Narrabri Gas

Being a farmer and an oil & gas professional, I have seen all sides of the industry. I have personally worked in this field and know the benefits it brings such as jobs, economic boost, power generation via the Wilga Park Power Station and a reliable gas supply to NSW. Santos has great local community support and brings a better environmental practice than other industries. The Narrabri Gas Project needs to go ahead to boost the local infrastructures. My family supports Santos and the Narrabri Gas Project.

Santos is a great company who contributes to the local community. Santos will create hundreds of jobs which is great for the town. This will mean more money in the town so all businesses will benefit from the positive economic flow-on effects. I am looking forward to seeing this project go ahead.

The Narrabri Gas Project will bring jobs to the town, which means more families, which will mean an increase in kids at the schools. An increase in child population at the schools will increase the need for more teachers.
It will also bring economic development, which will see more money spent in the local shops and therefore the shops will employ more people as well.

I support the Narrabri Gas Project.

I have lived and worked in Narrabri for 34 years as a consulting Water Resources and Irrigation Engineer and have followed the progress of the project since it started. I have listened to the technical and emotive cases for and against the project and have taken the opportunity to question Santos engineers and groundwater hydrologists about any potential effects the project may have on local alluvial groundwater. My conclusion as an engineer with 40 years' experience is that there is a very very small chance of any effects on the local groundwater from this project. Even if a leak in the steel/concrete/steel bore casings from the gas wells did occur, which is highly unlikely, the potential effects would be very local and the leak would be detected and repaired.

In fact, there is a significantly larger potential for the single steel casing artesian bores which pass through the upper alluvial aquifers to cause damage to the upper aquifers from leakage of very saline water into the upper aquifers. There has not been any issues reported with artesian bores leaking into the upper aquifers and there will be less chance of gas wells leaking.

I have worked for Santos with Product Water Pond investigation and maintenance, rehabilitation of old test sites and supplying Monitoring equipment to measure Pond water levels and volumes. In the process of working for Santos I have found their work culture, attitude to OH&S and care and attention with environmental issues to be excellent. No corners are cut and Santos has invested in the correctly qualified and experienced staff to be able to proactively manage environmental risk.

The the study completed by the Chief Scientist which concluded that the project could proceed with the necessary development controls and monitoring gave me a higher confidence level to support the project.

I feel very comfortable with Santos progressing the Narrabri Gas Project because it is a low risk project and Santos have proven to be a responsible and serious developer.

In terms of the positive impacts of the project on the Narrabri Community, the involvement of Santos to date has already been very positive. Santos don't provide just lip service to contributing to Narrabri and the community, they are part of nearly every significant community event. It is not just financial assistance (which is very significant) but Santos staff are heavily involved with organisation and physical help. This is in vast constrast to the local coal mines who don't contribute and treat local contractors quite poorly from my own experience.

Narrabri has an excellent opportunity to diversify the region's income base with the inclusion of the Narrabri Gas Project. The project could also tie into the proposed Melbourne to Brisbane rail link through Narrabri nicely. There is the potential, for example, to produce agricultural fertiliser in the Narrabri area with local gas and tranport it from Narrabri both north and south via the new rail link. This ties well into the region's main agricultural base.

The public good argument is weak given how most of these major projects are being rolled out. There needs
to be capacity for broader public debate about what parts of
our natural resources can be sold overseas, what is a reasonable cost to local economies and cultures, and what is a reasonable application of the precautionary principle to aquifers
and the environment of affected places like the Pilliga.

I moved to Narrabri approximately 3.5 years ago with my family including 3 young boys (aged 2, 4 and 5) because of an employment opportunity in the extractive industry for my husband.

From my time here it is evident like most country towns, Narrabri is struggling to grow and provide employment opportunities for the youth in the region.

I firmly believe this project provides significant opportunities for the community, state and country including:
* Supply up to 50% NSW gas needs and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $1.2 billion in royalties and $120 million to a community benefit fund.
* Create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions during operation which will help Narrabri grow and provide opportunities for youth employment.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security for the country, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The majority of the project area is in an area of the Pilliga that was set aside by the NSW Government for uses such as logging and extractive industries following a thorough ecological review.
* Santos will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no need to use hydraulic fracturing in the Narrabri Gas Project and Santos has not applied to frack.
* The Narrabri Gas Project enjoys extremely strong support in the local community.

On that last point Santos have shown themselves to be a very good community supporter whether it be the work their staff members do in their own time in various clubs, teams and other events throughout the year. Additionally the sponsorship they have provided for hundreds of community groups, teams and events over the years have allowed many to proceed that would not of otherwise had the financial support to be able to go ahead. This has impacted everyone in the community whether they know it or not. I would guarantee that every team, activity, event and group would have Santos on the top of their list to ask for support.

As a local I've watched first hand the tactics used by the anti fossil fuel movement to pressure, ridicule, intimidate and bully all others who share an opinion that is different from theirs. This has been evident at all levels including social media and even the local government. Additionally the graffiti that has been plastered around our town is nothing short of disgraceful. These actions have not gone amiss on most people that live in our region and has been very disappointing. Just because they shout the loudest does not mean they represent our community.

As a local resident I simply want what is best for our town and community and I feel that we will be much better off having Santos involved in that community in the long term.

Fracking is an abomination. The coal seam gas invades the aquifers and polute waterways. Neither humans nor animals can drink it such water, it is poisonous for plants and can even ignite in stream or when coming out of the tap. An abomination. People are rallying against Santos due to their steamrolling of projects that are not in the common interest. We did not vote for coal seam gas, Victoria has banned it. Santos should be declared a terrorist organisation.

I object to the Narrabri Gas Project. I travelled around the Pilliga forest for 10 days in the early 1980s on a university field trip and visited it again, five years later, on a private camping trip. The Pilliga is a national biodiversity hot spot and is dense with places of significance for the local Gamilaraay people. I am deeply saddened that yet another profoundly beautiful place of cultural and natural heritage is under threat of destruction, and for no good reason.

The proposed project is not well founded for the following reasons:
1. It is unnecessary. We have no need for more gas fields. Demand can be satisfied by the redistribution of existing gas resources from export to domestic use. Our energy future lies in our increasing deployment of renewables, the technology for which is constantly improving.
2. Santos plans to drill 850 coal seam gas wells in the area. Such widespread prospective and extractive activity will put at risk the 25 nationally listed and 48 state-listed threatened species in the area.
3. The Gamilaraay people object to it because it will threaten several important cultural sites.
4. Local farmers are concerned about the threat to the groundwater recharge capacity of the Great Artesian Basin. Drought is a constant threat to farmers and they depend on this water resource. If it is compromised by coal seam gas activity, farmers stand to lose their livelihoods.

Considering that the prosed project is fundamentally unnecessary to our energy security, it would be profoundly irresponsible to continue with it and to threaten the crucially important values of Indigenous culture, natural heritage and farmer survival.

Please do not proceed with the destructive plans to drill these wells in Narrabri. Destroying the soil , eco system, water table, forests has far more devastating ramifications than the value of obtaining anything from the drilled wells. Greed for coal gas will not replace or make up for poisoning our earth. Every action has a reaction, short term gains will not allow humans to sustain their existence on earth if we continue to destroy the planet, the soil and our water by polluting and destroying delicate ecosystems. Please reconsider, our existence on earth is in your hands

I am employed by Santos, my work is focused on the Narrabri Gas Project. However, I would like to clarify that I am making this submission in a private capacity as an individual that has knowledge of the gas industry and who also lives locally in the Narrabri Community. If it wasn't for this opportunity, I would have left for Brisbane, as majority of my classmates have, to further my career.
Having this project here in Narrabri will not only benefit those working for the project but local friends and family who work within their own fields and industries.
Please note that my comments, observations and opinions are solely my own and may not be attributed to Santos and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Santos

The risk to water resources in the region is untenable.
The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. The water removed for CSG extraction has the potential to reduce water pressure in the recharge areas which could prevent the free flow of water to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin. ( SoilFutures consulting 2014. Great Artesian Basin Recharge Systems and Extent of Petroleum and Gas Leases.)
The Murray- Darling Basin is at risk of contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells, as creeks and water courses within the Pilliga forest run into the Namoi River.
The risk to water sourced from these water systems and used for agricultural purposes is unconscionable.

The opposition to this project from the Traditional Custodians, the Gamilaraay people have been well documented.

Opposition of farmers and local communities within this region is evidenced by extensive community surveys which have shown an average of 96% opposition to CSG, and by participation of these groups in extensive protest actions.

Santos has a poor record with the safety management of this project. Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, in addition to contamination by lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium.
There have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads.

The biodiversity of this area would be threatened by this Santos gas field project. The fragmentation of 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, water and gas pipelines would result in damage to vital habitats, and threaten the survival of endangered species.

The impacts on human health of air contamination by a range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds have been documented in populations near existing CSG operations in Australia and the USA.

Santos has no documented plans for the disposal of the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt that will be produced by its operations. The last thing our forest and agricultural areas need is high levels of salination.

The threat of bush fires would increase throughout the Pilliga with th operation of methane flare stacks operating around the clock even on total fire ban days. This project would increase ignition sources in addition to extracting, transporting and storing a highly flammable gas within this fire=prone forest

I am very worried about both the short and long term impacts of coal seam gas extraction in the Pilliga region.

Short term: loss of vegetation, increased risk of bush fire,social disruption

Long term: impacts of fracking eg. Poison in groundwater. Land useless for farming.

I strongly oppose coal seam gas extraction in the Pilliga

I support the Narrabri Gas Project as I feel it is, and will, inject new life into Narrabri. We can no longer just rely on the agriculture industry to help Narrabri grow. We have been in the need of new industries to work alongside the agriculture industry.
The Narrabri Gas Project provides opportunities for employment directly and through the variety of contractors that provide machinery and other services. I know this, as my husband's business has worked for Santos, which has enabled him to employ additional workers due to his increased workload. These employees live in Narrabri, so they spend their money in Narrabri. Their children go to the Narrabri schools.
Santos is also very active in financially supporting local sporting clubs etc.
These are just a couple of reasons why I support the Narrabri Gas Project.

The Narrabri Gas Project brings employment across a broad spectrum of ages for our community.
I am not impressed with the mess left by anti-csg people, that obviously don't really care about the environment.

I support the Narrabri Gas Project as it will create jobs for my friends and family in the community that I love.
It will generate income for local businesses.

Fracking for CSG is damaging our environment. We need to invest in renewables, not this.

Better for the environment than most other fossil fuels.

The Narrabri Gas Project will provide jobs for locals.

It is good for the local community as additional workers live and spend their money in Narrabri

Personally, my business has, and will benefit from the gas project by Santos hiring my cranes.

I support Santos and the Narrabri Gas Project for the following reasons:

- Santos looks after the community with sponsorship and donations
- Santos employs locals
- They support local businesses by shopping locally
- Santos are up front and honest with everything they do
- They are easy to approach about anything to do with what is going on in the Pilliga

The Narrabri Gas Project supports economic growth in the region and provides employment chances for the locals

If done by the rules, I believe it will benefit all in the Narrabri Community and supply more jobs whilst boosting the economy. Santos have done a great job so far and I am right behind them.