Narrabri Gas

I am strongly opposed to the Narrabri Gasfields. Please read my attached submission.

My submission is attached.

as attached

Please find attached my objection to the Narrabri Gas Project.

Submission in response to Santos' Narrabri Gas Project EIS

Attn: Executive Director, Resource Assessments Department of Planning and Environment GPO Box 39 Sydney NSW 2001

May 16, 2017

I am against the Santos' Narrabri Gas Project.

CSG fracking has NO social licence! The people don't want it! It's high time the "government" stopped pandering to big business and started acting in the public and civic interest! We want basic HUMAN RIGHTS to clean air, land and water.

A summary of my main concerns include: the dangers of fracking, concerns over the contamination of the Great Artesian Basin, unacceptable levels of water usage and produced waste products, destruction of life and habitat, negative impact on property values, unacceptable light pollution around the Siding Springs Observatory, light pollution affecting Indigenous peoples' astronomy and creation stories, destruction of Indigenous heritage listed sites, a lack of separation of powers between the State and corporations, approval of large scale water-use and waste producing projects without an environmental impact statement or community consultation, inability to maintain a safe working site, high fire risk of gas flares and leaks, and negative health impacts of mining.

My main areas of concern regarding unconventional gas mining and mining are as follows:

* the dangers of fracking are well documented. Many of the chemicals used in the fracking process are highly toxic and cause long-term damage to our sensitive environment systems. The process of fracking also is inherently dangerous, allowing trapped gases to escape and force their way to the surface through fissures. SEE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing, and http://www.healthline.com/health-news/fracking-fluid-contains-highly-toxicchemicals-081314, and https://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101#.V sGD7bR97VQ, and http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/5-facts-toknow-about-the-california-methane-leak/, and http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-14/condamine-river-mysteriousbubbling-intensifying-landholders-say/7139676. The concept that Australia is supposedly following "world's best practice" for CSG mining is a fiction that cannot be substantiated.

* contamination of the recharging Great Artesian Basin aquifers and contamination of surface and ground water systems. This is of major concern. There are several recent and current court cases concerning water quality and water issues against this insidious industry: People for the Plains v Santos and Others; & Mullaley Gas, and Pipeline Accord Inc v Santos; & Watts v Department of Planning and Environment; & People for the Plains v Santos and Others. Ongoing court cases concerning water quality continue, with the citizenry sadly forced to fight against either corporations or the State for the basic right of clean water. SEE: http://www.edonsw.org.au/current_cases, and http://theconversation.com/groundwater-the-natural-wonder-thatneeds-protecting-from-coal-seam-gas-41978. Any work on any CSG sites currently before the courts should cease until there is a legal resolve. No CSG production should be allowed. Water is life. Once contaminated it can never be healed. The Great Artesian Basin covers an extremely vast area, SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Artesian_Basin.

* unacceptable levels of water usage and produced waste products will This 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 that needs to be disposed of. Using waste water for irrigation or spraying produced water on public roads is not acceptable. SEE: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-csgwastewater-to-top-1-million-litres-a-day--with-nowhere-to-go-201503271m91rz.html, and http://www.lockthegate.org.au/revealed_epa_investigation_report_shows_extent_of_pilliga_contamination, and http://pilligapush.com/ian-suttonssubmission-in-response-to-santos-narrabri-gas-project-eis/, and http://www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/44081/O CSE-Final-Report-Stuart-Khan-Final-28-May-2014.pdf. The massive amount of water usage is completely unacceptable and inequitable, and the associated waste products such as toxic water and residual salts, further adds to the obvious negative impacts of this project. Spraying this contaminated water on roads or using it as irrigation is unacceptable.

* ongoing destruction of life and habitat for mining purposes indicates the clear need for more effective protection measures. For example, in the Pilliga there are 25 nationally-listed and 48 state-listed threatened flora and fauna species. As a civilised society, we cannot knowingly allow this environmental destruction to continue, when low-impact renewable energy sources are readily available. SEE: https://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/pilligaforest, and http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-15/coal-miner-toresume-clearing-of-northern-nsw-forest/7167834, and https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened, and http://www.environment.gov.au/cgibin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=fauna, and https://www.wilderness.org.au/articles/study-proves-pilliga-forest-noahsark-threatened-species, and https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parkmanagement/SMI/201 40213SMIPilligaNPandSCA.pdf, and http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/ClearingNativeVegKTPL isting.htm and http://www.edonsw.org.au/defending_the_pilliga_in_court. We need to effectively protect ALL our endangered and threatened species for the benefit of biodiversity, healthy ecosystems, and future generations. Stronger environmental protection measures need to be undertaken.

* There is a negative impact on property values near gas fields, ie plummeting land values. People's homes, land and livelihoods have been made worthless, with many trapped in mortgages, forced by financial circumstance to remain living in unacceptable gas field conditions. SEE: http://coalseamgasnews.org/news/world/australia/nsw/cant-sell-cantinsure-in-a-gasfield-auspol/, and ʽOpen for Business'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIEUfQlXGFc. There is a great deal of evidence of the negative impact on land valuations in gas field and boom-tobust mining regions of Australia. This wasteland creation of people's communities, homes and livelihoods is un-Australian, unfair and inequitable. Prime farmland, particularly, is at risk.

* Siding Springs Observatory already experiences excess light pollution from the one existing 5m high with a 3m flame height gas flare, which puts out as much light pollution as the whole township of Coonabarrabran. Santos has plans for the implementation of 850 gas wells with five 50m high 30m flame height gas flares. This will impact negatively on the Siding Springs Dark Skies recognition as Australia's first IDA-recognised Dark Sky Park. Santos should not be given ability to further extend CSG exploration or production. SEE: https://www.aao.gov.au/public/dark-skies, and http://rsaa.anu.edu.au/observatories/siding-spring-observatory This is a world-leading astronomy site, and light pollution caused by gas-flaring is unacceptable!

* Indigenous peoples' astronomy and creation stories will be negatively impacted by increased light pollution caused by gas flares, impeding the ability to see the Emu in the Sky, a constellation defined by dark nebula that enables tracking of seasonal changes. Any increased light pollution is thus an affront to our First Nations' cultural and spiritual rights and traditions. SEE: http://theconversation.com/darkness-is-disappearing-and-thats-bad-newsfor-astronomy-51989. This land is Aboriginal land; never ceded. We could learn a lot by listening to our First Nations peoples' and respecting their cultural and spiritual rights and traditions.

* Indigenous heritage-listed sites are still being actively destroyed by mining corporations, with the government deliberately de-listing Indigenous heritage sites in favour of short-sighted exploitative corporations. Indigenous peoples have a right to practice their spirituality, and heritage-listed sites are integral to their epistemologies. Indigenous heritage-listed sites must be effectively protected against destruction. SEE: http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/stories/s3274867.htm, and http://pateblog.nma.gov.au/2014/07/30/toxic-tales-from-the-pilliga/, and https://www.whitehavencoal.com.au/environment/docs/part-5-aboriginalheritage-assessment-b.pdf. This land is Aboriginal land; never ceded. We could learn a lot by listening to our First Nations peoples' and respecting their cultural and spiritual rights and traditions. The Gamilaraay peoples are fully opposed to this project.

* A lack of separation of powers between the State and vested corporate interests undermines the basic tenets of a representative democracy. Rather than citizens, we are now the victims of neo-liberal corporatism with no means of keeping powers in check, as government agencies are increasingly sponsored by corporations and vested interests. Australia's media oligopoly also have vested interests and no longer serve to function as `the fourth estate' where media should keep check on excesses of power as a service in the public interest. Our system of representative democracy is seriously undermined and flawed. SEE: http://www.abc.net.au/news/interactives/tables/aec-political-donationstable/, and http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-08/anti-csg-group-angryat-santos-logo-used-on-qld-police-cars/5953030, and http://periodicdisclosures.aec.gov.au/AnalysisDonor.aspx, and http://theaimn.com/democracy-diversity-media-ownership-australia/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentration_of_media_ownership. As a welleducated postmodern feminist, I find it extremely distressing that civil society has been foregone. Civic rights are being constantly undermined, our freedoms curtailed, our public services cut or sold off, and our dog-eat-dog form of Hobbesean economic-liberalism selfishly serves to widen the gap between rich and poor, corporate or civic interest. In our local government election, a poll of our region voted 87% against CSG, yet this closest voice to the people is ignored by the state and the nation State. Although my government continues to act contrary, I still hope for a clean energy future in a fair and equitable good Australia.

* Santos' Leewood Waste Water Treatment Plant was approved without an environmental impact statement or public consultation. The plant has a treatment capacity of 300 megalitres a day, when 500 megalitres a day of toxic waste liquid is expected at capacity, so it clearly cannot manage its waste effectively. Even the Environmental Protection Authority has warned the ponds would be full in three years. Santos' `pilot' so-called `exploration' project should require full EIS, as it is clearly intended for production capacity. Santos state: "As exploration and appraisal continues within PEL 238 and PAL 2, approval for installation of additional pilot wells and supporting infrastructure may be sought." (https://majorprojects.affinitylive.com/public/fbfc430e3d10795738c9778699 0438a0/Narrabri%20CSG%20Utilisation%20Project%20%20%20Mod%204%20-%20EA.pdf). SEE: http://www.edonsw.org.au/people_for_the_plains_v_santos_and_ors, and http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-21/narrabri-coal-seam-gas-projecthits-hurdle/6488504, and http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-planfor-csg-wastewater-cops-government-agency-flak-20150521-gh6fva.html. This is an outrage. Work should not be allowed to continue on Santos' projects that are clearly operating beyond `pilot' or `explorative' capacity, without following proper due procedures of Environmental Impact Statements.

* Maintaining a safe working site is essential, however exploitative corporations like Santos have already repeatedly demonstrated an inability to uphold safe practices. SEE: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/licensing/investigations.htm, and https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/epamedia/EPAMedia16010501.htm, and https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/epamedia/EPAMedia14021802.htm, and http://www.edonsw.org.au/defending_the_pilliga_in_court. It's simply not good enough that they be allowed to continuously neglect their duty of care.

* The fire risk caused by gas flares, venting and `accidental' gas leakage issues, particularly during bushfire season, on days of high fire danger, or during a Total Fire Ban when even the gas flares will still be actively burning, is both extreme and inequitable. SEE: https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/santoscsg-flaring-on-the-pilliga-makes-a-mockery-of-total-fire-ban,8468. As a former volunteer RFS firefighter, having served two separate stints firefighting in the Pilliga during Section 44s, I am well aware of the hazards and risks associated with fire in this region. Gas flares and potential gas leaks endangers both life and the environment.

* the evidence on the negative health impacts of the CSG and mining industries is prolific. SEE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvfzz7_nbqs, and http://ecowatch.com/2016/02/13/mark-ruffalo-fracking-not-safe/, and http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-12/coal-miner-disease-resurgence-inqueensland-senate-inquiry/7161694. This is unacceptable to our citizenry.

I object to this project and believe it should be rejected. I appeal to those in authority to take note of the seriousness of these issues and realise your ability to act in the public, not corporate, interest. We must consider the bigger picture, ie the wellbeing of our nation State, our environment, and our people. Citizenry morale is at an all-time low, and this is largely due to ineffective/bad leadership and poor exampling. We must ensure the tenets of civic rights are upheld and outweigh the richly squeaky voice of corporate swill. Remember, that in a liberal democracy, the voice of the populace MUST have greater weight than the jangly pockets of big bad polluting corporations who couldn't care less what, who or where they exploit for profit

Civic Rights NOT Corporate Wrongs

Yours in Sincerity,
Theresa Mason
Modanville 2480, NSW

My objection and comments are as per attachment 1.

Please find my submission attached (uploaded)

I am a small scale farmer in the Northern Rivers. I opposed Metgasco unconventional gas drilling in this region because I know that it is an unsafe industry, which threatens the environment - water, soil and air and all living things. Australia is the driest continent on earth, and if the Great Artesian Basin is polluted there is no chance of un-polluting it.
My submission is attached.

See attached

I object to the Narrabri Gas Project based on the amount of data that is available regarding the dangers of coal seam gas, and the illnesses that people suffer in the Queensland gas fields.

Please see attached

Please see attached

Please see attached

See attached

Find document attached!

Attn: Executive Director, Resource Assessments
Department of Planning and Environment
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

This is a submission to the Narrabri Gas Project Environmental Impact Statement.

My name is Anne O'Brien. I am a member of Parramatta Climate Action Network and am a PhD candidate. My research focused on how farmers and other land stewards are developing methods to care for soil biodiversity. Several innovative farmers producing high quality products while developing carbon and water-sensitive farming practices who I either interviewed or otherwise learned about in my research are located near the Narrabri Gas Project and would be affected by it.

The Pilliga Forest is located at the Eastern edge of the Great Artesian Basin, and is considered to be one of the most important areas for pressurising and recharging water in the entire underground basin. A report prepared by Soil Futures Consulting outlined its significance as follows:

Approximately 2.1% of the total area of the GAB provides than 5 - 30 mm/yr recharge to the basin, and only 0.2% of the GAB provides greater 30 - 80 mm/yr of recharge.... These very critical recharge areas are rare and widely separated. The main recharge area in NSW is in the East Pilliga Forest between Narrabri and Coonabarabran. (Soil Futures Consulting, 2015: 4).

Further to this, in 2012, the CSIRO prepared a map showing these limited zones of hydrological recharge in the Surat area of the Great Artesian Basin. This can be seen in the attachment.

The basin is a finite source of mostly ancient water upon which much of Australia's agriculture has become dependent. Coal Seam Gas extraction would also involve the depressurising of the coal seam which in turn requires extraction of water from the Basin. Considering how important the reliability of this water resource is to rural and remote communities, it would be irresponsible to compromise the availability of water in approving 800 gas wells.

Further to the Pilliga's important position as a recharge site, the ecological integrity of the Pilliga forest itself makes it extremely important. Clearing 1000 hectares would devastate the ironbark forest, which is very important for birdlife, other wildlife and for industries such as beekeeping. Coal Seam Gas production also brings the added hazards of BTEX and other toxic undisclosed chemicals could impact upon both surface waters and the waters of the Great Artesian Basin.

I urge the NSW Government to reject this project and make the Great Artesian Basin recharge off-limits to gas mining.

Regards


Anne O'Brien

References

Smerdon, B.D. and Davies, P.J., "Regional water budget," in Water resource assessment for the Surat region. Australian Government: CSIRO/ National Water Commission, 2012. https://publications.csiro.au/rpr/download?pid=csiro:EP132644&dsid=DS4

Soil Futures Consulting/ Robert Banks, "Great Artesian Basin Recharge Systems and Extent of Petroleum and Gas Leases," 2015: 4. Available at http://www.gabpg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/GAB-Report-Second-Edition_Final10032015.pdf

Please refer to the attached submission.

Please refer to the attached submission.

Submission in objection to the Narrabri Gas Project, see uploaded letter

Please refer to the attached submission.