Thousands join stop CSG protests across NSW

[icyfroth]

Up to 3,000 people have donned yellow clothing in the New South Wales north coast town of Murwillumbah as they march in protest to coal seam gas mining.

They were joined by about 1,000 protesters in Sydney's inner-west, who formed a human sign spelling out "Stop CSG".

Murwillumbah rally spokeswoman Amanda Shoebridge says comments by the New South Wales Government this week that coal seam gas mining is inevitable failed to dampen the community's resolve.

"People will really, after news like that, dig their heels in and say well 'actually mate, no, no we're not going to allow CSG in here and you don't have social licence to do it, you don't have the approval of the community and it's not going to happen'," she said.

Stop CSG Sydney spokeswoman Jacinta Green says there is nothing to prevent miners exploring the Sydney basin, water catchments and prime agricultural land.

"Not one inch of New South Wales has been left off limits to the coal seam gas industry," she said.

Similar protests are set to be held across the country as part of a national week of action against the CSG industry.
Protesters are concerned state governments are not doing enough to protect the environment from coal seam gas mining.

Murwillumbah rally spokeswoman Amanda Shoebridge says comments by the New South Wales Government this week that coal seam gas mining is inevitable

Is it really?

"People will really, after news like that, dig their heels in and say well 'actually mate, no, no we're not going to allow CSG in here and you don't have social licence to do it, you don't have the approval of the community and it's not going to happen',"

Does the government give a rat's behind about community concerns, and does it even have the power to stop CSG exploration?

Or is it too busy quarrelling about sexism and misogyny!?

[meh_too]

Something has to give Icy, CSG scares the carp outta me  :_|

[just_me_karen]

http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/environment/ref/2012

Mining exploration notices in NSW 😞

[vintage-star]

I have seen some vision of this type of mining, it can happen anywhere!...... Sometimes very close to people's homes!

[tasfleur]

I don't like it either ....  :_|

[colic2bullsgirlore]

first arrests at Doubtful Creek ... I believe these protests will shape the future of CSG mining and exploration in NSW.... if the "pro protesters" fail then the city slickers are in deep deep kaka. I wondered whether the arrests had received much state wide or nationwide exposure??  The protest is set to escalate.

http://coalseamgasnews.org/news/world/australia/nsw/first-arrest-at-doubtful-creek-metgasco-drilling...

http://coalseamgasnews.org/news/world/australia/nsw/mad-max-device-deployed-at-glenugie-csg-drill-si...

Reminds me of the sand mining protests in the 70's that stopped the rutile mining that raped the NSW coastline for 20 odd years before action was taken. The protest actions and ensueing legislation allowed future generations to enjoy the beach rather than exploiting its minerals for a percieved short term gain which would have destroyed or at the very least severely detrimentally effected native coastal flora and fauna.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19870108&id=YSpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nuQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4829,31...

[colic2bullsgirlore]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-07/three-arrested-as-northern-csg-protests-heat-up/4506046

Police have barred people from getting to an anti-coal seam gas protest site, near Lismore in northern New South Wales.

More then 350 protesters at Doubtful Creek near Kyogle are trying to prevent the company Metgasco from getting access to a nearby property to drill a test well.

They are trying to stop Metgasco from moving a gas drilling rig from Glenugie, near Grafton, to the Doubtful Creek site.

A further 50 protesters have been stopped at the road entrance and have been denied access under special police powers.

Police have arrested three people so far, with the latest being a woman who had to be cut form a car to which she was chained.

Another woman who is part of the local group Knitting Nannas Against Gas was removed from a tripod by police.

Large numbers of police are at another protest at Glenugie, south of Grafton, where Metgasco is trying to move core-drilling equipment to Doubtful Creek.

Police have been at the Glenugie site since 4:00am this morning to ensure Metgasco can transfer the machinery safely.

Local land holders and their supporters have tried to stop the convoy, arguing they don't want to see CSG activity anywhere in the state.

Protester Boudicca Cerese is at Doubtful Creek and says residents have vowed to stop the drilling rig in its tracks.

"We're really just coming together as a show of community strength to make it very clear to the NSW government and to Metgasco that this industry is not welcome in our region," she said.

"We're not going to let it go ahead.

"In every community across the region, this will happen, where people will stand together to stop this industry from going ahead."

The protesters want the state government to place a moratorium on CSG activity until more is known about its environmental and health impacts.

[colic2bullsgirlore]

http://coalseamgasnews.org/news/world/australia/nsw/ofarrell-gov-sends-in-police-to-arrest-githabul-...

Police have this morning arrested one indigenous elder and another Githabul traditional owner at the Doubtful Creek blockade of Metgasco coal seam gas operations near Kyogle. 

There is a massive show of police force at the site with forty five officers currently in attendance, ambulance services, two random breath testing units, two police rescue trucks and tow trucks on site. 

In addition, in an extraordinary perversion of their proper role, a NSW Rural Fire Service field kitchen is on-site providing police catering. 

Yesterday, the government formally ‘closed’ the state forest adjoining the drilling site to the public under the NSW Forestry Regulation 2012.  There are currently over one hundred people at the protest site and numbers are swelling rapidly.

“There are shades of Queensland in the 1980s here today, as police have used minor public order offences to arrest two Indigenous traditional owners, including a local elder Uncle Kevin” said Boudicca Cerese, spokesperson for CSG Free Northern Rivers.

“One of the Githabul men was arrested for preparing ochre as a precursor to a ceremony which the group was planning to conduct on their country.

[kengillard]

Some of my relatives are probably at that protest.:-(

[cueperkins]

Apparently, parties may have to fall back on an old law called 'Deed in Fee Simple' so they can take their fight to the High Court.   It's only land OWNERS who have that right so they have to join forces.  Apparently, once they declare that status, they can erect signs against Trespass by any party & the Mining mobs would have to take their case to the high court to get any level of access even for exploration.

Some people in my region are doing just that against Council & State Govt trying to kick them off their land. Not without a fight.....It's the Constitution, It's Mabo, It's the Vibe. 

Is there any mention of any legal firms getting geared up for a mighty 'Castle' style fight?...if not, there will be.