Santos submits EIS for Narrabri CSG project
Adelaide company Santos Ltd. has submitted a state significant development application and associated environmental impact statement for its controversial Narrabri coal seam gas project in northwest New South Wales to the state government.
Adelaide company Santos Ltd. has submitted a state significant development application and associated environmental impact statement for its controversial Narrabri coal seam gas project in northwest New South Wales to the state government.
The company says the project could supply up to 50% of New South Wales’ gas requirements. The gas will be made available to east coast consumers via a pipeline linking into the existing Moomba-Sydney trunk line. This spur line will be built by the APA Group and is the subject of a separate approval process.
The EIS includes extensive studies and modelling of the environment around the project area, including examination of potential effects on water, flora, fauna, soil, air quality, and noise levels, as well as cultural heritage. The EIS garnered data from more than 13,000 hours of ground environmental surveys conducted by environmental scientists.
Santos has also looked at potential social impacts and consulted widely with the surrounding community and other stakeholders.
In particular a groundwater impact assessment was developed for the project to determine what impact it would have on local water supplies. This study concluded there would be negligible impact on existing water users.
The project operations will be on about 1,000 hectares of ground in and around Pilliga near Narrabri. The majority of work will be on state land set aside by the New South Wales government for uses including forestry and extractive industries.
The EIS will be placed on public exhibition by the New South Wales department of planning and environment and submissions will be invited during that period.
