A RECENT meeting of the Gomeroi people in Tamworth has voted no to an offer by Santos to enter into an agreement which would provide consent for the Narrabri Gas Project.

Around 200 people attended the native title claim meeting in Tamworth from 22 to 25 March, with another fifty attending by video link.

According to the Native Title Services Corporation, who convened the meeting, the group representing the Gomeroi Nation as applicant for a native title claim over the lands which include the site of the proposed Narrabri Gas Project, have been in formal negotiations about the coal seam gas production lease since 2014.

The area under Native Title claim by the Gomeroi people. See full map here.

In May 2021, Santos filed applications in the National Native Title Tribunal seeking the granting of leases without the Gomeroi people's consent to the project.

In March 2022, Santos made an offer to the Gomeroi People, seeking their consent in exchange for certain benefits.

It is that offer that was defeated by a strong no vote at the Tamworth meeting.

"We would have to give up our water rights and Native Title rights," said Moree-based Gomeroi traditional owner Polly Cutmore.

"All the people on the floor in Tamworth and on zoom all voted no."

"We're not willing to sign away our rights. We've got to protect our GAB (Great Artesian Basin), it protects us."

"We've got to look after the people in Gomeroi country before anyone outside Gomeroi," she said.

The importance of this decision was emphasised in comments attributed to the Gomeroi Applicant, the 18 Gomeroi people elected to represent all the native title claimants.

"Santos' proposed Project does not give us confidence that Santos will avoid damage to the Pilliga Forest, or the Billaga as we say, and its cultural values," the applicant said.

"In our view there are no satisfactory measures in place to protect our country. The Gomeroi People are very concerned that the Project will impact the Billaga's waterways, and contaminate the Great Artesian Basin."

Despite creating a significant hurdle for Santos to overcome, the Native Title Act does not give claimants the right to veto any activities on traditional country.

The next step for Santos is to seek a judgement from the Native Title Tribunal at a hearing to be begin this Friday 8 April.

Gomeroi People have filed evidence in the Tribunal about the spiritual and cultural significance of the Billaga Forest and the negative effects that may be caused by greenhouse gas emissions from the Narrabri Gas Project.

They have also filed evidence to contend that Santos did not conduct the negotiations "in good faith" nor offer "fair and reasonable compensation", and that "Santos' cultural heritage report and assessment was seriously inadequate."

Depending on the determination by National Native Title Tribunal, either Santos or the Gomeroi People may appeal to the Federal Court.

The Native Title Services Corporation also advises that the Commonwealth Attorney General may overrule any determination if she considers it to be in the national interest or the interest of NSW.