Latest news with #Narrabri
ABC News
10-07-2025
- ABC News
Coroner finds Indigenous man 'slipped or fell' into Narrabri Creek
A coronial inquest into the death of a First Nations man in northern NSW in 2021 has found he was likely drug-affected when he "slipped or fell" into a creek and drowned. WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains the name and image of a man who has died. They are used with the permission of his family. Nathan Markl, 31, was last seen alive on July 7, 2021, when he dropped a friend home in Narrabri. More than two weeks later his body was found in Narrabri Creek. In handing down her findings on Thursday, Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes said she was satisfied the Gomeroi man died by misadventure. "[Mr Markl] likely exited the car and entered the water, at or about 9:17pm, on the seventh of July," she said. "I am satisfied Mr Markl either slipped or fell into the Narrabri Creek and died. The inquest heard a police diving squad found Mr Markl's body 11 kilometres downstream from his vehicle July 23. Magistrate Forbes said wet weather at the time may have been a factor in his death. Police said his death was not suspicious. An autopsy was unable to establish the cause of death but found Mr Markl had no injuries. Leah Joy Murray, the pathologist who conducted the autopsy, told the inquest that the length of time Mr Markl's body was submerged in water made it difficult to determine the cause of his death. "The water clouds the ability to see bruises, scrapes and abrasions," she said. Dr Murray said there were no signs of fractures or disease that would have contributed to Mr Markl's death. "Anti-psychotic medication was found [in his system], as well as meth and alcohol," she said. The inquest heard Mr Markl had a cognitive impairment and struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues. "It's likely Mr Markl was abusing methamphetamine and cannabis," counsel assisting the coroner Ben Fogarty told the inquest. Witnesses told the inquest Mr Markl was heavily affected by drugs in the lead-up to his death. "He was on edge and I was wary of him," a witness said. During the two-day inquest in June the court heard Mr Markl was a father who loved his five children. The Gomeroi man was described as a "character" who had a special relationship with his mother, Jo Harradine. Ms Harradine told the inquest that her she feared her son would fall in with the wrong crowd due to his cognitive impairment. "It was hard for me as a mother," she said. Ms Harradine previously told the ABC she had long questioned the circumstances that led to Mr Markl's death. This week marks four years since her son went missing. The Gomeroi, Ngarrindjeri and Dunghutti woman declined to comment on the findings, but did say was not "likely to be the outcome I wanted".
AU Financial Review
25-06-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Santos' $3.6b Narrabri gas project hit with fresh lawsuit
Santos' $3.6 billion Narrabri gas development is facing new legal headaches after a key Indigenous group launched a fresh court appeal in its long-running attempt to block a project that is widely seen as critical to eastern Australia's energy security. The case, which was filed by the Gomeroi people of northern NSW on June 16, comes just a month after the Native Title Tribunal ruled that the project's importance to Australia's energy reliability outweighed potential environmental and cultural heritage concerns.
Arabian Post
17-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
ADNOC's Bold Bid for Santos Faces Regulatory ‘Energy Security' Test
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, via its XRG investment arm, has launched an A$8.89‑per‑share all‑cash takeover offer worth roughly US$18.7 billion for Santos, Australia's second‑largest gas producer. The bid has ignited intense scrutiny from Australian regulators concerned about safeguarding domestic gas supply and securing critical infrastructure. Simultaneously, XRG has pledged to accelerate key gas‑project development, a strategy aimed at wining over skeptical authorities and stakeholders. The takeover offer emerges at a pivotal moment: Santos' shares closed at A$7.73 following the announcement, indicating investor scepticism over regulatory clearance, even as the A$8.89 bid reflects a healthy 28 per cent premium. Jamie Hannah, deputy head at VanEck Australia, acknowledged that while the path ahead 'is not going to be smooth sailing', the 'very attractive' straight‑cash offer underscores its appeal. ADVERTISEMENT Regulatory risk centres on the critical role Santos plays in Australia's energy system. The firm possesses about 5 per cent of eastern and 24 per cent of western domestic gas market share, essential for supplying both export and local needs. Analysts warn that the Foreign Investment Review Board, charged with vetting significant foreign acquisitions, will scrutinise ADNOC's control over gas assets, particularly given concerns of an east‑coast gas shortfall projected by 2027. Yet ADNOC is banking on its deep financial resources to tip the scales. XRG has emphasised it can fast‑track Santos' stalled projects, such as Narrabri and Beetaloo, pledging to develop them faster and more robustly than Santos' previous plan to boost shareholder returns. UBS's Tom Allen highlighted this strength, saying regulators may view ADNOC's funding as a delivery mechanism for the gas Australia needs. The layered bid comes from a consortium that includes not only ADNOC's XRG, but also Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company and private‑equity giant Carlyle, valuing Santos at some US$36.4 billion including debt – making it the largest all‑cash corporate takeover ever in Australia. Despite such scale, state‑level political concerns are emerging. South Australia's Premier Peter Malinauskas and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis have called for protections on local jobs, licence control, and keeping Santos's headquarters in Adelaide. Meanwhile, new state legislation adds weight to ministerial approval of petroleum licence transfers, granting South Australia extra leverage in the process. At the federal level, Treasurer Jim Chalmers holds the ultimate authority. His decision will rely closely on FIRB advice, with insiders describing it as a pivotal 'captain's call' for the Albanese government. The broader Ministry of Energy and Resources, currently reviewing gas supply strategies, may leverage the bid to extract concessions in line with looming energy security needs. Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher, whose compensation could wind up exceeding A$50 million if the deal proceeds, has maintained discretion, saying he will 'let the process take its course'. Gallagher previously brought forward a stalled bid with Woodside, signalling a strategic interest in consolidation. Market sentiment remains guarded but not dismissive. Santos shares rallied approximately 11 per cent in the wake of the board's backing of the bid and release of due‑diligence exclusivity. Analysts point to ADNOC's deep capital reserves and the trade deal with the UAE as factors that may cushion adversities and lend credence to the offer. One area of uncertainty is the domestic Narrabri gas project in New South Wales: although Novation from the recent Native Title Tribunal clearance supports its long‑anticipated development, ongoing regulatory review and possible asset spin‑offs to comply with FIRB guidelines could delay its final investment decision. Analysts have speculated that domestic‑facing assets might be excluded or managed separately, potentially involving Carlyle as a local partner to satisfy national interest criteria. This complex engineering of commercial ambition and governmental oversight places energy security at the centre of the acquisition narrative. While ADNOC's financial might and project‑acceleration promise may reassure regulators, political and community stakeholders are tightening the lens on national asset control, job retention, and supply resilience. The outcome will hinge on whether FIRB, acting on Chalmers's counsel, accepts the consortium's assurances — or opts for a compromise that safeguards domestic gas capacity.
The Advertiser
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Farmers fear water risks in controversial gas pipeline
A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market. A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market. A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market. A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market.
West Australian
04-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Farmers fear water risks in controversial gas pipeline
A group of farmers has launched a legal challenge over a controversial proposed gas pipeline that would cut through prime agricultural land, arguing the federal government failed to protect water resources. Energy giant Santos plans to construct a 60km transmission pipeline that would connect its Narrabri gas project, in northwest NSW, to the Hunter gas pipeline, allowing delivery to the east coast domestic market. The steel line would be developed on farmland, the Pilliga forest and on various public sites, according to the company's documents being assessed by the federal environment department. The department in February ruled the construction of the pipeline was a "controlled action", meaning it would need approvals under environmental protection laws. But it did not apply the water trigger - an additional safeguard that would require scrutiny of risks to water resources - because the pipeline was not deemed integral to the extraction of gas from the Narrabri project. More than 140 public submissions argued the water trigger should be applied, in part due to the pipeline's proximity to the Namoi River and the Murray Darling catchment. The government's ruling said the pipeline was "unlikely to significantly impact those waterways" and their links to threatened species and ecological communities. A group of farmers and community members called the Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord on Monday filed an application in the Federal Court for a judicial review of the water trigger decision. "The farms and families in this region are utterly dependent on clean, reliable water," the group's spokesperson Noni Wells said in a statement. "We're going to court because every decision that could put water at risk must be assessed with the care it deserves." The group is backed by legal organisation Environmental Justice Australia. The Narrabri gas project was granted state planning approval in 2020 to extract gas from up to 850 wells across 95,000 hectares of land. The $3.6 billion project has been wrapped up in complex environmental and heritage approvals processes for years, including challenges from the Gomeroi people. In late May, the Native Title Tribunal ruled the land leases be granted, finding there was significant public interest in the project if all the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market.
