After years of delays, the NSW state government has approved the expansion of the controversial Narrabri gas project, despite opposition from many in the local community. 

The project, which was opposed by the vast majority of submissions during the consultation process, could involve up to 850 new coal seam gas wells being drilled on 1,000 hectares of a 95,000 hectare site covering the Pilliga forest and nearby farm land.

If you've never seen a gas drilling site up close, they're not pretty. 

Towers being raised across the countryside, orange flames from gas flares, glaring floodlights, constant noise from the grind of the drill - and that's not even touching on the potential for land and water pollution from fugitive emissions during the drilling process.

It has been an encouraging start to the season across much of New South Wales, with most areas receiving reasonable falls, but across Queensland the majority of growers are still anxiously waiting for rain to assure emerging crops or commence planting.

So if you are back in the office after planting or you’re waiting to start in the paddock you might have time to tune into the GRDC 2020 Farm Business Updates, which will be delivered online from June 22-26.

In a forced break from tradition, the annual Updates will be beamed directly into the homes and offices of growers and advisers, ensuring they have access to expert advice and insights to guide their business through this year and beyond.

Our staff regularly run events across the North West region to support your land management work.

click the heading to see all the events and links through to past events. 

The fate of a controversial coal seam gas project in north-west New South Wales will be decided within 12 weeks.

Santos's Narrabri Gas Project has received backing from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, recommending its "approval with strict conditions".

After three years of consideration, the department has referred the multi-billion-dollar project to the state's Independent Planning Commission, and Minister Rob Stokes has requested a determination within 12 weeks.

More than 23,000 submissions were made to the department during its assessment.

A public hearing will be held as part of the IPC's deliberations.

The Berejiklian government has given its support for the proposed $3.6 billion Santos coal seam gasfield in northern NSW, saying it was critical for energy security and that it had limited environmental impacts.

In its assessment released on Friday, the Planning Department said its "comprehensive suite of strict conditions" would ensure the controversial project was "in the public interest and is approvable".