please see attachment

Please find attached my submission regarding the expansion of the Dewhurst Gas Exploration Pilot Expansion, application number SSD 13_6038.

Please find attached.

See attachment number 1.

Santos are proposing methods that are proven dangerous to aquifers and therefore have failed to meet the Director General Requirements for this project.

Santos knows that their so called "multi-lateral drilling" or "triple stacked" process is dangerous and threatens the environment and the Great Artesian Basin. This alone is justification to impose an immediate moratorium until other more important considerations are PROPERLY EVALUATED.

Economically this project is a disaster for Australia. The so called assessment process has enumerated only the benefits and NONE of the costs to the community the environment and the nation. This approach has been labelled as "biased", "abused" and "deficient" by the ABS, Productivity Commission and Land and Environment Court respectively and doesn't comply with DGRs. SHAME on the government!

The granting of unrestricted use of ground water for CSG extraction is totally unconscionable. At the very least such usage should be on the same conditions and AT THE SAME COST as agricultural extraction. The discharge of hundreds and thousands of megalitres of so called "produced water" is an environmental disaster and a national shame!

Piliga State Forest is an environmental asset that has been long appreciated for its biodiversity. It supports many threatened species. These include the Pilliga Mouse (found only in the Pilliga), Koala's, the Black Striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy Possum and many more. Santos have admitted that their CSG exploration will destroy habitat for the Pilliga Mouse.The Pilliga is also a haven for birdlife, including the internationally protected Rainbow Bee-eater.

As a former operator of airborne exploration for mining companies in Canada USA Africa and Australia, I can attest that mining companies have NO interest in preserving the environment and are happy to dump their filth (read heavy metal tailings, "produced water" etc. etc.) in the most convenient (cheapest) place and leave behind their rusting infrastructure and a damaged environment when they have taken all they can. Miners are even less trust worthy than politicians bankers and internet fraudsters!

There are many other reasons to end this (and most other CSG projects) and they have been addressed by other submissions. They include:
AIR QUALITY - fugitive emissions, flaring and heavy equipment diesel exhaust
GREEN-HOUSE GASES - The latest studies of nconventional gas drilling from Harvard University have suggest gas emissions from drilling and fracking are 50% worse than previously thought.
HAZARDS - The Pilliga is highly susceptible to fires; e.g. lightning & gas flaring
HERITAGE - Aboriginal Heritage requirements for were taken out of the Director General Requirements. SHAME!!!!

I am attaching a pdf file with the text of this submission FOLLOWING three graphics which show 1) the drilling pattern originally proposed for Piliga, 2) the same pattern adapted to the leases previously held on the floor of the Tweed Valley (where I live) and 3) an aerial photo of a typical CSG drilling operation. Remember that every one of those wells is attached to a grid of roads pipelines and power lines. This damage cannot and will not be reversed.

This will completely destroy the natural environment of the Piliga. The Pilliga Forest is a national treasure and no place for a coal seam gas field. For the sake of our grandchildren, stop this abomination NOW!

David M Palmer
partner bigvolcano.com.au, founding officer Northern NSW Ecotourism Association