National Farmers
The National Farmers Federation has welcomed the release of the Murray Darling Basin Social and Economic Assessment Panel Draft Report.
Led by an independent panel comprised of Basin industry leaders, the report highlights the experiences of communities and how they have been affected by the myriad of reforms to water management in the Basin.
“The report’s findings are similar to the messages the NFF heard on our tour across the Basin last month: there is a need to bring communities back to the heart of the conversations and actions that ultimately impact their futures.”
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Northern Daily Leader - Billy Jupp
The Coronavirus pandemic means the Independent Planning Commission will not be scheduling any public consultation meetings into two of the region's biggest proposed projects, for the foreseeable future.
The IPC has been asked to hold hearings for both Whitehaven Coal's Vickery coal mine extension project and Santos' Narrabri gas fields project.
However, due to the federal government's restrictions around public gatherings and social distancing, the IPC is unable to plan any public meetings at this stage.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Have your Say on the Draft Report
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Jamieson Murphy - Queensland Country Life
THE NSW government is nearly ready to pass over its assessment of the controversial Narrabri Gas Project to the independent body that will have the final say on the development.
NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes formally requested to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) to hold a public meeting in Narrabri, in anticipation of his department wrapping up its assessment.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Press release Roy Butler MP
Water Management in NSW is not transparent. We have seen in the last few weeks the issues that this lack of transparency creates for everyone, be it communities or people holding water access licences.
Number of views (461)
Article rating: No rating
David Leitch Renew Economy
1) The world no longer has the head room to use gas a transitional fuel. If gas replaced all coal in electricity generation, an impossibility in of itself, the world would still have well over 2°C of average global warming.
The idea of gas as a “transition” fuel arose in the time when wind and solar energy were expensive and little used. But we have passed that point. The cost of solar has plunged 90 per cent in the past decade, wind more than 60 per cent. Exactly what role is gas supposed to serve in electricity generation in Australia?
2) Extracting gas from the Narrabri field in NSW at the mooted rate of 60 petajoules (PJ) a year is likely to require a price of at least $6 a gigajoule, and probably more like $7-$8 GJ to be economic. Imported LNG is likely to cost a bare minimum of $A7.50/GJ and no-one’s going to build an import terminal without a higher price than that. Nor do we see Narrabri as increasing price competition, mainly because its owned by Santos, and so the producer oligopoly remains in place.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Jamieson Murphy - Northern Daily Leader
FEARS have been raised the independent approval process of the controversial Narrabri Gas Project has been destroyed by a $3 billion deal, which some have labelled a "bribe".
The state government has committed to injecting an additional 70 petajoules (PJ) of gas per annum into the east coast market in return for $3 billion from the Commonwealth government.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian flagged two possibilities to supply the gas; import it or source it from the yet-to-be-approved Santos Narrabri Gas Project, which will create 70 PJ a year.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
STATE government officials will be grilled about a number of "leaks" at Santos' Narrabri Gas Projects at a parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday.
It's the second hearing into whether the NSW Chief Scientist's 16 coal seam gas recommendations have been implemented by the NSW government, after the first hearing in December was described as a "train wreck", with many questions going unanswered.
The first hearing did uncover that eight leaks at the Narrabri Gas Project were found by the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during 2018-19.
Two of the leaks were repaired within 24 hours, however the EPA is still investigating if the remaining six were "gas releases" that were part of the wells' operation or whether they "should be classified as leaks and further action taken".
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
“There is no shortage of gas in Australia, there’s a shortage of common sense in Canberra when it comes to gas export policy and domestic gas reservation policy,” says Member for Barwon, Roy Butler.
Mr Butler’s comments follow the new energy deal struck by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Guardian Adam Morton, Lisa Cox and Anne Davies Fri 31 Jan 2020 19.39 AEDTLast modified on Fri 31 Jan 2020 20.56
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
SMH By Colin Kruger January 30, 2020
The chief executives of Santos, Beach Energy and manufacturer Qenos have backed calls by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to open up gas markets on the east coast, noting it would help lower energy prices.
Qenos boss Stephen Bell warned that gas-based manufacturing doesn't have a long-term future on the east coast unless a solution is found that will offer a reliable supply of cheaper gas.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Welcome to our Business and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities Newsletter
Welcome to our Business and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities Newsletter where you will find details of grant and funding programs that are available for the Northern Inland Region for businesses and infrastructure projects.
Due to the number of grants that are available, we send two funding opportunities newsletters a month; one for Business and Infrastructure and another for Community Projects and Award Programs. These newsletters are a free service that we provide, and can you can add the Community Funding Opportunities and Awards Programs newsletter to your subscriptions by filling your details into on the left hand side of our website: www.rdani.org.au
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
He said it is designed to "press pause" on Santos' long delayed Narrabri CSG project.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Northern Daily Leader - Jamieson Murphy
THE state's mining watchdog has suspended the exploration licence of Narrabri Coal, for building unauthorised tracks in the Pilliga Forest.
The long-wall mine, which forms part of Whitehaven Coal's operations, was found to be in breach of its licence following a state-wide compliance blitz in June.
More than a dozen hollow trees, which provide important habitat to native animals, were knocked down. The unauthorised paths also failed to divert around environmentally sensitive areas.
Resources Regulator head honcho Anthony Keon said the mine's actions showed a "comprehensive failure" to follow "fundamental regulatory obligations".
"The construction of the unauthorised tracks resulted in significant environmental harm," Mr Keon said.
"Exploration activities are subject to strict conditions in order to ensure appropriate environmental protections.
Citizen science group, the Leard Forest Node, has been monitoring the mine's "progressive incursion" in to the Pilliga forest for a couple of years, spokeswoman Anna Christie said.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg, the Narrabri Coal mine has been flying under the radar for several years," Ms Christie said.
She was glad to see meaningful action taken against the mine, rather than just "a fine and a tap of the wrist".
Have your say. Click this link to send a letter to the editor
The suspension will remain in place until the mine conducts a full review of its compliance systems and can satisfy the watchdog that appropriate controls have been put in place.
Five other joint-venture partners also had their exploration licence suspended. The licence holders acknowledged the offending behaviour and offered to suspend all drilling and clearing activities.
The mine will be able to continue operating, however the suspension stops it from expanding or investigating new sites.
Whitehaven CEO Paul Flynn accepted that on this occasion the company failed to properly obverse its exploration obligations
"Based on our inquiries to date, the circumstances and communication failures that led to this outcome are unacceptable," Mr Flynn said.
"Whitehaven took immediate corrective action following the Regulator's site inspection, suspending all exploration activity and commissioning an independent audit and investigation to determine necessary corrective actions.
"The company is committed to ensuring all relevant issues are identified and addressed before exploration activities at Narrabri can resume and will continue to cooperate fully with the NSW Resources Regulator to achieve this outcome."
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Northern Daily Leader - Jamieson Murphy
AN independent politician has put forward a bill to establish a moratorium on all coal seam gas projects in the state.
The private member's bill, introduced to the NSW upper house by MLC Justin Field, would put a halt to Santos' Narrabri Gas Project, establish no-go zones for CSG including agricultural land and introduce a public interest test for proposed developments.
Mr Field said the bill was modelled off a moratorium put forward by Labor in 2015, and was hopefully it would be widely supported.
"The Greens, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, Animal Justice Party and Christian Democratic Party have all previously voted for, or supported, legislation or policies that endorse a moratorium on coal seam gas," Mr Field said.
"With those parties on board we can pass a coal seam gas moratorium bill through the NSW Legislative Council.
"The community have long opposed coal seam gas development in NSW and now it is time for the parliament to act."
Mr Field said the bill would renew the pressure on the government, and in particular the Nationals, who lost the seat of Barwon at the recent election to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, in part to CSG and water-related issues surrounding the Santos project.
"Santos have failed to address genuine concerns by the community and government agencies about their project and have breached the agreement they struck with the government in 2014," Mr Field said.
"There are significant water management and waste salt issues that have not been resolved from the company.
Have your say. Click this link to send a letter to the editor
Andrew McConville, CEO of gas industry body APPEA, said there was no reason NSW couldn't have a safe and sustainable CSG industry, like Queensland has had for more than 20 years.
"Repeated independent inquiries, including by NSW Chief Scientist, have found there are no risks associated with onshore gas development that can't be managed, mitigated or eliminated by an appropriate regulatory framework - which NSW has in place," he said.
"The answer to addressing NSW's gas needs is developing new supply - not further regulation or imposing bans on onshore gas development."
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Financial Review
AWU national secretary Daniel Walton late last week rounded on the government for granting the status of "critical state significant infrastructure" to a proposed $589 million LNG import project in Newcastlewhich will now enjoy a streamlined approvals process.
The Berejiklian government has already given the green light for a separate, $250 million LNG import terminal at Port Kembla, backed by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest.
The plans for the two import terminals are racing ahead as Santos's $3 billion Narrabri coal seam gas project, which could supply up to half NSW's gas requirements, remains locked in the state government's approvals process.
But Mr Stokes said the Narrabri project has "big potential impacts" on the environment, and that in any case the state is "best served by a competitive market with multiple sources".
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
The Liberal-National Government has denied regional communities the opportunity for transparency, voting down a motion for a Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The motion introduced by the Shadow Minister for Water, Clayton Barr to Parliament last night called on the Liberal-National Government to “endorse the position of the NSW National Party Leader and Deputy Premier for a Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin Plan for the purpose of openness, transparency and accountability”.
The motion was defeated by three votes (47-44), with Labor and the crossbench voting for it with and The Nationals joining the Liberals to defeat it.
Number of views (3906)
Article rating: No rating
Member for Barwon, Roy Butler is calling on the NSW Government to commit to an inquiry into aspects of New South Wales water management and their impacts on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Mr Butler’s call for an independent inquiry comes after consultation with communities, irrigators, graziers, towns, water researchers and ecologists, all of whom raised serious concerns about government decision making in relation to water management.
“I’m calling for an inquiry to restore public confidence, and identify how certain decisions contributed to the current conditions in western NSW,” said Mr Butler.
“I have discussed the inquiry with Minister Pavey and provided her with the draft Terms of Reference. In our conversation, I emphasised that this inquiry is needed to restore the public’s confidence in the NSW water planning and management processes.
Number of views (5504)
Article rating: No rating
The Land Newspaper
SANTOS'S predictions that its Narrabri Gas Project will be approved by the end of the year have been labelled a brazen attempt to pressure the government.
When Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher told Ticky Fullerton on Sky News in May the company expected approval by "year end" there were a few eyebrows raised.
Barwon MP Roy Butler told The Land: "this is not coming from the government, the company is trying to force a government decision on the back of the Adani Carmichael coal mine approval (in Queensland)."
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Number of views (2700)
Article rating: No rating
By Julian Parsons - Sydney
Do you have to pay your interns?
The short answer is yes and no.
Under Australian law, you must financially compensate anyone who comes to your workplace to contribute through ‘productive work’.
However, there are perfectly legal ways to bring on unpaid interns in a meaningful capacity that supports the goals of both employee and employer.
Read more
Categories: Feature Writer Julian Parsons, Other News, Rural News, Mining, Agriculture, Business
Tags: Narrabri, Rural, Wee Waa, Walgett, Business, Fair Work Australia, employee, employers, internships, Julian Parsons
A number of articles appeared in the news this week click the link to read them all.
Summary
Santos providing requested information about Narrabri project: Barwon MP
Barwon MP Roy Butler still concerned about CSG impact on Narrabri groundwater despite Santos ...
Govt to talk land acquisitions along Narromine to Narrabri with farmers for Inland Rail
Barwon MP Roy Butler still concerned about CSG impact on Narrabri groundwater despite Santos ...
Whitehaven growth defies softening coal markets
Community celebrates NAIDOC
More Dividends Likely From Whitehaven Coal
Safety first for Whitehaven
The ARTC will begin meeting with affected landowners in the Narromine section
Rail crossing danger concerns resident
Number of views (3241)
Article rating: No rating
A senior executive at energy giant AGL says coal seam gas projects including the contentious Santos-led Narrabri development will do little to ease power prices but cautioned politicians that misguided regulations could have unintended consequences by choking off new supply.
Richard Wrightson, AGL's head of wholesale markets, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that moves by political parties to pressure governments to act on energy prices could backfire by discouraging exploration and production.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Sydney Morning Herald - Peter Hannam
The NSW government has blasted Santos for ramping up public pressure to secure approval for a $3 billion coal seam gas project, with Deputy Premier John Barilaro warning he "won't be pushed around".
Mr Barilaro, who also serves as Resources Minister, said the energy giant was to blame for any delays to the Narrabri Gas Project in north-western NSW.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
The Australian
Businesses have threatened to pull $2 billion of planned investment from NSW as frustrations mount that delays approving Santos’s Narrabri project will cripple the viability of their operations.
Gas giant Santos issued a plea yesterday for the NSW government to outline its approval timeline for its $3bn coal-seam gas project in the Gunnedah Basin just days after the Queensland government agreed on a deadline to make a call on Adani’s long-delayed Carmichael coalmine.
Santos’s demand has been reinforced by industrial gas customers, who have agreed to preliminary deals to buy gas from Narrabri, which could meet half the gas needs of the state.
Number of views (4800)
Article rating: No rating
Northern Daily Leader
Boggabri Coal will be able to transport small amounts of coal by road and realign its mine boundaries under approval from the Independent Planning Commission (IPC).
On Monday, the IPC signed off on modifications to five parts of the company's existing project approval for Boggabri Coal Mine including a coal stockpile area, drilling and exploration in the approved disturbance area, and an extension of the time frame for securing biodiversity offsets.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Energy company Santos has come under fire, for refusing to provide the state government with key information about its Narrabri development.
The company recently submitted an application for the 95,000-hectare coal seam gas project.
But it’s reportedly refused multiple requests for information from the Environment Protection Authority, the Rural Fire Service and Narrabri Shire Council.
The company has also denied an EPA request to assess whether the site can accommodate large volumes of salt waste.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Jamieson Murphy - Northern Daily Leader
SANTOS has been slammed for refusing to provide the NSW government with the requested information about its coal seam gas development near Narrabri.
The gas giant recently responded to the concerns of various organisations, including 14 government agencies, in its Supplementary Response to Submissions.
In the report, Santos refused more than a dozen specific requests for information and commitments from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the Rural Fire Service, and Narrabri council.
Narrabri farmer and Lock the Gate spokeswoman Sally Hunter said the company had refused the RFS's request to not flare gas during catastrophic bushfire conditions.
"This shows an extraordinary and reckless disregard for the safety of our community," she said.
"Santos has also refused the EPA's request to assess the capacity of landfill facilities to accommodate huge volumes of salt waste with potentially high concentrations of metals and other contaminants.
"It has refused Narrabri council's request that it obtain environmental insurance for offsite and long-term environmental harms, despite this being a recommendation made by the NSW Chief Scientist for all coal seam gas operations."
An NSW Department of Planning and Environment spokesperson said the company's response was being reviewed, in consultation with the relevant government agencies.
"In finalising its assessment, the Department may request additional information from Santos before referring the proposal to the Independent Planning Commission, which will make the final decision," they said.
"The Department wants to ensure a rigorous and comprehensive assessment is undertaken, given the complex nature of the application and the high level of community interest."
Santos did not respond to the Leader's request for comment.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
The map that does not make sense (unless you are the owner of the red box ie Santos).
No business case has been released for this greenfield rerouting of the Inland Rail right through the Pilliga forest (no farms in there!) and the CWA have now joined NSW Farmers and Labor in the call for an inquiry.
"The conference voted to request the federal government hold an independent inquiry into the green field routes and funding for the inland rail project."
https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/6117549/what-we-are-lobbying-for-just-makes-sense-cwa-leader-says/
Number of views (10604)
Article rating: No rating
Published: May 07, 2019
Farmers and concerned citizens in north west NSW say the latest submission made by Santos about its controversial Narrabri CSG project is “arrogant” and “dangerous”, with the company refusing to provide information and commitments requested by the State Government and Narrabri Council.
Santos recently submitted a “Supplementary Response to Submissions” to 14 NSW Government agencies’ requests for information, data, and commitments from the gas company regarding the environmental risks of its proposed coal seam gas project.
Number of views (6292)
Article rating: No rating
Northern Daily Leader.
GAS giant Santos has a memoranda of understanding with two companies to supply them with gas, should the company's Narrabri Gas Project get the green tick.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Independent Australia Johanna Evans
Community resistance from a small town has left the future of a large scale pipeline project in question, writes Johanna Evans.
THE AUSTRALIAN PIPELINE ASSOCIATION (APA) has appeared to shelve their proposal for the high-pressure Western Slopes CSG Pipeline ahead of their upcoming AGM to be held in Sydney on 25 October 2018. The 460km coal seam gas pipeline (also known as “the head of the snake”) will link the Santos Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) to the Moomba/Sydney bi-directional pipeline that takes gas to the Curtis Island LNG plant for export.
In a recent release on their website, APA states:
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
The Northern Daily Leader Madeline Link
SANTOS has been given a further 1000 day royalty-free handout for coal seam gas extraction in Narrabri.
The Coalition and Labor Party voted on Tuesday to grant another 1000 days of royalty-free exploration to the gas giant for 17 wells at its Wilga Park Power Station.
Greens’ MP Jeremy Buckingham’s disallowance motion for what he calls a ‘royalty-free holiday’ was shot down in parliament.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
The Northern Daily Leader Billy Jupp
WATER levels in Lake Keepit and Split Rock Dam could fall to as a low as 2 per cent and 5 per cent by the end of the year.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
AN INVESTIGATION into Santos’ Narrabri coal seam gas operation has found the company irrigated with treated water without approval.
The issue was raised by the Department of Industry with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after Santos started irrigating a lucerne crop on its property with treated water.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Santos has been fined by the NSW environmental watchdog for using water from its controversial $3 billion coal seam gas project for irrigation without approval.
The energy company copped a fine of $1500 by the Environment Protection Authority for using treated water from its Narrabri project in the state's north to irrigate lucerne on its own land.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
Barnaby Joyce has called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) recommendation to phase out coal by 2050 as “wrong and ridiculous”, while once again suggesting Australians need to look at nuclear power.
Last weekend the IPCC, the world’s foremost panel on climate change, issued a report stating global greenhouse gas emissions must reach zero by 2050 in order to stop global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
By Cole Latimer & Peter Hannam 9 July 2018 — 2:30pm
Analysts say four proposed new gas import terminals around Australia have ended Santos’ contentious NSW Narrabri coal seam gas project.
Santos’ Narrabri project is a proposed $3 billion gas operation that has been consistently opposed by environmental groups, and now Macquarie Bank analysts believe the rise of Australian gas import terminals will end all potential government support.
Number of views (0)
Article rating: No rating
|