CSG Free North West NSW

The evidence presented to the public hearing of the Legislative Council’s inquiry into implementation of the Chief Scientist’s recommendations on coal seam gas revealed big holes in data, risk management, governance, communication and understanding that will leave rural people in the North West of the state bearing the cost of neglect in lost or contaminated water, increased methane emissions and fractured communities.

The NSW Government looks set to weaken the Independent Planning Commission following a review by the Productivity Commission, potentially putting the Narrabri CSG project on a fast-track following the ‘energy deal’ announced yesterday.

Balangara Films has won an Award of Excellence from The Impact DOCS Awards Competition for ‘Pilliga Rising.' The film was commissioned by The Wilderness Society to bring attention to Santos’ coal seam gas project in The Pilliga Forest and features community leaders rising up to oppose Santos’ proposal to drill 850 gas wells in the southern recharge area of the Great Artesian Basin.

“There is no shortage of gas in Australia, there’s a shortage of common sense in Canberra when it comes to gas export policy and domestic gas reservation policy,” says Member for Barwon, Roy Butler.

The ‘energy deal’ announced today between NSW and Federal Governments looks designed to unleash coal seam gas drilling in north-west NSW, threatening drought-affected farmers and allowing Santos to drain 37 billion litres of groundwater.

Crucially, it will do little to bring down greenhouse gas emissions due to its reliance on dirty, polluting unconventional gas.

Photo: Gas wells produce a lot of fugitive emissions

Despite no final decision on waste disposal or a rehabilitation fund Narrabri Council voted 5-3 to support the Narrabri Gas Project. Two surprise amendments, supporting the Narrabri Gas Project, were added to a motion which was passed at Narrabri Council’s meeting on 26 November.

Massive pond liners add to the waste of the Narrabri Gas Project

The release of the Federal Corporate Tax Dataset for the 2017-2108 financial year revealed Santos, operator of the Narrabri Gas Project, earnt $3.5 billion but paid zero tax. 

According to an article, Top 40 Tax Dodgers, by Michael West, generous exploration incentives help Santos and other gas companies to pay little or no tax.

Photo: Wilga Park Power Station courtesy of Wando Conservation and Cultural Centre

The transcript of a recent parliamentary inquiry reveals how ignorant and unprepared the NSW Government is for the damage caused by coal seam gas extraction at Narrabri.

Two pipelines have been proposed to take gas out of Narrabri and there are two other options, rail and road.

Photograph courtesy of North West Protection Advocacy