Santos wants to start fracking in a region marked by paperbark forests, sweeping ghost gum floodplains, sandstone gorges, and magical hot springs that until recently were completely unknown to western science.
It’s the biggest fracking project ever proposed by Santos, signalling a massive expansion of gas exports – with the Territory’s aquifers, rivers, and landscapes paying the price.
Santos’ fracking plans threaten the groundwater on which the Territory relies and will put a range of iconic waterways and sensitive ecosystems at risk.
The majestic Hot Springs Valley is at risk from Santos' fracking plans. Hot Springs Valley is on Tanumbirini Station and lies to the Northeast of the Beetaloo Sub-basin. It is within the headwaters of the Cox River catchment and includes several stunning spring complexes.
What’s at risk?
Experts say that Santos’ plan poses substantial risks to our precious groundwater and the incredible ecosystems that rely on it.
Santos’ fracking plans will see toxic chemicals pumped through Cambrian Limestone aquifer, a geological formation the size of France that supplies fresh water for communities, and the tourism, farming and pastoral industries and feeds the Roper and Daly Rivers.
This ancient underground water source is the very lungs of the Territory – and contamination with toxic fracking chemicals could be catastrophic.
They want to build drillpads and store toxic wastewater in the middle of a flood plain, close to the majestic Hot Springs valley as well as creeks that discharge into the Cox and Limmen Bight River systems.
These systems feed into the Limmen Bight Marine park, where thriving saltmarshes, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows support an abundance of life – from dugongs and flatback turtles to rare seahorses and migratory shorebirds.
Wetlands on the Limmen River.
Limmen National Park.
Species at risk
Santos’ fracking plans could also have a significant impact a number of listed species that may live in the area, including Gouldian finches, critically-endangered Northern blue-tongued skinks, Mertens water monitors and the Carpentarian grasswren.
Land clearing, the construction of roads and potential contamination of surface and groundwater could destroy their habitat and food sources.
These species are in danger of extinction and must be protected. The risks of fracking to these species must be comprehensively assessed following more extensive biodiversity surveys.
What can be done?
Santos has submitted its fracking plans for approval by the NT Government, but Territorians know they can’t trust the Finocchiaro Government to protect our water, nature, and communities.
So, it’s up to Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt to stand up for the Territory, and call Santos’ fracking project in for assessment under Federal environment laws.
Sign the petition
Will you send an email and demand that Labor stand up to Santos and defend the Territory's water and nature?
Sign the petition to call on Environment Minister Murray Watt to exercise your powers under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) to call in Santos' plans for 12 new fracking wells in the Northern Territory for federal environmental assessment.
Read the ECNT submission.