A 400-kilometre horse trek along the proposed route of the Hunter Gas Pipeline has drawn attention to ongoing community opposition across the region.
Narrabri farmer Sally Hunter completed the two-week journey on horseback on Saturday 28 March, travelling from the Liverpool Plains to the Hunter.
Along the way, she was joined by landholders, families and community groups who reject the project, which is proposed by Santos.
The trek coincided with the signing of the Breeza Declaration, a statement opposing the pipeline that has been endorsed by organisations including the Country Women’s Association, NSW Farmers, Unions NSW and Gomeroi Traditional Owners.
Ms Hunter said the trip reinforced concerns about the scale of the development.
“A fortnight on horseback gives you a lot of time to think… and what I kept coming back to was the sheer scale of what Santos is proposing to destroy,” she explained.
“This pipeline and gas field would carve through the Liverpool Plains food bowl, disrupt private land and put the Great Artesian Basin at risk, all to move gas that Australians don’t need, for profits that won’t stay in these communities.”
The undertaking would run from near Baan Baa in north-west NSW to Newcastle, connecting to the planned Narrabri Gas Project.
The latter also includes plans for up to 850 coal seam gas wells across a 95,000-hectare site in the Pilliga Forest.
Parts of the pipeline route pass through the Liverpool Plains, where 46% of the area is classified as Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land.
Some local farmers, who have opposed coal seam gas developments in the region for more than a decade, say recent exploration activity and the potential for compulsory land acquisition have heightened concerns.
“What this ride showed is that the opposition to this pipeline has not weakened: it has grown,” Ms Hunter said.
“Farmers and Traditional Owners, unions and community groups are standing shoulder-to-shoulder on this.
“And, Santos should take note.
“This pipeline will be met with overwhelming opposition.”
Gomeroi Traditional Owners are also appealing a Native Title Tribunal decision relating to the Narrabri Gas Project in the Federal Court of Australia.
For more community stories:
- Newcastle teacher wins NSW Award for Cultural and Language leadership
- Kurri Kurri students take on Parliament
- Big crowd steps back in time at Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival
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