Green light for natural gas project on heritage site

The National Native Title Tribunal has ruled that a multi-billion gas project in north-west New South Wales can go ahead, despite climate concerns and an Indigenous heritage site.

Energy giant Santos had proposed the S$3.6 billion Narrabri Gas Project that overlaps with cultural heritage sites of the Gomeroi people.

Santos had been granted the lease to drill more than 800 wells years ago but had been battling in courts as local people appealed the leases.

The almost decade-long dispute came to an end last week when the National Native Title Tribunal acknowledged that while the Narrabri Gas Project could be detrimental to climate, it would also be an “important benefit” for the public and the Gomeroi people.

“Weighing the public interest evidence, including the evidence addressing environmental matters, the panel has found the project offers a net public benefit,” the tribunal said in its ruling.