Clarence Communities Declaring Themselves CSG Free

At Kungala Hall on Sunday 4 November, residents of 25 roads from the communities of Lanitza, Kungala, Braunstone, Wells Crossing and Halfway Creek declared their roads and communities CSG FREE.  This moving celebration follows an extensive survey process whereby each resident over the age of 16 years, on each of the 25 roads, was asked the question, “Do you want your roads and lands CSG Free”. With 432 residents surveyed, only 8 said no, and 6 were unsure, giving a percentage of 95.6% not wanting gasfields in their community.

“The CSG Free Communities Strategy is a grass roots democracy process", said Lynette Eggins, CSG Free Community Coordinator in the Clarence Valley LGA. "The NSW government has failed to protect farmers and communities from invasive gasfields. Now the communities of Lanitza, Kungala, Braunstone, Wells Crossing and Halfway Creek have decided to take charge of their own destiny. After a comprehensive survey process showing overwhelming support, they have declared their communities no-go zones for gasfields. These declarations are strong statements from the people, declaring their intent to defend their community from an invasive and reckless industry. An industry that poses risks to water, land values, farming land and the health of families”

“This neighbour to neighbour survey of more than 430 residents shows that the mining companies have no social licence. These communities emphatically reject unconventional gas mining in our region.” she said.

Other communities in the Clarence Valley local government area are following suit with many localities preparing to declare themselves Gasfield Free over the coming months. "People have been contacting me for advice on how to get the community survey going in their district", said Lynette Eggins, "it's fantastic to see such community spirit". This follows the trend throughout the Northern Rivers where communities have been undertaking this process over the past year. From the Queensland border, down through the Lismore area and now the Clarence, many communities have declared themselves Gasfield Free through the grass-roots community-run survey.

“Social licence to turn the Clarence Valley into gasfields? I don’t think so” said Ms Eggins.

Councillor Sue Hughes generously offered her time to accept road declarations from the delegates of each of the 25 surveyed roads, and in turn presented  residents with their Gasfield Free Road Sign. Councillor Hughes said she will table the Declarations at a Council Meeting in December. The box of 25 road Declarations from these communities can now be added to Declarations from the community of Ewingar, in the Upper Clarence, accepted by Mayor Richie Williamson at the Rock the Gate Rally in Lismore earlier this year.

“Across the Northern Rivers, communities are running with this grass-roots process",  said Annie Kia from Lock the Gate Alliance Northern Rivers, who was instrumental in developing the initiative early this year. "So far, a total of 11,590 people have responded to the survey in more than 60 communities. Of these, 96% said YES to wanting their road and community Gasfield Free. Astonishingly, only 1% said NO to going Gasfield Free, with 3% NOT SURE. This is about self-determination. Communities have a right to protect existing industries, their land, water and health. The people of the Northern Rivers clearly reject gasfield industrialisation, with all its risks."

MP Referred to ICAC over Gifts From CSG Company

Scot MacDonald, a Liberal member of the NSW upper house, the Legislative Council, is being referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) by the NSW Greens for accepting gifts from gas company Santos after making statements in favour of coal seam gas mining in NSW.  Mr MacDonald, from the Guyra area of the NSW Northern Tablelands, was elected to parliament in 2011. (Santos is the company seeking to develop a gasfield in the Pilliga woodland, an area of major ecological importance, in the central west of the state.)

As a member of the Legislative Council Committee which inquired into coal seam gas mining in NSW, Mr MacDonald made a dissenting report following the inquiry.  In this report he stated, "It is difficult to reach any other conclusion than the coal seam gas industry should be developed as quickly as possible."

Shortly after the findings of the Inquiry were made public in May, Mr MacDonald accepted from major CSG company Santos flights to and accommodation in Tasmania where he spoke at a forum alongside Santos officials on the topic of coal seam gas and agriculture.

Mr MacDonald declared both the flights and the accommodation on the pecuniary interests register and claims that he has complied with all the parliamentary guidelines.  He stated, "I have consistently said we need to ensure gas supplies for this state if it can be shown that CSG can be extracted safely and landholders are treated respectfully."

Mr MacDonald seems to be missing the point that the general community does not believe that CSG can be extracted safely. Moreover, the community does not believe that the "safeguards" the NSW Government has put in place will effectively protect both the environment and the community from damaging long-term impacts from the CSG industry.  He also seems to be unaware that export is the main focus of the companies seeking to exploit coal seam gas – not a desire to "ensure gas supplies for this state."

Greens MP, Jeremy Buckingham said, "We think it's outrageous that, while Parliament is still considering the Coal Seam Gas Inquiry Report, he accepted a gift from one of the largest coal seam gas companies, Santos."

KNITTING NANNAS AGAINST GAS LAUNCHED IN GRAFTON

On Friday 19^th October the Grafton Chapter of Knitting Nannas Against Gas was launched with a knit-in outside the office of the Chris Gulaptis, Member for Clarence in the NSW State Parliament.  Mr Gulaptis is a member of the National Party which is currently in a coalition government with the Liberal Party in NSW.

The Grafton Nannas, who were inspired by the original Knitting  Nannas in the Lismore district, were protesting against the State Government's support for the coal seam gas (CSG) industry.

A spokesperson for the group stated that they had decided that Grafton should have a similar group to supplement the work that other anti-CSG campaigners are doing in the Clarence Valley.

"In supporting this damaging industry the Government is ignoring  the genuine concerns of ordinary people about issues such as fracking, the threat to aquifers, declining property values and loss of productive agricultural land," she said.

"We are being told by the politicians that everything is O.K. because they have strong safeguards in place. This is simply not true.   

"None of the measures announced by the Government several weeks ago will address the serious social, economic and environmental problems associated with coal seam gas mining.

"We want our politicians, and in particular our local member Mr Gulaptis, to take the community's concerns seriously.  We don't want our grandchildren to live in an area devastated by gas mining."

The Nannas delivered  a letter outlining their concerns to Mr Gulaptis' office.  They are seeking a meeting with him to discuss their concerns in detail.

Cupcakes to Celebrate the Launch