Narrabri Gas

Please don't allow coal seem gas in this beautiful area. I want my grandchildren to live a happy and healthy life in the future and cag will destroy the environment, pollute the water table and when all wealth is extracted we will be left to cope with the environmental disaster.

I object to the Narrabri Gas Project.

This is a major project, with major impacts, and I feel the EIS is inadequate. The EIS does not state where the proposed 850 gas wells are to be located and therefore I do not believe it can adequately state they have assessed the risk on particularly the underground water resource, along with the environment and surrounding landholders.

Water is our most important resource and it should be our priority to protect it.

I do not feel it is acceptable to put at risk the Great Artesian Basin and an area which provides one of the highest recharge rates.

The risk to and impact on surrounding landholders and communities is too great. Not only the risk on water resources, unacceptable impact from dropping bore levels, potential pollution, decreased land values, bush fire hazards but also the mental and physical health implications. Both the metal and physical health impacts are serious and cannot be dismissed.

The amount of salt to be produced is of great concern.

The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots' and is vital to the survival of many threatened species. The forest is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area.

How big is the insurance fund being provided by the proponent? A very big one is needed.

Will the proponent be responsible for proving they are not breaching any conditions of their approval or will it be up to the surrounding landholders/community members without the expertise to spend their time and money proving the proponents assessment?

Objection: Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Project (SSD 6456)

We object to the proposed Narrabri CSG Project for the following reasons:
1. The project will damage the biological integrity of the largest remaining temperate woodland in Australia. The Pilliga is home to many plant and animal species, a significant number of them rare and threatened.
2. Development infrastructure will fragment and degrade the Pilliga. Intersecting roads, pipelines, water extraction infrastructure, wells, fracking and other chemical agents, work site compounds, etc., cannot help but fragment this complex set of ecological systems. We depend on the integrity of the Pilliga for the maintenance of a range of ecological and related economic services for the greater community.
3. Aquifers for the Great Artesian Basin are located in the Pilliga. They must be protected but won't be if fracking occurs. The Great Artesian Basin could easily be compromised with dire consequences for the substantial agricultural sector which is Central West NSW. Disturbance of ground water has potential multiplicative effects including effects on the regional economy if CSG pursuit is allowed.
4. The naturally dark night sky will be compromised with light pollution from CSG infrastructure potentially affecting the nearby Siding Springs Observatory.
5. It fails to meet the basic principles of Ecological Sustainable Development, in particular, the Principle of Intergeneration Equity and the Precautionary Principle. The legacy left behind from this proposal for future generations is poor and the Precautionary Principle seems to have been ignored completely. The proposal will damage the environment both now and for future generations.
The CSG industry has a track record of not effectively rehabilitating extensive areas it has mined, across NSW and Queensland. We have seen the evidence. It cannot be ignored.
We request that the NSW Department of Planning and Environment recommends refusal of development consent of the Pilliga project.
Yours sincerely
Dr Richard Gates
For EHRSDI

The damage that this project will cause to the environment is something that can't be undone. I do not believe that this is for the economic prosperity of Australia.

Attn:
Executive
Director,
Resource
Assessments
Department
of
Planning
and
Environment
GPO
Box
39
Sydney
NSW
2001
This
is
a
submission
to
the
Narrabri
Gas
EIS.
I
object
to
this
project
and
believe
it
should
be
rejected.

1. It is the wrong site for this development for many reasons that I have researched. I have taken the trouble to consult my peers in existing gasfields including reading the views of LGA and Community Leaders in these areas.

2. At a social level our towns do not need to experience the dysfunction and damage delivered by the energy industry to the community's of Dalby, Tara and Chinchilla and surrounding villages

3. The environmental damage evident in streams, vegetation and underground aquifers are significant and ongoing in the Western downs LGA and now the Santos EIS admits "the duration and ...extent of depressurisation of groundwater head within the coal seams and adjacent strata WILL cause a SIGNIFICANT impact to the groundwater resources of the Gunnedah - Oxley Basin...."!

4. Santos continually fail to understand or choose to ignore our community reliance on spring-water and bores up to 400m depth in the area. [Even some our villages are named after their springs]

5. The Santos project
will
extract
over
35
billion
litres
of
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 Narrabri LGA [among others] admit
there
is
no
safe
disposal
plan.
6. Santos
will
clear
close
to
1,000
hectares
of
the
Pilliga
Forest,
fragmenting
the
largest
temperate
woodland
in
New
South
Wales,
home
to
unique
wildlife, micro flora and fauna.
7. Santos
will
cause
significant
diversion
of
water
from
a principal
recharge
aquifer
of
the
Great
Artesian
Basin,
which
is
a
water
resource
relied
upon
by
rural
communities
across
western
NSW.
8. It
will
add
to
climate
change
through
large, unmanageable
fugitive
methane
emissions.
9. It is common knowledge in our community that the proposal
will
cause
trauma
to
the
regional
Aboriginal
community
because
the
area
of
impact
is
crucially
important
to
the
spiritual,
cultural
and
social
life
of
Gamilaraay
people.
10. The Projects'justification doesn't stand scrutiny and
is
not
justified:
Santos'
own
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 is widely known that Santos have been shown to be poor stewards of their "failed show-piece" Kahlua pilot gas wells west of Gunnedah.
*11.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.
12. Coal
seam
gas
is
harmful
to
health.
Neither
the
NSW
Government
nor
Santos
have
dealt
with
the
serious
health
effects
appearing
in
peer-­‐reviewed
research
in
the
U.S.
I
urge
the
Government
to
reject
this
project
and
make
the
Great
Artesian
Basin
recharge region
off-­‐limits
to
gas
mining.

I strongly object to the Pilliga CSG expansion.

Consistently there is no base line environmental data being collected before a CSG well is installed in an area. When leaks occur we are told that elevated levels of toxic chemicals are natural background anomalies and existed before the CSG operation occurred. We need comprehensive and impartial third party testing of aquifer systems in any area before mining goes ahead.

The industry has a shocking record, with environmental breaches being consistently called out by concerned citizens investigations rather than any comprehensive system.

The environmental impact studies done before CSG mining occurs are self regulated, the industry pays an ecologist to report on the impact of their industry. This is farcical. If the environmental impact studies are not independent they can not be trusted. An analogy with the tobacco industries funding passive smoking studies could be drawn.

Methane produced by gas wells is 30 times more potent a green house gas than CO2. These wells produce and leak methane regularly. The true scale of this is not being investigated. This is not a green industry, it is misleading to label it a transition fuel.

The Pilliga is an essential habitat for bio-diversity. If this landscape is industrialised we will lose endangered species and sensitive local populations. It doesn't matter how careful, the bio-diversity of the region and CSG can not co-exist.

To those considering the approval for the Narrabri Gas project,
My Name is Emily Sharpe,
I am a 21 year old law 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.

We believe that Santos has a poor environmental record and this vast area of gas wells poses a massive risk to not only the remaining bush in the Pilliga but also to the surrounding farmland. The authorities' continuing embrace of old technology and fossil fuels will appear laughably ridiculous in a few years when renewable energy systems are making such strong progress.

I do not support CSG mining in the Pilliga. The Pilliga forest is unique and should be conserved.

Water is our most precious resource and CSG puts our water resources at risk.

I also question the economic value if this project and th.e value to the communities of the region.

I urge the government to take a precautionary approach and reject inappropriate CSG industrial development if this important and unique rural landscape and the communities that depend on it.

The Narrabri Gas Project can provide much-needed energy for NSW. It can supply up to half the natural gas we use in our homes and businesses each day, as well as a necessary feedstock to power many of our essential industries.
It will bring jobs and business opportunities to the Narrabri region and a substantial local community benefit fund, as well as royalties to NSW.
The Project area does not include prime agricultural land and is located in an area of the Pilliga State Forest set aside for natural gas development.
I think if the Project can safely supply around half the gas our state needs from about 1000ha in and around the Pilliga then it should be allowed to proceed.
The NSW Chief Scientist's own extensive investigation determined the natural gas industry could proceed safely with appropriate safeguards in place.
There seems to be evolving regulatory oversight and a high level of scrutiny that would mean the Project can be carried out safely.
The EIS will be examined by many experts and if it is approved, conditions will be placed on the Project to make sure the environment, water and communities aren't significantly impacted.
We should see the Project as a real opportunity to develop a natural gas industry in NSW to support the many jobs and manufacturing processes that rely on an affordable, accessible gas supply.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. It is not justified: SantosÂ' 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

Please don't do this to the land!

I support all landholders to have the legal right to say 'no' to gas mining.

No Coal Seam Gas, it is a filthy toxic destructive method of gas extraction. No on-shore unconventional gas extraction should be allowed in the state of NSW. CSG is not worth the risk to our water and to our land, including agricultural land.
Just say NO. It is that simple.
The public are sick of the games and politics played by the industry. All gas in the Commonwealth of Australia, is in fact Australian gas, and as such industry attempts to hood-wink the people into thinking there is a gas shortage in NSW is no better than warped version of political spin.
The sad reality is that no-matter what the outcome, Australian gas is being sold off for a 'song'overseas. John Howard started this many years ago when he sold it off too cheap to Japan.
Plenty of AUSTRALIAN gas in the Bass Straight, enough to last us for years.
Sad reality it our Governments and politicians, of both sides, have mismanaged Australian gas.
NSW land and water should not bear the burden of environmental destruction because of stupid decisions made by political parties.
Australian gas at Narrabri should be left in the ground.
Just say NO to Santos, it really is that simple. Just say NO.

We're giving our country away to companies that are only interested in the money , and spend a fortune covering up the long lasting effects. Our government is a disgrace allowing this to happen. Gutless.

Be wise to the water pollution that could cause detrimental effect to the environment and population. We human being made out of water in majority, imagine the world with filthy water and the people who suffer from clean water scarcity.

The project 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 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 also 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.

As a beef cattle producers living in the western region of the Liverpool Plains we are totally dependent on groundwater for our livestock enterprise. Groundwater is critical to the survival of our business and tens of thousands of other agricultural and associated businesses, as well as villages and towns through much of inland Australia.

We could write tens of thousands of words as to why the Narrabri Gas project should not be approved and why the NSW government should accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. However, we have decided to focus our submission on the fact that, if the Santos' Narrabri Gas project is approvedt, the coal seam gas industry will be prevented from operating in North West NSW by those that have the most to lose due to the high risk and destructive nature of such an industry, ie. those that depend on groundwater, those that value biodiversity, those who value the quiet enjoyment of where they live, the Gomeroi People, etc.

Since October 2013 the project has been dogged by unrelenting protests. There is no doubt that the costs of the company-community conflict have been both real and significant.


Just as communities have prevented the coal seam gas industry from progressing on the Northern Rivers and the Gloucester area, communities will prevent the industry progressing in North West NSW.

While industry bodies and some Members of Parliament falsely claim there is broad community support, Santos do not have a social licence to operate the Narrabri Gas project.
The social licence required by Santos before it could operate in NW NSW can not be bought.

No to the mine!

"To those considering the approval for the Narrabri Gas project,
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."

No Fraking or Coal Seam Gas mining

I agree with these young farming parents fighting to stop CSG destroying their land. The future of their children are at stake.

I am against Santos' Narrabri CSG project.