Narrabri Gas

I object to the NGS in my area! The unknowns, the potential to mess with the environment and the risk to negatively impact on the Great Artesian Basin are not worth it in my eye. Landholders out here have had this land in the family for many many generations and they should not have to deal with anyone coming onto their land doing what they want. Leave the land on the beautiful Western Slopes and in the Pilliga Forest alone! The salt that will be disposed of locally may wreak havoc with our river system, the Namoi, and severely affect the livelihood of the farmers who make their living in such an important way to the whole of Australia.

There are so many dangerous aspects to this project being approved, that if it is approved, it will be pure negligence.
To go ahead with CSG anywhere, now that the serious health effects are being proven & publicised, through legitimate research, will be, in my opinion, a criminal act. It is one thing to be able to say you went ahead before the research was done, but not now. Now we know.
We will lose over 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest for this, as well as many types of wildlife unique to the area.
It will cause significant water diversion, which is a critically needed resource for many rural communities in western NSW. We in Australia know how important water is & also hard to come by, at the best of times. This will ruin so many peoples lives & livelihoods.
There are many other reasons that this should NOT go ahead, but if human health, our environment & people's lives aren't a good enough reason, then you need to move aside put someone in your position that will make decisions for the good of the people instead of the $.

I object to the Narrabri Gas Project.

I humbly submit my absolute opposition to the proposal.
The long term threat to sensitive cultural areas, contamination of two of the country's major water catchment areas, artesian and above ground water supply, impact on native biology and ecology, and the downgrade of important food producing farmland are simply too important to overlook for short term monetary gain. We cannot pay that price with our precious country and it is the duty of care of our Government to protect it on our behalf and find other forms of clean energy now and moving forward.

Approval of this project by the Dept. of Planning would be appalling. Not only is there the overall problem of lack of any credible plans for disposal of mountains of salt arising from CSG extraction, there is the specific problem of massive water extraction from the Great Artesian Basin (already under threat to the north by the scandalous Adani mine proposal). With 22 % of Australians dependent on this water supply, its ongoing depletion by this plan will outstrip the rate of recharge, and so deprive future farmers and citizens of a stable water supply in an era of increasing global warming. Blind Freddy can see that all our water sources deserve the most vigilant protection in this era, but especially the GAB. Add to this the impacts on precious fauna and the Pilliga forest, and no wonder that so many people and organisations strenuously object to this proposal.

I support the Santos Narrabri Gas Project application.

I have lived and worked in Narrabri for 34 years and have followed the debate surrounding the development since it started.

Gas is more environmentally friendly than coal powered generation with only 50% of the emissions. I have followed the debate about ground water and reviewed the chief scientist's report and am satisfied that the development can proceed with very low risk.

This is a good opportunity for economic diversification and development for Narrabri. Gas generation may also be useful for fertiliser production for the region's prime industry, Agriculture.

There have been a lot of fly in fly out protesters pedalling misinformation which has not helped the debate.

Santos has proven to be a responsible and active participant in the Narrabri community. Not only have they contributed significant financial resources, but the Santos staff are active in organising and supporting local sporting and community events.

Santos have always been very open and helpful in explaining what they are doing with site tours and provide updates regularly.

Anyone who has worked with Santos as staff or contractors speak highly of their OH&S and environmental operating culture.

I am happy to support the development of the Narrabri Gas Project as I believe Santos is a responsible developer; the project has minimal risk and there are significant financial and positive impacts to the Narrabri community.

Stop destroying the planet for profit.

I don't want to see the devastation that gas mining will leave in this area. I don't want you to tell me it will be restored because I know that it cannot be adequately restored.

I do not support this proposal SSD6456 Narrabri Gas Project because the Environmental Impact Statement is unacceptable.
If the NSW Planning Dept accepted, without any questions, the Environmental Impact Statement submitted by Santos for gas mining in Pilliga Forest, then this would be a betrayal of the farmers and citizens of NSW. I ask the NSW Planning Dept to look further, obtain independent information and to be aware that this document is marketing propaganda, fabrication. It is not enough for Santos just to tick the SAFE box in their report. Gas mining has not been proven safe.
The Gas Industry has continued to prove themselves liars and scoundrels. They will say whatever it takes to push their industry to make their profits. For example, at no time in history by any eye witness account has the Condamine River, Qld's "River of Fire", ever bubbled with methane. Not until the Gas Industry came and started fracking the water aquifers with toxic explosives with the purpose of cracking the ground to release methane. Yet the Gas Industry refuse to admit any connection, take any responsibility. There is no accountability for the consequences of their actions. They simply LIE.
It doesn't take a lot of intelligence to see the connection between gas mining and contamination of, not only the water table, but also land and air. In the EIS little consideration is given to the huge problem of fugitive emmissions poisoning and destroying the planet's atmosphere with levels many times safety levels, as measured by independent reports. Every gas well leaks. The gas industry cannot be trusted to self-regulate. Where are the officers to enforce conditions? And who pays for the damage of the high winds, storms, cyclones, heatwaves, bushfires of the resulting changes in climate?
Fugitive emmissions is one issue under-rated. Under-rated also is the increase in health problems, neuropathy,cancer, suicide in gasfield populations. Who pays?
Fracking is given little mention in the EIS. Every gasfield is fracked to maximize investment. The NSW Planning Dept must consider that fracking is integral to the industry. Who pays for the costs and consequences?
Where is the toxic waste to be dumped? Its not enough to say a private contractor wil take care of it. This is a huge problem. What responsible govt would issue a license for "safe" disposal of the toxic salt? The NSW Planning Dept must insist on details of safe disposal.
The NSW Planning Dept must not ignore the protests of tens of thousands of farmers and citizens of NSW. Thousands of people will lose out if Santos wins. At risk are their jobs, their health, their families and livelihoods, their farms, their water, their investments in their futures, indeed, the whole NSW agricultural industry and other related industries, and the Great Artesian Basin as well. Thousands will be effected so a minority can make their profits from an export industry. It has been exposed that there will be little or no financial gain for NSW, only the cost of more mining infrastructure. More jobs will be lost than gained. How can this equation be justified?
This EIS is unacceptable. Send it back to Santos. Acknowledge the objections of the NSW citizens and Do The Right Thing. Now that the consequences of the gas industry have become clear from existing gasfields in other locations, the NSW govt would be irresponsible to allow this invasive industry to establish in NSW. Don't perpetrate the lies of the gas industry. Have some backbone. Stand up for the farmers and citizens of NSW and heed our cry. A cautionary moratorium should be put in place.

Frack off with your fracking you fracking idiots!! Go renewable sustainable you morons!! Why so stupid?!?!

Noooo!!!!!!
Environmentally this is wrong, lets stop thinking short term financial gain and think long term 50 / 100 years from now, its not all about our generation.

I am horrified at the scale of this project, the disastrous impact it will have on the area and on peoples lives andd incomes !!

It must not be allowed to go ahead. Renewable energy is what needs to be increased.

Leave Mother Earth alone

I simply don't understand that inspite of all the evidence you continue to think fracking in the Pilliga is a good plan. PLEASE don't give Santos the go ahead. Thank you. Regards Elisabeth

As a scientist, I am very concerned about the consequences this proposal will have on water supply and quality for communities and broad acre cropping at both a local and catchment level. Regards Dr Kevin Moore, Plant Pathologist MScAgr (SYD, 1970), PhD (Washington State, 1978)

Photographic evidence vividly displays the devastation caused by similar vandalising mining companies.

I represent a family owned-and-run farming business situated within the Liverpool Plains.This is prime black soil agricultural land producing both summer and winter grain crops and beef . We irrigate using groundwater bores and centre pivots.
We believe the Liverpool Plains which has been identified as Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land is vitally important to future food production security and therefore should be quarantined from Coal Seam Gas mining developments. We must not put these valuable irreplaceable areas at risk for a short term nonrenewable industry.
We rely on groundwater to irrigate crops and water stock. Agriculture has been using this resource in a responsible and sustainable way for over a century. Why should we put at risk the quality and quantity of this most precious resource for a short term non-essential industry? Evidence of the detrimental effects that CSG mining has on water resources can be seen in Queensland.
Please keep the Liverpool Plains CSG-free to maintain our world renowned clean and productive reputation, and a safe and beautiful place for our family to live and work.

In my opinion CSG threatens our way of life. The exploration for CSG has already shown that :
It is not a safe option. Poison gas and polluted water is a real problem, that will not be addressed even in the exploration phase of drilling. It has been shown that Santos did not admit to leakages causing destruction of the environment until it was reported in the media, and then they said the destruction was not bad. The area to be mined is over the largest artesian basin in Australia, and also linked to the Murray Darling Basin. The hills around the farming land drain and renew water into the artesian basin. Should this water source be contaminated, we as Australians will loose our food basket. Why would the Government even contemplate using this water for CSG mining.
It has been reported that by 2015 there were 20 such poison leaks of arsinic, cadmium, chromium lead and copper, killing thousands of trees. These heavy toxic metals kill everything. Leaking gas is not uncommon. Methane bubbling up thru ponds, methane leaking from vent valves, H2s leakages. As polliticians you don't have to live with it. Some farmers have been told not to go outside as there is to much toxic gas about. . The forests on the Pillbra are the largest natural forest in NSW. I need to fight for the farmers, the environment water and forests. The lively hoods of farmers in the Plilbra and beyond would be threatened as well as the environment.
I believe if you give Santos an inch, they will take a mile. This is a Democracy, and 93% of Australians do not want CSG mining in the Pillbra. As a government you need to invest in clean energy, rather than dirty fossil fuels. My Children and grandchildren want clean air, food and water.
850 mines, it's a joke. Who will be responsible. There should be a clause somewhere that parliamentarians who think only of the $$$$$$ bottom line should be made responsible for their decisions. Please put your energy into clean energy.

I wish to urge you in the strongest possible terms to reject the Santos' Narrabri Gas Project. Farmers, local communities and Traditional Custodians reject the project (community surveys have resulted in 96% opposition figures), there is a significant risk to the level and quality of water within the Great Artesian Basin recharge areas, CSG is a short term industry that will leave long term costs for the area, and for the taxpayer.

On top of all of this, we are faced with the reality of needing to rapidly de-carbonise our economy to avoid the potential for runaway climate change.

This is a dangerous and outdated industry, and Santos is wanting to destroy our natural capital, at high risk, and against the opposition of communities and constituents.

The proposal should be rejected as inconsistent with environmental, cultural, community, fire-risk and financial outcomes for NSW, and Australia more broadly.

Sincerely,

Galen White

There is sufficient evidence that fracking is a risky business at best.. The risk of polluting aquifers is medium and the severity can be immense. The promotion of fracking is largely by oversea interests and the gas production will hardly benefit Australia.

The fracking proposal for the Pilliga is particularly dangerous as it threatens the Great Artesian Basin which underlies more than 20% of the area of Australia. It must not be put at risk.