Narrabri Gas

To Whom It May Concern,

I am a simple conservationist who lives in a coastal city region doing all I can in my small way to help mother nature survive. I actively involve myself in tree planting events in my local area whenever possible. I maintain my own small piece of Eden within this concrete jungle known as my community vege-patch. I am a groundskeeper by trade and always mulch, recycle food waste and perpetuate seed cultivation harvest. Anything to keep my homeland greener and lower its carbon footprint I practise with pride.

Should this project in the Pilliga be allowed to go ahead we are depriving ourselves of one of the most basic fundamental truths to our survival. No trees means no oxygen to breathe. The very survival of the human race itself comes down to us making sure there is sufficient plant life in all its forms spanning all mainland regions right across the globe.

Therefore it is our responsibility to do everything humanly possible to provide every opportunity for trees and plants alike to be allowed to survive and continue to provide us with the oxygen we need. For these reasons I ask you to consider the greater impact further culling of forestation will have on our planet and all its inhabitants and urge you ...

DO NOT ALLOW THIS MOTION TO GO FORWARD !!!!!!!

Thankyou.

It will extract over 35 billion litres of toxic 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, for which there is no safe disposal plan.
It will clear close to 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest, fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife.
It will cause significant diversion of water from a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin, which is a water resource relied upon by rural communities across western NSW.
It will lead to large deliberate and fugitive emissions of methane, adding to climate change.
It will cause more trauma to the regional Aboriginal community because the area of impact is crucially important to the spiritual, cultural and social life of Gamilaraay people.
It is not justified: Santos' own Coal Seam Gas export activities in Queensland have caused gas prices to rise and supply to become unpredictable. NSW should respond to this by investing in more reliable and ultimately cheaper renewable energy, not by letting Santos inflict more environmental, social and economic harm.
It will cause economic upheaval in Narrabri and put agricultural industries at risk, as well as causing light pollution that will ruin the dark night sky needed by the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory.
Coal Seam Gas is harmful to health. Neither the NSW Government nor Santos have investigated or dealt with the serious health effects of coal seam gas now appearing in peer-reviewed research in the United States.

I strongly object to the proposal to explore or mine in the Pilliga region. This is too valuable an area to take the risk of Coal Seam Gas exploration or mining, or any other potentially damaging activities either.

There is no good reason for this mining to go ahead, and many good reasons for it to be rejected.

Thank you.

ABSOLUTE NO ON ALL COAL SEAM GAS AND FOSSIL FUEL EXTRACTIONS IN AUSTRALIA! fossil fuels are a declining industry and a VERY bad investment all round. CSG and related industries PERMANENTLY damage land and water and these mining companies have no responsibility in any form of cleanup. The industry is corrupt, regulations are poor and poorly monitored, laws and compliance requirements are broken and WE THE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THIS TOXIC ENERGY EVER.

this video explains why this is a bad investment

https://www.facebook.com/GetUpAustralia/videos/10154129627031455/?pnref=story

NO FRACKING, NO MINING IN THE PILLIGA, NO MORE FOSSIL FUELS, NO GAS, THERE ARE FAR BETTER ALTERNATIVES.... this industry is being thrown out all over the world, australia needs to get with the program and WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND clean sustainable energy.

watch the movie FRACKMAN, it shows the corruption of the industry. this industry is killing people and wildlife and water sources. what don't you get about the thousands of people saying NO... your greed will kill us all! your are eco-terrorists

NO CSG ! NO FRACKING! clean green sustainable energy NOW

CSG results in a reduction of suitable agriculture land and risks clean water availability. So many projects are not regulated properly to ensure these risks are mitigated and resources for managing these risks are not available. Gas from these projects is used soley for the purpose of companies profiting without regard to environmental conservation. Infrastructure for this project will also impact local areas where the environment is already under pressure. CSG must be stopped to ensure the future of this country and its people. Food and clean water should be a priority not profits.

Please stop your insane plan to frack the Piliga. We need air & water to live not more money for a greedy few.

I object to the Narrabri Gas Project because it appears to be only profitable to Santos at the expense of the local communities and Australian tax payers.

1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious local 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, if the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas this will potentially stop the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin¹. So no more Great Artesian Basin.

Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River. This is a part of the Murray Darling Basin.This heavily irrigted system does not need anymore threats and the river system is heavily eroded by the irrigation process already. 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. Why should profits for the greedy destroy land?

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. Why should these tax-payers and voters be ignored for Santos profiteering?

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. This is why the local community is rotesting because of their knowledge of lack of safety.

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. Since Santos cannot be trusted, why let Santos do more damage for profit? Have they repaired the uranium problem that threatens so many communities? Santos created these and continues to do so?

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. Why put these species, recreation and tourism at risk?

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. It is the Australian communities who do and will suffer and tax-payers money used to supply healthcare to the affected while Santos makes and keeps its profits.

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. Will Santos fund the building of a new Observatory in a safe clean environment - if there will be any left in Australian after CSG mining?

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. Why is waste being left for NSW tax payers money to solve the problems? Appropriate and safe solutions to risk issues must be part of the mining package. Santos must clean up the toxic waste it produces for its profits. If funding the clean up reduces profits perhaps Santos will stop mining. A very welcome outcome.

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. Australia is bush fire prone why do we need more fire hazard risks?

Please stop the proposal and let the Narrabri and Pilliga areas continue to thrive.

As an Australian Citizen, I ask the NSW Government to stop the Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga Region.
Though it may seem the answer to the growth of our country, it will only lead to long term destruction of our natural resources.
I feel that there needs to be more education programs towards the long term best interests of not only our country, but also for our planet.
With the emissions from the gas wells being destructive to our ozone layer, the destruction of natural resources to put these wells in, it can only lead to...destruction of our long term best interests. I would like to think that the NSW and Australian Government's are interested in our long term best interests and not the destruction of it.

The fact the indigenous land owners object to the project is enough to render it inexcusable to continue.

The vast amount of environmental risks to the land and water system are extremely indicative of the project's incompatibility with the future of the planet that the vast majority of young people envision.

Although I am not from Australia, I am deeply concerned about protecting ecosystem diversity globally from destruction by blindly insane Forces of Greed that threaten all life on earth. Thus I ardently oppose any fossil fuel projects anywhere that will poison and pollute.

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 object to Santos' Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga

The reasons for my objection are numerous. The Pilliga is a refuge for threatened wildlife and the Gas Project will adversely affect the ecosystem by potentially polluting groundwater. The project will also produce thousands of tonnes of salt waste and increase the risk of fires throughout the Pilliga's tinder-box conditions.
Lastly, the Gamilaraay, Traditional Custodians of the land are opposed to the Gas Project.

I have a great love of the landscape of the Pilliga forest-it is also an important remnant of forest in a country which has for 200 years been subjected to unsustainable and ecologically destructive land clearing. In fact it is the largest intact woodland in eastern Australia, a half a million hectares in north-western New South Wales. It is unique-there is no other refuge for the fauna that rely on it. Both the 25 nationally listed and 48 state-listed threatened species, such as the Pilliga Mouse, which rely on the Pilliga for survival.

The sandstone under the Pilliga is additionally a crucial component of the vital Great Artesian Basin, and are a source of clean water for the Murray Darling Basin. The soils of this region and the water recharge are literally irreplaceable-once they are damaged we can not reverse this.

Coal seam gas operations have been scientifically linked to methane leaks, water gasification and there is even research linking them to earthquakes in the U.S. We currently are not meeting our responsibilities in cutting our carbon emissions and this broad scale mining operation would only make this worse.

We are now in the Anthropocene and we must urgently restore the environment and respect our need and dependance upon nature. To do otherwise is to condemn ourselves and all future generations to an out of control heated planet and a very grim outlook for survival of countless species. I do not support this operation and oppose any loss and to the Pillage and any mining operation in it.

Coal seam gas mining is an environmental and human disaster. Areas like the Pilliga need to be protected and preserved, not raped and decimated.

Dear Sir/Madam

I wish to strongly object to the Narrabri Gas Project. This project is environmental vandalism and should be rejected.

This monstrosity that requires the destruction of massive swathes of forest; that diverts significant amounts of water to something that will result in methane emissions, methane being an even more potent greenhouse gas than carbon; that will upset the local Aboriginal community; that puts local industry at risk at the same time it ruins the health of the community is completely and utterly unjustifiable and must be rejected.

We do not need more CSG and coal mines, which are destroying our environment and communities. We need governments to stop funding/giving permission to environmental vandalism for profit, and finally get fully behind renewable energy.

Yours faithfully
Sarah Mooney

I wish to raise my objection to this project. The grounds for my objection include but are not limited to:
-Extensive community opposition
-In particular opposition from the Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians
-Threat to the Great Australian Basin aquifer
-Increased atmospheric CO2 and hydrocarbon emissions
Thank you for your consideration
Raf

Coal seam gas mining is a polluting and destructive practice that does not benefit Australia and its citizens in any long term way.
No more.

I strongly object to the proposed Narrabri Gas Project. I find it difficult to imagine that any human being/government would consider such a project - the government should remember that it represents the people of Australia NOT corporations. This incredibly important area of land needs protecting for the following reasons:

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/

- See more at: https://www.wilderness.org.au/final-push-pilliga#sthash.qY1ALkZr.dpuf

This project is unjustified and dangerous. The mitigation strategies in the EIS and some of their measurement parameters for their monitoring plans are grossly devoid of justification and ridiculous generous to their own company. Not to mention the lack of need for such a project nor the community resistance.
I am highly opposed to the development to the Narribri Gas Project.

It will extract over 35 billion litres of toxic 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, for which there is no safe disposal plan.
It will clear close to 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest, fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife.
It will cause significant diversion of water from a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin, which is a water resource relied upon by rural communities across western NSW.
It will lead to large deliberate and fugitive emissions of methane, adding to climate change.
It will cause more trauma to the regional Aboriginal community because the area of impact is crucially important to the spiritual, cultural and social life of Gamilaraay people.
It is not justified: Santos' own Coal Seam Gas export activities in Queensland have caused gas prices to rise and supply to become unpredictable. NSW should respond to this by investing in more reliable and ultimately cheaper renewable energy, not by letting Santos inflict more environmental, social and economic harm.
It will cause economic upheaval in Narrabri and put agricultural industries at risk, as well as causing light pollution that will ruin the dark night sky needed by the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory.
Coal Seam Gas is harmful to health. Neither the NSW Government nor Santos have investigated or dealt with the serious health effects of coal seam gas now appearing in peer-reviewed research in the United States.

Please dho not mine the Pilliga. The Pilliga is last vestige of true wilderness in NSw. The Koala needs to be protected.