Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside NSW Parliament to oppose a major coal seam gas project planned for the state’s west.

Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project has faced sustained backlash from local farmers, conservationists, traditional owners and others, who loudly voiced their position at Sydney’s Macquarie Street on Thursday.

Protesters say the oil and gas giant’s plan to drill up to 850 wells for the extraction of coal seam gas and run a pipeline through the Liverpool Plains foodbowl will compromise farmland and indigenous heritage sites.

They say the wells will pass through the Great Artesian Basin which is vital to the area’s grazing and farming and could be at risk of contamination.

Independent MP, Roy Butler who represents the Narrabri region told the protest without access to groundwater, local towns would be forced to empty out.

“We cannot place groundwater at risk and that is what this project does,” he said.

Crossbenchers, Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann, Legalise Cannabis Party MLC Jeremy Buckingham and independent MP Joe McGirr also spoke at the protest to express their opposition to the project.

The NSW and federal governments approved the Narrabri project in 2020.

Santos launched proceedings last year in the national native title tribunal to continue the project without consent from the Gomeroi People.

Traditional owners voted 162-2, with four abstentions, to reject the agreement.

Gomeroi woman Sue-Ellen Tighe told the protest the bodies responsible for allowing the ongoing extraction of fossil fuels pave the way for the destruction of traditional lands.

“We from the Gomeroi nation, as all first nations, continue to maintain our identity and connection to country to our stories, our laws and our cultural practices,” she said.

“We demand the state and federal governments stop the extraction, the consumption and the selling of fossil fuels in this country.”

The protest was held by a coalition of groups including traditional Gomeroi owners, NSW farmers, The Country Women’s Association, Unions NSW and Lock the Gate.

Santos has been contacted for comment.

– AAP