Narrabri Gas

Dear Department:

I, James M Durrant, herewith submits the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).

Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a local Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.

Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.

The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.


As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.

Dear Sir/Madam,

My names is Joanne Wong, I submit the following for your consideration concerning
the Development Plan for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
I believe that the above Development Plan submitted by Santos and APA are worthy of your consideration and serious assessment, for the reasons below -
* It is highly beneficial for our state to develop its own sources of energy as much as possible.
* The development at Narrabri will bring significant benefit to the state and to the local area with employment as well as increased economic activity.
* The developers, Santos and APA, have good track records in the type of project proposed.

I believe the benefits such a project can bring to NSW are clear and you have the resources to assess them, against the risks - objectively, and to give them the hearing that they deserve. The window for such a project is not permanent; when a window is closed, that could be for a long time. The losers in that event are not only Santos and APA, but also this state and the local community.
Yours faithfully,
Joanne Wong

To NSW Department for Planning and the Environment.

My name is John Geary and I am a retired petroleum geologist with over 40 years experience in oil and gas exploration in Australia and Canada. In the early 1950s I also worked for two years as a hydrogeologist with the NSW Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission. I submit the following for your consideration in regard to your assessment of the Development Plan and EIS of the Narrabri Gas Project.

Of all the Australian States and Territories NSW is the least prospective for conventional oil and gas both onshore and offshore. However NSW along with Queensland has extensive coal seam gas resources. The latter State has developed these resources for export of LNG through three facilities at Gladstone. NSW along with Victoria and the NT have placed restrictions and moratoriums on the development of unconventional gas, with Victoria extending these bans to onshore drilling for conventional gas. Coal seam gas is regarded as unconventional gas. These restrictions are to a large extent based on political pressure from certain lobby groups particularly from the extreme environmental movement. The experience of other countries which have successfully developed unconventional gas is ignored. The US in particular has gone from a large importer of natural gas to a potential exporter of LNG and has provided that country with the cheapest energy in the developed world giving its industries a huge competitive advantage.

Eastern Australia on the other hand is facing a critical shortage of gas and the potential closure of some of its industry. The energy shortage has been brought about by a combination of factors including the closure of coal fired power stations, the restrictive policies of some governments on gas exploration and over reliance on renewable energy for base load power which resulted in the disastrous blackout of the entire State of South Australia. With some governments setting targets of up to 50% for renewable energy usage in the medium term and all governments subsidising renewables, there was little incentive for companies to develop gas for the local market. Instead they looked to the export market and entered into long term contracts with overseas buyers in order to justify the very expensive construction of gas processing, liquefaction and export facilities. Obviously any company with available gas would prefer as a first option to sell to the local market, as this would not involve the expense of building these facilities. There is an existing pipeline network supplying the major eastern States cities.

There have been various proposals to remedy the shortage of gas in eastern Australia. One is the construction of a pipeline connecting the processing facilities in the north west of WA to the eastern States pipeline network. This would take some years to complete and in view of the size of the market would result in very expensive delivered gas in order to make the pipeline an economic proposition. Another suggestion has been the tanker transport of LNG from the Pilbara to a receival facility on the eastern seaboard. This would probably be a cheaper option than the pipeline but again would involve construction time and an expensive end product. It may even prove cheaper to take some industry to the gas, ie from NSW to WA rather than gas to the industry. A third proposal from the Commonwealth Government is to force gas producing companies to prioritise supplying local needs rather than honouring long term contracts entered into with overseas buyers when export provided the only viable market. This would be unfair to the companies which are already under pressure as the contract prices for gas are now much lower than when the contracts were entered into. This is because export gas prices are linked to the price of oil which is much lower now than a few years ago. It would also have adverse consequences in regard to sovereign risk and would brand Australia with the reputation of being an unreliable supplier. The explosion of shale gas development in the US together with LNG development in other countries has created a temporary surplus of gas worldwide. This has created an anomalous position where spot prices for gas overseas are reportedly lower than prices being asked for renewal of existing contracts in eastern Australia or from new buyers.

The above situation is to a large degree the result of policy failure by various governments and should not have been allowed to occur. The Cooper Basin in north eastern South Australia and south western Queensland which is the principal onshore gas producing basin in Australia is connected by a pipeline network to the eastern capital cities. While there is a high drilling success rate individual discoveries tend to be on the smallish side. However the US Energy Information Association (EIA) has estimated unconventional gas resources in the basin to be 85 trillion cubic feet. Putting this into perspective it would represent about 60 years of supply at Australia's present rate of consumption.

Obviously exploitation of the Cooper Basin resources is the long term solution to the gas shortage in eastern Australia. However these will take time to develop and the crisis in eastern Australia is immediate. On the other hand the Narrabri Gas Project is ready to go and it is by far the most immediate solution to alleviating the existing gas crisis. All it requires is the NSW Government's go ahead, it has the capacity to supply almost 50% of the State's gas demand. This submission has focussed mainly on the wider picture of gas development in eastern Australia and the economics and politics involved, rather than on the specifics of Narrabri itself. Others, in particular the Operator Santos, an Australian company which is one of the pioneer companies of oil and gas exploration in this country, will have already adequately addressed these. Disposal of saline water produced to allow production, which is one of the principal environmental concerns in coal seam gas operations, has been addressed by collection in leak proof ponds and using the process of reverse osmosis to desalinate the water to the extent that it can be used for irrigation. Hydrogeologists have confirmed that no threat to existing aquifers exists.

When I first became involved in oil and gas exploration in Australia in the early 1960s there was no commercial hydrocarbon production anywhere in the country. The only gas available gas was coal gas. By the end of the decade the giant Bass Strait oil and gas fields, Barrow Island and other smaller but significant discoveries had been made in four States and the NT. Natural gas had been delivered by pipeline to Brisbane and Adelaide and deliveries to Melbourne, Sydney and Perth were imminent. This remarkable achievement was helped in no small measure by governments of the day who bent over backwards to assist and encourage the industry. This was wholeheartedly supported by the general community. Over the years I have watched with a degree of pride the progress of the industry from those early days to what it is today. However over recent years I have witnessed with some feeling of dismay the changing attitude of some sections of the community to the industry and how this attitude has been transmitted to governments. Restrictions, bans, moratoriums, green tape, red tape and in some cases outright hostility seem to be the order of the day. This in distinct contrast to the US where innovation and technology has been permitted to reign and where the industry has not only provided cheap and abundant energy from hydrocarbons for that country but has contributed to lowering the price of oil and gas worldwide.

In conclusion I urge the NSW Government, not only in its own but in the national interest, to ignore political pressure from some narrow sectional interests and fast track the development of the Narrabri Gas Project and to approve the pipeline needed to connect to the existing network.

Yours sincerely,
John Geary

Dear Department
My name is Katarina Kosten, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.
Yours sincerely
Katarina Kosten

Dear Sir/ Madam,

My name is Kris Waddington, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).

I would like to urge you to maintain an evidence based approach for assessing the NGP. The energy debate in Australia, and indeed globally, has been hijacked by groups with anti-fossil fuel agenda's. These groups are known to widely misrepresent the science associated with fossil fuel development and actively spread misinformation, causing unnecessary alarm amongst the general public. Spreading such misinformation serves to undermine the energy debate in Australia, leading to higher gas prices for consumers and has no net environmental benefit while impacting on the integrity of the scientific process.

Following a thorough review of onshore gas, the NSW Chief Scientist concluded that with proper regulation, onshore gas, including fracking, is safe. The findings of the chief scientist mirrors numerous independent enquiries regarding the environmental impact and safety of onshore gas in Australia and overseas.

Please assess the NGP on its merits, taking into account the impact on the local environment to ensure the risks are minimised and at an acceptable level. I believe this project has the potential to be an important source of gas to NSW and the east coast of Australia and will also provide substantial benefits to the local community.

Kind regards

Dear Department:
My name is Leticia Tolson, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.

Dear Department:
My name is Mark Browne, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
*A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
*In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
*Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
*The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a local Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
*The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
*Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
*The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
*Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
*The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
*The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
*The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
*The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
*There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
*The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
*The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
*The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
*The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.
Yours sincerely

Dear Department:
My name is Mark Burgoyne, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a local Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.
Yours sincerely
Mark Burgoyne

My name is ___Mary Reedman________________________, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).

Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a local Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.

Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.

The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.


As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.


Yours sincerely

Dear Department:
My name is Matt Barnes, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.
Yours sincerely

My name is Melance Nziza, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.
Yours sincerely
Melance Nziza

Dear Department:
My name is Melanie Fitzell, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.
Yours sincerely,
Melanie Fitzell

Dear Department:
My name is Mosen Abdolghafurian, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.
Yours sincerely
Mosen Abdolghafurian

Dear Department:
My name is Muhammad Mudasar Saqab, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW:
*A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
*In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
*Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
*The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
*The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
*Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
*The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
*Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
*The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
*The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
*The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
*The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
*There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
*The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
*The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
*The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
*The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.

Yours sincerely,

Muhammad Mudasar Saqab

Post-doctoral Research Fellow
iCRAG (Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences)
School of Earth Sciences, University College Dublin

Dear Department:

My name is Nick Josephs, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).

Moving from coal energy to completely clean and green energy is the most important part in the fight against climate change or in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Gas as a transition energy is perfect. Please take this following letter seriously.

Importance of gas in NSW.

A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.

Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.

The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
The EIS concluded:
Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.

Yours sincerely

Dear Department:
My name is Paul Renouf, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.
Yours sincerely
Paul Renouf

My name is Peter Sippe and I have over 40 years experience in the resources industry both as a geologist and more recently negotiating land access for CSG activities.
While some specific points follow I believe the Department should pay particular attention to the scientific basis of any claims, both for and against the project, so the project is not overly judged on emotive grounds but rather on a technical basis.

I also submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.
Regards,
Peter Sippe

To whom it may concern,

My name is Peter Stanmore and I have worked in the petroleum industry for some 40 years, part of which was related to the discovery and early development of both conventional and coal seam gas resources in this state and other regions of Australia. I fully and unequivocally support the Development Plan for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) in its objective of helping to provide the energy necessary to maintain supply for both residential and industry consumption in NSW. And as a resident of NSW, and a Taxpayer, please find below for your consideration an outline of why I support this project.

As the Prime Minister of Australia has recently highlighted, there is a national imperative for more natural gas development and the current shortage in the eastern states has come about directly from the failure of successive state governments to act proactively on behalf of their constituents by providing a uniform regulatory regime that both encourages and supports development proposals such as the NGP. These failures include project proposals in the Clarence-Moreton and Gloucester basins of NSW and the onshore Gippsland basin in Victoria. NSW now has an opportunity to reverse this dangerous precedent, but does it have the common sense and determination to reject the false and misleading claims of a vocal minority who want to rob the state of this vital resource at a time of need?

Consumption of gas in NSW has, and continues to be, a necessary component of the energy mix and, as highlighted by numerous governmental and industry reviews over a period of years, it is a vital component of the transition to a lower carbon emission future. In this context, the approval of the development of a local source of gas to supplement the current 95% of gas that is imported from interstate appears to be an economic imperative - simply a `no-brainer'. Further, as a resident of regional NSW, I have witnessed the apparently hopeless condition of many in the country and believe there is a social and economic imperative to improve the well-being of areas like Narrabri that suffer from high unemployment and substance abuse issues. Projects such as this, while not a panacea, can provide a positive stimulus to the local economy outside of the traditional agricultural base and the NGP has the potential to raise standard of living and provide hope for a better life. With some sadly lacking vison, it could also generate new industries if entrepreneurs with the foresight to utilise this natural resource were given encouragement to invest and innovate.

The tax-payer funded scientific inquiry in 2014 headed by NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Mary O'Kane , which I had a small involvement in as a representative of industry, provided a green light for responsible developments such as the NGP and the recommendations that were consequently implemented by the present state government provided a somewhat onerous framework for developing gas resources in the state. In my experience this is already a highly regulated industry in Australia, much more so than any other extractive industries, and the potential threats to water, air quality and environment footprint were already fully appreciated and regulated. Mitigating these is seen as a normal and expected part of projects like the NPG. Companies like Santos Ltd have been involved in similar projects elsewhere in Australia and although the ever-increasing cost of compliance, amongst other things, has driven up the price of gas, this Australian company has a strong track record of safe gas production to NSW for over 40 years.

I look forward to re-emergence of projects that promote indigenous gas supplies to NSW and encourage the Department to show leadership in this mater by approving this project whole heartedly. The time is short and the need for this project to be approved is clear and immediate. Further, it should represent the catalyst for other projects to be restarted in other prospective areas of the state. It is incomprehensible that the NSW government persist in sitting on its hands to appease a delusional minority of ideologically driven fools who persist in repeating long disproved lies and falsehoods ad nauseam.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Stanmore
Senior Geologist

Dear Department:
My name is Roderick Lovibond, and I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).
Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a regional Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.
Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.
The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Known Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.
As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.
Yours sincerely
Roderick Lovibond
Consultant Geophysicist

Dear Department:

My name is Dr Simon Brealey, and I am a geologist with 30 years of industry experience, who desperately wants to see humanity reduce its carbon emissions, and recognises that even should there be massive private investment in currently uneconomic renewables there will inevitably be a transitional period to a fully renewable future. I believe that we must stop burning coal as a matter of urgency and therefore I submit the following for your review and assessment of the Development Plan and EIS for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).

Importance of gas in NSW.
* A reliable and affordable gas supply is critical to our way of life, as evidenced by the gas supply crisis we are now experiencing on the East Coast of Australia.
* In NSW more than 1 million homes 33,000 businesses and the jobs of more than 300,000 workers rely on an affordable and secure supply of natural gas. Yet NSW imports 95% of its gas supply from interstate.
* Industry groups and the Federal Government have been calling for new gas projects to support jobs, manufacturing and large scale production - The Narrabri Gas Project can deliver just that.
* The NGP could supply up to 50% NSW gas demand and deliver significant benefits to the local community and the state, including up to $120 million for a local Community Fund, and up to $1.2 billion in royalties for the State.
* The Project will also create up to 1300 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing positions.
* Natural gas has a vital role to play in delivering energy security, whilst having the additional benefit of being 50% cleaner than coal resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
* The development of new natural gas resources is crucial in increasing the gas supply to the East Coast and assisting Australia's move towards a clean energy future.

Narrabri is an ideal place for a gas project and Santos has the depth of experience to develop it.
* Santos is an Australian company with a 60 year history of operating safely and sustainably, as evidenced by its exploration and production activities in the Cooper Basin, where local beef stations have achieved and retain organic certification for their beef, which demonstrates the agricultural and the gas industry can mutually coexist.
* The majority of the project area is in a section of the Pilliga which, after a thorough ecological review has been set aside by the NSW Government for logging and extractive industries.
* The Project area does not include National Parks or Nature Reserves.
* The Project area does not contain strategic agriculture land as mapped by the NSW Government. Santos has stated it will only drill on private land with landholder agreement.
* The local geology ensures that there is no requirement to use hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) in the NGP, and Santos has stated it does not require the use of fracking to meet its delivery target projections for gas supply.
* There is quite a strong local base for the NGP, and there are many employment and social benefits which could accrue to the local Community.

The EIS has concluded the Narrabri Gas Project can be developed safely with minimal and manageable risk to the environment.
* The EIS is a very comprehensive document that includes extensive studies and modelling on the environment in the Project area, including studies on water, flora, fauna, soil, noise, air quality and cultural heritage.
* The Proponent has drawn upon more than 13,000 hours of on ground environmental surveys, carried out by environmental scientists who are experts in their fields, and the information in the EIS will be the basis to prepare detailed management and mitigation plans for the Project.
* The EIS demonstrates an environmentally sensitive plan which will allow the NGP to proceed delivering much needed natural gas for the NSW market safely.
* The EIS concluded:
o Water available to farmers and the community will be unaffected
o Drilling will be carried out safely using the NSW Well Integrity Code of Practice which has been reviewed by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
o Significant impacts on threatened and endangered flora and fauna will be avoided
o Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be protected
o The Project will coexist with current land uses including agriculture and forestry.


As such, I support the development of the NGP, providing it complies with the respective laws and planning and environmental regulations which apply within the State of NSW and Australia.


Yours sincerely

Simon