NSW Country Women’s Association calls on NSW Government to cease mining exploration licences for $2 companies

NSW Country Women’s Association calls on NSW Government to cease mining exploration licences for $2 companies

A landmark decision has been passed unanimously at the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the NSW Country Women’s Association calling on the NSW Government to cease the practice of offering Mineral Exploration Licences to $2 companies.The motion by White Cliffs Branch, which is part of the Darling River Group, refers to the practice of allowing companies with only $2 capitalisation to approach farmers to gain access to land for prospecting, placing the burden of risk and damage to their properties on landowners and not the mining companies. White Cliffs CWA members Penne Clarke,…continue reading →
Whitehaven Coal’s Vickery Project is a stranded asset

Whitehaven Coal’s Vickery Project is a stranded asset

A fresh report from IEEFA, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, has called the Vickery Extension Coal project a “folly” and a “stranded project”. The Institute states that Whitehaven Coal’s “wealth destruction is extreme and ongoing”. Vickery, an audacious 10 million tonnes per annum approval originally planned to include an open cut coal pit directly on the Namoi River, is located in the northern part of the Liverpool Plains between Gunnedah and Boggabri. “A decade on from the acquisition of the Vickery coal deposit, the strategic or economic merit of Whitehaven…continue reading →
NSW Planning Secretary approves disgraced consultancy OzArk to Santos Advisory Group

NSW Planning Secretary approves disgraced consultancy OzArk to Santos Advisory Group

The NSW Planning Secretary Jim Betts has appointed a controversial archaeological consultancy, Oz Ark Environment and Heritage, to the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Group for Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project. This, in the face of two previous Oz Ark reports in the Narrabri region receiving scathing criticism for inaccuracy and inadequate consultation, one of which – the Maules Creek Oral History  – was removed from the website of the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment following complaints from the public. Condition B58 of the Narrabri Gas Project approval makes it clear under “Notes”…continue reading →
OzArk Cultural Heritage Study – Narrabri LGA

OzArk Cultural Heritage Study – Narrabri LGA

This study can be viewed online here on the NSW Government Planning Portal. This consultation was in the form of email, postal mail and phone calls to relevant Aboriginal agencies and individuals. We have provided a marked up version below: https://nwprotectionadvocacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Oz-Ark-Aboriginal-Cultural-Heritage-Study.pdfcontinue reading →
NSW Government mobilises plans to frack for gas in Western NSW

NSW Government mobilises plans to frack for gas in Western NSW

Tights Sands gas mining (unconventional gas) is once again on the agenda after the NSW Government quietly reopened the Preliminary Regional Issues Assessment (PRIA) for Western NSW. The original PRIA was announced in 2017 and covered an area half the size of the recent announcement. The NSW Government says “Preliminary Regional Issues Assessment is an initial assessment of social, environmental and economic matters relating to areas that could be released for petroleum exploration. It involves engaging with interested and potentially impacted stakeholders to identify issues for consideration as part of the Strategic Release…continue reading →
Gas industry contractors should beware of reputational risks

Gas industry contractors should beware of reputational risks

Contractors to the coal seam gas industry need to be aware of the reputational risks they incur by taking on contracts that may appear lucrative, but attract far more scrutiny than other industries they might be capable of servicing. These businesses need to understand the history of the gas industry and the reasons it is regarded with suspicion and watched closely. Events in the Pilliga East State Forest last week highlighted the scrutiny that is on the coal seam gas industry, including Santos and its contractors. A Santos contractor, Specialised Civil Services, learned…continue reading →
Santos lure NSW Waratahs to dirty sponsorship money

Santos lure NSW Waratahs to dirty sponsorship money

Prior to the NSW Waratahs accepting sponsorship from gas company Santos, North West Protection Advocacy Patron, Maria Rickert from Pilliga Pottery, penned this letter to the Chairman of the NSW Waratahs, Roger Davis. To say we are deeply disappointed by the decision of the Waratahs to accept this sponsorship deal is an understatement. Here is our letter. To: NSW WaratahsAtt: Roger Davis, ChairmanLocked Bag 1222, Paddington NSW 2021 19th January 2021 Re: Santos Festival of Rugby, Narrabri Dear Roger, My name is Maria Rickert, I am the Patron of North West Protection Advocacy,…continue reading →
NWPA Bibliography to Date 02/02/21

NWPA Bibliography to Date 02/02/21

Previous News, Comment & Blog posts for easy reference TitleDate PostedLink  A gas-led apocalypse – a photo essay from the coal seam gas fields of south west Queensland12/12/20https://nwprotectionadvocacy.com/a-gas-led-apocalypse-is-underway-in-a-shadow-place-a-photo-essay/  Banned evaporation ponds are the cheapest option of dealing with coal seam gas waste  18/11/20https://nwprotectionadvocacy.com/santos-leewood-wastewater-treatment-facility-evaporation-ponds/  High Point Vents (HPV’s)- The leaking gas  infrastructure that is being kept secret04/11/20https://nwprotectionadvocacy.com/hpvs-the-leaking-gas-industry-infrastructure-that-is-being-kept-secret/  Santos (ASX: STO) scales back financial commitment to Narrabri, faced with Port Kembla Import Terminal competition  19/10/20https://nwprotectionadvocacy.com/santos-asx-sto-scales-back-financial-commitment-to-narrabri-faced-with-port-kembla-import-terminal-competition/  NSW Gas Plan. State of Threat.18/10/20https://nwprotectionadvocacy.com/nsw-gas-plan-state-of-threat/  The North West is having an incredible Spring season in 202008/10/20https://nwprotectionadvocacy.com/north-west-nsw-is-a-having-an-incredible-spring-season-in-2020/  A tale of two…continue reading →
A gas-led apocalypse – A photo essay

A gas-led apocalypse – A photo essay

We must question the human rights abuses that are happening on the Western Darling Downs in south-west Queensland. Is this the kind of future in store for north-west NSW? Shadow places are everywhere but rarely made visible. NWPA present a photo essay of a place that has surely been consumed by shadow. Christmas in Surat. A monster well head marks the festive season in the gas fields. This sits on a well pad in the Shell-owned Ruby Jo gasfield.  Danger tags blow in the wind like decorations on a Christmas tree. A glimpse of…continue reading →