I object to the proposed Narrabri Pipeline brcause
1. Accessing and using the gas will greatly increase Greenhouse Gas Emissions at a time when our nation is supposed to be lowering emissions.
2. It will destroy 168 Ha of Pilliga Forest and this will cause increased stress on the already endangered Pilliga Mouse, the Eastern Pygmy Possum and the Corbens Long Eared Bat;
3. It will reduce habitat for other Pilliga Forest fauna and flora, especially small mammals.
4. It will cause negative impacts on valuable farm land, much of which is cropping land.

I welcome the opportunity to provide comment on the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline (SSI-53307723) and wish to highlight an important opportunity available to Santos as the project progresses through assessment, construction and operational phases: the strategic utilisation of local environmental professionals and regional consultants.
As a Narrabri-based environmental practitioner with extensive experience working across the Pilliga, Namoi catchment, agricultural landscapes and resource projects in the region—including projects comparable in scale and regulatory complexity to the Narrabri Gas Project—I have seen firsthand the tangible benefits that arise when proponents engage local capability early and consistently.

1. Local Knowledge = Better Environmental Outcomes
Local environmental professionals bring a depth of contextual knowledge that cannot be replicated by external firms, including:
• A practical understanding of local soils, hydrology, erosion risks and management measures unique to the north-west slopes and plains.
• Familiarity with seasonal patterns, extreme weather behaviour and drought/wet cycle impacts on land, waterways and biodiversity.
• Established, working relationships with local landholders, community groups, regulators and other stakeholders.
• Site-specific experience applying NSW environmental legislation, guidelines and approval conditions in the Narrabri landscape.
This knowledge reduces the risk of implementation errors, improves the accuracy of assessments and monitoring, and ensures that on-ground controls and mitigation measures are suited to local conditions. In short, it results in better environmental performance, fewer compliance issues and more efficient project delivery.

2. Economic and Community Benefits
Engaging local consultants offers measurable economic value to both Santos and the Narrabri region:
• Cost efficiency from reduced travel, accommodation and mobilisation.
• Faster response times for inspections, monitoring, incident response and environmental issues requiring rapid intervention.
• Ongoing investment in the community, as local professionals employ local staff, purchase goods and services locally, and contribute to regional economic resilience.
• Community confidence is strengthened when major industry players actively involve local businesses.
Given the community interest surrounding the Narrabri Gas Project, visible commitment to local engagement is an important mechanism for building trust and demonstrating long-term regional investment.

3. Operational Efficiency Through Local Support
Local consultants can provide:
• Regular environmental inspections and compliance verification
• Erosion and sediment control (ESC) planning, RUSLE assessments and wet-weather readiness
• Water quality monitoring and sampling
• Incident investigation support
• Ongoing landholder liaison
• Cultural and environmental awareness training
• On-call environmental support during construction and high-risk periods
Having these services based in Narrabri significantly reduces logistical delays that typically occur when external personnel must travel from major cities or other regions.

4. Recommended Procurement Mechanisms for Santos
To ensure a strong, transparent and efficient engagement framework, Santos could adopt one or more of the following procurement models:
a. Local Consultant Panel Contract
A multi-disciplinary prequalified panel of Narrabri-based or regional environmental professionals.
Benefits include:
• Quick engagement without full tendering
• Agility to assign tasks to those best suited to the specific scope
• Guaranteed competition and value-for-money
• Long-term relationships that improve consistency and compliance
b. Standing Offer Arrangements
Establish standing rates and scopes with local providers for services such as:
• Environmental monitoring
• ESC inspections
• Waste and contamination assessments
• Rehabilitation and closure planning
• Approvals pathway advice
This reduces procurement delays while ensuring compliance with corporate governance.
c. Local Preferred-Supplier List
A lighter but still effective approach—pre-approved suppliers who are called upon based on need and capability.
This ensures local consultants are given priority where they meet capability requirements.
d. Hybrid Model
Use a combination of:
• Local specialists for recurring and site-specific activities
• Larger external firms for highly specialised or corporate-level tasks
This strikes a balance between local value and technical depth.

5. Alignment with Santos’ Social Licence and Regional Commitments
Using local capability aligns strongly with Santos’ commitments to:
• Regional economic participation
• Community benefit sharing
• Supporting local industry development
• Ensuring timely, effective environmental management
• Reducing contractor footprint and overall project risk
Local engagement is not simply an economic benefit—it forms part of the social licence required to operate in Narrabri for the long term.

Conclusion
I strongly encourage Santos to formalise a strategy for engaging local environmental consultants through mechanisms such as panel contracts, standing offers or preferred-supplier arrangements. The Narrabri region has a growing and highly capable pool of environmental practitioners who understand the landscape, work closely with local regulators and stakeholders, and can provide efficient, cost-effective, and community-focused support to the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline and broader Narrabri Gas Project.
Strengthening the connection between Santos and local professionals will lead to:
• Better environmental outcomes
• Improved community confidence
• Lower operational risk
• Stronger regional economic contributions
I appreciate the opportunity to comment and would welcome further discussion on how local capability can be integrated into Santos’ procurement and environmental management frameworks for this project.

please see attached letter of support for the NLP project.

Our family owned and ran company of Specialised Group have benefited substantially from the Narrabri Gas Project and Santos over the past decade, as it has allowed us to grow our company to be one of the biggest private employers in the town of Narrabri.

The Narrabri region is extremely lucky to have a diverse of range of industries to help Narrabri prosper even in times of drought.

Please see attached my submission objecting to the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline

Hi there,

Each year I visit the Pilliga with my family to walk country with the traditional owners of this land. The deep cultural and social connection extends beyond indigenous bloodlines and generations. I object to the exploration and drilling of gas lines in the area. The community does not ‘need’ this gas. The environmental, emotional, cultural and social destruction caused by this project will be yet another example of government and industry who have lost touch with community.

I look forward to the day I can walk on Country with my children knowing it is and always will be protected.

My name is Michael Hewett and I am a local resident of the Narrabri region. I am writing to express my strong support for the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) and the associated pipeline. As someone who lives and works in this area, I have seen firsthand the challenges faced by regional communities—particularly when it comes to employment, investment, and long-term economic stability. This project represents a significant opportunity for our region and for the state of New South Wales.

Economic and Employment Benefits

The Narrabri Gas Project has the potential to deliver long-term economic uplift for our communities. Regional NSW has struggled for years to attract major industry and secure consistent employment opportunities. This project will create valuable construction jobs, ongoing operational positions, and indirect employment across local businesses such as transport, trades, hospitality, and suppliers. These jobs are not short-term or symbolic—they are real, tangible roles that support families, keep people in the region, and encourage new workers and businesses to settle here.

Local businesses stand to benefit enormously. The increased workforce and the project’s commitments to local procurement will flow through to cafés, motels, fuel stations, mechanics, contractors, and countless small operators who rely on steady trade. For many of these businesses, a project of this scale could mean the difference between surviving and closing, especially in tight economic conditions.

Community and Regional Development

The project also offers broader community benefits through investment packages, infrastructure improvements, and long-term contributions to the local economy. Community benefit programs linked to the project can support services like health, education, recreation, and local clubs—things that matter deeply to people who live in regional towns. This is not just a short-term injection; it is a multi-decade project that can deliver ongoing support to the region.

As someone who lives here, I know how important it is to have industries that keep our towns alive. Without major projects or investment, young people leave for work elsewhere, services dry up, and towns decline. The Narrabri Gas Project helps fight against that trend. It keeps opportunities local.

Energy Security and State Benefits

This project is also critically important for New South Wales as a whole. NSW relies heavily on imported gas from interstate and overseas. This makes the state vulnerable to price fluctuations and supply uncertainty. A locally produced supply of gas strengthens energy security, stabilises pricing, and supports industries that rely on gas for manufacturing, food production, and power generation.

Reliable and affordable gas doesn’t just help businesses—it helps households. It ensures families and essential services aren’t exposed to unpredictable surges in energy costs. With demand for gas still strong across many sectors, having a local source simply makes strategic sense.

A Balanced and Responsible Approach

No major project is without environmental considerations. However, the Narrabri Gas Project has been through some of the most rigorous assessment processes ever undertaken in NSW. It has been reviewed, examined, and scrutinised for years, with strict conditions applied. I support strong environmental standards, and I believe that with modern technology, strict regulation, and ongoing monitoring, this project can operate safely and responsibly.

Importantly, supporting economic growth and protecting the environment are not mutually exclusive. With the conditions and oversight already in place, the Narrabri Gas Project can deliver major social and economic benefits while meeting all environmental requirements.

Local Voices Matter

As a local, I want to see my community thrive—not just survive. Too often, decisions about regional NSW are made by people far removed from the realities of life out here. The voices of the people who actually live in Narrabri, Wee Waa, Pilliga, and surrounding areas should carry weight. We understand what our region needs. We understand the importance of job security, industry diversity, and long-term investment. And many of us want this project because we can see the good it will bring to our towns.

Conclusion

For all of these reasons—the jobs, the economic boost, the support for local businesses, the long-term benefits to the region, and the strengthened energy security for our state—I am firmly in support of the Narrabri Gas Project and its associated pipeline.

This is an opportunity for real growth and stability in a region that deserves it. I respectfully urge decision-makers to support the project and allow it to move forward for the benefit of our community and the state of New South Wales.

Thank you for considering my submission.

I object to this project because it is environmentally damaging, climate change enhancing and not supported by local indigenous groups.

If this project goes ahead, Santos intends to clear at minimum 168 hectares of forest and cut a 30 metre wide swathe through the Pilliga East forest. The Pilliga forest is the largest remaining old growth forest west of the Dividing Range, it hosts many indigenous sites and unique native flora and fauna. The damage to the forest from this pipeline will cause serious harm to native animals and threatened species such as the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat. Development and land clearing in Australia means that we have the highest rate of mammal extinction in the world, and insect and inverterbrate extinctions are also at record highs. The NSW Government has this information, but is still not acting to halt environmentally destructive activities such as this pipeline.
We also know that we cannot eat fossil fuels, or money, yet this proposed 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, some of the best in Australia. 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 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.
Finally, the Narrabri Gas Project is predicted to be the sixth biggest source of greenhouse pollution in NSW, however, the EIS does not consider the full negative economic impacts of the greenhouse gas emissions from the gasfield and the two pipelines. We all know the consequences of climate change, more hot weather, more wildfires, more floods, more droughts, more species lost, and more costs.
There are also serious concerns about the need for this project at all, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis suggests that Narrabri gas is likely to be one of the most expensive sources of gas in eastern Australia, with estimated production costs 45% higher than for existing gas fields in Queensland. So this project will not even solve the current high cost of gas in Australia.

I object to the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline (SSI-53307723).
My attached submission sets out detailed grounds including environmental risks, failure to meet EPBC Act thresholds, water and agricultural impacts, cumulative consequences with the NGP and Santos Narrabri Gas Project, and significant deficiencies in the SEARs responses and assessment framework. I request the project be refused.