• A new ecological study of the Pilliga Forest in north-west NSW has found it is a ‘Noahs Ark’ or refuge for many bird and mammal species that are declining across Australia
• The Pilliga has national conservation significance and is vital to the survival of federally threatened species like the Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat
• Coal seam gas exploration has already caused substantial damage to the forest and progression to full scale gas production could lead to local extinctions.

“Our study of the Pilliga Forest included intensive wildlife surveys plus the collection of existing information and analysis of scientific literature on its values” said David Milledge, ecologist and lead author of the report.

“The Pilliga is unique because it is the largest unfragmented block of dry forest and woodland left in eastern Australia.  It has become a ‘Noahs Ark’ or refuge area for plants and animals that are disappearing from habitats right across the country.

“We recorded 176 different species of vertebrate wildlife and 22 threatened species and communities during a 5 day survey of the forest.  As well as the Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat, the latter included the endangered Black-striped Wallaby and vulnerable Pale-headed Snake and Eastern Pygmy-possum.

“The Pilliga is the only place in the world where you can find the tiny Pilliga Mouse and our results show that the area earmarked for coal seam gas mining contains a number of breeding sites for this species.

“Our study also raises real concerns about the future of the important Pilliga population of the Koala as the results support previous findings of a severe decline in the area.

“The risks of coal seam gas mining in such an important wildlife area are very serious, and key species may become locally extinct if commercial production is approved in the forest.

“Coal seam gas exploration in the forest to date has resulted in substantial environmental damage, including clearing of vegetation, habitat loss and fragmentation.

“We hope that the Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, will now properly consider the new information in this report before he approves any further coal seam gas exploration in the Pilliga Forest” he said.

Link to full report, National Significance: The ecological values of Pilliga East Forest and the threats posed by coal seam gas mining 2011-2012

Yes, it’s toxic: coal seam gas water reinjection sparks fears for Northwest

• Santos handout reveals only vague drill list, despite website announcement plans are ‘finalised’

• No drill location maps available to the public or affected farmers – consultation fail by Santos

Santos have apparently finalised their new coal seam gas exploration drilling program for north-west NSW without any public exhibition or opportunity for community input, raising an outcry from farmers and community groups around the region.

A freshly disclosed handout from a Santos meeting last week lists almost 50 drill sites planned across the north-west, but does not show where all this drilling is going to take place. According to Santos’ website, “A fifty well drilling program has recently been finalised and is scheduled to be carried out over three years, commencing in early 2013″.

“The community of north-west NSW has been left completely in the dark while Santos stitch up secret plans to drill 50 exploration gas wells across our Narrabri region” said Phil Laird, of the Maules Creek Community Council.

“Where exactly is Santos planning to drill all their wells and their seven intensive pilot production wells? Exactly how many wells are planned for Wee Waa, Narrabri and surrounding areas?

“Santos should have come to the community first with a draft proposal and conducted a full public exhibition process so that people could have a say in what happened and where.

“To show the community a map with locations of drill sites identified should be a basic part of Santos consultation. Instead, they seem to have finalised their plan in secret first and now they are going to tell us about it – this is just like a slap in the face for everyone that lives here,” he said.

“Santos recently told ABC radio there would be only one core hole drilled in the Moree Shire, yet this document shows there will be four,” said Penny Blatchford from the Bellata Gurley Action Group Against Gas.

“Santos needs to be upfront with the community and show us exactly where these elusive coal seam gas core holes will be drilled before they’re finalised.

“It’s extraordinary to think that the farming community who will be most affected by these plans are the very last to know what they are. It is our farmland and our water resources that are at risk.

“Communities all around the north-west should be very concerned that they will soon have Santos knocking on their door trying to push their way on to their land for drilling,” she said.

“The Wilderness Society met with Santos several months ago and asked them to go out to public exhibition with draft maps before deciding on future gas well proposals in the region” said Naomi Hogan, campaign manager with The Wilderness Society Newcastle.

“We have never even had a response to that request, and Santos has shown nothing but contempt for the people of this region by pushing ahead without asking them what they think.

“Show us the maps Santos, show us a draft, and try listening to the community’s response before you finalise your plans” she said.

Santos drill plan handout Tuesday 9 Oct 2012

Media Release 8 October 2012

New photos of dead animal bones in the bottom of coal seam gas wastewater ponds in the Pilliga forest have ignited fears about the impact of the industry in the iconic conservation area and beyond (see attached).

The animal bones were found on a trip to the Pilliga Forest last week, a trip which also revealed four unlined wastewater ponds, which the NSW Government had two days earlier denied existed.

Naomi Hogan, campaigner with the Wilderness Society said, “Our Pilliga Forest, a place of outstanding conservation significance, now risks being turned into a toxic death trap for some of our most iconic animal species such as the koala and the emu.

“There is no way of denying that coal seam gas exploration in the Pilliga is killing native animals, killing trees, destroying soil and polluting waterways,” she said.

After complaints by local residents about the status of wastewater ponds in the Pilliga, on 24th September the NSW Government wrote to Liverpool Plains farmer David Quince, stating that there was only one ‘unlined storage pond within Santos operated areas in the Pilliga’.

This statement was proved false on September 26th 2012, when local farmer Tony Pickard visited the Pilliga and took the additional attached photos – showing four unlined coal seam gas ponds in the Pilliga, located at gas wells Bibblewindi 16, Bibblewindi 17 and two at Bibblewindi 27H.

Liverpool Plains farmer David Quince said, “It is obvious from our inspections in the Pilliga that there is still a great big mess and that after almost 12 months of ownership by Santos nothing much has changed – as a farmer, I think it shows a reckless indifference to soil structure and productivity to store wastewater without any liners.

“The NSW Government has promised over and over again to crack down on environmental breaches but this latest incident in the Pilliga shows that they haven’t even got a clue what is going on out on the ground”.

Carmel Flint from the Northern Inland Council for the Environment said, “Coal seam gas water in the Pilliga has been shown to contain high levels of heavy metals, salt and petrochemicals – the wildlife skeletons found last week show that it is toxic to wildlife and it is undoubtedly a threat to soils and pristine water resources.

“This latest incident raises serious questions about the so-called investigation the NSW Government has been conducting of coal seam gas in the Pilliga – why didn’t it identify four wastewater ponds without liners and several other ponds with poor fencing that were acting as toxic death traps for wildlife?

Despite an ongoing NSW Government investigation into the coal seam gas spills, damages and controversial drilling activities in the Pilliga forest, Santos is pushing ahead with plans to drill a further 50 wells across the region

The NSW Government has recently offered to renew the Santos exploration licence in the Pilliga, PEL238, regardless of the legal cloud hanging over the operation and despite the fact that government officials have informed environment groups that there may yet be a prosecution involved

According to Santos, “a fifty well drilling program for the Pilliga forest and Northwest NSW has recently been finalised and is scheduled to be carried out over three years, commencing in early 2013.”

In response to the recent lifting of the ban on controversial and likely damaging fracking process in NSW, Santos stated on fracking that they “won’t rule out its possible use in the future.”

Naomi Hogan, campaigner with The Wilderness Society said, “Until the investigation into the coal seam gas spills and breaches in the Pilliga is finalised, there should be no further drilling activities by Santos and their exploration licence should not be renewed.”

“The NSW Government has been conducting investigations into the coal seam gas activities in the Pilliga since February of this year. Where are the findings of this investigation and when will they be released to the public of NSW?

“In March this year, Minister Hartcher advised NSW Parliament that a ‘preliminary report to the director general is expected shortly’. That was seven months ago.

“It is crucial that a full explanation is made of the findings of the investigation before there is any further drilling, fracking or any licence renewals in the Pilliga forest.

“The people of NSW have a right to know about the outcomes of this investigation – the Pilliga is a precious public asset, the largest forest left in western NSW and a recharge area for the Great Artesian basin.

“Instead of opening the floodgates to Santos with a licence renewal the NSW Government should be shutting them down until they can prove that they do not pose a threat to our water resources,” she said.

Santos comment on fracking: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-18/fracking-will-be-scrutinised-says-stoner/4266560

Hartcher response in Parliament: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/0/EB47527CC3238BE4CA2579DD0018E9A0

Koala food trees risk coal and gas wipe out: new survey shows

A little known eucalypt tree, the Pilliga Box, is likely to be a critical link to Koala survival in Northwest NSW, and needs elevated recognition of its significance, according to latest survey results to be presented by Koala expert, David Paull at the 58th meeting of the Australian Mammal Society in South Australia today.

“These recent Koala survey data from Leard Forest show that Eucalyptus pilligaensis, or Pilliga Box as it is commonly known, is a primary food tree rather than a secondary tree as is currently accepted under the Koala Recovery Plan” states Mr Paull.

“This is because it grows in low lying depressions which are often waterlogged, providing suitable moisture levels in the leaves for the Koala to feed.

“This tree species is extremely important on a regional scale across the Pilliga and Leard State Forests. In the Pilliga where this tree is common, box flats of this species, along with creek lines, are central to the distribution of this species.

Both the Leard and Pilliga State forests are under imminent threat of becoming either an open cut coal mine or an industrial coal seam gas field.

“If approved, the open cut coal mines in Leard State Forest will completely destroy thousands of hecatres of forest dense with critical Koala food trees, red gums, Pilliga Box and White Box – severely impacting the Koala’s chances of survival in the region and its ability to disperse.

“Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has a decision to make on both the Boggabri and Maules Creek coal mines in coming months and I hope that this new information will now be urgently considered by the Federal Government to inform that decision” he said.

“Santos has made their plans to turn the Pilliga, a critical habitat area for Koalas, into a coal seam gas industrial zone – posing a massive risk to fragile Koala populations” said Naomi Hogan, campaigner with The Wilderness Society Newcastle.

“The Koala is now a nationally listed threatened species and Burke should not give the green light to Koala food tree destruction either in Leard State Forest or the Pilliga. The Koala needs our protection now more than ever ‐ not a Koala food tree forest wipe out” she said.

25 September 2012

In Tamworth Local Court yesterday Newcastle-based environmental campaigner, Warrick Jordan, was cleared of 3 charges and fined for a fourth relating to a peaceful coal seam gas protest in the Pilliga forest in July 2011.

Mr Jordan was acquitted on two charges of trespass and had a third charge relating to failure to leave a forestry area withdrawn.  Mr Jordan pled guilty to a fourth charge of climbing a structure and was fined $550 for that offence.

The original charges against him in July last year also included malicious damage and another indictable offence which were later dropped.

“The police threw the book at me last year in response to the protest and I am relieved today that the courts have shown just how excessive that response was” Mr Jordan said.

“Peaceful protest and civil disobedience are an important and valid part of our social system and all citizens should be concerned when attempts are made to quash legitimate protest with heavy-handed law enforcement.

“I am very happy to have been acquitted of the two trespass charges because I was protesting in a public area – a State Forest which belongs to the people of NSW and not to the coal seam gas company.

“It is important for the people to realise that the Pilliga State Forest is reserved for public use and enjoyment but if the NSW Government approves coal seam gas mining the public will be permanently locked-out.

“I believe that we will see more people taking the type of peaceful protest action I took last year unless the NSW Government heeds the escalating concerns of communities about coal and gas mining.

“Communities are no longer prepared to stand by and watch as coal and gas mining destroy iconic natural areas like the Pilliga or highly productive farmlands like the Liverpool Plains” he said.

The EPA has advised environment groups that they have issued two penalty infringement notices, amounting to $3,000 in fines, and one formal warning to Eastern Star Gas and Santos for polluting a creek with coal seam gas wastewater in the Pilliga Forest, near Narrabri in NSW.

The linke to the EPA media release can be found here. 

“The action by the EPA today vindicates our allegations, made in December 2011, that Santos had polluted a creek in the Pilliga with coal seam gas wastewater ” said Carmel Flint, spokesperson for the Northern Inland Council for the Environment.

“However, the pathetic penalties imposed and the fact that it took action by community groups to expose these problems only serves to confirm that regulation of the coal seam gas industry in NSW is a complete failure.

“A fine of just $3,000 and a formal warning is like hitting the gas company with a piece of wet lettuce – it means absolutely nothing to them and will not act as a deterrent.

“Environment groups spent more money on getting the water tests conducted to expose the pollution then the gas companies have been fined for breaching the law – it’s a disgrace” she said.

“The NSW Government should now act immediately to put in place a moratorium on this dangerous industry until these regulatory failures are fixed” said Prue Bodsworth, campaigner with The Wilderness Society Newcastle.

“The Pilliga forest is a very sensitive environment and it is clearly an inappropriate place for an enormous and polluting coal seam gas field.

“We are calling on both state and federal governments to now step in and protect the Pilliga from any further coal seam gas development” she said.

July 6th 2012

In a day of endless bad puns, the Koalas let it be known that it’s time for Santos to brake the cycle of destruction, that the north-west is not fooled by the Santos spin, and that the Koala, the true king of the mountain, will be evicted and left to roam the streets on bicycles if coal seam gas mining destroys its habitat in the Pilliga.

Over 20 concerned residents and two cycling koalas appeared at the Santos North Western Tour Coonabarabran this morning to protest against Santos coal seam gas operations in the Pilliga Forest and across north-western NSW.

Wearing Tshirts reading ‘Stop Santos Spin’ and ‘Gas Free Pilliga Now!’ the koalas joined the cycle to raise awareness of coal seam gas destruction of the Pilliga Forest.

“Koalas are a national icon and a threatened species. Clearly, this means nothing to Santos who are happy to spin their way into our Pilliga Forest bushland home and make a big coal seam gas mess, putting our lives at risk.

“How many coal seam gas spills, tree deaths, bush clearings and drill rigs can a Koala bear?” they said.

Protests will continue along the course of the Santos Northwest Tour. Concerned residents will take to the streets at Mullaley and Tamworth to highlight the community opposition to coal seam gas across the north-west region.

Residents are protesting at the Santos sponsored North West Cycling Tour to let Santos know that they cannot ‘spin’ their way onto local farms and forests with sponsorship and propaganda.

“We have the greatest respect for cycling and cyclists, but we don’t respect Santos efforts to sink gas wells on our best farmland and our most valuable bushland” said Ms Jane Judd, from Friends of the Pilliga at Coonabarabran.

“We are not here to disrupt the cycling race in any way, we are here with a message for Santos – ‘get on ya bike’ and leave our region until you can prove that you won’t damage our land and water” she said.

“We’re very pleased to see this display of healthy activity in the northwest but there is nothing healthy about coal seam gas, and the risks it poses to community well-being are serious” said Kirrily Bloomfield, from Liverpool Plains SOS.

“There have still not been any proper health impact assessments conducted on coal seam gas and we are very concerned about reports from Queensland of bleeding from the ears and nose, nausea and rashes amongst people forced to live in a gas field” she said.

“As far as we’re concerned, the real cycle that Santos is bringing to our region is a cycle of destruction from coal seam gas that will alienate some of our best farm land and cause land values to plummet” said David Quince from Mullaley Gas Pipeline Accord.

“Water is important to the survival of riders along the North West Tour today but it is also incredibly important to farmers who depend on it for their livelihoods, their farm enterprises and their future.

“Cyclists wouldn’t accept poor quality water on the Tour, so why should farmers allow their precious underground water supplies to be put at risk from Santos and coal seam gas?” he said.

“The cyclists on the North West Tour will be riding through some beautiful and scenic landscapes but the tourism values of this unique region will be severely impacted by coal seam gas mining” said Naomi Hogan from The Wilderness Society.

“National treasures like the Pilliga which draw people from all around the world are threatened by the coal seam gas industry and even the Koala, recognised as a symbol of Australia internationally,  faces an uncertain future if coal seam gas rolls out across the region” she said.

22nd June 2012