NSW Government monitoring bore in The Pilliga
Santos’ Response to Submissions to the Narrabri Gas Project was released on 23 April 2018 and is on the NSW Government Planning & Environment website. The project now moves into the government assessment phase of the approval process.
A brief appraisal of Santos Response to Submissions reveals –
- The project has been delayed a year.
- A final investment decision has not been made due to the timing of approval, further appraisal and exploration.
- Over the life of the project an average of only 540 full time jobs will be created.
- Santos needs to make a development application or apply for a modification to expand the project area.
- Santos is not seeking approval for fracking.
Note: Modifications to a project do not require a separate EIS, a full assessment or community consultation. Fracking has occurred in NSW under a modification.
Insufficient monitoring and inadequate information were objected to strongly in the submissions. Many of the issues raised have still not been addressed as Santos proposes –
- A rehabilitation plan will be prepared post approval.
- Every 3 years a third party will do an environmental audit, monitoring gas wells and gathering lines.
- Waste salt, filter cartridges and reverse osmosis membranes will be disposed of at an appropriately licenced facility in accordance with regulatory requirements.
- Prior to a routine loadout to an off-site licenced management waste facility, the salt would be temporarily stored at Leewood, in a weatherproof appropriately bunded storage facility.
Note: In Queensland toxic salt piles up on gas companies’ or contractors land waiting for a waste facility to be approved and licenced.
Scientist wrote in their submissions that the information on the effects on surface and groundwater was insufficient to assess the project and more monitoring was needed. The water section is complex and expert advice is needed to see if Santos have adequately addressed this issue.
In other words this massive document does little to quash the fears of objectors but spins a good yarn. With the $13B takeover bid from US owned Harbour Energy being reviewed by the Foreign Investment Review Board, Santos needs to keep up appearances that this project is still viable.
The backyard of New South Wales is facing its biggest threat yet – invasive gasfields. Betrayal by governments has meant protectors are fighting to save the things they love. The Pilliga, Great Artesian Basin, Liverpool Plains – all are at risk. This is a David and Goliath battle to save our land, air and water from destruction. It’s also a fight for the soul and future of Australia. Meet the experts and people living in the sacrifice zone and uncover the truth behind the real gas crisis confronting ordinary Australians.
Santos’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Narrabri Gas Project received 22,700 submissions against it, well over the previous record of under 10,000 received by the NSW Government Planning & Environment Department. Submissions closed on May 22. I assumed the government would be assessing the submissions before allowing further developments but no, on July 3 they they granted APA the right to survey for a pipeline for the unapproved project. 
If the proposed Narrabri Gas Project is to go ahead, it has to connect to existing gas pipelines. APA has entered into an agreement with Santos to work with regulatory authorities and local communities towards the development of a new pipeline from the Project to the Moomba Sydney Pipeline near Condobolin. 
The 
People for the Plains are appealing the Land and Environment Court’s decision to uphold approval for Santos’ CSG Leewood wastewater facility in the Pilliga Forest.
Gas GAB Tours 