Sydney Knitting Nannas have been following the catastrophic fire in the Pilliga Forest in northwest NSW as it rapidly spread across the state forest and conservation areas.
Many Nannas have travelled to events in the Pilliga to support the community’s opposition to Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project. Every time, the threat of fire has been raised as one of the many reasons why this project should not go ahead.
In response to questions from the Sydney Morning Herald about the fire a Santos spokesperson says, “While there is no risk to – or because of – our facilities, we have shut in our operations for the time being.” Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney Nannas are calling for an independent assessment of Santos infrastructure as soon as access is possible.
We are very concerned because a whistleblower exposed a cover-up by Santos of a huge oil spill and dead dolphins early in 2023. The whistleblowers statement said ‘The tragedy of dolphin carcasses amid a kilometre-wide oil slick should be the story. But it’s not. The story is Santos’ subsequent cover-up and total disregard for the values they say they hold dear, values such as accountability and integrity.’ Echo 21 February 2023
The existing infrastructure includes around 40 gas wells, pipelines, vents, compressors, flares, two large water treatment plants at Bibblewindi in the state forest, and at Leewood which along with the Wilga Park gas power station is on private land.
Santos has approval to build 850 new wells in the area but has yet to construct the pipelines needed to get the gas to market. Communities along the pipeline have made it clear they do not want gas infrastructure on or near their properties.
The fire began on December 8 at Duck Creek on the western side of the Newell Highway and it was initially brought under control. Then Nannas watched the alert levels for the fire go from Advice to Watch and Act, then to Emergency Warning and back to Advice.
We saw the fire creeping towards Santos’ Bimblewindi gas facility and the gas wells. Then on Sunday the map showed that the facilities were well within the fireground.
On Monday night the fire generated a thunderstorm (pyro-cumulonimbus), causing dangerous and erratic fire behaviour. Smoke from the blaze was seen and smelt as far as Sydney on Tuesday.
Thunderstorms moved across the fireground late Tuesday afternoon, initially causing some erratic fire behaviour and lightning strikes. Overnight rain fell across most of the fireground with reports of heavy falls in the north and the east. Fire activity has eased and more rain is forecast for the coming days.
To date the Duck Creek Pilliga Forest fire has burnt approximately 130,000 ha and is being controlled.
Crews are extinguishing the fire as it exits the Pilliga Forest and enters farmland.
The Newell Highway remains closed between Narrabri and Coonabarabran, however firefighters will concentrate efforts to ensure the road is safe so that it can be opened to traffic as soon as possible. See LiveTraffic for updates.
The fireground is approximately 17km south of Narrabri and 20km west of Boggabri and 40 km north east of Coonabarabran.
Check the maps for updates
ArcGIS NSW Fire Map
RFS Fires Near Me