Narrabri Lateral Pipeline

I strongly object to this pipeline even being considered, and outlay my points of objection below.

Impacts on farm land and forest-
The pipeline crosses 12 farms, and a little under half the land it will disturb is agricultural land, one fifth of the land to be disturbed is cropping land. The other half of the pipeline cuts through the Pilliga forest.
Construction will clear 168 hectares of forest and will cut a 30 metre wide swathe through the Pilliga East forest, causing serious damage for microbats and small mammals.
It will clear habitat and put at risk threatened species that have strongholds in the Pilliga, like the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat.

Impacts on Gomeroi cultural heritage-
The Pilliga as a whole has deep spiritual, social and cultural significance for Gomeroi people. The National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that all water resources, and Bohena Ck in particular, is of major cultural importance to Gomeroi people.
The Tribunal said there should be no ground or surface disturbance within 500m of Bohena Ck without Gomeroi consent.
However, Santos plans to drill the pipeline right under Bohena Ck and across six other major creeks, disturbing the alluvial groundwater. The EIS does not discuss the cultural significance of the entire Bohena Ck for Gomeroi people at all.
Construction of the pipeline will also wipe out two known sites of significance and damage a further four sites. Gomeroi people have said the Pilliga’s integrity is central to their wellbeing and cultural practice and must be kept whole.

As well as irreparable damage and unfair fundamental changes to farms in various other areas that are to be heavily disturbed along the pipeline, the simple fact remains that if current gas usage and export regulations were amended to suit the domestic market rather than shipped off overseas for the profit of foreign corporations, it would not be necessary to build the pipeline in the first place. It's time the NSW government made some bold changes to regulation that secures domestic gas supply first, and keeps the profits for the residents, at the same time as protecting farms and landholder rights into the future.

As a farmer and grazier that depends upon bore water for stock and domestic use I oppose the project. The dangers of fracking upsetting the sub-surface water flows and potability are too great and irreversible to risk. We have enough conventional gas supplies if we care to use them domestically rather than export, without fracking across the farmland of the State. I've seen the consequences in Oklahoma and Texas USA and do not want the same to happen here.

I am opposed to this project for the following reasons:

Impacts on Gomeroi cultural heritage:
The Pilliga as a whole has deep spiritual, social and cultural significance for Gomeroi people. The National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that all water resources, and Bohena Ck in particular, is of major cultural importance to Gomeroi people. The Tribunal said there should be no ground or surface disturbance within 500m of Bohena Ck without Gomeroi consent.
However, Santos plans to drill the pipeline right under Bohena Ck and across six other major creeks, disturbing the alluvial groundwater. The EIS does not discuss the cultural significance of the entire Bohena Ck for Gomeroi people at all.
Construction of the pipeline will also wipe out two known sites of significance and damage a further four sites. Gomeroi people have said the Pilliga’s integrity is central to their wellbeing and cultural practice and must be kept whole.
Impacts on farm land and forest

The pipeline crosses 12 farms, and a little under half the land it will disturb is agricultural land, one fifth of the land to be disturbed is cropping land. The other half of the pipeline cuts through the Pilliga forest.
Construction will clear 168 hectares of forest and will cut a 30 metre wide swathe through the Pilliga East forest, causing serious damage for microbats and small mammals.
It will clear habitat and put at risk threatened species that have strongholds in the Pilliga, like the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat.
Other issues
Santos’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the pipeline claims the economic “benefits” of the Narrabri gasfield and Hunter gas pipeline, but doesn’t take responsibility for the harm to biodiversity, water and climate from the bigger pipeline and gasfield.
The EIS should be amended to consider the full negative economic impacts of the greenhouse gas emissions from the gasfield and the two pipelines, which is likely to be very significant given Narrabri is predicted to be the sixth biggest source of greenhouse pollution in NSW.

See attachment,

I object to this project as it currently stands and request govt reconsideration. My formal submission is attached.

I object to the is project not only because it is a damaging and polluting pipeline that will open up the Pilliga for Santos’ 850 well Narrabri coal seam gasfield but also for the reasons outlined below:

Impacts on Gomeroi cultural heritage:
The Pilliga as a whole has deep spiritual, social and cultural significance for Gomeroi people. The National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that all water resources, and Bohena Ck in particular, is of major cultural importance to Gomeroi people. The Tribunal said there should be no ground or surface disturbance within 500m of Bohena Ck without Gomeroi consent.
However, Santos plans to drill the pipeline right under Bohena Ck and across six other major creeks, disturbing the alluvial groundwater. The EIS does not discuss the cultural significance of the entire Bohena Ck for Gomeroi people at all.
Construction of the pipeline will also wipe out two known sites of significance and damage a further four sites. Gomeroi people have said the Pilliga’s integrity is central to their wellbeing and cultural practice and must be kept whole.

Impacts on farm land and forest:
The pipeline crosses 12 farms, and a little under half the land it will disturb is agricultural land, one fifth of the land to be disturbed is cropping land. The other half of the pipeline cuts through the Pilliga forest.
Construction will clear 168 hectares of forest and will cut a 30 metre wide swathe through the Pilliga East forest, causing serious damage for microbats and small mammals.
It will clear habitat and put at risk threatened species that have strongholds in the Pilliga, like the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat.

Other issues:
Santos’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the pipeline claims the economic “benefits” of the Narrabri gasfield and Hunter gas pipeline, but doesn’t take responsibility for the harm to biodiversity, water and climate from the bigger pipeline and gasfield.
The EIS should be amended to consider the full negative economic impacts of the greenhouse gas emissions from the gasfield and the two pipelines, which is likely to be very significant given Narrabri is predicted to be the sixth biggest source of greenhouse pollution in NSW.

Dubb o Environment Group opposes Santos Gas Fracking in the Pilliga Forest and have made submissions before to the IPC and through our Parkes electorate MP during the past 10 years.
The members of Dubbo Environment Group Inc. do not support the continuation of any fossil fuel extraction. We should not need to continually repeat that we need to reduce our carbon and methane emissions as expert Climate Science has been advising for the last 20 years, for us to avoid the devastating consequences of a 2 -degree C. rise in world average temperatures. Already we are experiencing the unprecedented extreme weather events which were predicted by these experts.
In 2024, NSW's average temperature was 1.71 degrees C. above the average for 1961 -1990 according to the BOM.
Global temperatures in 2024 were 1.28 degrees C. above 1951-1980 records and the Earths' average surface temperature was the warmest on record according to NASA.
Australia's ranking is a disappointing, highly irresponsible, 56 in world countries regarding their emissions reduction. This is not the time to progress Narrabri's gas industry.
Dubbo Environment Group Inc. supports the urgent progression of all energy providers to renewable power sources.

Dear Commissioners,
I am a grandmother who is passionate about leaving a liveable planet for future generations. We have the knowledge to at least not exacerbate the situation. We just have to implement it, and you are in a position to help NSW do our part by limiting our emissions and protecting our forests and agricultural land.
For this reason the Lateral Pipeline should be rejected.
This pipeline goes through prime agricultural land. 60% of land owners do not want it on their property. I am sure you are receiving many submissions which outline their objections.
Food is more important than unnecessary expensive gas.
If this pipeline is approved it will facilitate the Santos Gas project around Narrabri with its 850 unnecessary gas well on agricultural land and in the Pilliga forest, with potential damage to the Great Artesian basin.
All this damage for expensive unnecessary gas for export! Not only does this add to our emission but with Scope 3 emissions we are adding to the global crisis.
The climate crisis is upon us.
As you can see, not only is the agricultural land affected but also the Pillaga forest. The need to protect forests and biodiversity is universally known.
I urge you to think of future generation.
I urge you to reject this proposal.

Yours sincerely,

I am opposed to the construction of this pipeline because it has numerous fatal faults with it including some of the ones listed below:
The Pilliga as a whole has deep spiritual, social and cultural significance for Gomeroi people. The National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that all water resources, and Bohena Ck in particular, is of major cultural importance to Gomeroi people. The Tribunal said there should be no ground or surface disturbance within 500m of Bohena Ck without Gomeroi consent.
However, Santos plans to drill the pipeline right under Bohena Ck and across six other major creeks, disturbing the alluvial groundwater. The EIS does not discuss the cultural significance of the entire Bohena Ck for Gomeroi people at all.
Construction of the pipeline will also wipe out two known sites of significance and damage a further four sites. Gomeroi people have said the Pilliga’s integrity is central to their wellbeing and cultural practice and must be kept whole.
Impacts on farm land and forest

The pipeline crosses 12 farms, and a little under half the land it will disturb is agricultural land, one fifth of the land to be disturbed is cropping land. The other half of the pipeline cuts through the Pilliga forest.
Construction will clear 168 hectares of forest and will cut a 30 metre wide swathe through the Pilliga East forest, causing serious damage for microbats and small mammals.
It will clear habitat and put at risk threatened species that have strongholds in the Pilliga, like the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat.
kind regards,
Dennis

The proposed gas pipeline is the link between the Narrabri Gas Project and the proposed Hunter Gas Pipeline, which, if approved, will move Santos closer to building the damaging project and drilling 850 gas wells in the Pilliga.

This puts risks of Gomeroi cultural heritage, farmland, water and
The proposed massive Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga forest and its associated high pressure gas pipelines threaten north west NSW.

The gas pipeline will be built right across the Pilliga and directly under Bohena Ck - a creek which the National Native Title Tribunal has recognised is very significant to Gomeroi people.

The Tribunal said that there should be no surface or ground disturbance within 500m of Bohena Ck, but this pipeline will cut right through it.

The pipeline will also clear habitat that is important for threatened species like the Pilliga Mouse and Eastern Pygmy Possum.
Short term solutions for long term damage and unscrupulous businesses.

3 December 2025
I am a retired GP with a lifelong interest in the environmental determinants of human health – to which climate change is the greatest threat in our times. I also worked locums for 10 years in remote NT locations among indigenous people, and resist any developments which further damage their heritage. I oppose the Narrabri lateral pipeline on the following grounds.
• The pipeline crosses multiple farms, and half the land disturbed is agricultural land, one fifth is cropping land.
• The other half of the pipeline cuts through the Pilliga Forest. Construction will clear 168 hectares of forest and cut a 30 metre wide corridor through the Pilliga East Forest, damaging microbats and small mammals.
• It will clear habitat and increase risk to threatened species like the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat.
• The pipeline EIS claims the economic “benefits” of the Narrabri gasfield and Hunter gas pipeline, but doesn’t take responsibility for the harm to biodiversity, water and climate from the Hunter pipeline and the gasfield.
• So the EIS should be amended to consider the full negative economic impacts of the greenhouse gas emissions from the gasfield and the two pipelines. Emissions will be enormous, as Narrabri will be the sixth biggest greenhouse emitter in NSW.
• The Pilliga has deep spiritual, social and cultural significance for the Gomeroi. The National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that all water resources, and Bohena Ck in particular, is of major cultural importance to them. It said there should be no surface disturbance within 500m of Bohena Ck without Gomeroi consent.
• But Santos plans to drill the pipeline right under Bohena Ck and across six other major creeks, disturbing the alluvial groundwater. The EIS does not mention the cultural significance of Bohena Ck for the Gomeroi.
• Construction of the pipeline will also destroy two known sites of significance and damage a further four sites. The Gomeroi say that the Pilliga’s integrity is central to their wellbeing and cultural practice – it must be kept whole.

This pipeline will damage agricultural land and the Pilliga Forest and will open up the Pilliga for Santos’ 850 well Narrabri coal seam gasfield.
Impacts on Gomeroi cultural heritage:
• The whole of the Pilliga has deep spiritual, social, and cultural significance for Gomeroi people who have occupied the area for tens of thousands of years. The National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that all water resources are of major cultural importance to Gomeroi people. However, Bohena Creek is particularly sacred to them. The Tribunal said that without Gomeroi consent there should be no ground or surface disturbance within 500 metres of Bohena Creek.
• Notwithstanding this Santos plans to drill the pipeline right under Bohena Creek and across six other major creeks. This will disturb the alluvial groundwater. The environmental impact statement does not acknowledge nor discuss the cultural significance of the entire Bohena Creek for Gomeroi people at all.
• In addition to despoiling the creeks mentioned above, construction of the pipeline will also destroy two known sites of significance and damage a further four. For the Gomeroi people the Pilliga’s integrity is central to their wellbeing and cultural practice and must be kept whole.
• Gomeroi cultural heritage would be irrecoverably damaged. After the destruction in the Juukan Gorge On 24 May 2020 there was hope that such desecration would not occur again, but it seems the lesson has not been learned.
Impacts on farm land and forest
• The plan has the pipeline crossing twelve farms. Almost half the land it will disturb is agricultural land while one fifth of the land to be disturbed is cropping land. The other half of the pipeline will cut through the Pilliga forest.
• Construction will clear 168 hectares of forest, cutting a 30-metre-wide swathe through the Pilliga East forest. This will cause acute damage to the habitat of microbats and small mammals.
• Clearing the habitat of threatened species that have strongholds in the Pilliga, like the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum and Corben’s Long-eared Bat, will put at risk their survival.
Other issues
• Santos’ environmental impact statement (EIS) for the pipeline claims economic “benefits” of the Narrabri gasfield and Hunter gas pipeline, but takes no responsibility for the harm to biodiversity, water, and climate from the bigger pipeline and gasfield.
• The EIS must be amended to consider the full negative economic impacts of the greenhouse gas emissions from the gasfield and the two pipelines. These impacts will obviously be very significant given Narrabri is predicted to become the sixth biggest source of greenhouse pollution in NSW.

I object to this pipeline being constructed.
It will cause irreparable damage to the unique Pilliga.
The damage will be to the flora, the fauna and also to cultural significance.
Are we to lose the precious heritage for our grandchildren, for financial greed?
We do not need gas, we don’t want fracking. These companies come in, desecrate the environment, make a massive amount of money, and leave only damage in their wake.

The world has to get serious about manmade global warming and the finite resources our planet has. We have to stop using fossil energy, to give our grandchildren a future. The world population is over 8 billion and rising. All governments want a growing economy, to keep up with our growing numbers, a dog chasing its tail. Spend the money on a sustainable project, not on Santos making hay, while they can.

I object to the proposal by Santos for a number of reasons. These include the cultural, heritage and social impacts along with the environmental damage it will cause. The Pilliga as a whole has deep spiritual, social and cultural significance for Gomeroi people and for any who have the privilege to visit.
The National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that all water resources, and Bohena Ck in particular, is of major cultural importance to Gomeroi people. The Tribunal said there should be no ground or surface disturbance within 500m of Bohena Ck without Gomeroi consent. However, Santos plans to drill the pipeline right under Bohena Ck and across six other major creeks, disturbing the alluvial groundwater. The EIS completely overlooks the cultural significance of the entire Bohena Ck for Gomeroi people. This is not acceptable.
Construction of the pipeline will also wipe out two known sites of significance and damage a further four sites. Gomeroi people have said the Pilliga’s integrity is central to their wellbeing and cultural practice and must be kept whole. The pipeline crosses 12 farms, and a little under half the land it will disturb is agricultural land, one fifth of the land to be disturbed is cropping land. The other half of the pipeline cuts through the Pilliga forest. The plan will clear 168 hectares of forest and will cut a 30 metre wide swathe through the Pilliga East forest, causing serious damage for microbats and small mammals. It will clear habitat and put at risk threatened species that have strongholds in the Pilliga, like the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat. Again this is completely unacceptable.
Santos’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the pipeline claims the economic “benefits” of the Narrabri gasfield and Hunter gas pipeline, but doesn’t take responsibility for the harm to biodiversity, water and climate from the bigger pipeline and gas-field.
The EIS should be amended to consider the full negative economic impacts of the greenhouse gas emissions from the gas-field and the two pipelines, which is likely to be very significant given Narrabri is predicted to be the sixth biggest source of greenhouse pollution in NSW. We all know that the economic benefits Santos claims are not to the people of New South Wales nor even Australia and these claimed economic benefits will not eventuate.
The Pilliga is a an area of enormous environmental importance and natural beauty and I believe strongly we must protect it for future generations.

All fossil project activity, from exploration to end use, leaks methane, up to 80 times more potent than CO2 and nitrous oxide, into, a now, greenhouse gases charged / bloated/ bursting at the seams, atmosphere. That we can do this, shows how deluded we are, and not in control, also, being out of control, of an actually, limited capability, dangerously carried away, by the otherwise seeming wonders, and baseless, assumed prowess, of the applied science world. Less than miniscule amounts of formerly used chemicals, blew a hole in the ozone layer, leaving us powerless, to fix, only course of action, stop the use, the equivalent, in the case of the climate, of heeding the warning of the best, to immediately end emissions, the warning unheeded for so long, now, placing ourselves in our own nightmare. In terms of our prowess, to properly apply science, in an unprecedented vastness, despite a universe of environmental protective law, since the 1960s, this year's three yearly state of the environment report, to NSW, rates the health and strength, of the state's ecology, at 29 per cent, of 1788, when the continent had 100,000,000 koalas, barely 100,000, now. Since the introduction of so much vicious flora and fauna, with colonisation, to unique and beautiful, but very fragile flora and fauna, the growing more and more rugged weather, and "pop up" flooding and wildfires, really at the drop of a hat, now, well our flora and fauna really are sitting (very, pretty) ducks. As Ken Henry put it, there are no sound economic policies without a healthy environment, and rapidly worsening weather is killing it.

We all know the damage to the environment that this project and any associated fracking of gas will cause. It will be irreversible, as is evidenced anywhere it's happened throughout the world.
And for what (or whose) benefit? Certainly not the NSW or Australian taxpayers.
We have an abundance of natural resources that our governments give away to overseas fossil fuel and mining companies for next to nothing.
We deserve better from our governments, be they state or federal-liberal or Labor. The interests of the fossil fuel cartels always come before those of the Australian people.

The only people to benefit from this will be Santos executives and shareholders, and quite probably the spineless, venal politicians who allow it to happen-slippingstraight into a corporate mining executive job when they've finally been booted out of politics.
Furthermore, the threat of compulsory land acquisition by the NSW government to enable this project is absolutely disgusting. Shame on you all.
Merry Christmas, dogs.

I strongly and unequivocally OBJECT to the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline.

I have spent several weeks in the Pilliga Forest, over multiple visits, hiking, running, enjoying the peace of nature and meeting and becoming friends with Gomeroi custodians, and have seen firsthand its extraordinary ecological and cultural value. The Pilliga is one of the last intact temperate woodlands in eastern Australia, supporting around 900 native plant species and hundreds of native animal species, including threatened and endemic species that cannot survive without large, continuous habitat.

The pipeline will require extensive clearing, fragmenting the forest, destroying hollow-bearing trees essential for wildlife, and accelerating the spread of weeds and feral animals. These impacts are irreversible. No offset can replace the complexity, connectivity or maturity of this woodland ecosystem once it is destroyed.

The cultural impacts are equally unacceptable. The Pilliga is living Gomeroi Country, with deep spiritual, social and cultural significance. Waterways such as Bohena Creek are recognised as highly significant by the National Native Title Tribunal, which has stated that no disturbance should occur within 500 metres without Gomeroi consent. Despite this, the pipeline is planned to be drilled beneath Bohena Creek and several other major creeks, risking damage to sacred water resources and alluvial groundwater. These cultural landscapes cannot be recreated or compensated for once disturbed. The Environmental Impact documents fail to identify or protect key cultural sites, raising serious concerns about the adequacy and integrity of the assessment process.

The Pilliga’s biodiversity and cultural heritage are irreplaceable. Allowing this project to proceed would cause permanent ecological damage and profound cultural harm.

For these reasons, I unconditionally OBJECT to the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline Project.

This proposal will cause negative impacts on Gomeroi cultural heritage because The Pilliga as a whole has deep spiritual, social and cultural significance for Gomeroi people. The National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that all water resources, and Bohena Creek in particular, is of major cultural importance to Gomeroi people. The Tribunal said there should be no ground or surface disturbance within 500m of Bohena Creek without Gomeroi consent.
However, Santos plans to drill the pipeline right under Bohena Creek and across six other major creeks, disturbing the alluvial groundwater. The EIS does not discuss the cultural significance of the entire Bohena Creek for Gomeroi people.
Construction of the pipeline will also destroy two known sites of significance and damage a further four sites. Gomeroi people have said the Pilliga’s integrity is central to their wellbeing and cultural practice and must be kept whole.
This proposal will negatively impact agriculture as the pipeline crosses 12 farms, and a little under half the land it will impact is agricultural land, one fifth of the land to be disturbed is cropping land. The other half of the pipeline cuts through the Pilliga forest.
The project proposes to clear 168 hectares of forest and will cut a 30 metre wide swathe through the Pilliga East forest, causing serious damage for microbats and small mammals.
It will clear habitat and put at risk threatened species that have strongholds in the Pilliga, like the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat. A recent flora and fauna survey undertaken by the Australian Museum, Royal Botanic Gardens and others should be examined before any approvals are granted.
Santos’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the pipeline claims the economic “benefits” of the Narrabri gasfield and Hunter gas pipeline, but doesn’t take responsibility for the harm to biodiversity, water and climate from the bigger pipeline and gasfield.
The EIS should be amended to consider the full negative economic impacts of the greenhouse gas emissions from the gasfield and the two pipelines, which is likely to be very significant given Narrabri is predicted to be the sixth biggest source of greenhouse pollution in NSW.

l strongly object to this project because of the following points,
it's impacts on Gomeroi cultural heritage:

The Pilliga as a whole has deep spiritual, social and cultural significance for Gomeroi people. The National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that all water resources, and Bohena Ck in particular, is of major cultural importance to Gomeroi people. The Tribunal said there should be no ground or surface disturbance within 500m of Bohena Ck without Gomeroi consent.
However, Santos plans to drill the pipeline right under Bohena Ck and across six other major creeks, disturbing the alluvial groundwater. The EIS does not discuss the cultural significance of the entire Bohena Ck for Gomeroi people at all.
Construction of the pipeline will also wipe out two known sites of significance and damage a further four sites. Gomeroi people have said the Pilliga’s integrity is central to their wellbeing and cultural practice and must be kept whole.
Impacts on farm land and forest

The pipeline crosses 12 farms, and a little under half the land it will disturb is agricultural land, one fifth of the land to be disturbed is cropping land. The other half of the pipeline cuts through the Pilliga forest.
Construction will clear 168 hectares of forest and will cut a 30 metre wide swathe through the Pilliga East forest, causing serious damage for microbats and small mammals.
It will clear habitat and put at risk threatened species that have strongholds in the Pilliga, like the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat.
Other issues

Santos’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the pipeline claims the economic “benefits” of the Narrabri gasfield and Hunter gas pipeline, but doesn’t take responsibility for the harm to biodiversity, water and climate from the bigger pipeline and gasfield.
The EIS should be amended to consider the full negative economic impacts of the greenhouse gas emissions from the gasfield and the two pipelines, which is likely to be very significant given Narrabri is predicted to be the sixth biggest source of greenhouse pollution in NSW.
regards Mr R. Corben