More than a hundred people gathered outside a forum hosted by the Committee for Economic Development Australia, where Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher spoke about the role gas will play in meeting Australia’s energy demands.

Mr Gallagher said had Santos been able to develop the Narrabri project in a suitable timeframe “we would not be talking about an east coast gas crisis today”.

“As we have seen on our doorstep today, activism against gas development is strong in Australia and governments have demonstrated a marked reluctance to expose themselves to the backlash associated with fracking or natural gas extracted from coal seams,” he said.

“This is despite scientific research consistently proving that this type of development can go ahead safely with appropriate regulation.

“Santos has spent nearly 10 years and over a billion dollars trying to develop Narrabri in the face of significant opposition. Despite the challenges, Santos is still committed to the Narrabri project.”

Farmer Anne Kennedy said her shire of Coonamble, located on the edge of the Pilliga forest, was under threat from groundwater depletion and the planned gas pipeline.

“Our shire is over 96 per cent opposed to CSG – we will not let gas pipelines go through our properties and we will come together and blockade if it comes to it,” she said. 

Gamilaraay woman Vanessa Hickey travelled eight hours to be at the protest and said her ancestral country was under threat from the planned gasfield.

“Gamilaraay people have not given consent for coal seam gas in our sacred Pilliga forest,” Ms Hickey said.

Knitting Nanna Cherry Hardaker said, as a grandmother, she was “determined to keep up the fight until we achieve a ban on CSG across NSW”.

“We must ensure a safe environment for our grandchildren,” she said.

The protesters said the environmental risks weren’t the only reason for their opposition – gas market analyst Bruce Robertson said the export of gas by companies such as Santos had led to domestic price increases.

“We do not need new high cost onshore gas supplies, they will do nothing to push down prices,” he said.

“There is a global gas glut and gas prices have crashed internationally. More high cost onshore production will only make Australia more uncompetitive.”