1. I am deeply concerned that my government is enabling the expansion of foosil fuel projects when it is clear that the burning of fossil fuel is damaging the planet, including the people and other species of NSW, now and inclreasingly in the future. The proposed infrastructure would enable the fossil fuel indistry to expand when it should be contracting. Planning permission should therefore not be granted. I appeal to you to do the right thing!

2. I am further concerned at the likely impacts of the proposed infrastruture 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.

3. the proposal is likely to have 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.

4. Other issues include:
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 urge the NSW government to reject the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline on the following grounds:
- The pipeline will be drilled under Bohena Creek and across six other major creeks, disturbing the alluvial groundwater. This will have a negative impact on local agriculture and wildlife.
- The National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that Bohena Creek and other water resources are 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. This pipe would violate the integrity of a site of major cultural significance to Gomeroi people and they have not consented.
- Construction of the pipeline involves clearing 168 hectares of forest and a 30 metre wide pathway through the Pilliga forest. NSW needs to make every effort to retain native forest to mitigate climate change and rapidly declining biodiversity. This pipe will cause permanent damage to a significant forest ecology and the loss of a carbon sink, and damage to threatened species with strongholds in the Pilliga, like the Pilliga Mouse, Eastern pygmy possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat.
- Santos’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the pipeline claims economic benefits of the pipeline to its gas field network, but doesn’t take into account the significant damage to biodiversity, water and climate from the bigger pipeline and gasfield. Nor does it account for the increased greenhouse gases that will be generated, as the pipeline would contribute to Narrabri becoming the sixth biggest source of greenhouse pollution in NSW. This is unacceptable at a time when NSW and Australia needs to avoid committing to any new fossil fuel extraction, in order to reduce our greenhouse emissions and the impact we are already experiencing in increasingly damaging bushfires, flooding and storms.
- Santos has a poor track record in environmental management of its gas operations. Notably it has concealed major emissions from its LNG plant in Darwin over many years. It cannot be trusted to minimise environmental impacts or to meet its commitments in the environmentally, culturally and agriculturally sensitive Pilliga.
- Renewable energy is growing rapidly in Australia and internationally, and it is cheap compared to the expensive gas that will be produced by Santos in Narrabri. If the NSW government approves this pipeline and therefore the huge Narrabri gas operation, we, the NSW taxpayer risk having to cover the cost of remediating a stranded asset and polluted environment, when Santos in a few years discovers international demand for gas has fallen and it abandons Narrabri because it is no longer commercially viable.

I am writing to strongly oppose the approval of the pipeline associated with Santos’ Narrabri coal seam gas project. This pipeline is not only environmentally damaging and polluting, but it would also open the Pilliga to the destructive 850-well gasfield proposed by Santos. Such a development carries unacceptable cultural, environmental, and economic risks that have not been adequately assessed or acknowledged in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
1. Impacts on Gomeroi Cultural Heritage
The Pilliga is a living cultural landscape of profound spiritual, social, and cultural significance to the Gomeroi people. It is not a collection of isolated sites but an interconnected whole. The National Native Title Tribunal has already recognised that all water resources within the Pilliga, particularly Bohena Creek, hold major cultural importance. The Tribunal clearly stated that no ground or surface disturbance should occur within 500 metres of Bohena Creek without the consent of the Gomeroi people.
Despite this, Santos proposes to drill its pipeline directly under Bohena Creek and across six other major creek systems. Such works would disturb alluvial groundwater systems that are deeply intertwined with Gomeroi cultural practice, identity, and responsibility to Country.
The EIS fails entirely to discuss the cultural significance of Bohena Creek as a whole, despite the Tribunal’s findings. This omission is unacceptable and renders the cultural assessment incomplete and misleading.
Furthermore, construction of the pipeline will destroy two known sites of significance and damage four others. Gomeroi people have repeatedly stated that the integrity of the Pilliga is central to their wellbeing and cultural practice and must remain whole. The pipeline would irreparably fragment this cultural landscape.

2. Impacts on Farmland and the Pilliga Forest
The proposed pipeline route crosses 12 farms, with almost half the land disturbed classed as agricultural land, including one-fifth being cropping land. At a time when food security, soil health, and rural livelihoods are under unprecedented pressure, it is irresponsible to introduce further disruption, risks to water, and long-term land degradation.
The remaining half of the disturbance footprint cuts directly through the Pilliga forest. Construction will require the clearing of 168 hectares of forest and the creation of a 30-metre-wide clearing through the Pilliga East. This clearing would fragment habitat, increase edge effects, facilitate weed invasion, and undermine the ecological integrity of one of the last large temperate woodlands in eastern Australia.
The Pilliga is a refuge for numerous threatened species, including the Pilliga Mouse, the Eastern Pygmy Possum, and Corben’s Long-eared Bat. These species rely on continuous, intact habitat. The proposed clearing and the construction noise, ground vibration, and vehicle movements associated with pipeline installation place these species at real and immediate risk.

3. Unaddressed Environmental and Climate Impacts
Santos’ EIS claims economic “benefits” from the Narrabri gasfield and the Hunter Gas Pipeline but does not take responsibility for the cumulative environmental harms of the entire development system.

The EIS does not consider:
- the full greenhouse gas emissions from the Narrabri gasfield
- emissions from the two connected pipelines
- downstream (scope 3) emissions from the combustion of the gas
- biodiversity losses tied to long-term forest fragmentation
- damage to groundwater systems central to both ecology and cultural heritage

Narrabri is predicted to become the sixth-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in NSW. Such an impact has clear economic costs through climate change, biodiversity loss, water stress, and escalating disasters that Santos has failed to acknowledge.
The EIS must be amended to assess the total negative economic impacts of the project, including climate-driven harms, rather than selectively claiming benefits while externalising all costs onto local communities, Traditional Owners, and future generations.

The proposed pipeline poses unacceptable risks to Gomeroi cultural heritage, farmland, the Pilliga forest, threatened species, water resources, and the climate. Its Environmental Impact Statement is incomplete, inadequate, and fails to meet the standard required for informed decision-making.
I urge decision-makers to reject this pipeline and the broader Narrabri gas development to protect the Pilliga, honour Gomeroi custodianship, safeguard biodiversity, and prevent major long-term climate harm.

I wish to express my strong support for the NLP project. I am indirectly employed by Santos and I rely on Narrabri's development for my ongoing livelihood. My work also involves close collaboration with numerous community organizations that rely on Santos' funding to deliver vital programs supporting education, health, and social outcomes across the region. I have seen first hand the incredible impact of Santos' CSR initiatives on the local community and broader region, and I know how much this will increase if this project goes ahead. For example, in September alone, the Santos Festival of Rugby injected an extra $2 million into the local economy over just two days. This was an enormous boost for a small regional town; every pub, restaurant, hotel, and shop was packed / booked out for the weekend, and local businesses reported record profits. Events like this demonstrate how Santos' investment not supports community programs but also generates tangible economic benefits for its local region.

I am deeply concerned about the amount of misinformation circulating in the media, largely driven by activist groups fundamentally opposed to oil and gas. Their rhetoric is alarmist and misleading, and it does not reflect the needs, perspectives, or priorities of the local community, specifically the vast majority of the Gomeroi people. These groups have no real connection to the area or the people who live here, yet they frequently spread false or exaggerated claims that undermine constructive dialogue and refuse to engage in a meaningful way. This type of misinformation is dangerous: it misleads the public, polarizes communities, and delays critical infrastructure that is essential for energy security. NSW imports 100% of its gas from interstate despite having vast local resources under the ground. There is a looming gas shortage facing the east coast, which is directly-contributing to rising gas prices, and consequently electricity prices, for households, businesses, and especially manufactureres in New South Wales.

The proposed pipeline is only 55 km and will be buried underground, and its environmental and community impact will be minimal. Importantly, it will allow ongoing farming, agriculture, cropping, and grazing activities to continue as normal, ensuring that local livelihoods and industries are not disrupted. Landholders hosting the pipeline will be significantly financially compensated for the inconvenience during constructions, and then can return to their normal land uses as before. Australia has a long history of demonstrating that industry and agriculture can coexist and thrive together, you only need to look at the success in Queensland to see the potential for NSW. This pipeline provides a critical transport route for locally developed gas to be connected straight into the NSW transmission network, helping drive down prices, as the cheapest gas is always the closest to the customer.

This project also represents a significant opportunity for the Gomeroi people. Through an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA), the project will deliver substantial benefits, including:
A Significant financial contribution to the Gomeroi community, to be managed by Gomeroi people
Employment and training opportunities for Gomeroi people
A Gomeroi ranger program
Contract advantages for Gomeroi businesses in tender evaluations
Numerous other initiatives designed to deliver tangible outcomes for the Gomeroi people

None of these benefits can be delivered if the pipeline is not approved.

In summary, the NLP project provides essential energy infrastructure, supports local communities and industries, delivers meaningful benefits to the Gomeroi people, and has minimal environmental impact. The current rhetoric from activist groups misrepresents the interests of the people who actually live and work here, and it risks delaying much-needed infrastructure and economic benefits. I strongly encourage its approval and timely progression so that NSW can thrive as a secure-energy state.

The proposed Narrabri Lateral Pipeline should be declined given it is not needed to sure up Australia’s or NSW’s gas supply as the Port Kembla Import Terminal is a far better/superior solution and it doesn’t impact Australia’s biodiversity, ground water, forests, endangered species, first nations cultural and significantly important sites and other farming and land uses.

I note the following:
1. our government says Australia is expected to have a Gas shortage supply in a few years’ time probably for a few years until the lower cost energy sources are in place and have full capacity functionality (which is to bring down cost of living pressures).

2. CEO of Bluescope (one of Australia’s largest gas users) recently advised, in his speech to the National Press Club that their current gas supply contracts, which are soon to expire, have them purchasing gas for $10 a terajoule and their current competitors are purchasing gas for $2 & $2.40 a terajoule. The current spot price for gas is $18 a terajoule.
Therefore, it is not the volume of Australian gas supply which concerns Bluescope, it is the price of the gas they need to be commercially viable. (begs the question – Why open up expensive gas wells and build expensive pipelines if the major users are not going to commercially benefit?).

3. Santos’s own reporting of its proposed Narrabri Gas says that it will be their most costly/expensive to extract and convert to LNG and the proposed pipeline will be very expensive to build. Santos says it will provide this expensive gas to the Australian East Coast market (placing even greater cost of living pressure to Australian citizens) to free up its less costly gas for export to improve its profitability.

4. Santos gave an irrevocable undertaking, as part of its approval to build its Gladstone plant, that it would not purchase gas from the East Coast gas market. Santos in contravention to this undertaking has purchased gas out of the East Coast market every year to sure up its export contracted supply which has in fact caused/exacerbated shortages of gas supply to the East Coast market and put many businesses out of business and their employees out of a job ultimately reducing Australia’s manufacturing capacity. Santos also hid from public knowledge its gas emissions from its leaking Darwin storage tank as recently reported on TV.

5. The Import terminal at Port Kembla is built and functional and its owners have stated once there is a shortage of gas in Australia they will commence operating it. Squadron Energy’s Executive General Manager Operations Stuart Davis said the appointment of global expert Reganosa Servicios to manage the terminal’s onshore facilities, firmed up the Port Kembla regasification terminal as the best solution to the looming gas shortage on Australia’s east coast and remove the need for new gas fields to be drilled. Although this terminal is set to open in 2028 the company has said it would be ready to come online in 2027 if it was needed.

6. A number of subject matter experts advise that Santos’s proposed Narrabri Gas project pipeline will have significant negative impacts on primarily the biodiversity and ground water if constructed, where it is proposed to go, others mention its impact on the Pilliga forest and endangered species and traditional landowners have concerns to their cultural & significantly important sites and other landowners are concerned about the ongoing changed management practices on their cropping and other land usage to being sustainably commercially viable, if the proposed pipeline is constructed.

Other observations on the bigger picture to further explain why I object to Santos’s application for a Narrabri Lateral Pipeline and why it should be declined.

Santos has recently had 3 very interested buyers who pulled out proceeding with the purchase during their due diligence which says to me that Santos is not a good company as it would not add value to their existing company strategic and business plans.

Hence, I question the long-term commercial viability of Santos and its ability to deliver sustainably and responsibly on what it has stated it will.

My observation of Santos’s longer term commercial viability is also supported by Santos’s own doubts which are confirmed by their requests to their Australian government regulatory body to bring forward substantial amounts of their depreciation expenditure, which have been approved to the detriment of the purchasers of their gas (i.e. this additional expenditure is added to the sale price of the gas) placing additional living pressures on everyday Australians.

I genuinely question why our regulatory body approved this tax free method for Santos to improve its short term commercial viability at the expense of everyday Australian citizens (millions of dollars in Santos’s bank account with their depreciation expense giving them this money income tax free), especially given Santos pays only a very small percentage of its profits in Income Tax and the gas they sell us is actually a natural resource which belongs to every Australian citizen and its sale to Santos and other large corporates is being so poorly managed by our Government/s and their regulatory bodies (i.e. both current and previous Governments). Recently stated in Parliament that the gas industry gets over 50% of our gas for free.

We only need to look at how Norway properly manages the sale and taxation of their citizens oil and gas resources and the formation of their Sovereign Wealth Fund (which is now the largest Sovereign Wealth Fund in the world), and the benefits Norway’s citizens receive by having this fund (i.e. things like no Hospital costs and no education costs etc.). It has been well documented that our children have to pay more tax in HECS than the entire gas industry.

Isn’t it time Australia treated these large companies the same way that Norway treats theirs?

If Santos can only continue being financially viable via the support of our government (i.e. principally our PAYE taxpayers – whom Santos is already placing additional cost of living pressures on) then Santos should not be allowed to proceed with their proposed Narrabri Gas Project & Lateral Pipeline.

Many thanks for taking my concerns into consideration.

Yours sincerely

A Seccombe

The Pilliga Forest is a place of enormous cultural and environmental importance. Gomeroi Traditional Owners have a strong cultural connection to the Forest, and it’s a recharge zone for the Great Artesian Basin water resource.
I strongly object to Santos' Narrabri Gas Project lateral pipeline. This is a damaging and polluting pipeline and will open up the Pilliga for Santos’ 850 well Narrabri coal seam gasfield. WE DO NOT NEED MORE GAS!!!!
Find below reasons for this objection.

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 construction of the Narrabri Lateral pipeline on the following grounds:
-it will disturb the alluvial ground water of Bohena Creek and six other major creeks
-It will impact agricultural and cropping land.
- it will increase the likelihood that Santos will drill 850 coal seam gas wells and make untold destruction across the Pilliga, including in a key recharge area of the Great Artesian Basin, risking drainage and pollution of Australia's greatest inland water source.

Given food security and protection of clean water are national and global concerns this development is inappropriate.

I strongly object to the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline. The Pilliga is sacred to the Gomeroi people. This is their land, it will destroy their water and land, also health. Santos has a shocking record of spillages and poisoning with their projects.
Australia needs to stand up to corrupt companies like Santos and stop the destruction of the environment and wildlife also, the wildlife all play an important part in keeping the environment healthy. Once destroyed, the Land and wildlife cannot be replaced. Santos will just walk away from the devastation with their pockets lined.
It is time to provide jobs for the people, to protect the land and wildlife, this in turn provides a healthy economy which will last well into the future, especially for young people.

Please see attached. We ask that the Pipeline be rejected because the economic benefits claimed do not account for the negative externalities it will cause: especially to biodiversity and to greenhouse gas contributions, considering not only this pipeline component but the Narrabri Gas Project as a whole. We argue that the economic value to Australian consumers is questionable; that
Australia's future gas problem is an export, not a supply, problem; and that we can do better than opening new gas fields like Narrabri.