An extraordinary meeting took place at Nimbin on Tuesday, April 26. Representatives of many areas in the Northern Rivers came together to share their concerns about Coal Seam Gas mining and to discuss what can be done to protect the environment and our future.
More than 100 people from Nimbin, Lismore, the Keerrong Valley, Casino, Kyogle, Barkers Vale, Murwillumbah and the Tweed packed the Bush Theatre at Nimbin for the evening gathering. The meeting was sponsored by Nimbin Environment Centre and compered by long-time environmental campaigner Paul Joseph, who sang his latest composition “What
the Frack…?”
Bentley resident Alan Roberts explained the science behind methane gas production and showed why CSG is no answer to greenhouse gas pollution, being more damaging than Co2 despite it burning cleaner than coal. Because of uncontrollable leakage and the energy required to liquify the gas, CSG is double to four times more damaging to the atmosphere than burning coal, he said.
Scott Sledge from Northern Rivers Guardians (NRG) announced a public meeting and demonstration of a community united against CSG at Murwillumbah on May14, commencing at 11am in Knox Park. The Whole of Community Gathering, co-sponsored by the Northern Rivers Guardians (NRG) and Murwillumbah’s Caldera Environment Centre (CEC) will feature speakers from a wide range of community representatives as well as regional leaders.
“The unity in the community is evident from the fact that Lismore, Tweed, Kyogle Councils and Rous Water have all recently voted to call for a moratorium on Coal Seam Gas mining,” Mr Sledge said.
Among the speakers at Nimbin were Aboriginal elder Harry Boyd, Doug Ferguson from the Keerrong Gas Squad, Paul Hobbes from Lynches Creek Group against Gas (GAG) and Linda Brooks from Casino.
Tony Gleeson spoke about the 100 per cent Renewable Energy Program. Lisa Costello from Lismore presented a video depicting land devastation at Tara, near Dalby in Queensland, where local residents are trying to hold British Gas company to account.
Lock the Gate Alliance, a national body coordinating a citizens’ response to damage threatened by CSG mining, held a gathering at Tara which concluded earlier this week.
The Nimbin meeting resolved to form a regional steering committee to coordinate the various
community efforts.
