Sally, Shaz and Cassie have been friends since uni, and they’ve just completed an epic journey to protect land and water in NSW. They saddled up to ride 400km together across the Liverpool Plains to shine a light on what Santos gas pipelines will mean for communities along the way.
Sydney folks can meet Shaz to hear about the 400km horse ride on Tuesday 31 March at 10am for morning tea at Level 2/63 Dixon St, Haymarket.
The Riders
The riders set off on 16 March from Sally and Geoff Hunter’s property near the intersection of the proposed Narrabri Lateral Pipeline (not approved) and the Hunter Gas Pipeline (approved 2009). These pipelines connect the approved, but very controversial Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga to the gas network on the east coast.
“Sal always had grand ideas and I always follow,” said Shaz, “but Sal always does things that matter.”
Nannas know this because since 2020 we have been visiting Sally’s Geni.Energy showroom promoting renewable energy in Narrabri.
Background
Santos’s Narrabri Gas Project was approved in 2020 in spite of a strong opposition from Gomeroi traditional custodians, farmers, water and climate experts and the environment movement. Objections to the project included the loss or contamination of critical surface and groundwater resources, and the risk of damage to an important recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin. Destruction of ecosystems and endangered species in the Pilliga forest were also highlighted in submissions.
A condition of the approval for 850 coal seam gas wells in and around the forest was the construction of pipelines to transport the gas to the east coast market. Meeting this condition is proving to be very difficult for Santos because of opposition from landholders along the pipeline route.
If the pipeline goes ahead, gas wells will spread to the Liverpool Plains, which is known to have coal seam gas beneath what is the best farming country in NSW.
Many of the landholders in the Hunter are people who have bought ‘lifestyle’ blocks since the pipeline was approved 17 years ago. They report that title searches did not reveal the approved pipeline, and that houses, sheds and other infrastructure have been built across the route. The threat of a pipeline through their properties has led to dreams being put on hold, and for some landholders it has meant a decline in their mental health. But through it all, communities have come together to stand up for their rights.
Sixty-six per cent of landholders along the pipeline route refuse to engage with Santos despite intimidation and threats by company representatives, according to campaigners against the project.
Although Santos says in letter drops and advertisements in local papers that they are applying for a pipeline licence, they have not completed the necessary work to be granted a licence.
The Ride
The ride crossed the Namoi River via a bridge, but it was mostly along stock routes (historic corridors of Crown land used for moving livestock). Riding through the magnificent prime agricultural land of the Liverpool Plains, the riders saw deep cracks in the dry, fertile black soil. The cracks will close when it rains. With this much soil movement it’s not a place for a gas pipeline, let alone a gas field.
The trio rode into Breeza for a community gathering on Sunday 22 March where Gomeroi Traditional Owners, NSW Farmers, the Country Women’s Association of NSW, Unions NSW and Lock the Gate came together to sign the Breeza Declaration. The declaration is a landmark statement of unity to protect land and water from the Santos Narrabri gas project and its pipelines.
Other highlights were the ride over the spectacular Murrurundi Pass, through the Hunter and over the beautiful Rosebrook Range to the end of their journey at Popular Hall in Millers Forest, near Raymond Terrace.
Along the way the riders and support crew camped on people’s properties, while their horses were safely contained and fed.
“We are so grateful to the people who opened their hearts to us, for sharing their stories, welcoming us into their homes and looking after the horses too,” said Shaz.
Journey’s End
Many landholders affected by the pipeline came to greet the riders at Popular Hall, and other riders had joined them on the last leg of their journey.
Hunter Nannas catered for the event and made red, yellow and black platted hatbands to give away.
One of the aims of the ride was to show Santos that the many communities along the pipeline are standing together to protect water and land from their gas and gas pipelines.
Landholder comments
Lorraine, a landholder on the proposed pipeline, said she has refused to sign anything from Santos since 2008. The Hunter River floods her land and the pipeline route goes through her stables.
“Big white utes with large numbers on the side frequently go slowly past our property. Further along the road they turn around and drive slowly past again. Once, three utes came past and stopped. The drivers got out and held up a big pole making it look like they were doing a survey. It’s very intimidating.”
Margaret Tierny’s grandfather was born in 1892 on the farm she now owns. Her great grandfather worked on the farm and her grandfather bought it in 1918. Margaret’s major concern is about changes to the natural flow of water, particularly during floods, and for the spring on her property that has never run dry. There are many springs on properties in this area. The pipeline will cross the Maitland Flood Mitigation Scheme several times.
“I ignore emails sent by Santos and anything sent by mail is returned to sender,” said Margaret.
More information
See Facebook – Ride The Gas Line and Instagram, and have your say about the Narrabri Gas Project by signing Lock the Gate’s petition to Premier Chris Minns.
“We may need to stand with them as they stood with us.” – CSG fight reignites with ‘historic declaration’ (Coonamble Times)
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