However, the local picture is very different.

Of the 500 submissions from Narrabri itself, the majority were supportive of the project.

What this suggests is that among the people for whom this matters the most, opinion is more for the project than against. 

This is a compelling fact because opponents have waged a very active and highly emotive campaign against the project.

Narrabri locals are apparently more sceptical about the claimed environmental risks than people on the coast, in Sydney, interstate and overseas -- bearing in mind that thousands of submissions came from outside NSW.     

Perhaps this demonstrates that locals have actually taken the time to examine the issues, listened to both sides of the argument and weighed up the pros and cons for themselves.

They certainly had no lack of information. 

Project proponent, Santos, and the NSW Government have bent over backwards to openly inform the public and extensively brief all of the local representative groups, including activists.

Yes, there were a large number of submissions against the proposal. 

But from the Government's account, it appears most of these were 'form' submissions. 

The internet has obviously played a big part in building the numbers of submissions, but the question is what should have greater weight -- the opinions of locals or those of distant internet identities...?

Steve Wright

Energy Resource Information Centre

Crows Nest