I am personally against any further fossil fuel exploration or extraction, beyond that which already exists. Fossil fuels should only be used during the transition to renewable energy. Australia has already more than enough gas off the north west coast and a proportion of this should be quarantined for our use.
It is an accepted fact that unconventional gas extraction endangers the water table a vital part of Australia's agricultural industry. It risks the long term viability of Australia's agriculture for what is a very short term benefit.

I wish to register my total disapproval of the Santos plan to convert the Narrabri and Pilliga region into unconventional gas fields.

I would like to comment on the following statements from the Santos EIS:

"There would be a longterm average of around 47 tonnes per day of salt generated during the water treatment process, with a peak of around 115 tonnes per day in years two to four." "Fifty tonnes per day equates to just over one B-double truck load."

It is interesting that Santos feels that fifty tonnes per day is a trifling amount. Between 17,000 and 42,000 tonnes of salt waste would be produced each year. This will add up to a significant threat to soil and water integrity over the lifetime of the project.

"The integrity of the well cement and casings in addition to the naturally occurring hydraulic separation of the shallow beneficial aquifers from coal measures by the confining layers between them, prevents potential migration of the groundwater from the target coal seams to beneficial aquifers, wells, bores, and watercourses." "Past experience...has also shown that the standard procedures ...used for construction of gas wells mitigate the potential for negative impacts." (Appendix T2 Health Impact Statement p 39).

I note that the biocides that Santos uses in its drilling fluids eat cement. It is well documented from other gas fields that all wells fail over time.

"The assessment concluded that for significant impacts to occur to shallow groundwater and surface water environments ... from subsurface activities, interformational leakage from coal seam depressurization would have to propagate through a thick stratigraphic sequence above the target coal seams, which contains confining layers with very low permeability. This means leakage would have to move up through numerous very impermeable layers. This is considered to be highly unlikely." (Appendix T2 Health Impact Statement p 40).

The authors of the report do not appear aware of the reality of subterranean structure - the earth is not laid down in homogenous impervious layers: there are numerous cracks, folds, air pockets, caverns, old bore holes, mines etc. It does not matter how impervious the actual material making up a layer is, there will be many structures and fissures that would be pathways for water and gas. They fail to note that very little is known about the underground structure of the area.

"The risk of spills and leaks of produced water affecting surface water quality was assessed to be low due to the design, construction, operation, management and monitoring of water infrastructure." (Executive Summary)

So how does Santos explain the leaks and contamination that have already occurred during their operations in the Pilliga? 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 barium. In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads.

On a global level, methane freed up by coal seam gas mining is a dangerous component of escalating climate destabilization. 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. We do not need to keep encouraging an industry which is a threat to our future, both locally and globally. This industry is like the whale oil industry: its time has come and gone.

Mrs Susan Somerville

I object to any new coal seam gas development in Australia.

We have plenty sun, wind and sea-waves, so we don't need CSG. We can have sustainable power. So spend the money to develop that instead.

This land is owned by the people who live there. And they are the people who should get to say what happens there.

I object to all coal seam gas projects in Australia. Coal Seam Gas is harmful to our health and environment. Neither the NSW Government nor Santos have investigated or dealt with the serious health effects of coal seam gas now appearing in peer-reviewed research in the United States. In the interest of the health of our future generations and the planet, please reconsider this absurd process.

My family and I have spent some time in the Pillaga and learnt about how special this land is. It must be left alone to function as it does for the benefit of its inhabitants, but also for the benefit of us all in New South Wales, in Australia and the planet. It is a unique natural environment and the largest such continuous forest remnant in the our state of New South Wales. Destroying it for short term financial gain would be a crime. A crime against our own long-term self interest. A crime against our children and their children.

In my view as a citizen of Australia, nor the Government, neither Santos or any other business have the rights to destroy it. I am strongly objecting the approval of any mining or gas extraction activities now and in the indefinite future.

Furthermore:
1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Artesian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer

The Narrabri gas field 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.



¹SoilFutures Consulting 2014, Great Artesian Basin Recharge Systems and Extent of Petroleum and Gas Leases. http://www.gabpg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/GAB-Report1.pdf
²http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-coal-seam-gas-project-contaminates-aquifer-20140307-34csb.html
³BirdLife International (2017) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pilliga http://www.birdlife.org
⁴Marion Carey Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), Air pollution from coal seam gas may put public health at risk The Conversation, November 20, 2012
⁵https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/21/siding-spring-observatory-threat-coal-seam-gas-light-pollution
⁶http://darksky.org/first-dark-sky-park-in-australia-designated/

The Narrabri Gas Project cannot be allowed to proceed - there is so much uncertainty surrounding the consequences of the project. Those making their lives in this region should not be asked to sacrifice their lifestyle and livelihoods for a project that has the high potential to devastate the natural environment, the air we breathe, water we drink.. the risks to all (humans, animals & environment) is surely too great to risk.

It is not a sustainable industry.

It will extract over 35 billion litres of toxic groundwater, much of it in the first five years. This water will be treated and in the early years will generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt, for which there is no safe disposal plan.

It will clear close to 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest, fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife.

It will cause significant diversion of water from a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin, which is a water resource relied upon by rural communities across western NSW.

It will lead to large deliberate and fugitive emissions of methane, adding to climate change.

It will cause more trauma to the regional Aboriginal community because the area of impact is crucially important to the spiritual, cultural and social life of Gamilaraay people.

It is not justified: Santos' own Coal Seam Gas export activities in Queensland have caused gas prices to rise and supply to become unpredictable. NSW should respond to this by investing in more reliable and ultimately cheaper renewable energy, not by letting Santos inflict more environmental, social and economic harm.

It will cause economic upheaval in Narrabri and put agricultural industries at risk, as well as causing light pollution that will ruin the dark night sky needed by the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory.
Coal Seam Gas is harmful to health. Neither the NSW Government nor Santos have investigated or dealt with the serious health effects of coal seam gas now appearing in peer-reviewed research in the United States

With a list of negatives like this (and no doubt there are SO MANY MORE) how can the project be allowed to proceed - who will be responsible when the side effects began to rear their heads? Who will own that responsibility and be able to stand tall and proud and say - I DID THAT. I was part of a process that allowed this industry to DESTROY an entire region. The effects will be horrifying and it will be a matter of when not if - experts (those NOT funded by SANTOS) all agree - it is a dangerous and NON sustainable industry that has NO PLACE in the Pilliga.

I support it.

I am opposed to this project.
My concerns are as follows:
1. Coal Seam Gas is harmful to health. Neither the NSW Government nor Santos have investigated or dealt with the serious health effects of coal seam gas now appearing in peer-reviewed research in the United States.

2. Gas export activities in Queensland have caused gas prices to rise and supply to become unpredictable. NSW should respond to this by investing in more reliable and ultimately cheaper renewable energy, not by letting Santos inflict more environmental, social and economic harm.

3. Climate change is happening we don't need projects that increase the problem. The large deliberate and fugitive emissions of methane will add to climate change.

4 .It's light pollution will ruin the dark night sky needed by the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory.

5. The Great Artesian Basin is a water resource relied upon by rural communities across western NSW. This project will cause significant diversion of water from the recharge aquifer.

6. Because the area of impact is crucially important to the spiritual, cultural and social life of Gamilaraay people this project will cause more trauma to the regional Aboriginal community. they have already been deprived of so much. No More!

7. This project will put agricultural industries at risk causing economic upheaval in Narrabri.

8. The Pilliga Forest is the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife. Clearing close to 1,000 hectares will have destroy the biodiversity of this sensitive environment.

9. The toxic groundwater extracted will generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt, for which there is no safe disposal plan.

I ask you not to approve this project

The Narrabri Gas Project involves the progressive development of a coal seam gas field comprising up to 850 gas wells on up to 425 well pads over 20 years, and the construction and operation of gas processing and water treatment facilities, including:
- a central gas processing facility for the compression, dehydration and treatment of gas;
- a water management facility for the storage and treatment of produced water;
- an in-field gas compression and water management facility; and
- water and gas gathering pipelines and ancillary infrastructure.
Please stop this!