Santos has unwittingly managed to bring a diverse group of people together to fight against their Narrabri Gas Project and its proposed pipelines to Newcastle. Here’s an update.
Picket the Pipeline – Narrabri, Liverpool Plains & Hunter
Unions NSW organised a weekend of action against the Santos gas project on 12 and 13 October. People representing union members, Gomeroi people, farmers, environmentalists and the CWA rallied in Narrabri on Saturday 12 October before forming a convoy to travel along the route of the Hunter Gas Pipeline to Newcastle. The convoy was a demonstration of unity to protect Gomeroi native title rights, water resources, as well as our climate and food security.
Rallies were held along the route of the Hunter Gas Pipeline with stops at Gunnedah, Scone and Singleton before arriving in Newcastle on Sunday morning.
Nanna Kathy joined the line of protesters holding signs along the New England Highway at Singleton. The mining town had mixed reactions to the protest, but most were positive.
In Newcastle there were around 100 people at the rally, including 20 Nannas from Sydney, the Hunter and other areas.
Kara Kinchela from Narrabri, Aunty Brenda and Suellyn Tighe from Coonabarabran, Traditional Custodians of the Gomeroi nation spoke powerfully at the Newcastle rally. It has been a long campaign but the fantastic speeches from different groups inspired us all to stand together for First Nations and climate justice.
Media Reports:
Newcastle rally shows support for traditional owners in fight to stop Santos’ Narrabri gas project (ABC News)
Hunter residents rally against gas pipeline project (NBN News)
Authority to Survey extended
Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has extended the Authority to Survey (ATS) for the Hunter Gas Pipeline and also granted an ATS for the Lateral Pipeline out of the Pilliga forest. Both are for a period of 18 months from 20 September 2024.
Santos cannot use the ATS process (access land to survey regardless of the wishes of the landholders) unless it proves to the NSW Pipelines and Gas Networks (PGN) team that they have attempted a reasonable level of negotiation and/or communication with each landholder. If this occurs Santos must provide landholders at least 14 days written notice. Landholders will have 7 days to provide any specific and reasonable entry requirements.
Insurance
The world’s largest insurance company, Allianz, has ruled out covering Australian property owners for any damage caused by coal seam gas infrastructure, activities, or transport (this includes the Hunter Gas pipeline).
The move by Allianz follows a similar decision by Australia’s biggest insurer IAG, owner of major rural insurer WFI in 2020, which impacted Queensland farmers with coal seam gas infrastructure on their property.
Native Title
The Gomeroi people appealed a decision by the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) to allow Santos to go ahead with the project without their consent. The federal court determined the NNTT erred at law by declining to have regard to evidence on climate impacts and ordered the case be sent back to the NNTT for a decision on climate grounds only. A decision is expected by 9 April 2025.
Final Investment Decision
Santos has been delaying its final investment decision on the Narrabri Gas Project for over ten years. Currently they say they will decide in 2025!