Narrabri Gas

I object to the use of coal seam gas extraction methods that will lead to large emissions of methane, adding to climate change.
The project will reportedly extract over 35 billion litres of toxic groundwater, much of it in the first five years. This water will be treated and in the early years will generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt, for which there is no safe disposal plan.
The project will clear close to 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest, fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife.
It will cause significant diversion of water from a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin, which is a water resource relied upon by rural communities across western NSW.
The long term economic cost of risks to the environment outweighs the potential economic return for the state. The project is not in the interests of the people of NSW.

CSG must stop .for the future of our environment. And CSG has no write to move onto someones land and take contol because are laws are to weak.this has to stop.

Water is life. I say no to csg

I vehemently object to this project as it is unsustainable environmentally, socially, culturally and economically, and is completely unethical, for the following reasons:

* It risks essential water sources needed for farming and providing food for current and future generations, including the Great Australian Basin, Australia's largest groundwater aquifer.
* 96% of farmers oppose CSG due to air and land pollution, as well as loss of crucial water - healthy farmland is essential for the Australian economy.
* The traditional langowners, the Gamillaraay, are strongly opposed as this would destroy sacred sites.
* Dangerous materials released released into the environment by CSG have an adverse effect on human health such as eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination.
* Santos has a history of spills and leaks, including uranium levels 20 times high than acceptable in drinking water, barium, arsenic and aluminium. Santos has shown itself to be unable to meet acceptable environmental standards.
* There is no proposed method of dealing with the thousands of tonnes of salt waste, leaving a toxic legacy for future generations in NSW.
* Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running constantly, even on total fire ban days, leading to severe increased risk of bush fires.
* It would damage vital habitats of endangered species such as the koala, seriously damaging biodiversity.
* This would seriously contribute to dangerous climate change - CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas.
* The Sliding Springs Observatory, the nation's premier optical astronomical observatory is at riski due to light and dust pollution.

This project is therefore morally reprehensible, and must not go ahead, for the sake of the environment, Indigenous landowners, people's health, and the economy.

I am putting in a submission to raise an objection to Santos' Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga and surrounding areas. The destruction of native habitat and pollution of vast tracks of land is unacceptable. I state again. This submission is strongly against the Santos Narrabri Gas Project!

The Great Artesian Basin is Australia's greatest natural resource. Science does not know how it works. We only have computer models. It is our only reliable source of clean water for agriculture, which is one of our major sustainable industries.
The CSG impact on the Surat basin is already measurable and devastating. Some bores have already dropped 200 metres.
The CSG industry has a short life of only 20 years, according to the QLD DPI. Allowing them to poison and drain our artesian water is a short-sighted political decision which will devastate our economy in both the short and long term.
As a cattle grazier and as an Australian I ask you- do not allow our water to be risked. IT ISN'T WORTH IT. Put a moratorium on this filthy industry until it can be proven to not risk our farming and environment water, which the Australian Constitution Section 100 guarantees our right to.
Thank you.

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 number of jobs the project will support once the construction is over is just 145. 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.

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.

I wish to object to the proposal for the following reasons:
- There is a danger that fracking will poison our valuable acquifers which we rely on for so much of our food.
- Fracking in the area will be a danger to wildlife.
-Our energy needs can be better met by renewable sources.
-I do not believe that Santos can be trusted to act ethically in regard to spills and leaks which are bound to happen.

I am not a scientific person. My objection to the proposed coal seam gas mining in the Pilliga and of course the existing and operating wells is based on common sense.
I have visited the Pilliga twice. The first time as a tourist and the second time to try to connect with the demonstrators who were active there at the time. I was so awed by the area the first time I wanted to help preserve it when I learnt of the mining taking place there.

On so many levels its not acceptable.

The Pilliga lies directly over the Great Artesian Basin and its recharge zones. Mining here would pose risks too great to contemplate.......SAVE OUR WATER! This is the largest reservoir of underground water in our country ....... we rely on it. I learnt from locals that there are tiny animals living there that keep the water pure. However they are extremely sensitive to any kind of interference and even vibrations from drilling will kill them.

Water that is brought up from underground contains high concentrations of salt and other chemicals. There have even been reports of radio active material. Where will the salt go? What will happen to it. Wherever it is dumped it will cause saline pollution. Leave it all in the ground!!!

The water that is used for drilling and extraction simply can never ever be recycled and there is no way at all that it can be used. It is just not sensible to think that it can be used on roads or any other way. However it is used the chemicals will still find their way back into the top soil and affect the composition and fertility.

Methane gas is as dangerous as CO2 as a greenhouse gas. At this point in time when the planet is suffering from global warming and we are supposed to be reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the danger of emitting further methane into the air is madness. And it will happen. It is inevitable at wells and during the drilling process. Worse still the leaking will continue after the wells are closed. They cannot be safely blocked forever. Whatever you put down to try to prevent leakage of gas will deteriorate sometime in the future.

Longwall mining can result in subsidence of the land above the mine after completion of a project. It is logical to expect that something will fill in the underground tunnels. The tunnels will collapse sooner or later or they will fill with water. That is another risk. The loss of groundwater to wildlife could be a real problem. Also farms who rely on water from rainfall may lose water to the tunnels. It is inconceivable that in an area where water is so precious, all reserves of water will be threatened in one way or another.

This area is known for its unique flora and fauna. I saw a family of emus crossing the road in front of my car. it was a magical experience. There were many birds I had never seen anywhere else and could not recognise. The activity of mining and change in habitat and feed vegetation could risk further extinction of species.

When I was there as a tourist I connected to many people who had come to view the dark sky. At night the stars are exceptionally bright and star gazers come here for that reason alone. The observatory close by has commented on the fact that flares from the wells light up the sky and spoil the deep darkness
that attracts tourists.

There have been incidents by Santos of contraventions against environmental regulations. There have been gas leaks and flares at the wells. There have been spills from the holding ponds. There is simply no guarantee that no matter how closely policed the regulations are, that unforeseen circumstances won't occur.
We have enough experience now during the history of the coal seam gas mining in other countries and our own to be aware of all the risks.

But why take the risks? The opposition is strong now. I live in the Illawarra. There were 5 active licences over the area and now there are none. That was totally due to the strength of the campaign involving local people. We did not want CSG and now we do not have it. I understand that there are not the large numbers of people living in Narrabri and Coonabarrabran to wage such a campaign. However state wide the campaigns have been relentless and it should be clear to that people do not want CSG. The Pilliga is part of the state of NSW.

There is no social licence for CSG in any part of NSW.

I have visited towns where they have been left as ghost towns after mining has moved out. It is a practise of mining companies to build up communities while they are there, but when leaving the money and jobs go too. The jobs created are mostly not unskilled labour that would benefit the town's unemployed people anyway. The jobs are mostly skilled and often fly-in fly-out. Often local skilled workers are enticed into the mining sector and then dumped and have to re-train when the mine moves out.

I am not a professional. I am a retired citizen. I have children and grandchildren and it is of extreme concern to me that areas like the Pilliga are in danger of being plundered and exploited for what? Short term gain, short term profits for careless companies.
the rehabilitation after Santos leaves is whose responsibility? Will locals be compensated for environmental damage? for job loss? for health problems? Who pays for the damage. Does Santos have enough insurance to cover all the possible scenarios. There is particular concern about mental health problems caused by losing familiar property that has been part of a person's lifestyle and history and therefore identity. Its a process of grieving that people may not recover from.

Just stop Santos........words could flow forever and tell story after story. I was just listening to Helen Benders story. Destroying country forever that belongs to wildlife and people for short term gain is nonsense.

There are other ways to create energy. Why aren't resources being channelled into alternative energy. I mean they are but if the effort that is wasted on CSG was diverted into improving the technology of alternative energy, we would have solved any shortfall problems by now. Hanging onto the production of fossil fuel in the warming climate of today is inexplicable.

Stop coal seam gas mining in the Pilliga.

Yours sincerely,

Ann Gadd

My commemts are brief and simple.

These good, kind hearted people who enjoy the simple pleasures in life generally want nothing to do with big corporate policies and political agendas.

These people feel so opposed to coal seam gas mining to the extent that they have locked themselves to axles underneath trucks and put their lives on hold so that they can fight the corporations and cannot stop or focus on anything else until their voice is heard and the madness stops.

Take into account all the facts, figures and concerns that i know you will receive in submissions written more eloquently than this but for now just think about one thing for me:

Why would the little guys put their blood sweat and tears into fighting the impossible fight against the big playground bullies if they didn't truly believe that their future generations were in danger?

Money doesn't buy happiness and it shouldn't be able to buy its way into destroying the future.

I object to the coal seam gas going ahead in Western News South Wales, because I believe it will irreversibly damage the environment and the great artesian basin.

I am concerned over the viability and sustainability of coal seam gas projects. The threat csg poses to vital water basins cannot be overstated. The Pilliga is an important biodiversity hotspot, and the national park was established, in part, in recognition of the need to preserve habitats like this. I can't see how the development of a project such as this can be done while meeting conservation objectives.

The potential for dramatic impact resulting from coal seam gas developments is well documents and it is increasingly frustrating to see scientific experts pushed aside in pursuit of short term economic windfalls.

In addition to the significant environmental and ecological concerns that can be raised regarding this project, it is important to recognise that the traditional custodians of this land are opposed to the development. We often commence official events with an acknowledgement of country. These speeches mean little when we continue to act against the wishes of the traditional custodians.

Gas is not a cleaner alternative energy. We have the resources and capacity to invest in truly clean initiatives like wind and solar. Opening up gas fields is not beneficial for our climate, precious wildlife, local agriculture, great artesian basin water source or communities as a whole. I strongly object to any new gas development in the area.

Please stop ruining Australian waterways with poisons and methane which is many times more destructive than even coal!!!
People will need to live near these places, but you are just thinking about your selves. Please dont bring shame on your descendants....they will disown you.

22 May 2017

SUBMISSION: OBJECTION TO NARRABRI GAS PROJECT

I submit this submission regarding the Narrabri Gas Project.
This submission is one of absolute opposition to the Project, for it involves the drilling of coal seam gas (CSG) wells. Even one coal seam gas well anywhere is too many given their increasingly documented history of causing appalling localised and regional pollution impacts, coupled with their significant contribution to climate change. This is particularly true from all their methane emissions. 850 CSG fracked into the beautiful Pilliga Forest, a massive water recharge are for the Great Artesian Basin, is actually an ecological catastrophe.

The proposed Project will, with 100% certainty, cause a huge amount of damage to the Project site and its immediate surroundings. This is an area with many endangered plant and animal species and at least two endangered ecological communities. The impacts on the biodiversity of the site is justification enough to refuse this monstrous project, whose only `justification' excessive corporate greed.

The above impacts coupled with the gigantic extraction of groundwater that will occur and the certain pollution of the groundwater that will remain, certainly mean that any objective and reasonable assessment of this Project would lead to its complete refusal.

The scope and scale of the damage the Narrabri Gas Project will cause if it proceeds is of local, regional, national and global significance. It is vitally important for the entire world that the Project does not proceed at all.

Yours Sincerely,

Tom Fisher

I don't agree to gas mining

This is a submission to the Narrabri Gas EIS.
I object to this project and believe it should be rejected.
 It will extract over 35 billion litres of toxic groundwater, much of it in the first five years. This water will be treated and in the early years will generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt, for which there is no safe disposal plan.
 It will clear close to 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest, fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife.
 It will cause significant diversion of water from a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin, which is a water resource relied upon by rural communities across western NSW.
 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.
 It will cause economic upheaval in Narrabri and put agricultural industries at risk, as well as causing light pollution that will ruin the dark night sky needed by the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory.
 Coal seam gas is harmful to health. Neither the NSW Government nor Santos have investigated or dealt with the serious health effects of coal seam gas now appearing in peer-reviewed research in the United States.

I object to this proposal. There is no "upside" other than short term corporate gain. And the long term costs will be significant.

To those considering the approval for the Narrabri Gas project,
My Name is Laura Beesley,
I am a 21 year old Psychology student and an avid nature lover.
I am deeply concerned about the impacts of coal seam gas exploration in the Pilliga region on ecosystem health and human health.
I am worried about the following possible impacts of coal seam gas exploration in the Pilliga:
- groundwater contamination in a region close to our agricultural food bowl (endangering human health and Australia's export potential)
- heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems, the effects of which are well documented. Such as its disruption of neurological and physiological function of plants and animals.
- methane gas emission, a greenhouse gas 27 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
- the clearing of precious tree cover and habitat in the Pilliga region which will increase erosion, increase risk of bushfires, remove a valuable carbon sink and devastate numerous native species.
- Interference in the sacred lands and sites of the Indigenous Nation.
I truly believe it would be incredibly irresponsible and short-sighted for this project to go ahead. Whether the project has an environmental management plan or not, ecosystems are fragile and interconnected and the slightest disruption can have devastating, far-reaching and irreversible consequences.
Furthermore, as our world hurtles towards 2 degrees of global warming and higher, the release of methane gas during gas extraction is a serious concern. As a member of the generation that is to inherit this earth and this man-made problem, I am continuously frustrated that decisions are being made that exacerbates the catastrophic effects of climate change. With millions of climate refugees forecasted to be mobilised in the Pacific Islands and low lying areas of India and Pakistan, it is morally unacceptable to further invest in fossil fuel exploration. The cost of managing climate change will far exceed the profits made from this project.
I want to reach adulthood and raise children in a world that is not plagued by resource conflict, increased natural disasters and increased risk of disease. I want my children to be able to wander the streets of New York, scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef and the Pacific Islands, be able to visit glaciers and enjoy the thrill of skiing and snowboarding, be able to enjoy natural spaces and the full, beautiful biodiversity of this earth.
And I know you want the same for your grandchildren.
In 50-100 years from now, when we are in the midst of a potential volatile world, people will ask, what did you do to stop this from happening?
What will your answer be?
You are writing the future, and you will never be able to erase this decision from history."

To whom it may concern.

I am a father of 2 children - 6 and 8 years old, living in Sydney. I grew up in the country and now try to share the beautiful Australian outdoors with my kids.

I ask why you would jeopardise something so precious, for a resource we do not need, to feather the nest of private enterprise?
* You risk the health and well-being of local people.
* You risk what will become one of the key commodities of the 21st century - clean fresh water (in the Great Artesian Basin)
* You risk the loss of another of the tracts of Australian wilderness and its countless species. When will you learn that this land is not ours to rape, it is ours to care for and pass on to future generations. Do you have children? What kind of legacy do you want to leave them?

This is a great and beautiful nation. Fossil fuel is not part of our future.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my views.

Coal Seam Gas (CSG) is harmful to humans and the environment. This project creates serious concerns regarding water usage and contamination, land clearing, harm to local agriculture and people living in the area.
The chemicals used in CSG have serious repercussions on human health, especially children.

Please reconsider this project, as it will have detrimental effects on humans and the environment.