In March 2024, GasWatch monitors reported health symptoms near the Dewhurst 28 CSG well, linked to a break tank emitting toxic gases, including Hydrogen Sulphide. Despite complaints to the EPA and monitoring efforts, inadequate regulatory responses and transparency issues were exposed. Calls for continuous monitoring and better regulations have intensified.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) conducted an Optical Gas Imaging inspection in the Pilliga Forest in June 2024. This inspection was an opportunity to follow up on the work done in eastern New South Wales and Queensland by Clean Air Task Force and ACF in 2023. Several pieces of equipment were found to be leaking … Read more
As part of the upcoming Pilliga Ultra Marathon, NWPA have committed to providing a guided “Gasfield in a Forest” Tours, travelling into the threatened Pilliga Forest as part of the three day event being held at the Pilliga Pottery. Friday 13th September 2024.8:00am (depart Pottery) – 1:30pm Tour Guides Johanna Evans, North West Protection Advocacy … Read more
Santos retreat from their drilling ambitions in New South Wales A recent update from the desk of the Santos Narrabri Operations Team has confirmed rumours that the company is slowing down its operations in NSW. The update states “No further drilling activities in 2024”. NWPA recently went into the forest on one of our regular … Read more
During our March 2024 post-fire Pilliga forest inspection at Bohena South 1 NWPA observed numerous pieces of burnt irrigation equipment including fibreglass rods, polycrete blocks, tech screws, bolts and plastic HDPE pipes. The area around the well site Bohena South 1 was littered with the remnants of Santos’ equipment. It was clear that a half-baked … Read more
Following on from the aerial observations conducted over the Pilliga in January 2024, Northwest Protection Advocacy recently spent four days in the Pilliga Forest in an effort to observe and document the impact of the Duck Creek bushfire on the forest and Santos’ infrastructure. The days were very hot with extreme UV, with the forest … Read more
Santos engages a multitude of contractors, companies and suppliers across its Australian operations. This list mostly focuses on the east coast and is by no means exhaustive. Many of these companies are active in NSW. Please get in touch if you would like to contribute to this list. A Acil Allen Consulting Economics AECOM* Infrastructure … Read more
A field trip to the NSW and Queensland gasfields was undertaken earlier this year. Of the eight active wells checked in the Pilliga, New South Wales by Clean Air Taskforce Thermographer Théophile Humann-Guilleminot four were found to be releasing gas and two of these were identified by the NSW EPA in 2019 as needing repair. … Read more
By Johanna Evans Methane gas mining waste comes in many different forms and is produced by several different processes at multiple stages of mining operations. This story focuses on what’s happening in the Pilliga Forest, NSW in August 2023. Drilling Waste to be spread in the Pilliga Forest Scrutiny is urgently needed of the approved … Read more
The NSW Department of Planning and Environment has rejected a bid by Santos to avoid cumulative impact assessment of its planned Narrabri Lateral Pipeline. In its Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (“SEARs”) issued on 9th February 2023, the Department called on Santos to consider “the potential cumulative impacts due to other developments in the vicinity (completed, … Read more