due to the large amout of data created from similar well projects internationally Its clear that the damage caused bby such a project would be vast and irreparable.

Surely a renewable energy project away from water and wildlife is far more beneficial to australkia in to the future than such a project.

I strongly protest this and I find the environmental impact assessments to be ill conceived and unaccountable.

Do not go ahead with this project

kindly

JC

The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian BasinÂ--AustraliaÂ's largest groundwater aquifer

The Narrabri gasfield poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. In a worst-case scenario, the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areasÂ--potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin.



Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi RiverÂ--a part of the Murray Darling Basin. This system is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.


2. The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed

There are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay to the forest and to the groundwater beneath. Gamilaraay people are deeply involved in the battle against CSG, and have told Santos they do not want their country sacrificed for a coal seam gas field.


3. Farmers and other local community reject the project

Extensive community surveys have shown an average of 96% opposition to CSG. This stretches across a massive 3.2 million hectares of country surrounding the Pilliga forest, including 99 communities. Hundreds of farmers have participated in protest actions unlike any previously seen in the region.



4. The Narrabri Gas Project has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG waterÂ--Santos cannot be trusted to manage the project safely

Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium². In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads. Santos cannot be trusted.


5. The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife

The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed Â`biodiversity hotspotsÂ' and is vital to the survival of threatened species like the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat. The forest is home to over 200 bird species and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area². The Santos gasfield would fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelinesÂ--damaging vital habitat and threatening the survival of endangered species.


6. Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change

Methane is by far the major component of natural gas, and is a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than CO². CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas.



7. Human health is compromised by coal seam gas

A range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air from coal seam gas operations, including flaring of gas wells. The effects of volatile organic compounds vary, but can cause eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination⁴. These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gasfields in Queensland, Sydney and in America.



8. The nationÂ's premier optical astronomical observatory is at risk

The Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungles and adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution⁵. The area has been internationally recognised as a Â`dark sky parkÂ'⁶ and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of the facility.


9. Thousands of tonnes of salt waste will result from the project

Santos has no solution for disposing of the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt that will be produced. Between 17,000 and 42,000 tonnes of salt waste would be produced each year. This industry would leave a toxic legacy in NSW.


10. Risk of fires would increase throughout the PilligaÂ's tinder-box conditions

Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is prone to severe bushfires. The project would increase ignition sources as well as extracting, transporting and storing a highly flammable gas right within this extremely fire-prone forest.

I am originally from rural NSW and have travelled this area extensively. I love this country and cant imagine it being exploited and destroyed for gas wells. This is absolutely appalling, I am truely devastated that the Australian government would allow such a practice.

I understand that Australians need a reliable source of fuel supplies
BUT
I object to the mining in the Pillaga Region going ahead until research can PROVE that there will be no lasting damaging consequences to our vital water and food supplies. We cannot afford to contaminate the water and food from this region with salt and other chemical waste.

What is the point of providing gas if we do not have sufficient food and water to live?

To Allow Foreign Interests to extract GAS ,to the detriment to our
country is crime against the Traditional,current and future generations,flora and Fauna of Australia.

This is now a PROVEN Scientifically unsound and damaging process, and has been outlawed in countries such as Germany and Scotland (to name a few).

We should follow these countries in developing renewable energy methods, that help correct humans destruction of the environment
and look to the future,instead of the greedy short sighted practices of these evil corporations,run by evil people.

Without clean water,we ALL die ! Do you want you and your children and theirs to live in a world we destroyed, or one we turned around and cared for ?

The people are waking up, it's time those who represent the people did the same, OH SHAME SHAME SHAME !!!!

1. Risk of fires would increase throughout the Pilliga's tinder-box conditions

Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is prone to severe bushfires. The project would increase ignition sources as well as extracting, transporting and storing a highly flammable gas right within this extremely fire-prone forest.


2. The nation's premier optical astronomical observatory is at risk

The Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungles and adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution⁵. The area has been internationally recognised as a `dark sky park'⁶ and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of the facility.


3. Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change

Methane is by far the major component of natural gas, and is a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than CO². CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas.


4. The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed

There are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay to the forest and to the groundwater beneath. Gamilaraay people are deeply involved in the battle against CSG, and have told Santos they do not want their country sacrificed for a coal seam gas field.


5. The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife

The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots' and is vital to the survival of threatened species like the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat. The forest is home to over 200 bird species and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area². The Santos gasfield would fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelines--damaging vital habitat and threatening the survival of endangered species.


6. Human health is compromised by coal seam gas

A range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air from coal seam gas operations, including flaring of gas wells. The effects of volatile organic compounds vary, but can cause eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination⁴. These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gasfields in Queensland, Sydney and in America.


7. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Australian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer

The Narrabri gasfield poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. In a worst-case scenario, the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas--potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin.

Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River--a part of the Murray Darling Basin. This system is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.


8. The Narrabri Gas Project has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG water--Santos cannot be trusted to manage the project safely

Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium². In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads. Santos cannot be trusted.


9. Thousands of tonnes of salt waste will result from the project

Santos has no solution for disposing of the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt that will be produced. Between 17,000 and 42,000 tonnes of salt waste would be produced each year. This industry would leave a toxic legacy in NSW.


10. Farmers and other local community reject the project

Extensive community surveys have shown an average of 96% opposition to CSG. This stretches across a massive 3.2 million hectares of country surrounding the Pilliga forest, including 99 communities. Hundreds of farmers have participated in protest actions unlike any previously seen in the region.

climate change is real, the earth is hurrying to its destruction, profit before looking after the only place we have to live is behind this. The precious water resources are ruined by coal seam gas exploration and extraction, native habitat is threatened and could lead to the extinction of endangered species. The Pilliga region is unique, and must be kept untouched not vandalised by mining companies.

CountryMinded is opposed to the proposed Narrabri CSG development.
In the current economic paradigm there is politically driven conflict around the prioritisation of resources to finite production of extractive industries as opposed to the comparatively infinite production of agricultural industries.
There is a clear political bias toward energy companies and subsequent planning arrangements demonstrate this. In the competition for access to resources for development, agriculture is not proffered the same access or leniency in regards to environmental constraints.
If the proposed Narrabri CSG development were assessed with the same standards applied to any agricultural development it would necessarily not be approved. It is unacceptable that planning arrangements can be inconsistent in this context.
Australia has enjoyed an abundance of agricultural lands with little regard for food security based on consistent export surpluses. However, the global food challenge paints a bleak picture for regional food security into the future. Future demands on agricultural production demand that the natural resources that underpin that production must be protected for future generations.
Extractive industries must operate with a genuine "do no harm" commitment that is not time-framed. It is a matter of strategic national importance and national security.
Clearly the threats to agricultural land vary between the nature of the extraction method, the intensity of the agricultural enterprise and the ability of the two activities to coexist.
It is increasingly apparent that the larger issue around extractive industries and their impact on agricultural productions systems is in relation to direct and collateral impacts on ground water assets.
In most agricultural landscapes, water is the most limiting resource. The complexity of the hydrology in ground water systems presents difficulties for the assessment of impacts of a particular activity until after the activity is undertaken and even then it is not always clear what the causes and effects are.
CountryMinded is committed to the prioritisation of agriculture and the protection of agriculturally important natural resources.
CountryMinded is also committed to objective evidence based policy. In the situation of extractive industries and the conflicting science, biased as it may be, the precautionary principle must prevail. Consideration must be given both to the likelihood of a particular outcome and the severity of a particular outcome.
In relation to disruption of essential ground water supplies and its impact on current and future production, CountryMinded is conservative in its view and would necessarily oppose any extractive industry that poses a threat to these resources.
The onus of proof must lie with the extractive industry proponents to prove that their intended activity will have no lasting impact on the productivity of the agricultural landscape.
In response to the issues raised above CountryMinded must:
* Oppose CSG and the extension of coal extraction until there is no risk to groundwater assets, productive agricultural land and human health.
* Prioritise the right of agricultural enterprise over extractive industries in access negotiations.

I'm writing to object to the gas project because there is to much risk to the environment.

I grew up in the Narrabri shire and my family have built a highly successful cropping and agribusiness enterprise 6 Kms downstream from the proposed Santos CSG site.

The key to the success of this multi-million dollar enterprise has been hard work, high capital investment in plant and equipment, great soil conservation and rotation, and most importantly - access to clean and uncontaminated sub-artesian water.

The Santos EIS indicates that there will be no interference with the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) re-charge zone. However, Government hydrogeological mapping of the GAB shows the project will straddle the most important inflow zone to the GAB in NSW (see Hydrogeological Atlas of the GAB - 2016). It is well documented that CSG production can have an impact on groundwater quality and quantity in adjacent and overlaying aquifiers. Given the proposal plans to extract over 35 billion litres of water it is alarming that the EIS provides no evidence to show there is no connectivity between aquifier strata. Why is this missing? Given the clear risks to water access and quality for other industries in the area, the EIS should be rejected until this matter is resolved safely and fairly. Furthermore, it is clear from the EIS that Santos propose to release treated water into Bohena Creek during high to moderate flows. The EIS ignores the existing role of Bohena Creek as a recognised surface groundwater ecosystem.

From the gaslands experience of Tara in Queensland, it is clear that the EIS ignores public health risks from fugitive emissions, particularly on respiratory illness and foetal development, along with the recent science that shows that the level of methane emissions from CSG operations are high enough to pose significant risks through rising greenhouse gas levels.

The project MUST NOT PROCEED as the risks are too high for existing agribusinesses which provide the bulk of productive output from the district, including the highest employment and long term social and economic benefit to NSW. Santos' EIS does not stack up against these risks and the community will hold its elected officials and the government accountable for not listening to and acknowledging these real and valid concerns! A quick buck for a 'sugar hit' in royalties (if these ever eventuate) that ruins the established ecology and economy of the Narrabri shire will not be ignored by those who will have to live with the consequence of a decision to go ahead with this fractured proposal.