IT HAS been more than five years since people from Coonamble, Baradine, Pilliga and other areas first began to band together to voice their objections to the proposal for Coal Seam Gas (CSG) mining in the region.
Last weekend, the battle-weary volunteers were bolstered by a show of support from people across NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
On Friday, people began to gather at Pilliga Pottery north of Coonabarabran.
They spent their time exploring the forest and learning from each other.
Representatives of the Gamilaraay traditional owners spoke about the cultural impacts of CSG mining.
Coonamble’s David Chadwick spoke to the crowd about his views on the economic environment around coal seam gas, the threat to artesian water and the problem of by-products like “toxic salt”. Malcolm Donaldson spoke about his family’s experiences living close to the drill site and the risks he sees with Santos’ proposed Pilliga CSG Project. The event was organised by the North West Alliance, involving local groups concerned about the impacts of Coal Seam Gas mining and supported by non-government agencies including Lock the Gate and the Wilderness Society.
“We know that local people have been fighting this for years,” Ms Hodgson said. “And there is a level of fatigue.”
A planning forum was held to continue the campaign to protect the Great Artesian Basin, the Pilliga Forest and the surrounding communities and farmland from the potential impacts of CSG.
“Sunday was our big day of action,” said Ms Naomi Hodgson, an active member of the North West Alliance.
“More than 350 people travelled from around the local area and long distances to spell out No CSG.”
The action was covered by NBN, Prime 7 News and the regional ABC.
The message also went out online through a flurry of social media.
Labor’s MLC for the Barwon electorate, Daniel Mookhey, extended his ‘listening tour’ of the region to spend time on Saturday with those involved.
The determination on Santos’ application to extract CSG from the Pilliga is due in 2018.
Santos has reported that its determination to pursue the project has increased with rising oil prices and other economic factors.
The company is currently preparing its responses to a record-breaking number of submissions made to the project’s Environmental Impact Statement.
Almost 23,000 submissions were received with 98% of those reported to be against the project.
Submissions outlined areas of concern from members of the general public and issues raised from a “range of experts”.
Local anti-CSG activist, Pam Goldsmith says that the weekend’s action “has fired everybody up.”
“I think now is the time that we’ve got to up the ante,” she said.
“With the pipeline planning underway there are locals that have been sitting on the fence who are now becoming active.”
She also believes that the protest on the weekend delivered a clear message that has been picked up by the wider media.
Organisers were buoyed by the response and hope that the event will keep the spark in the campaign opposing CSG as it “heats up” over the next 12 months.
