Please protect Siding Spring Observatory from gasfield light pollution in Coonabarabran, New South Wales | Community organisation

Please protect Siding Spring Observatory from gasfield light pollution

Locality: Coonabarabran, New South Wales

Address: Observatory Rd 2357 Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia

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24.01.2022 Santos are trying to downplay their current and future impacts for Siding Spring Observatory. Their response from the massive 23’000 submissions (99% against the project) has been vague at best, sometimes completely misleading and other times lacking in any real detail. We know from current data taken this year has shown they already impact the Observatory from just three small exploration flares. They actually plan to have six, and then also build 50m high ones with flames c...apable of another 30m. According to the Bortle scale used to measure the night sky brightness in a particular location, it shows just how devastating an impact their gas flares already have. The scale only goes to 9, and they already meet 7. Their flare from Bibblewindi is classed as the same impact as a city / suburbia. It’s actually much worse than the neighbouring town of Coonabarabran with over 3000 people living there. And it’s only going to get worse. Try this response quote This can make it difficult to delineate the individual light sources when viewed from a large distance. For example, the existing appraisal flares at Bibblewindi, Leewood and Tintsfield are within the same general direction as the town of Narrabri and the Narrabri mine. Actually it is quite clear from the picture supplied who is making what light pollution. So no matter what they have written claiming to have very little impact, the reality is a very different case. Check out from pages 126 onwards for more detail https://majorprojects.accelo.com//Narrabri%20Gas%20Project See more

22.01.2022 Santos make the claim they will flare more if they don’t get to make money off their exploration! They have put pressure on the NSW Lib / Lab to allow another 1000 days royalty free gas money while also extending the more pipelines to use more of their exploration gas to generate more money for their pockets! This isn’t exploration this is production! We support the many other groups calling for a halt to all exploration, flaring and further works, and want all wells capped until a final decision is made for the EIS. End the flares!! https://www.smh.com.au//rubber-stamp-santos-avoids-million

22.01.2022 Santos refuse to answer questions. Any wonder why we, as a community, do not believe them on the impact of light pollution from multiple flares, and the effects it will have on scientific research here in Coonabarabran NSW?

22.01.2022 It’s time to have your say. If you want to protect us here at Siding Spring Observatory you need to make you voice heard!

22.01.2022 A very disappointing result, from a clear lack of understanding about the future impacts of more flares, and the building of future ones which will be 10x as big. Staff, ex staff, astronomers and community members have in the past worked hard to bring this concerning issue to the forefront. A massive restructure in staffing levels at SSO has led to this shift. We have always acknowledged the current pilot flares are adding to the problem of artificial light pollution increas...ing in our region. We also acknowledge that the future plans will be more destructive to our precious night sky and keeping our Dark Sky status. There are recommended options which should have been put in place, such as enclosing the flares, or no flares at all, such as WA is progressing to. We as a community of active people are very concerned about this, and will continue the fight. Stay tuned. #DarkSkyPark #SidingSpringObservatory #Coonabarabran #Warrumbungles #WeLoveOurNightSky #EndFlaring The whole response can be located here - https://majorprojects.planningportal.nsw.gov.au//getConten

19.01.2022 Big thank you goes to the astronomers who have taken the time to write to our local paper and discuss the issue of flares and light pollution for Siding Spring Observatory. 3 people have put their names forward, many more would happily sign on too. #DarkSkies #Astronomy #SidingSpringObservatory #Coonabarabran #Warrumbungles #DarkSkyPark #FlaresArentNeededOrWanted #RLWT2018 #FestivalOfTheStars #WarrumbungleDarkSkyPark

16.01.2022 Yes, flaring is unnecessary. WA is now ending flaring for a number of good reasons. Here in NSW, we still pollute our skies and our communities. UPDATE - It’s a shame this only comes into effect in 2030. We could end all flaring right now. At least the Govt are now acknowledging just how bad the emissions are. #EndFlaringNow #Pilliga #SidingSpringObservatory #Santos #NarrabriGasProject #LightPollution

14.01.2022 Ten times as tall as the current ones! They are trying to justify these planned flares and claim they won’t impact the scientific research being conducted here.

12.01.2022 We are keeping a close eye on these proceedings. Future scientific discoveries from #SSO rely on #darkskies from Australia’s Premier Observatory. Nobody needs gasfield flares or light pollution.

11.01.2022 We have heard from speakers from Siding Spring Observatory, Friends of SSO, and senior astronomers Robert McNaught and Malcolm Hartley. Now to hear from you! It’s really easy. Click the link and have your say. Just write it in the comments or attach a submission! Lodge your objection directly on the IPC website: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say NARRABRI GAS PROJECT... Submissions are due by the 10th of August 2020 In a few words or more state your thoughts about 850 wells to be implemented at the PILLIGA STATE FOREST Narrabri Project. Mention the unacceptable flares and make sure to include that you do not agree with the NSW Planning assessment, the IPC decision will be made soon. See more

08.01.2022 Star Wars not Gasfield Wars for Coonabarabran! If you hadn’t heard the exciting news, Coonabarabran (Australia’s Astronomy Capital) are launching a new annual Star Wars event - follow the link below - bringing more astrotourism to our drought ridden region. A well needed resource for many country towns struggling in this crippling time. But you can’t look at the world class #darkskies when the planned massive gas flares will drown out any chance of seeing our beautiful stars. We fully support the new venture of the Star Wars Festival, and want you to tell your state and federal elected representatives to support Star Wars not Gasfield Wars for Coonabarabran. Check and like them here - https://www.facebook.com/starwarscoonabarabran/

07.01.2022 Just further up the road, more gas flaring.

04.01.2022 You get the idea. All around Australia, people want to save our rare dark skies.

03.01.2022 Reports back from the 2 days of lectures on dark skies tell us many people beyond our communities really appreciate the importance of reducing and removing artificial light pollution. We have been told many lecturers talked briefly about gas flares, and while important to address they exist and are a problem, no one talked about how to fix it! We have, many times. Oh well

01.01.2022 If you haven’t heard the bad news, Santos giant flares for our night skies are just one step away. There is just one last way to stop them, and that’s an independent panel we can all present too. We will post a link soon!