Narrabri was
chosen as the venue because of its proximity to Santos’ proposed gasfield. (The gasfield starts 6 km from the Narrabri
Post Office.)
The attendees
welcomed the opportunity to network with other Nannas and to hear inspiring
speeches from Sue Higginson (Environmental Defender’s Office ) and Sydney
Morning Herald journalist Elizabeth
Farrelly as well as women from the local Gomeroi community. Unfortunately Janelle Saffin, who had been
scheduled to speak, was an apology because of illness.
Perhaps the
most important aspect of the conference was the opportunity to learn more about
Santos’ gasfield which will cover a large area of farmland as well as the
Pilliga Forest. In addition to hearing about local concerns, the Nannas had the
opportunity to tour parts of the gasfield.
This immense
development of 850 gas wells will have a devastating impact on the
biodiverse-rich Pilliga Forest which provides habitat for a range of threatened
species including Koala. It’s not just
the number of wells proposed but all the accompanying infrastructure such as
roads, pipelines, vents and flares which mean that large amounts of the forest
will be cleared.
So here we
have land owned by the people of NSW – it’s OUR forest – which is going to be
devastated so that Santos can make massive profits. What was of great concern is that there has
ALREADY been extensive infrastructure (wells, flares, wastewater storage and
pipelines) developed in the Pilliga Forest – although to date it has only been
a pilot project. Forest
clearing is not the only issue about Santos’ gasfield. There are major concerns. about contamination
of the water table and impact on the recharge of the Great Artesian Basin.
Santos also has a poor record in preventing and then cleaning up toxic spills
during operation of its pilot project. And then there’s the question of the
disposal of huge volumes of produced water and salt. Santos has not provided satisfactory answers
to these and many other questions.
While final
approval has not yet been given for this proposal[1], the Nannas are concerned
about the NSW Government’s record in pushing destructive mining projects which
are not in the long-term community interest. We fear that this project will be
approved despite all the opposition and the very many concerns about its
long-term impacts. It seems the big end
of town is much more important to our politicians than the future health of our
natural environment or productive farmland.
The Nannas want to see this change.
- Leonie the Novice Knitter
[1] The massive EIS was on
exhibition earlier this year. A final
decision on whether the project will be allowed to go ahead is yet to be made.
Images supplied
Guest Speak is a North Coast Voices segment allowing serious or satirical comment from NSW Northern Rivers residents. Email northcoastvoices at gmail dot com dot au to submit comment for consideration
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