The first meeting of the body which is the interface between community, local and government authorities and Santos met for the first time in Narrabri on Wednesday.
The Narrabri Community Consultative Committee (CCC) will be chaired by Mr Jock Laurie. Narrabri Shire Council delegates to the CCC are Cr. Maxine Booby and Cr. Cath Collyer.
The body will be an important element in the future development of the coal seam gas industry.
The new CCC will deal with the range of issues which will affect the community as the industry ramps up in the Narrabri district.
The CCC will meet each month.
The CCC will be the vehicle which will allow community issues relating to the coal seam gas industry to be brought to the attention of government and its agencies, Santos and the wider community.
Members of the CCC cover the spectrum of interested groups and individuals ranging from objections to the coal seam gas industry to government agencies, Santos, farmer organisations and the Shire Council.
Santos is developing what it believes will be a major gas field in Pilliga with the capability of providing natual gas to meet the needs of NSW homes and industry for decades.
PICTURE: From left, Rachell Connell, Office of Coal Seam Gas Liz Webb, Land and Water Commission Cathy Redding, Narrabri Shire Council, Catherine Collyer, Narrabri Shire Council, Jocelyn Cameron, Country Women’s Association, Steve Barry, Department of Planning and Environment, Annie Moody, Santos, Andrew Ellis, Division of Resources and Energy, Neale House, Santos, Jock Laurie, Land and Water Commissioner (Chair), Peter Mitchley, Santos, Tony Pickard, People for the Plains, Cate Barrett, NSW Office of Water, Doug Trudeau, NSW Office of Water, Jessica Creed, Environment Protection Authority, Carmen Dwyer, Environment Protection Authority. In attendance at meeting but absent from photo: Matt Norrie – NSW Farmers, Lynn Trindall – Narrabri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Jon Maree Baker – Namoi Water, Jack Warnock - Lower Namoi Cotton Growers Association, Phillip Kirkby – North West Local Land Services, Russell Stewart – Narrabri Chamber of Commerce.