THE NSW government’s environmental watchdog and the state’s volunteer firefighters have criticised the lack of detail in Santos’ plan for an 850-well gasfield near Narrabri.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) say the company has failed to provide any information about how it will dispose of the tonnes of salt the project will produce everyday, while the Rural Fire Service (RFS) has warned the gasfield could be a major hazard in the bushfire prone Pilliga forest.
They were among the 11 agencies who have so far provided feedback to Santos’ Response to Submissions.
Farmer Alistair Donaldson, who has fought bushfires in the Pilliga, said bushfires, gas wells and pipelines were a “potential death-trap”.
“Santos’ gasfield will put rural volunteer firefighters and gas workers at risk, and the company hasn’t even had the decency to answer the questions raised by the RFS,” he said.
“We’ve been saying from the start that the flammable Pilliga is the wrong place for a gasfield and the thought of fighting fires in the forest alongside gas wells, pipelines and flares is a big worry.”
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Narrabri farmer Sally Hunter said during the gasfield’s peak production, it would “produce up to 80 kilograms a minute of toxic salts”.
“And they have never been able to explain what they will do with all that stuff,” she said.
“We are quite relieved to learn that the EPA is demanding Santos provide answers about the fate of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of contaminated salt waste, before a decision is made about the gasfield.”
Santos waters down fire and salt concerns
A Santos spokesperson hosed down the RFS concerns, saying “it is simply not possible for underground coal ignition to occur as a result of CSG development”.
“Gas production and transport infrastructure is in place all around Australia and fire risks and management have been addressed in accordance with best industry practice,” the spokesperson said.
“It is untrue that there is any increased risk of fire spreading or increased danger to fire fighters arising from the presence of this infrastructure.
“We already have a Bushfire Management Plan in place that has been developed in consultation with the RFS.”
The company said it had also made it clear salt would only be disposed at appropriately licensed facilities.
“The project will produce an average of 48 tonnes of salt per day, much less than is already being produced and disposed safely in the region, including around 100 tonnes of salt a day from the Liddell and Bayswater power stations,” the spokesperson said.
“Santos has already advised the EPA that it will do further work on its Water Monitoring Plan prior to project determination.”