This project will significantly impact First Nations cultural sites. The area, and most importantly the Bohena Creek, has many sites which should not be disturbed. White invaders have plundered these sites for too long. We must stop now. Once these sites are destroyed they cannot be “made good”.

Environmental impacts to several native species and to the water in the area will jeopardise the lives and water availability for animals and humans. The impact on the Great Artesian Basin, which provides water for homes, farms and entire townships will be catastrophic.

Legal precedent has been set that the Minister must take into consideration the impacts of climate change on the locality. This project will significantly impact the climate change effects on this area, but also on the wider area. The enabling nature of this project - for the gas fields and for other connecting pipelines - will mean the climate change impacts will be felt across the entire state.

There are no positive economic impacts of this project. The wider climate change impacts of floods, fires, landslides, etc. means that the employment opportunities of this project are dwarfed by the costs associated with the clean up of the catastrophes it will cause.

Santos pays minuscule tax and pays no royalties on the gas they will extract. They say that this gas is for the domestic market, however domestic gas use is decreasing, meaning we don’t need anymore gas. The gas that NSW already uses will be displaced and sold on the export market. This only increases profits for Santos. There is absolutely no economic benefit for NSW, just profit for Santos.

The Minister is legally bound to make decisions for the people of NSW, not Santos. This project is a disaster for NSW - economically and environmentally.

I willl outline just some points that I believe should result in the mine expansion being rejected. 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.

I have the following concerns with this project.

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.

I object to the Narrabri Lateral pipeline. This project will cause unacceptable damage to the local environment and cultural heritage and add to climate pollution. 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. 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.

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.
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. This project should not go ahead.

See attachment. Many thanks.

I write to oppose the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline proposed by Santos.

The impact on the Great Artesian Basin has not been fully considered. Coal seam gas mining pollutes ground water and disrupts water levels. This will not only impact the Pilliger Forest, where 6 major creeks will be disrupted. It will also pollute ground water further downstream.

The construction of the pipeline will also cut a 30m wide swaithe through habitat for threatened species, such as Corben’s Long-eared Bat , the Pilliga Mouse and Eastern pygmy possum.

The EIS for this Santos development does not take into account destruction of 4 sacred sites for the Gomeroi people nor the contribution of the gas extracted to global warming and the capacity of Australia to meet it’s treaty requirements regarding reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Please obstruct this rape and pillage of Australian heritage, the way of life for the local people and the destruction of pure groundwater source required by all who hope to live on this land into the future.

I spent 10 years in that forest stopping Santos. I’ll come back if I have too

I object as I oppose the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline
I am very concerned re effects on groundwater levels and our continued distraction of the environment whrn alternative energy forms are available using better science and technology
I am concerned on the impact on native bush land and farmland
I have worked a lot in the near and far west of NSW and there has been enough destruction
I have children and grandchildren and all my life have watched governments approve projects which have such long term problems
Please do the right thing and leave coal seam gas in the ground and stop messing with an already depleted water table
Yours sincerely
Dr Sarah Cooper

This is a damaging and polluting pipeline and will open up the Pilliga for Santos’ 850 well Narrabri coal seam gasfield.
Make no mistake, we don’t need new gas. This is all about the greedy gas corporations making more eye-watering profits - at the expense of our climate and future.
Instead of doing the bidding of the powerful gas cartel, the Government should be fast tracking electrification and ending new gas connections for households, while supporting low-income households to transition to healthier, renewable powered homes - with lower energy bills!
Key points:
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.