850 polluting coal seam gas wells right in the middle of the Pilliga Forest! This is a damning move that will permanently endanger and threaten this natural wildlife refuge, our precious groundwater, not to mention the communities who rely on it. We are also aware that if we are to maintain a safe climate here in Australia (contrary to our government's climate change denial) and keep global warming below two degrees, projects like this cannot go ahead. Australians have had more than enough of the bullies of CSG mining upending and stressing communities to breaking point. Please say NO to Santos' proposed destructive invasion of the Pilliga Forest! Thank you.

I wish to make the following submission on the Narrabri Gas Project EIS;

A) I am in strong support of this project as proposed due to the following;
1. Energy is critical to our Culture, and especially Agriculture;
Australia and more particularly Agricultural Australia is heavily dependent on large volumes of reliable and cost effective energy. Whilst Australia has been a net exporter of agriculture and energy we have been a net importer of oil fuels, meaning that we have consumed in massive volume fuels from bores into sub surface layers predominantly in other countries. This Narrabri Gas project will give us the opportunity to create expertise, jobs and incomes in NSW for some of the energy we consume.
2. The economic benefits which will flow from this project to the Narrabri and North West NSW community will be significant. 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing roles in Narrabri is very significant. The jobs which have already been created by Santos have been good jobs, and the people they have employed have been quality people who have proven will contribute strongly to the local community.
3. Employment Diversification to all communities is important, especially agricultural communities since agriculture suffers very directly from Drought events and commodity price fluctuations. So this project offers a new industry type in Narrabri which will assist directly in improving our resilience over changing weather and commodity events.
4. Santos is a long established company with a track record of being both a sound environmental operator and a significant contributor to communities.
Their long record of community support and involvement in South Australia is testament to their high social and environmental standards. A person or a companies track record is a very good indicator of how they will act in the future.
5. The NSW Government has taken appropriate steps to ensure that Gas extraction in this state will be worlds best practice.
I have confidence that the recommendations given by the Chief Scientist which have now been adopted by the Government will ensure we have a secure environmental outcome if this project goes ahead.

B) I wish the following submissions to be considered in relation to the Narrabri Gas Project EIS
​In order to gain the maximum benefit for the local Narrabri Shire residents and in reference to "Part D Commitments and Conclusions"​ I submit;
1. Section 17.1 and 18.1 refer to a Procurement and logistics strategy to be implemented
I submit that this is not definitive enough and detailed commitments should be made in this section including
- there will be a preference for suppliers of products and services within 250 km of the project.
- efforts will be made to assist local contractors supply during the construction and run phase. This could take the form of a high level contracting committee with Santos and Local business people to foster local contractors.
- commit to a target of new businesses to be established in Narrabri.
2. Section 17.2 refers to an Aboriginal Engagement Strategy;
This is to be welcomed, and looking at the great success that Whitehaven Coal have had increasing their Aboriginal employment above 6% of workforce, there could be significant benefits
I submit that this initiative should have a target agreed to of say 2.5% which is probably the local community mix
3. Section 17.6 says " the proponent will contribute to a Gas Community Fund in accordance with the NSW Gas Plan"
Plus in the Economic section the EIS mentions an estimated $120m for the fund over the life of the project.
However I can see no commitment to the amount which the proponent agrees to contribute.
I submit that the proponent should commit to contribute to the Government cap for State contribution $1 for $2, which is a maximum 10% of royalties.
4. The Gas Community Fund will be very very important to the local community. Whilst the rules around these funds has been made pubic by the NSW government, the consultation was in relation to a generic Community Fund.
I submit that this project if constructed will have a significant Community Fund and therefore there should be community consultation on this fund as a stand alone and the following principles should be adopted;
- that the Narrabri Shire elected by the community have a significant say in relation to the fund
- that the cost to administer the fund be kept to a minimum and good governance maintained by using existing governance arrangements such as Shire Administration.
- a significant portion of the funds ( say up to 25%) to be used by the Shire for significant community infrastructure running costs on the likes of; Crossing Theater, Indoor Swimming Center, Airport and new community facilities.
5. Independent Community driven Research is critical to all industries which have a significant impact on other businesses and communities.
As with all industries Gas extraction will have community concern raised over issues and these need to be independantly researched and community knowledge given back. The cotton Industry in Narrabri ( and indeed Australia) is a great example of an Industry which through effective independent research has addressed many community concerns and market impacts such as; Atrazine, Spray drift, Runoff mitigation, Helix and genetically modified cotton. When the cotton research was set up only a few of these challenges where known about. So what impacts between gas extraction and the the community and business will need solid research and community information over the next 25 years?
I submit that with this project there should be a commitment by Santos and by the NSW government to contribute equally to an independent Gas-Community-Agriculture Research body such as the old Cotton CRC with local Community involvement.

C) If there are to be any public verbal submissions taken in relation to this EIS and approval process I submit that I would like to make a verbal submission

In this day and age where we are aware of the earth's finite resources and the great amount of damage done to our precious planet, we must not allow any more coal seam gas extraction. There are so many renewable, non polluting energy options available, such as solar and wind, that any fossil fuel or non conventional gas extraction is unnecessary, dangerous and will ultimately lead to the destruction of humans, animals and our environment. I completely object to any csg extraction in any form.

The Narrabri gasfield poses a real long risk to the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin for a small short term gain, if any.
It is clear that the local farming community are against the project and, given Santos's environmental breaches in the past, it is no wonder. Not only does this project pose a long term risk to the water systems it poses real risks to human health.
Under any thorough analysis of this project would reject this project , and if the NSW Government approves this project it will be clear the NSW government is being lead by the business interests and abandoning the interests of the people of NSW and Australia.

With intense involvement in re-newable energy why still consider gas in environmentally sensitive areas.
Lets avoid potential contamination of water and look for more jobs with solar, batteries and wind.
A Pilliga gasfield and research will create an environmental minefield.
Gas fields spread over 600,000 hectares of high quality farming area will create a visual disaster, will affect the viability of farmers to produce quality produce, and possibly affect current water tables.

I object to the CSG project for the following reasons:

1. Catastrophic impact on groundwater and the release of salty groundwater onto the surface
2. The huge number of wells that will have a very bad impact on the ecology of the Narrabri area
3. Fugitive emissions of CSG that are a significant greenhouse gas
4. The burning of the CSG will add to the CO2 emissions of the planet
4. The supply of this gas will mean that renewable energy projects that should be supported immediately by the NSW Govt will be delayed as the gas will act to reduce the urgency of supporting renewable energy creation and storage solutions.

I strongly oppose coal seam gas mining in the Pilliga and all of Australia. I am an environmental biologist and have worked in Ecological restoration for 25 years. We must stop the exploitation of our natural resources and abide by the principles of Ecological Sustainable Development - which underpins State and Federal policy, though you would never know that judging by the hap hazard nature of planning in our country. If we pollute one of our country's biggest water storages we will go down in history as being the most pathetic generation to have inhabited this land. Please leave it in the ground.

The Narrabri gas field project should be rejected. CSG extraction is harmful to environmental and human health, immediate and long term.This project has wide reaching destruction planned to water, forests and community. This is not remediable despite proposals of risk 'management' common to all CSG projects. Long term costs to the atmosphere of putting more fossil fuel into the economy is unacceptable given the Paris convention. Further, proceeding with known impacts on what remains of spiritual, cultural and social life of the indigenous community would be anachronistic and irresponsible of the government. In particular, as there are non fossil fuel energy sources which should be privileged because they do not have negative impacts on every aspect of life, this project must be stopped

We object to this project.

1. SANTOS claims that they will not interfere with the Great Artesian Basin (GAB).
The project plans to extract over 35 billion litres of water, much in the first five years. Government hydrogeological mapping of the GAB shows the project will straddle the most important inflow zone into the GAB in NSW (Hydrogeological Atlas of the Great Artesian Basin (2016) Department of Water Resources (NSW) Hydrogeological Series Sheet SH 55-12; NSW Department of Water & Energy April 2009 PN00799 WR2008-089).
Treatment of this water will generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt which cannot safely be disposed of.
The GAB is relied upon by rural communities across western NSW. This resource will be depleted by the diversion of water from a GAB recharge aquifer. Santos' CSG activities will cause economic upheaval in Narrabri and put agricultural industries at risk.

2. Coal seam gas (CSG) production has a significant impact on groundwater quality and quantity in adjacent or overlying aquifers.
The EIS provides no evidence that shows there is no connectivity between aquifer strata. Recent studies document migration of coal bed methane to the surface.

3. Santos want to release treated water into Bohena Creek during high and moderate flows.
The EIS ignores that Bohena Creek is a recognised surface groundwater ecosystem (Australian GDE Atlas). Treated water must not be released into Bohena Creek.

4. Recent research has shown that the levels of methane emissions from CSG operations are high enough to pose significant risks to greenhouse gas levels, negatively impacting climate change.

5. The region is an internationally renowned astronomy destination providing jobs, business and tourism. Flaring gas and an increase in airborne dust pose a significant risk. The impact of high level flares must be considered.

6. The project will clear close to 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales. The Pilliga Forest is a remnant forest, a significant genetic repository with a complex interrelationship with recharge and inflow of ground water to the Great Artesian Basin and other aquifers closer to the surface. More research is needed.
Fragmenting the bush of the Pilliga forest will add to pressure from fox predation on threatened species. No control program will compensate for the increased fox activity along new tracks and easements.

7. The proposal fails to adequately address concerns by the Gamilaraay people about further destruction of significant social, cultural and spiritual sites.

8. Santos' CSG 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, instead of allowing Santos to inflict more environmental, social and economic harm.

9. CSG is harmful to health. Neither the NSW Government or Santos have investigated or dealt with the serious health effects of CSG now appearing in peer reviewed research in the USA.

This project should not proceed. Construction and exploration already undertaken has had a significant impact on the communities and the environment. The proposal to massively elevate drilling has a residual catastrophic risk to the immediate environment, the integrity of the Great Artesian Basin and other aquifers, and the communities dependant on them.

The reason I appose the fracking of our land is the irreversible damage fracking causes to our land and water, with out clean soil and water we will not be able to produce the food we need for our survival not to mention the farming and tourism jobs that will be lost well in to the future

I write to request that the Pilliga Forest be protected for all time in perpetuity.
This area drains into the Great Artesian Basin, a fragile and important resource for the continent of Australia.
This great inland sea comes from/evolved from antiquity. It must be protected from pollution.
Damage from pollution is irreparable. No insurance company could return it to its current condition.
Fracking and coal seam gas mining must not be allowed - never

Uncontaminated fresh water is vital for an arid country like Australia - we cannot afford to lose large quantities of precious groundwater through CSG extraction, or have our creeks and aquifers contaminated. Toxic CSG water in storage ponds will be a future hazard and any spill will have potential to be disastrous for the health of people affected and the environment.

Taking time out of my day to express my extensive concern about the environmental impacts of this project.
We should be pushing for renewables while stretching the gas that we already have further.