I am writing this submission against the proposed Narrabri Gas Project based on the following points:
1. 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.¹

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.

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 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.

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. 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 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.

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 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.

I oppose coal seam gas mining anywhere in Australia. CSG mining has not been proven to be environmentally safe and clean. The interests of Santos dot not outweigh the safety and well being of the people of Australia. NO to CSG mining.

Please stop killing our environment it is the only one we have.

Listen to Australians !
Don't sell our country out to those who want to destroy its beauty and wildlife !
I say NO to CSG in the Pilliga !

PLEASE use common sense instead of Greed - YOU are destroying our home :(
WHY can't Politicians rule with their hearts and common sense ?
You also have children who will inherit this land. Is this what you want for them ????

NO CSG in the Pilliga !!!!!!!!

Please do not make the nature and our children to pay the price for what we do today!

The ability for companies to ensure aquifer integrity is not certain nor is their ability to ensure integrity during the P&Apricess. On abandoning wells, even milling casings to ensure rock/rock integrity and then pressure grouting with modern cements is not a certainty of outcome.
To put at risk an aquifer that supports so many people and provides food to so many for a short term energy benift does not make sense.
As government regulators, I expect that your decisions are made for the benefit of the community now and in the future.

I object to this project. Coal Seam Gas projects around the world have released a huge amount of methane into the atmosphere, poisoning water supplies in the process. I have no confidence that this project will be safe either for the local environment or global warming. As a society we should be pouring money into renewables instead of polluting and dangerous energy solutions that are no more than a stop gap measure at best.

I strongly object to this proposal. Although I do not live in the area, I understand that over 90% of the people in the local area do not want this to go ahead. I object to one major company (Santos) being able to over-ride the wishes of the people whose lives will be affected most by this project. As a fellow Australian, I also object to the environmental risks of this project which will have impacts that affect all Australians. The loss of biodiversity and risk to ground water supplies are not acceptable. Coal seam gas mining has no future in Australia and should be banned in all states.

Our society and its communities do not want nor need the destruction inherent in CSG mining. It is more important than ever to protect areas like the Pillaga Forest - for our children, future generations and the species that call it home.

Please do not allow a company with a history of environmental vandalism access to one of the countries valuable areas. The Artesian basin has taken millions of years to collect but can be destroyed so quickly if CSG norms are followed by the company.