Narrabri Gas

I have for the last few years arrived at a place where I see the largest criminal organisation in Australia is government. Short term decisions to benefit a few regardless of personal or environmental cost.
The only value is money for us now. Us being the select few.
I hope you souless vandals spend many lifetimes paying the price in the future.

Despite claims by the proponents, experience here and in the US shows that there are serious environmental impacts through less than optimal management.

More serious are the longer term implications, particularly of storage of wastes, salts mainly. In the US these have been leakages at high rates, at many locations causing local degradation and other problems, including affecting the water table. But of course you only find our about that from people directly affected. This environmental issue is not, of course, economically rational and thus easily put aside or undervalued in any economic assessment.

After gas extraction has finished, who is there to manage the stored wastes? The dams or tanks deteriorate in time and need constant attention. This aspect has received very little public attention, yet it is critical in the overall economics.

Despite assurances to the contrary if things get tough the companies simply go out of business, or walk away and leave it to the state (or no-one) to manage the left-overs. And who is to pay for that management? Us, the tax payers? [The coal miners are no better in this regard - just take a drive up the Hunter Valley and see the incredible whole-scale changes to the landscape being wrought there - and there is little in the way of money set aside for rectifying even some of it - why should the CSG industry be any different?]

Fundamentally the whole energy business is not well considered. We export very large amounts of natural gas. And now there is talk of buying some of that back. Why not use more of our own natural gas? We are the worlds largest natural gas exporter yet very little is used here. Does that make sense?

Mining gas is a step in the wrong direction. We are in a climate emergency. The only rational course of action is rapidly to transform the economy away from fossil fuels. No matter what the cost in the short term, it is cheaper than carrying on with fossil fuels. If we were able to make the transition in the next 24 hours the resulting climate change would still be very difficult for our children to manage. If we go in the wrong direction, for example by mining gas, the result will be catastrophic for them. I have two children and four grandsons and I care.

Pilliga state forest NSW coal seem gas mining and in any other place within Australia by any corporation should be banned due to many environmental issues and impacts.

As the Representatives of the Australian people the Government is responsible for protecting the people and therefore the land we live from for healthy water and food supplies.

I object to coal seem gas within our land.

1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer
The Narrabri gasfield poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. In a worst-case scenario, the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas--potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin.¹

Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River--a part of the Murray Darling Basin. This system is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.
- See more at: https://www.wilderness.org.au/final-push-pilliga?utm_source=phplist&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FEB_17_wildnews-%5Bmessageid%5D&utm_content=story1#sthash.bqNahlzO.dpuf

I have visited the Pilliga on many occasions and am impressed by the beauty of the area as well as it being the catchment area for the Great Artesian Basin, which is so vital to life in Australia. To preserve this are is vital to the fauna and flora.

Each well site clears a large area of native forest and this will not regenerate in the 20 years which has been estimated that the gas drilling will continue. This land that is cleared for exploration purposes will be contaminated by weeds and will never support the flora and fauna which rely on the native vegetation.

Gas exploration is unnecessary and there are better ways to create power. I am sure that others, more knowledgable than I am, will fill in the details of renewable energy. I would like to point out that fracking is totally unsuitable for Australian conditions due to the water ways that lie between the surface and the gas containing rocks.

I trust that the submissions will be seriously considered before any decision is reached. I am protesting on behalf of my grandchildren and future generations as I trust that they will have the same opportunities to enjoy the Pilliga as I have had.

Yours faithfully

1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer
The Narrabri gasfield poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. In a worst-case scenario, the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas--potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin.¹

Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River--a part of the Murray Darling Basin. This system is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.

2. The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed
There are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay to the forest and to the groundwater beneath. Gamilaraay people are deeply involved in the battle against CSG, and have told Santos they do not want their country sacrificed for a coal seam gas field.

3. Farmers and other local community reject the project
Extensive community surveys have shown an average of 96% opposition to CSG. This stretches across a massive 3.2 million hectares of country surrounding the Pilliga forest, including 99 communities. Hundreds of farmers have participated in protest actions unlike any previously seen in the region.

4. The Narrabri Gas Project has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG water--Santos cannot be trusted to manage the project safely
Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium². In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads. Santos cannot be trusted.

5. The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife
The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots' and is vital to the survival of threatened species like the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat. The forest is home to over 200 bird species and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area². The Santos gasfield would fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelines--damaging vital habitat and threatening the survival of endangered species.

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

7. Human health is compromised by coal seam gas
A range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air from coal seam gas operations, including flaring of gas wells. The effects of volatile organic compounds vary, but can cause eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination⁴. These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gasfields in Queensland, Sydney and in America.

8. The nation's premier optical astronomical observatory is at risk
The Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungles and adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution⁵. The area has been internationally recognised as a `dark sky park'⁶ and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of the facility.

9. Thousands of tonnes of salt waste will result from the project
Santos has no solution for disposing of the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt that will be produced. Between 17,000 and 42,000 tonnes of salt waste would be produced each year. This industry would leave a toxic legacy in NSW.

10. Risk of fires would increase throughout the Pilliga's tinder-box conditions
Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is prone to severe bushfires. The project would increase ignition sources as well as extracting, transporting and storing a highly flammable gas right within this extremely fire-prone forest.

The Narrabri gasfield poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. In a worst-case scenario, the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin. Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River a part of the Murray Darling Basin. This system is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.

Also There are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay to the forest and to the groundwater beneath. Gamilaraay people are deeply involved in the battle against CSG, and have told Santos they do not want their country sacrificed for a coal seam gas field.

Extensive community surveys have shown an average of 96% opposition to CSG. This stretches across a massive 3.2 million hectares of country surrounding the Pilliga forest, including 99 communities. Hundreds of farmers have participated in protest actions unlike any previously seen in the region.

Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium². In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads. Santos cannot be trusted.
The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots' and is vital to the survival of threatened species like the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat. The forest is home to over 200 bird species and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area. The Santos gas field would fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelines damaging vital habitat and threatening the survival of endangered species. Santos has no solution for disposing of the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt that will be produced. Between 17,000 and 42,000 tonnes of salt waste would be produced each year. This industry would leave a toxic legacy in NSW.

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

A range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air from coal seam gas operations, including flaring of gas wells. The effects of volatile organic compounds vary, but can cause eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination. These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gas fields in Queensland, Sydney and in America.

The Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungles and adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution⁵. The area has been internationally recognised as a `dark sky park' and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of the facility.

Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is prone to severe bushfires. The project would increase ignition sources as well as extracting, transporting and storing a highly flammable gas right within this extremely fire-prone forest.

If you look at what has happened in every fracked area in the world you will see that it has devastating effects on the health of the people and the health of the environment including water which is becoming scarce as the planet heats up.
We need to protect our planet for the future generations!

The proposal is not in accordance with sustainability and preservation and protection of the natural environment.

The scale of the proposal would do irreparable damage to the environment.

We implore the government to stop this madness.

Coal seam gas extraction is an unnecessary and environmentally toxic process. The future is in renewable energy, not fossil fuels with a finite life that causes poisoning to the soil and substrate.

Is this a JOKE, coal seam gas has been BANNED in many other countries now. So why are you even considering allowing it in Australia let alone in the area ???????

1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer
The Narrabri gasfield poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. In a worst-case scenario, the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas--potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin.¹

Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River--a part of the Murray Darling Basin. This system is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.

2. The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed
There are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay to the forest and to the groundwater beneath. Gamilaraay people are deeply involved in the battle against CSG, and have told Santos they do not want their country sacrificed for a coal seam gas field.

3. Farmers and other local community reject the project
Extensive community surveys have shown an average of 96% opposition to CSG. This stretches across a massive 3.2 million hectares of country surrounding the Pilliga forest, including 99 communities. Hundreds of farmers have participated in protest actions unlike any previously seen in the region.

4. The Narrabri Gas Project has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG water--Santos cannot be trusted to manage the project safely
Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium². In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads. Santos cannot be trusted.

5. The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife
The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots' and is vital to the survival of threatened species like the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat. The forest is home to over 200 bird species and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area². The Santos gasfield would fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelines--damaging vital habitat and threatening the survival of endangered species.

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

7. Human health is compromised by coal seam gas
A range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air from coal seam gas operations, including flaring of gas wells. The effects of volatile organic compounds vary, but can cause eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination⁴. These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gasfields in Queensland, Sydney and in America.

8. The nation's premier optical astronomical observatory is at risk
The Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungles and adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution⁵. The area has been internationally recognised as a `dark sky park'⁶ and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of the facility.

9. Thousands of tonnes of salt waste will result from the project
Santos has no solution for disposing of the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt that will be produced. Between 17,000 and 42,000 tonnes of salt waste would be produced each year. This industry would leave a toxic legacy in NSW.

10. Risk of fires would increase throughout the Pilliga's tinder-box conditions
Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is prone to severe bushfires. The project would increase ignition sources as well as extracting, transporting and storing a highly flammable gas right within this extremely fire-prone forest.

The Narrabri Gas Project has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG water, already contaminating a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium, lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines. There have also been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and wellheads. Santos cannot be trusted.

The Narrabri gas field poses a real risk to the Great Artesian Basin (almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest) and the Murray-Darling Basin. Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River--a part of the Murray Darling Basin, leave the system vulnerable to contamination, affecting adjacent regions.

Human health is compromised by coal seam gas. The effects of volatile organic compounds vary, but can cause eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination. These impacts have been documented in populations nearby to existing gas fields in Queensland, Sydney and USA.

The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed and are involved in the battle against CSG, and have told Santos they do not want their country sacrificed for a coal seam gas field. The many cultural sites and Gamilaraay folklore deeply connect this people to the forest and its groundwater.

Farmers and other local communities surrounding the Pilliga forest, (96% opposition) reject the project and are actively protesting as never seen before in the region.

The Pilliga is one of 15 national `biodiversity hotspots', vital to the survival of threatened species like the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat. The forest, also home to over 200 bird species is an international "Important Bird Area." The Santos gas field would damage vital habitat of endangered species.

CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas. Risk of fires would increase throughout the Pilliga's tinderbox conditions. Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The project would increase ignition sources, extracting, transporting and storing highly flammable gas right within this extremely fire-prone forest.

The Siding Springs Observatory, the nation's premier optical astronomical observatory is at risk. Situated in the Warrumbungles and adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution. The area has been internationally recognised as a `dark sky park' and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of the facility.

Thousands of tonnes of salt waste will result from the project and Santos has no solution for disposing of it. Between 17,000 and 42,000 tonnes of salt waste would be produced each year. This industry would leave a toxic legacy in NSW.

I oppose any CSG development in the Pillaga.

The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer. The threat this project poses to The Great Artesian Basin and The Murray Darling Basin are real and taking the increased risk of water shortages caused by climate change, this project should not be approved. Water security is going to be a huge factor for future generations and allowing a private company to negatively impact two of the largest sources for profit is unconscionable.
The risk to wildlife should also be taken into account. This area is a refuge for many endangered species. South East Queensland is seeing the demise of the iconic Koala. NSW faces the loss of this beautiful animal if it allows this project to proceed.

MINISTER

We CANNOT eat or drink or breathe the products of Monsanto... and nor would we ever wish to. A toxic business making and selling poisonous products and killing entire eco-niches and entire groups of species. This is a company that is globally loathed because it has despoiled everything it touches, everywhere it operates. We need the Pillaga; we do NOT need a single damn thing that Monsanto has to offer. We do NOT need the tiny handful of jobs on offer... we can get many many more with renewables, farming, and tourism.... ALL of which Monsanto and its fellow travelers would despoil, traduce, wreck and sell off by the teaspoonful to the highest bidder. My granddaughters can breathe now.... but for how much longer? Kick Monsanto out and keep them out.

This absolutely ridiculous proposal needs to be stopped before it even starts. This area is so environmentally rich and diverse. Madness to do any type of mining in this or any area when we should be turning to green energies.

Please do not allow Santos to drill in the Great Artesian Basin, thus endangering the habitat of wildlife and the quality of water supplies.

No more mining at all in valuable environments like the Pilgra.
We have a responsibility, not only to Australia, but worldwide, to ensure that we leave the generations that follow us, a safe and healthy and sustainable future climate.
Already huge damage has been caused by greedy multinational companies here and in other parts of the world, because profit is the aim and the higher the better, with little regard at what devastating cost to the environment, so ultimately all living things that depend on this are valued so low that is becomes unsustainable - unacceptable to be continued.
Our family urges the Australian decision makers to wake up!
Show us that you take the scientific research data and ongoing knowledge gained seriously and showing respect for the devastating consequences.Accept that you need to stop this careless operations. You know very well that many multinationals operate by making profits without having to be responsible for the devastating consequences, because they are allowed to get away with it and not expected to lower their expectations of duty of care to the environment. They don't have that long term welfare tread woven into the material of their future vision and business plan. Just Profit - profit and more profit - at any cost : if they can get away with it!
We expect our politicians to show real leadership and show us that thy are capable of being world models to ensure that rather than lining the pockets of a few super rich individuals they have the courage to stop the destruction now happening in the Pilga region, because we need a healthy sustainable environment more than anything else for our survival now and for times to come.

If this is allowed to become operational, it will have dangerous effects on our environment. In the not too distant future when either the gas supply has come to an end OR a more sustainable energy is available, we will be left with permanent damage to our environment ,severe land contamination and scaring. Shame on the government for allowing this to take place.