Gomeroi Traditional Owners, NSW Farmers, the Country Women’s Association of NSW, Unions NSW and the Lock the Gate Alliance have signed a joint declaration calling on the NSW government to withdraw support for Santos’ Narrabri gas project, as tensions escalate over threats of compulsory land acquisition.
The landmark declaration warns the project would harm the Pilliga forest, water resources and prime agricultural land, stating any attempt to acquire land for the project’s high-pressure gas pipeline would be “vigorously opposed with all available means.”
The NSW government approved the gasfield in 2020 despite record public opposition, but the proposed Hunter Gas Pipeline is facing concerted opposition from rural landholders and the associated Narrabri Lateral gas pipeline is still awaiting state and federal approval.
In an unprecedented show of unity, the groups met in north-west NSW on Saturday to sign the declaration, sending a clear message to Premier Chris Minns over his threats to compulsorily acquire land for the pipeline.
Gomeroi Traditional Owner Karra Kinchela said: “Gomeroi Mob don’t want to see hundreds of coal seam gas wells drilled into the sacred Pilliga Forest. We will continue defending our land, water and cultural heritage from industrial gas development and are proud to be joined with unionists, farmers and country women in defending the land we all love.”
Unions NSW Assistant Secretary Vanessa Seagrove said: “We stand in solidarity with the Gomeroi people, who have overwhelmingly voted against the Santos Narrabri gas project because of the harm it will have on the Pilliga forest, people, water and culture.”
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said: Water is one of the most important resources farmers need and the Great Artesian Basin and aquifers are critical to food and fibre production. NSW Farmers is greatly concerned about any projects or activities that may detrimentally effect our aquifers or the Great Artesian Basin.
Country Women’s Association of NSW CEO Danica Leys said: “You cannot talk about supporting regional NSW while running over the top of the very communities you claim to represent. This community has been clear with this declaration. It does not want to be an industrialised gas field and it does not want its water resources harmed, and that should be the starting point for any decision.”
Liverpool Plains farmer Margaret Fleck said: “The Liverpool Plains farming region is one of most productive farming regions in the country. Farmers don’t want gasfields and pipelines cutting through waterways, and risking the land and food that feeds the nation.”
“The breadth of this coalition of people and organisations joining together to protect the land, the bush, the water and Gomeroi cultural heritage from coal seam gas drilling and pipelines sends a clear message to the NSW government that it should stand with us, not with Santos.”
Santos’ Narrabri gas project is facing a Native Title Tribunal challenge by the Gomeroi people. A recent independent report found that Narrabri gas would be unlikely to lower NSW gas prices.
ENDS