Narrabri gas project should not have been approved while Santos plans remain uncertain, opponents say

The miner has not revealed which parts of the Pilliga forest will be cleared and what it means for groundwater and threatened species

Opponents of Santos's $3.6bn Narrabri gas project say it should not have been approved given the company has not explained which parts of the Pilliga forest will be cleared or finished investigating what it would mean for local groundwater.

The federal environment minister, Sussan Ley, announced on Tuesday the government had approved the controversial development, which would involve up to 850 gas wells being drilled in grazing land and forest in northern New South Wales.