Submission Opposing the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline

I strongly object to Santos’ proposed Narrabri Lateral Pipeline. This 55 km high-pressure gas pipeline would cause significant harm to Gomeroi cultural heritage, farmland, water resources, wildlife habitat, and the climate, while enabling the broader Narrabri Gas Project—one of the most damaging fossil fuel developments proposed in NSW.

My family and I were part of the incredible resistance to the proposed APA pipeline associated with the Narrabri Gas Project through our family farming operation in Coonamble and beyond. Our position has not changed. We remain steadfast in our opposition to projects that threaten the natural world, productive farmland, and culturally significant landscapes. We vehemently oppose the destruction caused by developments of this nature.

1. Impacts on Gomeroi Cultural Heritage

The Pilliga is of profound cultural, spiritual and social significance to Gomeroi people. The National Native Title Tribunal has recognised that all water resources in the area, and Bohena Creek in particular, are of major cultural importance. Importantly, the Tribunal recommended that no ground or surface disturbance occur within 500 metres of Bohena Creek without Gomeroi consent.

Despite this, Santos proposes to drill the pipeline directly under Bohena Creek and across six other major creeks, risking disturbance to alluvial groundwater systems that are integral to Gomeroi cultural practice. The EIS fails to address the cultural significance of the full Bohena Creek system, which is a serious omission.

Construction of the pipeline will also destroy two known cultural sites and damage four others. Gomeroi people have clearly stated that the integrity of the Pilliga must remain intact—its wholeness is directly connected to their wellbeing, identity and cultural continuity.

2. Impacts on Farmland, Forest and Biodiversity

The pipeline corridor cuts across 12 farms, with nearly half of all impacted land being agricultural. Around one-fifth of the affected farmland is cropping land that supports local livelihoods and food production.

The remaining corridor would carve a 30-metre-wide clearing through the Pilliga Forest, requiring the destruction of approximately 168 hectares of forest. This clearing will fragment habitat essential for numerous threatened species, including the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern Pygmy Possum and Corben’s Long-eared Bat—all of which have strongholds in the Pilliga.

Such habitat fragmentation will have long-term ecological consequences, particularly for microbats and small mammals that rely on dense forest corridors for survival.

3. Environmental and Climate Impacts Ignored in the EIS

Santos’ EIS focuses heavily on claimed economic “benefits” while failing to account for the significant environmental and climate harms associated with the pipeline and the broader Narrabri Gas Project.

The EIS does not address the greenhouse gas impacts of the combined Narrabri gasfield and associated pipelines, despite evidence that Narrabri would be one of the top six sources of greenhouse pollution in NSW. Methane leakage from coal seam gas extraction and long-distance pipelines poses a major climate risk.

The EIS should be amended to include a full assessment of the negative economic, environmental and climate impacts of greenhouse emissions from the entire project, including both pipelines and the gasfield.

4. Risks to Water Resources

The Pilliga Forest is a crucial recharge zone for the Great Artesian Basin—one of the most important water resources in inland Australia. Disturbing creek beds, groundwater systems and recharge areas for a gas pipeline poses unacceptable risks to long-term water security for the region.

5. Community and Cultural Opposition

The Narrabri Lateral Pipeline is the essential link that would enable Santos to proceed with drilling 850 coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga Forest. Community opposition to this project remains strong and deeply rooted. The project threatens Gomeroi cultural heritage, agricultural land, local biodiversity, and the broader climate, and it does not have a social licence.

As the festive season begins, it is disappointing that a project of this scale has been placed on exhibition, limiting meaningful community engagement. Despite these constraints, the NSW Government must understand that public opposition to this development has not diminished.

Conclusion

For the reasons outlined above—cultural, environmental, agricultural and climate—I strongly urge the NSW Government to reject Santos’ Narrabri Lateral Pipeline. Protecting the Pilliga Forest, upholding the rights and cultural heritage of Gomeroi people, safeguarding precious water resources, and preventing further climate harm must be prioritised.

The community remains determined to protect the Pilliga and the Liverpool Plains from irreversible damage. I respectfully request that the Department refuse approval for this project.

I object to the proposed Narrabri pipeline. I do not want this natural beauty to be destroyed by the greedy. The fracking of this natural bushland will have dire consequences not only to the people who live there and the biodiversity, it will lead to to it's destruction. Please don't.

This submission is an objection to the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline for these reasons:
1. The Pilliga Forest is a recharge zone for the Great Artesian Basin water resource. The impact will be profound. It is polluting, dangerous & frankly irresponsible.
2. 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 Creek k 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 Ck 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 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.
3. 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 swath 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.
4. Other issues
• Santos’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the pipeline claims the economic “benefits” of the Narrabri gas field 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.
Sandra Warn

See attached

The water trigger should be used as a key assessment point. Acquirers and water ways have not been adequately considered in the assessments.
Cultural heritage of the Gomeroi people has not been considered. Gas is a potent green house gas and we do not need more polluting green house gas.This project should not proceed.
Robert McLaughlin

I object in the basis of concern over issues related to water, cultural heritage wildlife impacts, habitat loss and greenhouse gas emissions