The National Native Title Tribunal has granted approval for Santos Ltd. to apply for four petroleum production leases to cover the proposed $3.5-billion (Aus.) Narrabri coal seam gas project in northern New South Wales.
The tribunal’s determination imposed a condition in each case that Santos takes all necessary steps to ensure an additional research program be implemented as specified in the Narrabri Gas Project Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan, which must be completed prior to beginning Phase 2 of the project.
Santos said it will continue to work with the Gomeroi people to ensure their heritage is protected and that they benefit from the project development via training and employment.
The tribunal’s decision ends talks which began in 2014 when Santos proposed to drill for gas on Gomeroi land, a move opposed by the Gomeroi people.
The tribunal’s intervention came when the two parties failed to reach a negotiated agreement under the Native Title Act.
The Narrabri project involves drilling 850 wells to produce 1,500 petajoules of gas to be piped to Australia’s east coast markets.