As the CSG-free Communities initiative gathers steam across the Tweed Shire, the community of Tyalgum has stated firmly and resoundingly that it opposes coal seam gas (CSG) exploration and production in the local area.
Tyalgum, known as ‘The Heart of the Caldera’ is the first community in the Tweed Shire to go ‘CSG-free’.
Residents and landowners gathered on Saturday for a street parade and community celebration to declare the village and surrounding areas ‘CSG-free’.
They presented Declarations from 32 roads to Tweed Shire Mayor Barry Longland who, in return, presented a representative from each road with a ‘Gasfield Free’ road sign to be displayed on the road.
The celebration was the culmination of a process that started in May with a community meeting. Groups of residents then conducted surveys along each road in the area to give local residents and landowners the opportunity to have a say about whether they wanted coal seam gas exploration on their road.
Michael McNamara from Lock the Gate – Tweed said the response had been overwhelming.
“Over 98 per cent of residents and landowners in the Tyalgum area have said they want their roads and community to be CSG-free,” Mr McNamara said.
“Tyalgum is the first community in the Tweed to implement the CSG-free Communities initiative, and others are already in the process,” he said.
“The CSG-free Communities initiative gives communities an opportunity denied to them by the government and the CSG companies to have a say about the imposition of this industrial development in their community.
“They have an opportunity to make a statement that has strong moral authority about the direction of development in their community.
“This opportunity has been grabbed with both hands in the Tyalgum area. Local residents Michelle Rawlings and Emerald Astroturf did a magnificent job of co-ordinating the process locally and organising the community celebration, which included the planting of a Coolamon tree, the floral emblem of the Tweed, to commemorate the day.
“The CSG-free Communities initiative is spreading like wildfire across the Northern Rivers because it engages local residents, and gives them a voice in determining the future of their community.
“It is a very empowering process for both communities and individuals,” Mr McNamara said.
Community meetings are scheduled for other areas across the Tweed Shire.
Over coming weeks, meetings are scheduled for Chillingham, Uki and Burringbar/Mooball/Crabbes Creek.
A meeting will be held at 7pm tonight at Pottsville Community Hall.
“I invite anyone interested in organising or participating in the CSG-free Communities initiative in their community, or attending a community meeting, to contact me on (02) 6679 3013 or by email at lockthegate.tweed@gmail.com”.
