As candidates for the seat of Dubbo argue about the merits and dangers of coal seam gas and the stance government should take on the issue, one CSG project in the state's north west is looking more in danger.
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Anti-CSG campaigners are claiming a win in their long running battle with gas giant Santos over the controversial Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga Forest.
Organisations including the North West Alliance and Wilderness Society Newcastle are claiming Santos missed a deadline that was part of a memorandum of understanding with the NSW government.
"The Narrabri Gas Project is a dud for north west NSW residents, it's a dud for Santos shareholders, it's a dud for the NSW government," Phil Herbert, a farmer from Mary's Mount, said.
"Santos has failed yet again to meet a commitment they made. Santos offer no certainty for our region, just broken promises and a long list of pollution events.
"It's time the government takes note that the community is not backing down on this one, we want our land and water protected from coal seam gas."
Wilderness Society Newcastle Campaign Manager Naomi Hogan said there were growing signs the project could be mothballed, with workers contracts not being renewed.
"It has been widely reported that the financially struggling gas giant is trying to offload at least part of the trouble-plagued Narrabri Gas Project," Ms Hogan said.
"Santos vice-president eastern Australia, James Baulderstone, has already admitted the earliest start-up date has been pushed back from 2016 to 'the back end of the decade'."
Both Ms Hogan and Mr Herbert said the project's failure would be a win for the Pilliga Forest and Great Artesian Basin.