Latest news with #Gomeroi
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Farmers fear water risks in controversial gas pipeline
A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market. A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market. A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market. A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market.
West Australian
a day ago
- Business
- West Australian
Farmers fear water risks in controversial gas pipeline
A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Farmers fear water risks in controversial gas pipeline
A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market.
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Australia's Santos gets green light for $2.3 billion Narrabri gas project
SYDNEY, May 20 (Reuters) - Santos' ( opens new tab A$3.6 billion ($2.32 billion) Narrabri gas project in Australia can proceed, a tribunal ruled, as boosting domestic energy supply outweighed concerns the development would hurt the climate and damage Indigenous heritage sites. The decision follows a decade-long fight over the grant of leases for Santos to drill up to 850 wells and extract coal-seam gas in northwest New South Wales, an area that overlaps with the culturally significant Pilliga forest. The local Gomeroi people have opposed the development, arguing the project's emissions would worsen climate change, impacting their health, way of life and the land. In a judgment released on Monday, the National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged the project's contribution to climate change was a "serious detriment", but said energy security was also an "important benefit" for the public as well as the Gomeroi people. "Weighing the public interest evidence, including the evidence addressing environmental matters, the panel has found the project offers a net public benefit," the tribunal's decision said. Since the Narrabri gas project was proposed over a decade ago, it has been opposed by the Gomeroi people, who said they were owed exclusive native title rights over the area. Native title is a legal doctrine in Australia that recognises Indigenous rights to certain parcels of land. Santos initially won the tribunal's approval for the grant of the leases in 2022. The Federal Court overturned the decision in 2024 and ordered a reassessment of the Gomeroi people's environmental concerns. The tribunal said on Monday the leases could be granted provided the gas produced was used exclusively for domestic supply and additional cultural and environmental safeguards were implemented. Santos has said it would make a final investment decision for the project, which still needs planning approval for a pipeline connection to Australia's east coast, by this year. The parties did not immediately respond to requests for comment. ($1 = 1.5521 Australian dollars)
ABC News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
National Native Title Tribunal ruling on Narrabri Gas Project devastates elder
A decision by the National Native Title Tribunal to allow the New South Wales government to lease land to Santos for gas extraction has left a traditional landowner "devastated". The tribunal was asked to decide whether the leases, which mostly overlap with a significant Gomeroi cultural area, the Pilliga, should be allowed. The NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) approved the $3.6 billion Narrabri Gas Project for up to 850 gas wells in 2020. In its decision handed down on Monday, the tribunal said, weighing the public interest evidence and concerns of the Gomeroi people, they believed the Narrabri Gas Project offered a "net public benefit". Gomeroi woman and native title applicant Polly Cutmore said the decision was upsetting. "I am very upset, but it doesn't surprise me," she said. The tribunal decision was not the only remaining hurdle for the Narrabri Gas Project, but it has been a protracted issue. In December 2022, the tribunal decided the leases could be allowed, subject to conditions. In March 2024, the Federal Court unanimously rejected the Gomeroi people's five grounds of appeal relating to good faith. But the appeal was allowed on one ground; two of the three Federal Court Justices found the tribunal erred in its limited consideration of environmental concerns. Chief Justice Debra Mortimer said in the 2024 ruling the Gomeroi people "were deprived of the possibility of a successful outcome by reason of the tribunal's errors". Traditional owners called the decision groundbreaking for their people and the fight against climate change. Meanwhile, Santos indicated they would continue mediation to reach a mutually beneficial outcome for both parties. Ms Cutmore said her people would continue to fight to protect their country. Ms Cutmore said when she was first made aware of the project almost a decade ago, she was concerned about Santos's plan to extract gas from the Great Artesian Basin. "The people from the Namoi, who rely on the water system, all the way through to the Murray Darling Basin, it's going to be devastating for the country, the land," she said. "It's going to be devastating for our people. "We took everything into consideration what Santos offered us at the (National) Native Title Tribunal table, we said no. "We are here because of our ancestors, they fought and we will continue to fight. "We are still here and we will continue to fight, we love our country." Santos's proposal for the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline, a 30-kilometre pipeline to connect the Narrabri Gas Project to the Hunter Gas Pipeline, is still being assessed by the federal government. Before the IPC's approval of the Narrabri Gas Project, the state government received almost 23,000 public objections and the Mullalley Gas and Pipeline Accord later unsuccessfully challenged the approval in court. Santos will need to comply with strict conditions to proceed with the project. Santos has been approached for comment.
