1. It is safehaven 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.

2. 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.

3. It risks our clean water
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.

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. Bushfire risk will rise
Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is already prone to severe bushfires, this project will increase the risk of ignition.

This project would be devastating to the natural environment and create untold damage to the water and air quality in this region.
The potential damage to people's health alone from the dangerous chemicals CSG uses should be enough to refuse to allow this to go ahead.
Sincerely,
Michael Brown

In line with a recent 4 corners program demonstrating methane gas being vented from existing pipeline and well heads I believe it is prudent to have scientific studies perhormed via non-baised individuals to determine the extent of and the probable damage this proposal will cause. This is a reasonable non-commercial request and if the evidence is demonstrated to be conclusive and incontestable to a reasonable citizen; it is logical that the project be permenantly halted and all CSG projects in NSW be audited for this very serious methane gas emission fault.

1 Santos has no incentive or vested interest to protect Australian geological structures or water quality.
2 Profits from Santos go overseas.
3 Santos probably has a favoured tax arrangement that overrides it's responsibilities to Australian citizens.
4 CSG exploration emissions are not being properly reported.

I object strongly to any possibility that Santos will mine for coal seam gas in the Pilliga Forest and the regions extending from Narrabri, Gunnedah, Coonamble and south of Mendooran. Having grown up first on farmland near Baradine, then in Coonabarabran where I finished my schooling, and finally for 45 years as an adult in Dubbo, I have a heritage and homeland here that I feel very strongly I need to protect. It is not my wish to see this region become like the ugly, toxic gas-fields of Chinchilla, Qld, where methane gas has been measured escaping into the atmosphere unchecked, where farmers have been forced from their land, surrounded by gas-works, or had water resources either dry up or poisoned, where people's health has been affected with allergies, headaches and mental illness, where locals have suicided from the industry pressure, and where the diversity of flora and fauna has been severely impacted.

As a Knitting Nanna Against Coal Seam Gas in Dubbo for 2 years, every Wednesday for 3 hours on the main street, I met with hundreds of people who stopped for information or to complete our survey. Only one citizen agreed to CSG drilling in the area in all of that time, because he hoped they would pay him out on his farm.

As a loyal Coonabarabran resident, I am dismayed that a project such as Santos envisions could be allowed to proceed when the Scientists of Sidings Springs have loudly voiced their opposition due to the light pollution this gas field would produce. The scientific data of the skies that this facility gathers is of value worldwide. Sidings Springs has taken decades and millions in finances to establish itself to this renowned status. To undermine and degrade such an important academic site is ignorant and irresponsible.

Flares from Santos drilling already flare unchecked on days when fire danger is seriously high --- days when farmers would be fined for harvesting or driving a tractor. Recently the Warrumbungles suffered a most serious bushfire that set back this beautiful tourist attraction decades. The National Park has still not recovered after some 5 years. Coonabarabran suffered loss of tourism revenue, farmers were burnt out and fauna disappeared.

As a Dubbo Field Naturalist and informed citizen I am concerned for the natural world and for my planet. Climate Change is a fact. Australia needs to accept the inevitable and move away from fossil fuels to keep pace with the rest of the world, to stop emitting carbon into the atmosphere, (CSG has been reported as the worst because of unchecked leaks), and to give the renewable energy industry a positive direction for the future.

I do not want Coal Seam Gas in my backyard.

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.
Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is already prone to severe bushfires, this project will increase the risk of ignition.

- 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 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.

Allowing these coal seam gas mines to proceed is tantamount to a betrayal of all the Australian people. The Government needs to protect its people - not proceed with activities that are proven to be harmful to the natural environment upon which our existence depends.

We know that Climate Change has now passed the "tipping point" nominated by expert climate scientists world wide: that we are locked into what will be catastrophic effects of extreme weather. When all the various feedback mechanisms of the Earth is factored in, eg the sea currents and wind patterns, extreme eweather patternsand the release of ancient methane supplies from beneath permafrost and ocean floors, the entire planet is at risk. Some scientists have tried to project the possible feedback systems and it looks disastrous for all life.

Of course government can turn a blind eye to further destruction, further methane releases and further burning of fossil fuels which we KNOW is dangerous when the carbon emissions level is past the critical point now. If govt permission to proceed is given, the may well be held criminally negligent in the near future since they proceeded when it is known that further burning and release of fossil fuels is "adding fuel to an already out of control fire".

The government MUST take advice from the scientific experts on what is the most appropriate action in order to mitigate the worst effects of climate change on its people.

I wish to register my strong objection to the application for the following reasons:


1. Wildlife will suffer badly. It is safehaven 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.

2. 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.

3. It risks our clean water
. 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.

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. Bushfire risk will rise
. Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is already prone to severe bushfires, this project will increase the risk of ignition.
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As the probable negative impacts of coal seam gas extraction are only now becoming clear it is not sensible to approve this project until they are better understood.

Those consequences include significantly for the Piliga are contamination of ground water (The Great Artesian Basin and the Murray Darling) and threat to unique and endangered species.

Most companies have already walked away from this type of project for commercial reasons which suggests that Santos is acting hastily and delay pending better research into side effects will not cost the government votes nor Santos any money beyond the losses already incurred