Narrabri Gas

I am lodging this submission to object to the proposed Santos Coal Seam Gas Project in the Pilliga Scrub.

It was Aldo Leopold who wrote it best: `Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank sport on the map'. Our own Banjo Patterson chimed in with his observation of the Castlereagh:

The roving breezes come and go, the reed beds sweep and sway,
The sleepy river murmurs low, then loiters on its way.
`Tis the land of lots of time, along the Castlereagh.

I am not sure who I am writing to or who may read this, but I hope for the sake of the future you are prepared to read on an hear this submission to the end.

I doubt that you have ever stood on the peaks of the Nandewar Range or Warrumbungles and gazed across the western plains, to the west or north stretches that hazy eucalyptus haze of the Pilliga Scrub. A place embedded in the history of our land. Regardless of background, race or creed there will always be a need for places that have that remoteness, that timeless quality. A place where we are reduced to our basic selves, in the words of Henry David Thoreau, `to witness our limits transgressed'. If you have stood in these places to gaze into the distance then you must have witnessed the eagles soaring, great storms brewing, the lengthening shadows reaching from the sunset, the purple haze and silence all around.

What economic theory was ever written to say the Pilliga Scrub should be carved up for some reason of convenience? When I say convenience, I mean the convenience of pumping gas to ease some of our modern suffering. But what is it we suffer from? Never in history has half of humanity had so much less physical suffering, but at the cost of a terrible, growing philosophical suffering. In what way might it be convenient for the Black Striped Wallaby or the Pilliga Mouse? When Santos run their infrastructure around the Pilliga there can be little convenience to farmers as their lives are shattered when water turns poisonous. What convenience is it to their children to inherit a blackened landscape, burnt by gas flares?

In her youth my mother travelled often into the Castlereagh country for family holidays. They would stay on farms in the region, enjoying the solitude and clean air away from the grime and dirt of 1930's Sydney. She had fond memories of the time she spent there. In my youth I worked on farms in and around the Namoi River adjacent to the Pilliga. These are great farming communities that have value beyond convenience. These are the people who bring life and nurture our economy in the long term. How can a short lived resource such as coal seam gas keep future generations alive? It cannot.

Where will this coal seam gas be sold? Will it help the poor? I am sure Santos must expend resources creating these fields of infrastructure, I am sure they cannot sell at a loss. So the gas must surely be expensive. How can the poor pay for it? How can this underground fire be anything other than a commodity for the middle classes and wealthy? Of course this commodity must be sold for profit. Profit before people and environment.

When I walk out my door each day to go to work I always ask myself, what is it I must do today that can be good for everything around me? Every step of our journey through life should be for good, for the purpose of bringing balance and equality in our world. When these are sublimated for company profit and convenience there is great wrong done to all.

For the reasons above I object to the Santos Narrabri Gas Project.

1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian 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.

I do not believe that we should be embarking on Csg mining at all. It will damage our precious resources and ruin our farming land and waterways. I have read that the proponents have safeguards in place to prevent damage but then read that safeguards are not fail safe. It is not worth the risk.

Submission to NSW Government re Santos CSG mining Project.
I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed CSG mining in the Pilliga forest in NSW for the folling reasons:
1. 1. CSG mining poses a real threat to the Great Artesian Basin and protecting the basin needs to be a priority National Security issue as it is essential for primary industry for food production for the domestic market and the export economy.
The head waters for the basin are in the highlands of New Guinea and are under threat from forests being denuded which is changing the weather patterns there and less water will flow into the basin as a result. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest and 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. To allow CSG mining activities to further risk negative impacts on the aquifers e.g. discharge of pollutants into the aquifers in the Narrabri area. can only be considered folly; Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga. 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. There have already been too many reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads.

2. 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 coordination. These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gas fields in Queensland, Sydney and in the USA.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 Area. The Santos gas fields will 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. The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed to this project as there are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay People 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.

7. Farmers and other local communities have rejected the project with extensive community surveys have showing 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.

8. The risk of fires will increase throughout the Pilliga's tinder-box conditions with methane flare stacks up to 50m high 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.

9. The nation's premier optical astronomical observatory, the Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungle's adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution. The area has been internationally recognised as a `dark sky park' and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of this facility.

I strongly oppose to the project.
It is based on greed not common sense.

Submission - Santos Narrabri Gas Project EIS

I am opposed to the approval of this licence on many grounds, and while I am sure that many people far better qualified than me have addressed many of them, I would like to highlight the following :

The light polution caused by flaring will affect the Siding Springs Observatory, and if allowed to go ahead, will irrevocably damage Australia's reputation internationally.

The potential threat from drilling to the Great Artesian Basin cannot be understated. It is the water source for many rural communities, and the Pillaga is a major recharge area for this national treasure. Water is a precious commodity, especial on this the driest continent on earth, and should be protected at all costs. We can live without coal seam gas, but we cannot live without water. Any threat to such a major water source cannot be understated and also threatens our food security, which threatens our national security.

Fracking requires vaste quanitities of water, which renders it unavailable for use by other communities and for irrigation. The produced water contains many salts, hazardous chemicals and heavy metals, and Santos have failed to demonstrate that they are capable of dealing with these side products in a sustainable manner. In the initial stages alone, it is anticipated that over 35 billions litres of toxic groundwater would be extracted, which willl generate many thousands of tonnes of salt, for which there is no safe disposal plan.

The environmental damage to the Pillaga Forest, the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, cannot be understated. Santos are already responsible for areas that have been totally destroyed, and have been unable to successful remediate them. The Forest is also the home to several endangered species, including the rare little Eastern Pygmy Possum.

There will be large quanitities of both deliberate and fugitive emissions, which will have a detrimental effect on and contribute to climate change. The effect on climate change needs to be given a high degree of consideration. I contend that coal seam gas is NOT a safe, transitional option from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Historically, mining companies have been granted large extensive rebates, and presumably it will be no different for this project. In my opinion, these funds would be far better spent as investment into research and supply of renewable energy.

The impact on the local Aboriginal community, the Gamilaraay people, cannot be understated. Whilst I do not feel that it is appropriate to comment further on this, I would merely say that given the crucial importance of the area to their spiritual, cultural and social life their concerns need to be given a high level of consideration.

The health issues relating to CSG are well documented, both in the Queensland gas fields are overseas, and need to be included in any reveiw.

I have visited the coal seam gas fields in the Surat Basin in Queensland, and witnessed first hand the effects on the local population and environment, and believe that this project will cause economic upheaval in the Narrabri area and put agricultural industries at risk.

I formally request that approval not be granted for this application.

As a previous resident of the region and coming from a farming family, I am against the proposed CSG mining operations. Reasons for this include: likely damage to the water table, negative impact upon neighbouring primary industry and land values, negative impact upon astronomy via light pollution from burning flares, negative impact upon native fauna such as the pigmy possum, impact of CSG upon global warming at a crucial time in history when warming needs to be halted urgently and a move to renewables needs to be made.

I strongly object to a project that has the potential to damage the water table of the great arterial basin. There is evidence in other areas of leakage of gas to the surface and through the water table, there will also be thousands of tons of salt waste water generated and the continual damage to farm land and the pillage state forest. We must learn that our clean pristine farm land is our greatest asset that has the potential to feed the world, not some get rich quick scheme that will only offers short term employment in the construction faze and small royalties over a period of time where our farm land will be here for generations to come. This type of extraction has already been banned in other countries such as France and in my local area where the licences were repealed. I don't believe the NSW government or Santos have proven they can manage the serious side affects that coal seem gas now appears to have,
These projects in Queensland have caused prices to rise and supply to become unpredictable and it is time NSW as a state invests in more sustainable renewable energy sources. As a resident of NSW that grew up in northern NSW I don't believe this is an appropriate use of our natural resources .
We need to also think of the traditional owners the Gamilaraay people and the effects it will have on them and there rights to these spiritually significant places.

I am writing to express my objection to this proposed CSG mining project by Santos in the Pilliga region of NSW for the following reasons:

1. 1. CSG mining poses a real threat to the Great Artesian Basin and protecting the basin needs to be a priority National Security issue as it is essential for primary industry for food production for the domestic market and the export economy.
The head waters for the basin are in the highlands of New Guinea and are under threat from forests being denuded which is changing the weather patterns there and less water will flow into the basin as a result. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest and 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. To allow CSG mining activities to further risk negative impacts on the aquifers e.g. discharge of pollutants into the aquifers in the Narrabri area. can only be considered folly; Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga. 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. There have already been too many reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads.

2. 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 coordination. These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gas fields in Queensland, Sydney and in the USA.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 Area. The Santos gas fields will 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. The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed to this project as there are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay People 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.

7. Farmers and other local communities have rejected the project with extensive community surveys have showing 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.

8. The risk of fires will increase throughout the Pilliga's tinder-box conditions with methane flare stacks up to 50m high 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.

9. The nation's premier optical astronomical observatory, the Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungle's adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution. The area has been internationally recognised as a `dark sky park' and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of this facility.

The Narrabri Gas Project Submission I OBJECT to this project.
The Great Artesian Basin Recharge Aquifer will be subject to loss of water over time as stated in the Santos EIS. This Water is vital to Australia, our rivers, forests, wildlife and farmlands.
The Pilliga is the largest temperate woodland in NSW, Santos will destroy 1000 hectares, critically endangered wildlife habit will be destroyed, Pilliga mouse found no where else, koalas all will become extinct and hundreds of other wildlife displaced by the fragment and degrade of the forest.
Cultural heritage and connection to spiritual, sacred land will be also lost to the Gomeroi and Gamilaraay people.
Air, noise and light pollution from the gas well flares, diesel generators will affect the health and well being of people. Stock and wildlife, also the Siding Spring Observatory will be affected by the light from the gas flares, not to mention bush fire danger!!!.To the Pilliga forest.
Coal Seam Gas is not needed as a source of energy, we have seen the affects in QLD, USA it is toxic to our environment and humans and needs to be replaced with renewable energy sources.

I'm passionate about saving our environment from greedy pigs

The Narrabri Gas Project is great for our towns growth

I object to this inappropriate development on the grounds that it will destroy soil water lives and communities for little actual gain to the state.

Objection to the Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Project (SSD 6456)

I strongly object to CSG in areas of natural beauty, wilderness areas, prime agricultural land, and where the mining has potential to disrupt or contaminate the Great Artesian Basin.

There should be No CSG infrastructure in the Willala Wilderness Area; areas of old growth woodland must be protected, as well as all endangered ecological communities, and threatened plant and animal species habitats. Adequate protection of these and other heritage values of the Pilliga woodlands will be impossible if this CSG proposal is approved.

Gas is a good clean natural energy.
We have a well on our property

I object to this proposal on a number of grounds, particularly environmental.

I am a biologist and I have visited the Pilliga as an ecotourist. The proposed mines will have a devastating effect on wildlife in the area and seriously harm the tourism industry, which is an important source of revenue for regional areas.

Increased fragmentation of habitat will prevent movement of wildlife across the landscape, reducing genetic diversity in populations; it will also cause more roadkills.

Extraction of water from deep aquifers will bring dissolved toxins to the surface and pollution of groundwater will threaten the supply of clean water, which is the right of every Australian. It will also jeopardise agricultural production which is becoming ever more important as population increases and consumers expect uncontaminated food.

Light pollution from 24-hour working conditions - we have experienced that while camped at Munghorn Gap NR, close to coal mines at Wilpinjong and Ulan.

Leakage of gases including methane from around wells - there will be a huge increase from 850 wells compared with the volumes measured from the few existing wells
large quantities of salt will be produced - inadequate measures for its safe disposal without adverse effects.

The precautionary principle should be applied. It is dereliction of duty by a government to put short-term gain before permanent environmental degradation and the potential for catastrophic damage through human error and ignorance on behalf of the people operating the project.

I OBJECT to the Santos as a mother, wife and a grazier who lives in the Narrabri area. My husbands family has lived in this area for 100years, they have supported the local business', employed people, my husband's grandfather James Noel Barrett was a leader in developing new agricultural techniques which benefited the entire farming community. We have long ties to this land and community and wish to be able to continue for our children to this long and proud custodianship of this land.

We are grazier who use no chemicals, practice cell grazing, which was started by my father-in-law in the 1992, to ensure that we look after our land so that when we hand over to our children we will have left the land in a better condition than it was given to us. If the underground water is contaminated or depleted we will be unable to continue to graze our cattle as we are dependant on bore water for our stock.

We need to ensure that the water, land and air are not polluted and ruined so that a few people are able to make money at the expense of the larger community.

I object to the project for the following reasons:

The scientific evidence does not stack up to verify Santos's claim
that the project will not have long term detrimental damage to our unique environment.

The Pilliga is the main recharge for our Great Artesian Basin and this ground water is used to feed the Liverpool plains and food production for 40% of Australia. Putting our food and water security at risk for short term profits for a small number of people. There is non scientific evidence that can assure us that their will be no damage to the artesian Basin.

The lack of detail: Santos' EIS is very short on detail. It does not provide maps indicating where these 850 wells and the lines and infrastructure that run between and around them will go. Santos is seeking a blank cheque consent for this gasfield on the promise that it will decide where the wells will go afterward using a "Field Development Protocol." No project has ever been assessed this way before in NSW and the constraints Santos propose are weak and subject to change later on. This is not an appropriate way to assess the largest development project ever undertaken under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and the Government must insist that Santos release details to the public about the placement of its wells, pipelines and some other infrastructure.
There's no justification: The significant harm on the social, environmental and economic values of the Narrabri Shire and New South Wales that this project will inflict needs to be weighed against the economic justification for the project, but there is no such economic justification. Santos is one of several large gas companies that threw the east coast gas market and the industries that rely on it into turmoil by opening up CSG fields in Queensland and contracting to sell more gas than those fields can produce to overseas customers. They drove up the price of gas and are plundering supplies previously available to manufacturers and power stations.
The gas produced at Narrabri might be as little as 4.9% of the volume contracted for sale out of Gladstone. It's not going to bring down prices. In fact, it will force prices up, because unconventional gas like CSG is so expensive to produce and yields are so low. Research undertaken by gas company AGL shows that gas from the Pilliga would be the most expensive gas of anywhere in the current east coast gas market. The total number of jobs the project will support once the construction is over is just 145, with approximately 10% of those based in the Narrabri LGA. Weighed against damage to the land, and the Great Artesian Basin, this makes no sense. We need sustainable jobs, not plunder for profit.
Groundwater and the Great Artesian Basin: Santos' project is expected to remove 37.5GL of groundwater over the life of the gasfield, mostly in the early years. The coal seam needs to be dewatered to release the gas, but this aquifer lies beneath the Pilliga Sandstone, part of the Great Artesian Basin recharge. Santos' EIS admits that the project will result in a loss of water from the GAB recharge aquifer over time. CSG in Queensland has drawn down GAB aquifers already. We can't afford to risk this crucial resource.
Salt: The water removed from the ground by Santos will be treated, but this creates another problem: what to do with the salt? Peak salt production at Narrabri CSG will be 115 tonnes per day, or two and a half B-double truckloads per day. In the peak year, this would mean the creation of 41,900 tonnes of salt for disposal, which Santos says will take place in landfill.
Cultural heritage and the Pilliga: The Pilliga is a spiritual, cultural and social icon for Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people. Fragmentation and industrialisation cuts people off from their heritage and connection to country.
Biodiversity and the Pilliga: The Pilliga is also the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales. Santos propose clearing nearly 1,000ha of the Pilliga, including habitat for critically endangered Regent honeyeater and for koalas, which are already in decline in the Pilliga. Spread across the whole forest, this clearing will fragment much larger areas of habitat. The gasfield will clear breeding habitat for Pilliga Mouse, which lives nowhere else, and breeding habitat for other wildlife. It will fragment and degrade the forest. Without specific information about where the wells and lines will be located, a proper ecological impact assessment can't be completed. Regardless, the Pilliga is a cherished natural and cultural icon and must be protected from becoming an industrial gasfield.
Social and health impacts: Santos' social impact assessment is three years old and utterly inadequate. The compendium of health studies produced by the Concerned Health
Professionals of New York shows mounting evidence for health damage by unconventional gas operations, including water contamination and respiratory illness. The Government must insist that Santos conduct a proper health impact assessment including modelling exposure pathways, reviewing literature and engagement with the Narrabri community. In Narrabri, this project will have negative impacts on cost-of-living, the labour and housing markets. The latter is cited in as a benefit of the project but it will not benefit low-income renters. The effect of the project on cost-of-living in the Shire needs to be modelled, assessed and considered, as do the labour dynamics of the project. The project entirely surrounds Yarrie Lake, and Santos propose that wells might come as close as 200m from the Lake.
Air quality: The air quality assessment fails to include health-damaging fine particulate pollution with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less (known as PM2.5). With diesel generators at each well pad and at the water treatment and gas compression plants, there will be significant PM2.5 emissions. The air quality assessment and greenhouse section also fail to model the likely substantial escape of fugitive methane emissions.
Dark sky: light pollution from flares, compressor stations and the water treatment plant will ruin the dark sky needed by the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory.
Climate change: recent research by the Melbourne Energy Institute shows that Australia may be dramatically under-estimating the fugitive methane emissions from unconventional gas, including coal seam gas. It's not needed or useful as a source of energy: we have the technology we need to replace gas with renewable energy sources.

As an ornithologists I have particular concerns about the impact that this development would have on the environment and its impact on the avifauna of the area. The Pilliga is a significant remnant of callitris/box woodland that once covered vast tracts of Australia. Most has been cleared but the Pillaga still exists and its environmental significance cannot be dismissed. There is no offset that is the equivalent of the Pilliga, small patches are vastly inferior to large swathes of unbroken forest.
One of the major problems with this development is the opening up of the forest by the many tracks and roads connecting the various gas wells. These roads will break up the forest into a multitude of small patches and will favour fauna that likes edge habitats. One of the major ecological problems we are witnessing in Australia is explosion of numbers of noisy miners across the eastern Australian environment. This species is notorious for driving out small birds and having a severe impact on the richness of the avifauna of an area. This species is an edge specialist and does not exist in unbroken forest, therefore is naturally favours road verges, tracks, etc. By opening the forest up with the numerous roads for access to drill sites it will create a noisy miner heaven. This impact will be devastating for the many species of small birds that now exist in the Pillaga and will effectively wipe them out of the local environment. The noisy miner impact is now so serious that it has been listed as a significant environmental process. Consequently, this project will exacerbate the noisy miner problem.
Furthermore, I as also very concerned about the impact this will have on ground water. This part of Australia contains some of the best soils in the country and is a significant producer of food and products for the country. Any project that limits the water or pollutes (with salt) so that it cannot be used on agriculture should not proceed. Our food production capability should have priority over mining developments.

On behalf of my grandchildren and all children of the future I beg that this project does not go ahead. Please do not destroy their right to clean water and a safe environment for short term monetary gain. It makes no sense.

The project is great for our town and State.
All caution is taken by Santos to conduct their activities safely
Santos follow strict government guidelines