Suellyn Tighe squints and points at the large mountain in the distance.
It’s distinctly shaped like a wombat.
She explains how ancient Gomeroi stories are woven into the landscape.
“It’s a story to teach young kids how to share, a story that talks about when times are tough and coming together and sharing, and not being greedy,” she tells The Point.
“These stories are our umbilical cord back to Country. They link us back to the land.”
Aunty Suellyn is trying to raise awareness about the spiritual significance of the Pilliga to the Gomeroi people, who are fighting a major $3.6 billion coal seam gas development on the land.
She feels like Aboriginal voices have not been heard in the long-running debate about the proposal.
“I’ve been involved in this issue for about 12 years now and they do not hear the Aboriginal voice,” she says.
Suellyn Tighe says ancient Gomeroi stories are woven into the landscape, like this mountain shaped like a wombat near Coonabarabran, NSW. Source: NITV The Point
“They do not hear our voices, so what we need to do is make our voices so they can’t ignore us.”
Santos has the approval to build 850 coal seam gas wells over a thousand hectares, carving through the Pilliga forest with roads, fences and other infrastructure.
Santos and the Gomeroi native title applicants have been negotiating for eight years - but in March the Traditional Custodians formally rejected the gas company's offer.
The matter is currently before the National Native Title Tribunal, after Santos last year applied for a resolution to its petroleum production lease applications without Gomeroi consent.
Santos declined NITV's request for an interview and did not respond to written questions.
Sheryl Nichols is a Gomeroi native title applicant and regularly protests, like she is today, at a popular spot for tourists.
Sheryl Nicholls is a Gomeroi native title applicant opposed to the Santos gas development. Source: NITV the Point: Karen Michelmore
She’s laid out coloured plywood signs which read : Pilliga No CSG.
Aunty Sheryl, who is the deputy chair of the Pilliga Land Council, is hopeful about the legal challenge.
“We'll keep going back until we either win or lose but I think we're going to win, we’ve got the willpower in us," she says.
Aunty Suellen expects there will be an appeal in the tribunal, no matter who wins the case.
Santos wants to build 850 coal seam gas wells on 1000 hectares of country in north western NSW, including in the Pilliga forest. Source: NITV The Point: Karen Michelmore
She says the new federal government is a chance for a reset on the issue, with Aboriginal voices taken into account, despite the current pressures of the looming energy crisis.
“We now have a new government, so it's an opportunity,” she says.
“I would love to see our government listen to our words and hear the voices of Aboriginal people. We do not want it.”
*For more on this story tune into NITV's flagship current affairs program The Point Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel 34, or later on SBS and SBS On Demand.
