Narrabri Gas

The Pillliga Forest is the largest remaining remnant the original woodland and Santos' plan to sink hundreds of CSG wells will have a devastating effect on the viability and character of the forest.
The Pilliga will be degraded and the natural environment destroyed by this widespread industrialised extraction, even without the risks introduced of accidents.
The risks of CSG are simply unacceptable. Santos already has a history of unreported and reported pollution of the Pilliga. They are not to be trusted and do not behave ethically.
This is the major catchment area for the Great Artesian Basin. Increasing the risks of contamination to this ancient water supply, so crucial to much of Australia is not acceptable at any level, and even less at the massive likelihood of pollution that comes with CSG drilling and Santos' history as a repeated polluter.
And what would be the advantage to Australia's interests and the Australian people? Nothing. Santos' focus is on exporting gas. They want to recoup the massive debts they have accrued from building export pipelines. None of this gas will go to Australian consumers and supply the Australian market. This is an Australian natural resource being hijacked and sold offshore for the proposed short-term benefit of Santos shareholders.
The risks are too great and the 'advantages' are non-existent. For the sake of the integrity of the Pilliga forest, the pristine 'jurassic' waters of the Great Artesian Basin and the children who may never grow up seeing the natural Australian bush, please say 'no' to CSG.

There us no future in any type of fossil fuel, this government needs to get its head out of the dark ages and look forward into the future. The future is renewable sources of energy that are sustainable. Once you touch a pristine ecosystem it is never the same again there is no quick fix it takes generstions. And how do you explain to future generations knowing what you are attempting to approve is for the better of us all?? It is not! No benefit to the environment, ecosystems surrounding the site and future generations all suffer from coporate greed. Shame on you all this planet is not your to sell! Hopefully you will look deep into the eyes of your children and grandchildren and realize you cant breathe money. This government is the worst in all western culture and my disappointment is endless.

I could go into specific arguments and points as to why this is a horrible idea, but it all comes down to the same base reason.

I don't agree with destroying our planet for profit.

I Vote NO to ANY drilling of gas wells in the Pilliga Forest

We dont want this environmental damage and poisoned water

We only have one natural environment lets not stuff it up, our focus should be renewable energy, which is inexhaustible and clean.

You all should watch the documentary Gas Lands, if you did you would not consider such a proposal in a water basin area. Gas Seem project are very polluting.

Please stop coal seam gas in the Piliga.

ONCE INTERFERED WITH, THESE MINED AREAS WILL NEVER BE RETURNED TO THEIR NATURAL CONDITION. AND DO WE KNOW WHAT EFFECT COAL SEAM PRODUCTION WILL HAVE ON THE ARTESIAN BASIN?

WE OWE IT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS NOT TO RAVISH THE WORLD FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT. THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO THIS POWER SOURCE WHICH MUST BE EXPLORED FIRST.

I AM TIRED OF ORGANISATIONS OUT TO MAKE MONEY FOR THEMSELVES NOW WITH NO REGARD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

PLEASE DISALLOW THIS EXPLORATION AND HELP PRESERVE OUR NATURAL WORLD FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PLANET.

I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND I DESPAIR OF THE LEGACY WE ARE LEAVING.

I am totally against this proposal by Santos. This land needs to be left alone and not poisoned for profit. The people of the Pilliga have not been asked and do not want these coal seam gas wells.

Please do not pollute our artesian well water - it will be polluted for ever

Keep the area free of gas

The Murray Darling Basin aquifer is critical to Australian ecosystems and society no simple company assurances of security of this resource is worth the possible loss. A miscalculation or mistake that contaminates the aquifer may not be detected for years or even decades and cannot be truely compensated for. No short term cheap electricity or energy source or short term jobs are worth the potential cost to water security.

There are so many scientific reasons the Pilaga Scrub should be saved, but really it is about the Great Australian Continent and how much has been stuffed.

The Pilaga is remnant bushland of a variety that has been miraculously preserved into the present time.

Please think of the future and save some remnant of what our land was like before the great rape and pillage of colonisalism....my god, we are still in that period! Let the Pilaga be an example of what Australia should be: a careful and caring Great Southern Land.

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.

As well as this, 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 gasfields in Queensland, Sydney and in America.

Secondly, the Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed to the project. 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.

Thirdly, 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.

This is just ridiculous. Fracking in one of the best places in Australia, which is home to so much native wildlife and is a source of food to so many, is utterly ridiculous. In a country where the sun belts down 90% of the time, and where areas like the Pilliga are becoming few and far between, why do you want to destroy it in favour of old, archaic 'energy mining' such as coal seam gas exploration?? Solar and renewables are the obvious choice - not something that will poison the water you drink, or the food you eat. Australia, you need to wake up and stop destroying not only your own back yard, but the rest of the world with it. A 5 year old could see this is a ridiculous idea - why can't you??

Australia ratified the Paris Climate Change agreement, and is supposed to take strong domestic and international on climate change, to hold average temperature increase to below 2 degrees celcius. However, Australia's green house gas emissions continue to rise, and we're not on track to meet the 2030 target of reducing emissions to 26-28% of 2005 levels. To have a realistic chance at achieving this, we have to start investing in renewables rather an fossil fuel projects be it coal or gas.

Santos wants to put in 850 coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga forest. The emissions along would be an issue, but worse still, the proposed project is located in the largest intact woodland in eastern Australia, stretching across half a million hectares in north-western New South Wales. It is home to 25 nationally listed and 48 state-listed threatened species, many of which will be adversely affected by habitat encroachment, degradation or loss. It makes a mockery of protected areas, when profit driven companies can deprive it of its ecological value for profit. Australia has lost much of its mammal species, and continued habitat destruction or alteration will only exacerbate this process, necessitating in greater requirement for conservation funding. It is impossible to offset like-for-like habitat that will be immediately useful to the fauna and flora that will be impacted. Natural heritage seems to have no meaning to corporations. The decline of flora and fauna that necessitates government funding for their preservation or recovery will ultimately be paid by taxpayers, not corporations.

Furthermore, the sandstone under the Pilliga is a vital recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin, and creeks that flow through the Pilliga provide clean water into the Murray Darling Basin. These water sources are the lifeblood of farming communities throughout the southeast and inland Australia. I can't understand why we would allow a company to take risks with our water, and damage the environment and destroy habitat for plants and wildlife, for a project that will ultimately accelerate climate change.

I urge you to reject Santo's proposal to put coal seam gas wells in the Pillga. For the community in the vicinity, for the environment, water and for the good of future generations.

The Pilliga, like all places of natural beauty are precious. We've lost so many of them due to the greed of a few. Please do not let Santos, or anyone, wreak havock to one such place - the Pilliga. Do not allow them to put in CSG wells. CSG is a short term thing, fraught with danger to the environment, and it will, as it always does, devistate the immediate area around he wells, poisions ground water, and leaks gas. All for one company to make a few dollars. The environment must be thought of first. We don't need the gas. Fossile fuels are fast being replaced by electric power, and the source of energy making the electric energy is fast becoming greener and greener by using renewable energy sources (Wind, solar, Hydra, and other very inovative sources).

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.


¹SoilFutures Consulting 2014, Great Artesian Basin Recharge Systems and Extent of Petroleum and Gas Leases. http://www.gabpg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/GAB-Report1.pdf
²http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-coal-seam-gas-project-contaminates-aquifer-20140307-34csb.html
³BirdLife International (2017) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pilliga http://www.birdlife.org
⁴Marion Carey Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), Air pollution from coal seam gas may put public health at risk The Conversation, November 20, 2012
⁵https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/21/siding-spring-observatory-threat-coal-seam-gas-light-pollution
⁶http://darksky.org/first-dark-sky-park-in-australia-designated/

Please listen to your people. If this goes ahead the devastating effects will kill (literally) kill a community.

There are a numver of proven facts that the following will occur:

These are just a few!

- water resources will be CONTAMINATED
- local peoples health will be affected
- songlines will be lost
- wildlife species will be threatened and habbitats lost

Santis cannot be trusted with the toxic spills that have already happened. ARSENIC, LEAD AND ALUMININUM LEAKS

I ask you, will you be moving into the area and raising children with this gong on????

I think not.

WE the people do NOT approve of this project. Go back and find a CLEAN way.

NOW is the time to act with integrity and preserve the beautiful land we are privileged to live with.

Kind regards