In the submission, Santos says it could invest "several billions of dollars" in CSG assets in NSW up until 2035 if the industry is allowed to develop efficiently.
Santos' NSW assets are in the Gunnedah gas basin and are still in the testing and development phase. "This likely impacts of a development as large as this will be far reaching for the state, region and the economy more broadly," the submission says. "The initial economic impact assessments show that Santos' projects in NSW will create substantial benefits in a similar way to Queensland."
Santos downplayed growing concerns across Queensland and NSW that the coal-seam gas industry eroded landholder's property rights and put water safety at risk. "Santos' CSG operations in NSW are at an earlier stage of development, with a focus on exploration and appraisal activities," the submission says. "Santos will apply the same level of rigour to its NSW operations as it has in Queensland to identify and mitigate any perceived risk to ground and surface waters."
