Narrabri Gas

I believe this is raping the land and will cause significant environmental damage . Please don't damage our land anymore then we already have . We know about the repurcussions world wide from this type of destruction . I stand against this operation and all those similar that big corporations and those who don't care about the significant damage to our world as long as they get the big bucks . We are ruining our world . Please leave our native habitats alone .

It is ridiculous that a few people now have so much power to cause so much destruction against the expressed voices of the majority of locals residents and other Australians and Internationals. The land is sacred to wildlife and the aboriginal custodians. It is vital to maintain water in its purest form anywhere it exists on our planet. We must protect our precious irreplaceable assets. There are other ways to provide fuel/power to people. We must invest in our heritage. It is our responsibility to support to Nature not to greed! Hopefully our politicians will fight to be accountable for decisions/actions that heal not harm.

No NO NO this would be a disaster for this wonderful natural state Forrest...I have been here - this is virgin wonderful state Forrest...alive with beautiful birds and animals this area must be left as is....we need our forests to help with the pollution....no no no please do not let this go ahead....let me put them somewhere else....not in the beautiful Forrest.....The animals would not survive their invasion of this area....It would be a travesty... We would love to return to visit again one day and it would be all ruined by this mining....Please Please do not let it go ahead.

Nearly every week now we hear news about how much cheaper renewable energy is or new battery technologies coming on line.
We know know we can have a100% renewables grid using pumped hydro.
Coal is not only killing our planet it is so close to being a stranded asset (the price has already significantly dropped in the last 5 years) that there will soon be a lot of very unhappy coal barons.

There is no point starting such a farcical project especially when we know the chances of re-mediating any damage done, is vanishingly small -especially if the owner faces financial collapse as prices of coal continue to go south.

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.

I do not approve of new CSG wells being sunk in the Pillaga region, whether it be on State Forest land or farmland. Australia should be moving towards renewables, not even considering propping up the failing fossil fuels sector. Whilst CSG might be cleaner than coal, the risk in extracting it is too great a price to bear. Do not approve the new CSG project.

To the department of Planning and Environment,
I wish to lodge my objection to the proposed Narrabri Gas Project in principle and in all forms proposed in its EIS.
Irrespective of all risk mitigation methods proposed, it is proven science and is indeed proven in practice that CSG contaminates ground water and underground aquifers, contributes to habitat destruction and displaces land owners. I believe it is time, and indeed time is running out, for the Australian government to put the health of Australian people and the health of the environment before the profits of big business. Please shut down this project and do the right thing by the environment and the Australian people.... for once.
Regards, Richard.

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 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.

I do not want Santos or any other company developing coal seam gas in the Pilbara, or any part of Australia. This industry ruins our water resources, creates dust clouds and puts toxic chemicals into the air and water tables, destroys forests and farmland, devalues neighbouring properties and destroys communities.

I say NO to coal seam gas!!!

This country is not the most abundant in water, among other things. These gas wells are a tremendous source of pollution, so we are not only risking our own, current water sources, but causing lasting damage for future generations. I know the government cares little for future generations ( otherwise our financial systems wouldn't be geared to forwarding our debt to them ), but surely we'd like the to survive, wouldn't we ? Don't poiticians, regardless of intelligence or political bias, have children and grand-children ? Please stop this totally unnecessary madness. Now -and for good !

I am strongly against the exploration and development of coal seam gas in such ecologically important and fragile areas.

I object to the drilling for gas mining in the Pilliga. These action will change the future of our planet and a large natural water supply that should be left for the benefit of future generations, not to be used by mining companies for profit. The Pilliga is a natural wonder and should be cherrished and protected by our Government. Once our natural water supply is poisoned by gas leaking underground by fracking it cannot be returned to its natural state. Neighbouring properties and communities will be greatly affected by large organisations out to make money without giving back to the community and eventually leaving devastation in its wake. It's time to make a stand now for our children and our beautiful country. Don't sell us out!

The government is supposed to protect the health, wellbeing and future of the country they represent yet it is blatantly clear that this is not the purpose with these proposed coal wells. The Australian people admire and are proud of our landscape and it's inhabitants. We do not adhere to its destruction for the sake of some energy and due to our governments inability to keep up with the rest of the world and their transition to the ONLY clean energy there is... Renewables. So no, as part of the younger generation, I say no thanks to coal.

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.

Coal seam gas has been a disaster for other countries and both the local and wider community in Australia are saying NO NO NO.

It is disgraceful that the NSW government is considering CSG when it has been proven how damaging it is to water ways.

Once the damage is done there is no turning back. Don't sell out future generations!

Australia does not need this
We do not need to be handing over subsidies and taxpayers money to help the business.
We do not need to be paying for any future clean up - https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/feb/25/taxpayers-to-pay-for-oil-spill-clean-ups-under-petroleum-resource-rent-tax

Coal and coal seam gas are a dying commodity. We need to seek renewable energy supply rather than decimating our natural resources.

Narrabri and its surrounding areas should not be mined as it is a very precious part of Australia with some of the most ancient geological history, flora and fauna.

I strongly object to the proposal.

You can't eat or drink gas.
Get out of our artesian water basin and our food bowl area.

When is this Government going to start listening to the people they supposedly represent, who have clearly told them often and vigoursly that Australians DO NOT WANT coal seam gas drilling! I am so fed up with their arrogance. STOP POISONING MY COUNTRY! Your greed has cost people their livelihoods and even lives. Start putting the people and land FIRST for a change instead of money!

I have a great deal of respect for Santos as an explorer and I have an honours degree in geophysics from Adelaide, but i also hail from Inverell and i have ties to Narrabri and the Pilliga.

I also have ties to the family which cleared the majority of the Pilliga in the 1960s (LW Keft and Co of Inverell) and I know for a fact that the Pilliga land system is threatened with annihilation.

There should be no further incursions into the pathetically small remnant of vegetation which remains, and I oppose any plan to carve it up and to remove the3 last vestiges of a series of inter-related forests which once stretched from the Pilliga to the Brigalow to the savannah woodland which once stretched from Narrabri to the Gulf of Carpentaria.