Outrage At Green Light For Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Project

Image: Lock The Gate

The Morrison Government has granted final approval required for the controversial Santos Narrabri gasfield project in New South Wales. But many locals and their supporters are still determined to see it never goes ahead.

Santos has its sights set on sinking hundreds of coal seam gas wells across 95,000 hectares in the north eastern part of Pilliga State Forest and adjoining grazing land. This will involve clearing close to 1,000 hectares in a patchwork manner for the wells and connecting lines.

The conditional approval was signed yesterday by Federal Minister against for the Environment, Sussan Ley.

“I am satisfied that the conditions, and the staged nature of work in the area, will safeguard the biodiversity of the Pilliga Forest,” said Minister Ley.

The Minister may be satisfied, but many others aren’t. In the lead-up to this approval, 22,484 submissions opposing the project were lodged with NSW Department of Planning – 98% of all submissions were against it.

Those opposed to the project believe it will have a devastating impact on local biodiversity and water resources, and will accelerate climate change not just through the burning of the gas, but also through fugitive emissions associated with extracting it. Methane is estimated to have a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 28–36 over 100 years, while the GWP of carbon dioxide is 1.

Morrison Government “A Driver Of Environmental Destruction”

The Climate Council lashed out at the decision, stating it cemented the Morrison Government’s position as a climate change laggard.

“Australia does not need new gas, and a majority of Australians don’t want it,” stated Climate Councillor Professor Lesley Hughes. “Governments and investors should be helping to transform Australia into a world leader in renewable energy. This would get Australians back to work now, while future-proofing our economy.”

The Climate Council lodged a submission with the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) strongly opposing the Narrabri Gas Project a few months ago that contained among other arguments concerns over Santos’s emissions estimates.

Lock The Gate: Not Wanted Or Needed

Local traditional owners, farmers and concerned community members have vowed to continue the fight against the Narrabri Gas Project states Lock The Gate Alliance.

“Renewable energy is the cheapest, most efficient, and cleanest way for people to power their homes and businesses,” said Lock the Gate Alliance NSW coordinator Naomi Hogan. “Gas, particularly expensive and polluting coal seam gas like that at Narrabri is not wanted or needed.”

Lock The Gate says by the time by the time Santos gets around to constructing the gasfield, renewable energy will have an even stronger foothold – and the company may not be able to find investor support.

“It’s easier to pull the wool over the eyes of politicians than it will be for Santos to convince investors to burn their money on this polluting gasfield,” said Ms. Hogan.

Santos says the Narrabri Gas Project could supply New South Wales homes, small businesses, major industries and electricity generators with up to half the state’s natural gas requirements. However, the Grattan Institute states gas will inevitably decline as an energy source for industry and homes in Australia.

On a related note, a recent report from The Australia Institute indicates the Federal Government’s “gas-fired recovery” will not help Australia’s manufacturing industry, but will likely benefit gas exporters.

With export markets continuing to gobble up most of our gas, it just reaffirms Australia’s position as a Typhoid Mary of climate change.

A recent survey indicated just 12% of Australians would prefer an economic recovery to be primarily powered by gas, compared to 59% who want it powered by investment in renewable energy – and among all energy sources, solar power was the most popular.

Original Source: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/narrabri-csg-approval-mb1775/