Narrabri Gas

Our underground water is the life source in towns and agriculture in Wsetern NSW and beyond. . Our rivers are not permanent, but rely on rainfall, we live in a naturally dry land. If our Great Artesian underground water is damaged in any way by the process of extracting coal seam gas, there is no such thing as a "repair bill", money wont be able to fix it. We would be left without our life source.
Our agriculture land in Australia is limited, lets value it and look after it for future generations.

It will lead to large deliberate and fugitive emissions of methane, adding to climate change.
It will 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.

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.

To allow this coal seam gas would be to commit a slow and painful suicide on top of an already depressed and criticially hill situation, please don't allow this gas field to go ahead.
It is Aboriginal Land and should be respected because humans everywhere need this place to stay as it is. Gas field free.

I Object to this proposal.
This proposal has no merit. The destruction of native habitat, aboriginal culture, farmland and the potential for irreversible damage to the Great Artesian Basin make this project far too detrimental to be of any long term value.
Add to this Climate Change, air pollution, noise pollution, light pollution (sliding springs observatory?) and all the toxic chemicals and contaminted water... It's ridiculous that I'm evening typing this submission.
This is a bad proposal and should most definitely not go ahead.

To: the NSW Department of Planning and Environment

This is a submission to the Narrabri Gas E.I.S.

I object to the project for many reasons, some that are listed below, and respectfully suggest that this project is denied approval and the applicant is encouraged to invest in developing sustainable and renewable energy production projects in our region that will enhance our communities; state; and nation.

I am a small business owner and resident of Moree. I grew up on a property 80km north of Moree, and am the fifth generation in the family-run farming and grazing enterprise. My family, extended family and friends are deeply connected to the region, as are many of my customers and client base.

Some concerns as a Moree resident include:

The threat to our Health Tourism industry in Moree and our aquatic spa centre due to people's lack of geographical knowledge. When people hear Narrabri Gas Project and ask where is Narrabri. It is near Moree. Is that where they have the healing waters? I'm not bathing in waters that may be contaminated with Coal Seam Gas.
I have already had people speak to me in such a manner when I have visited Brisbane or Sydney.
Our health tourism industry is a very important part of the economic health of our town.

I am concerned that the project will add to traffic congestion or contribute to a slowing of traffic flow which will cause an increase in the volume of trucks, transporting goods between Brisbane - Melbourne, diverting through our town to travel via Walgett and Bourke to avoid delays along the Newell Highway.
There has been an increase of freight travelling via this route (although longer on the map it is flatter country with fewer towns and villages to slow down though and less popular with tourists.) I am aware of this increase as I live on the Gwydir Highway (western approach to Moree). When freighting traffic increases noticeably along my road, and residents start to question why as it does not correspond with harvests, plantings or local activity, we discover that some roadwork maintenance or improvement is causing slight delays between Moree and Coonabarabran. If these temporary delays can cause traffic to divert to a level that is noticeable I feel the addition of a major gas project that straddles the Newell Highway will create considerable changes in road use. This will put extra burden on local councils, both adjoining Narrabri Shire and those further west, as well as further burdens on our State Government's responsibilities and costs in maintaining and upgrading additional road networks.

Please note that the Newell Highway is a major transport route between our two major shipping ports of Brisbane and Melbourne, and very important to businesses across the eastern states even though they may be unaware of it.

Im also very concerned about flares being present in the Pilliga Forrest and the catastrophic risk they pose to the Forrest. Our summers are getting hotter and longer and receiving catastrophic fire warnings over our mobile phone networks is becoming a regular feature of our summers. Allowing flares in the Pilliga Forrest will ensure that a catastrophic fire will occur at some stage. Strong hot winds, light leaf little and other debris can travel considerable distance.

It will irreversibly damage an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin and in the process of extracting gas will divert significant volumes of water effecting other water users in the region. The Great Artesian is an important resource and is relied upon by the commercial and residential entities that make our we tern NSW rural communities. Some water users close to the project will be effected by this project immediately others will be effected over the long term. Assurances by hydrologists that water seams further west will not be effected does not ring true with the experiences of locals.

I have family members and friends who have been and continue to be on Bore Trusts. In situations where their concerns revolved around new users and the effect on pressure or water flow and recharge the concerns were brushed aside, made to feel they were ignorant and uneducated only to find that their concerns were correct and the hydrologists later claim that they acted in the best of their knowledge at that time and it's impossible to know exactly what is going on in these systems.


Other concerns:

* The generation of ten of thousands of tonnes of salt that has no safe disposal plan and the idea listed by the EIS as temporary storage in landfill is unviable and will have a significant degration of land and other costly environmental repercussions

* The project is at odds with our nations national interest in reducing our carbon, methane and other dangerous greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet our Paris Agreement targets and attempt to keep global average temperatures below a 2egree rise.

* It will cause significant light pollution which will destroy the dark sky conditions required for the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory. The destruction of the dark sky conditions would also make a mockery of the significant time, energy, innovation and the financial contribution that many (Coonabarabran Shire and other local councils, Government and non-Government agencies and the private sector) have put in to create and maintain such conditions for the benefit of mankind through scientific knowledge.

* It is unnecessary. There are numerous other ways that NSW could create gas for consumer use and in the process develop new industries, more jobs than this proposed project and also reduce waste. Examples such as Inverell's Bindaree Beef, where the abattoir uses waste to produce gas for energy consumption is not unique. This is one example of viable source of gas for consumer use, while there are also other more reliable and cheaper sources of renewable energy for energy uses where gas could be replaced.

* It is expensive and will create a financial burden on our long term economic future as a region and as a state when the full extent of the environmental devastation is realised and the many businesses that our region, and state, depend on struggle or fail due to the long-term effects of this project.


Gosh I could go on.
Thankyou for having the time to read all this, sorry about the poor layout etc.
Kind regards.

I am a young Aboriginal man who has employment with Santos contractors.
I believe the project will offer and encourage employment for young local aboriginals in our town to help improve our efforts to securing employment.

Kelcie Bryant-Duguid
Grasmere NSW
22 May 2017

To: The NSW Department of Planning and Environment
This submission is to the Narrabri Gas EIS

I OBJECT to this project.

There are many significant reasons why this project should never go ahead.

1. HEALTH
My children grew up in Elderslie (Camden NSW) where there are currently 96 active CSG wells in close proximity to residents. They regularly suffered unexplained migraines and constant bleeding noses throughout primary school while growing up (my youngest child had her nose quarterised to address this issue). Current residents living at Spring Creek (Camden local government area) have reported similar side effects with the addition of unexplained hair loss and illness. These symptoms are now being attributed to the health side effects of some people living in CSG areas that are heavily documented and recognised in USA. Coal Seam Gas mining is harmful to health. Neither the NSW Government or Santos have investigated or acknowledged the serious health effects of coal seam gas now appearing in peer-reviewed research in the United States.

2. WATER OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE
We live on the driest continent on earth and as a child growing up in rural NSW (Kootingal outside Tamworth, with relatives in Narrabri), water was always seen as a valued and often scarce resource. It hasn't changed and we have just come out of the worst drought in our history from 2003-2012. Water is life.

The Narrabri Gas Project will extract over 35 billion litres of toxic groundwater, with the majority occurring in the first 5 years of operation. This water although treated will generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt, for which there is no safe disposal plan. Salination of farm land and natural bush is a major problem as deposits of salts in the soil build up so that crops and vegetation cannot tolerate them. This will have an enormous impact on the ability of this thriving agricultural area to remain viable. Which will effect not only the environment but the economy and workforce of farmers and rural towns including Narrabri in the region.

It is acknowledged that significant diversion of water will occur from a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin, which is a unique and significant water resource relied upon by rural communities across western NSW.

A comparison can be given to the Natural Wonder of the Thirlmere Lakes which have now all but dried up with he cause being attributed to mining. In this instance it was long wall mining, but the company responsible operated within established guidelines in a responsible manner. Even with correct procedures in place this tragedy has occurred.

Another effect recently documented as a result official seam gas mining is earthquakes. These are widely reported and scientifically recognised in several states of America. Appin in the Campbelltown (NSW Camden/Macarthur local government area) we are now recording 2-3 earthquakes per year. There were none recorded prior to coal seam gas exploration in the area.

3. LAND CLEARING
The project will clear close to 1000 hectares of the Pilliga State Forest. Fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales. The forest contains at least 900 plant species including many threatened species. It has been identifies as an important bird area for both those habituating the area and migratory species. Over 40 native and 9 introduced mammals and 50 reptile species and at least 15 frog species are found in the area. Land clearing is known to irreversibly damage the ecology of these precious and unique environments impacting wildlife.

Land clearing also contributes to global warming and climate change and the significance of this unique forest will impact on inland rain patterns. This is already an area that is frequented by drought.

4. EMISSION POLLUTANTS
Coal Seam Gas is not clean energy production. The process produces large deliberate and fugitive emissions of methane adding to climate change.

5. ECONOMIC EFFECTS
Agricultural industries in Narrabri will be put at risk. Due to pollution of water systems and salt wastes.

Constantly burning wells will dramatically change the night sky by causing light pollution that will ruin the dark night sky required by the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory. Also affecting our international reputation in this scientific field.

6. NATIVE TITLE/ INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
Regional Aboriginal communities do not want this development. The area is crucially important to the spiritual, cultural and social life of the Gamilaraay people. Moving forward with the project will cause additional trauma to regional Aboriginal communities and reinforces messages of disrespect and disregard to Australia's first peoples.

7. PAST PRACTICE AND RECORD
While many reassurances and promises have been made by Santos that they will act correctly and preserve the environment they wish to mine, much evidence exists where they have repeatedly breached environmental guidelines and these have gone on unreported which is in direct opposition to how they are bound to act. There are also a number of reported breaches that have been investigated by the NSW Parliament.

One of the major concerns I have regarding this project is the watering down of NSW State laws in 2016 under the Baird Government that removed the high financial penalties for environmental breaches and demonised farmers and protesters who wished to raise awareness of the harm that has been documented within the Pilliga already and on their own farms. Legislation should be supportive of the public who the government serve, not the financial vested interest groups wishing to influence it for financial gain.

With the implementation of these laws, which are an affront to democracy, there is no incentive for Santos to report or address issues that breach the Environmental and Planning requirements for the project. If approved we are giving Santos a green light to permanently destroy this region with a flow on environmental impact that will speed climate change and threaten future water supplies, farmland, flora and fauna for generations to come.

I am making a submission to strongly object to the Narrabri Gas Project.

In an era when fossil fuel energy technology is internationally being phased out due to its effects on climate change and global temperatures, there is simply no place for new gas projects, especially using the coal seam gas extraction methods.

CCG is problematic technology, and one that has severe environmental impact, placing water, land and lives at stake. Santos estimates 37.5GL of groundwater will taken from the Great Artesian Basin for the project. The GAB covers one third of Australia and over 200 towns and communities rely on its water. Further other fossil fuel projects also want to draw vast amounts from GAB, including the Carmichael Adani mine, which is just not feasible, not to mention the salt issues associated this practice.

Water contamination and pollution lowering air quality contribute significantly to health problems in the area. CSG is also an extremely destructive practice, destroying land and leaving it baron and unusable.

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. However this area is also of environmental significance and isn't there simply to be destroyed for profit by Santos.

Mass clearing of forest areas also has a huge impact on climate change, adding to emissions and contributing to the planets warming. 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 gas field will clear breeding habitat for Pilliga Mouse, which lives nowhere else, and breeding habitat for other wildlife. It will fragment and degrade the forest.

More dramatically 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.

I therefore object strongly to the Narrabri Gas Project and recommend Santos invest in renewable sustainable energy should it wish to continue in the energy producing industry in Australia and internationally.

Please prevent CSG mining in the Pilliga. Australia is a dry continent and any destruction of underground water will affect future generations for hundreds of years. Forests act as the lungs of the planet and farms provide our food. These simple basic facts are consistently ignored in the pursuit of profit. Please do your job and protect the environment - this project puts us all in peril.

Please don't allow a gas field within or near by the Pilliga Forest. Please do not risk the destruction of the Pilliga. This submission is sent to register my strong opposition. I hope that sanity will prevail and you will decide to protect and defend this diverse and precious ecosystem.

Surely we have learned our lessons from the damage that has already happened to our farmlands, our rivers, and continues to happen in Queensland. We must not expand this destructive industry.

Surely sanity must prevail when clean renewable energy is CHEAPER on the tax purse than destroying existing carbon sinks. Not good for the climate not good for a stable economy.

Though I am not a local to the area, I am greatly concerned by the long term fugitive emissions that HAPPEN with gas extraction. How many more catastrophic natural disasters must we face when clean alternatives are not given political expediency, and projects like this one continue to decimate our few remaining treasures.

Below, I quote DOCTOR HELEN REDMOND as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald on August 20, 2011.

"Coal seam gas mining is undergoing rapid and unprecedented expansion in NSW and Queensland - before the public health risks have been fully assessed."

"The public health responsibility of government includes ensuring clean air, clean water and uncontaminated food. Industry and state governments have frequently reassured the public there are no dangers from such mining, but have not done adequate assessments. There are many ways this industry can impact upon health, including by contaminating water supplies, the loss of water supply, air and soil pollution, and degradation of agricultural land."

"Overseas, health concerns have prompted a ban on shale gas mining in France and moratoria in parts of the US and South Africa. The US Environmental Protection Agency has begun a comprehensive study to investigate the potential adverse impacts of hydraulic fracturing."

"Some chemicals used in drilling and hydraulic fracturing, and naturally occurring contaminants released from the coal seam during mining, could harm human health, given sufficient dose and duration of exposure. This potential harm includes increased risk of cancer."

Your approval endangers the health of the people you must fairly and honestly represent.

Please do not approve the Narrabri Gas Project.

Look to CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY for (CHEAPER) job creation.

Thank you for your time.

I object to the Narrabri Gas Project because I am not convinced it is safe long term for our local water supply & the health of our land. There is also inadequate provision for compensation in the event of something going catastrophically wrong with the groundwater or the land above it.

The environmental destruction caused by this project would far outweigh the potential economic or societal benefits, especially with continued loss of non-renewable resources such as gas and the need to find alternative energy sources.

I believe the project will offer professional employment for people my age in Narrabri.
i am in year 11 in high school and i am encourged by the prospect of having a better chance of securing a trainee ship or apprenticeship in my home town

To Whom May Concern

I live in the Tara gas feilds. For over 2 years we have had continued issues with water and health.
The most worrying is the Lead that is continued to be found in my rainwater. The government nor mining company cannot discover where this Lead is coming from, they have not been able to prove that csg is not related to this contamination and other found at my home.
As there is serious unknowns connected to this industry I urge you to seriously consider the consequences, please do not approve the Santos project,, csg have bought misery, hardship and an unbelievable battle for justice to our community

I submit an, objection to this project by SANTOS.

Where is the SALT going to be disposed of - STILL NO PLAN IN QLD for massive amounts?

Great Artesian Basin Recharge zone is the heart of our underground water system across NSW, QLD, VIC, SA yet National Water trigger did not trigger?

Fugitive Emissions from Gas Operations shown to be underestimated & with NO BASELINE STUDIES - monitoring is useless.

Water use for operations, risk of contamination - already happens in QLD & Pilliga - no way to remedy successfully.

GAS is for Export & will not improve Domestic Pricing only Gas Reservation at fixed pricing will improve this for gas consumers - LIES LIES & MORE LIES

Communities across NSW have categorically stated 96% want North West NSW Gas Field Free yet this project is being fast tracked & state significant project - WHY?

Barnaby Joyce purchased land with intend to profit from this project & should be required to donate this back to the people.

Take a look at the US & Qld Gas Field refugees & the issues with water, toxic waste, methane emissions, 24/7 compressor stations etc

Dark Sky for International Space Station at risk from Light Pollution - another industry that gets classed below this so called beneficial project.

No Royalites, No Taxes, Tell us again why we WOULD RISK CSG with all the EVIDENCE contrary to the EIS piece of FICTION produced by industry - WHAT A JOKE.

To: The Secretary, NSW Department of Planning and Environment
Re: Narrabri Gas Project - Submission on the EIS

The following is my submission on the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Narrabri Gas Project.

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS - Appendix U1

There are fundamental problems with the cost-benefit analysis that are so significant that it cannot be used in its current form to provide an assessment of whether the proposed project will provide any net benefits to the NSW community.

These problems are:

1. Lack of assessment against a base case

The analysis has not compared the costs and benefits of the proposal against a 'without project' base case. This is often referred to as identifying the incremental costs and benefits of the project and is key to assessing whether the project is likely to deliver net benefits that are greater than the 'without project' situation. The absence of such a comparison misleads decision makers and the NSW community and is contrary to the requirements in the NSW Department of Planning and Environment Guidelines for the Economic Assessment of Mining and Coal Seam Gas Proposals, 2015.

It is noted that the most attention given to the base case is when it is described under 4.1.6 (4) Greenhouse gas emissions as: "Under the base case, gas currently being imported to NSW is assumed to be exported as LNG to meet contractual agreements in Asia with a potential shortage in the supply of domestic gas markets from 2017 onwards. The energy currently being supplied from gas sources to industry and households in NSW may need to come from an alternative source. This could possibly comprise a mix of energy options including coal, solar, biomass and hydro-electricity sources, or it may stimulate more efficient use of the limited gas supply."

Given the decreasing costs of non-fossil fuel energy options, it is highly likely that a base case scenario of these options increasing in the future energy mix will mean the proposed project would not provide net benefits when compared to the base case.

2. Errors in costs and lack of inclusion of social and environmental costs

2.1 Error in calculating the base year (2016/17) dollar values for capital and operating costs

The project capital and operating costs are a significant input into the cost-benefit analysis, comprising 92% of the costs, in present value terms, used in the analysis. However, there is some confusion in the calculation of the 2016/17 dollar value cost to input into the analysis. Reading sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2, it appears that rather than using costs updated to 2016/17, the 2016/17 costs have been reduced by 16.5% and 30.7% respectively on the misunderstanding that this will provide a real (without inflation) cost for the analysis.

The impact of this error is to reduce the present value of the costs of the project by some $1.096 billion, which is a significant under-statement of costs.

2.2 Unvalued economic, social and environmental costs
There is a long list of unvalued costs, some are listed in Table 2-2 and some are not listed at all.

They include:
Water quality (groundwater) impacts
Water quality (surface water) impacts
Air quality impacts
Non-aboriginal heritage
Aboriginal heritage
Amenity impacts (eg visual)
Tourism/recreation
Siding Springs observatory impacts
Salt waste

In each relevant case, the rationale for exclusion of costs is variously given as being immaterial, the risks are very low, unlikely to have an impact, can be mitigated, etc.

Nevertheless, for a number of these and other impacts, there are concerns about the seriousness of the impact and hence the costs. These are further described below.

2.3 Specific concerns re unvalued/inadequately valued impacts

WATER RESOURCE IMPACTS
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 coal seam gas 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.

TOXIC SPILLS AND LEAKS
The Narrabri Gas Project has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic coal seam gas water

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 coal seam gas water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads.

THREATENED SPECIES
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 Area3. 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.

The cost-benefit analysis includes a cost of $46.5 million for a biodiversity offset package, but importantly acknowledges "that this approach assumes that the offset, as determined by the regulator, does achieve no net loss." Given the potential impacts, I believe this is an unrealistic assumption.

ABORIGINAL HERITAGE IMPACTS
The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed to the project

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.

LOCAL COMMUNITY IMPACTS
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.

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.

CLIMATE CHANGE
Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change

Methane is by far the major component of natural gas, and is a greenhouse gas initially 72 times more powerful than CO2. Coal seam gas fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas.

The cost-benefit analysis has used a CO2 equivalent for methane of 25, which I understand is a 100-year average equivalent. However, this is not appropriate as the impact needs to be measured and valued for each year of the project and the impact is much higher in the earlier years of the 25-year project assessment. Use of the 100-year average impact significantly underestimates the costs.

IMPACT ON SIDING SPRINGS
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.

SALT WASTE
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.

FIRES
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.


Given the above, the project application should be rejected.

________________________________________
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.vb1aNy91.dpuf

Yours sincerely
Coral Robinson

The Pilliga Forest is the largest temperate woodland remaining in Australia. It comprises woodlands of Narrow-leaf Ironbark, Broad-leaf Ironbark, Pilliga Box and Bimble Box, as well as many other plant communities including Brigalow, Green Mallee and Broombush scrublands that have been cleared from other parts of the Central West of NSW.

The Pilliga woodlands are home to more than 900 plant species, including at least 12 rare and threatened plants. There are 14 frog species, 32 mammals (including 12 bats) about 50 reptiles and over 200 bird species. Pilliga woodlands support 22 threatened animal species (Glossy Black Cockatoo, Regent Honeyeater, Gilbert's Whistler, Painted Honeyeater, Turquoise Parrot, Barking Owl, Masked Owl, Malleefowl, Square-tailed Kite, Black-breasted Buzzard, Bush Stone Curlew, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Squirrel Glider, Koala, Black-striped Wallaby, Rufous Bettong, Pilliga Mouse, Greater Long-eared Bat, Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat, Little Pied Bat, Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat). It's not a suitable place for coal seam gas (CSG) field development.

It's inappropriate to fragment and degrade the Pilliga's woodlands with CSG infrastructure and roads as proposed by Santos. A network of intersecting roads and pipelines, water extraction, lines of wells, chemical intrusions, structures, work sites of the proposed gas field will bring ruin the Pilliga woodland ecosystems.

The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) aquifers have intake areas in the Pilliga forest that must be protected. The GAB is already under enormous threat by Adani and should be protected from any use for mining purposes. It is far too inportant a resource for the food source for the whole of Australia

Recharge of the Pilliga aquifer will become impossible due to the proposed quantities of water extraction required for coal seam gas (CSG) development. The GAB and the integrity of the intake bed strata must take priority over CSG production in the Pilliga. Fracking of the coal seam will compromise the GAB strata. It fracking is a contingent part of the proposed project, and Santos must be refused consent.

Damage to the GAB will have dire consequences, such as loss of hydrostatic pressure in the artesian wellheads of the GAB. Water is gold for the agriculture and grazing Central West NSW and region is heavily dependent upon access to the GAB. The GAB is also essential to the survival of unique mound spring ecosystems located further west. Any disruption to the fine balance of groundwater and its replenishment has ripple effects well beyond calculation or modelling by Santos. The regional economy and ecology are dependent on the GAB and the GAB must not be jeopardised.

After considering the environmental constraints of the Pilliga forest and hazards related to CSG production and the GAB, I request that the NSW Department of Planning and Environment recommends refusal of development consent of this Santos proposal in the Pilliga.

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.

I also believe that the natural dark night sky will be compromised by light pollution from gas flares and CSG lighting infrastructure. Dark night skies are essential for the effective operation of the internationally renowned Siding Springs Observatory located nearby.

The CSG industry has proven itself unable to effectively rehabilitate the very extensive areas it has mined, leaving many clearings and infrastructure in forests and farmlands across NSW and Queensland. The industry has shown itself to be incapable of removing its fence lines, tanks, dams, quarries, access roads, accommodation and clearings should also be removed from the mined out areas. Santos must be refused development consent.

I hope you will give my representations serious consideration and I thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Yours sincerely,
Mary Ann Irvin

Narrabri needs Santos so it can grow into a regional hub and provide jobs for our kids for years to come.

The short term benefits of extracting fuel from the pilliga vs the risks of damaging such a valuable and sustainable resource as the artesian basin are not worth it

This is a highly sensitive environment, easily damaged by the CSG industry. The long term environmental damage and consequential impact on tourism, agriculture, Indigenous heritage and community health far outweigh the short term profits. This area is crucial to the health and longevity of the Great Artesian Basin, as it replenishes this vital underground water resource, essential to so many towns and communities across Australia. The main beneficiaries of this toxic CSG project are foreign corporate interests, whereas the Australian communities, farmers and environs are at risk. Please reconsider the full cost benefit analysis regarding this project.

My memory goes back to the time when young people chained themselves to trees to protect the Pilliga Forrest. We had hopes that it would be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
I am making this submission because I am horrified that the forest is once again under attack. This time it's Santos with precious little detail proposing a massive gasfield! How can there be an effective environmental made allowing Santos to self-regulate according to a "Field Development Protocol"? Given the history of non-reporting or late reporting of other environmental infringements within the CSG industry in NSW, this proposed planning mechanism is unacceptable.
There is currently no adequate mechanism in place for monitoring and controlling problems of methane production in existing CSG extraction projects, let alone a new one of this scale. The effects on the habitat of endangered species, such as Koalas, the Regent Honeyeater and the Pilliga Mouse must also be considered.
I am at the tail end of my life but hope and wish that my grandchildren and their offspring will be left forests like the Pilliga and others for their health and enjoyment. Please give serious consideration to the health of the planet in the EIS.