Victorians join anti-coal seam gas rebellion

More than 100 locals attended a public meeting in Forrest, in Victoria's Otway ranges on September 16 to show their concern about coal seam gas (CSG) exploration in the area.

Two companies, CFT CBM Holdings and ECI International, have CSG exploration licences over large areas in the Otway Ranges.

Colac Otway Shire Mayor Brian Crook has spoken out against the project, criticising “the lack of community consultation that takes place as part of an application for mining exploration”, said the Colac Herald.

The council has echoed calls from environment groups for a moratorium on CSG mining.

“Until we have the process evaluated and there is a 100-per-cent guarantee there will be no impact on aquifers and the community is happy with it, coal seam gas exploration must stop,” Crook said.

Speakers at the Forrest meeting included Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth (FoE).

FoE is organising a “CSG Roadshow” speaking tour in the region from October 3 to 7, with Lock the Gate president and FoE spokesperson Drew Hutton. He is leading the campaign against CSG, which has taken off in Queensland and NSW and is now spreading to other states.

In an August statement, FoE said: “Victoria faces a wave of exploration licences for coal seam gas (CSG), coal, and shale gas, there is a growing community movement against this spreading industry.”

Walker explained the growing backlash against new coal exploration. “Already, a huge show of opposition from the community of Dean’s Marsh has forced mining company Mantle to withdraw their application for coal exploration and Mecrus has withdrawn their plan to explore for CSG in far western Victoria.



“Meanwhile, residents in Bacchus Marsh are standing up against a plan for an open cut coalmine near the town.”

On September 19, FoE activist Shaun Murray locked himself to a drilling rig that was part of Mantle Mining’s exploration activities at Bacchus Marsh for five hours, halting work.

FoE is supporting the local community campaign against this company’s plan to open Victoria’s first coal export business.

Coal and gas exploration licences cover much of southern, western and eastern Victoria. Residents have also begun to organise in Gippsland in the state’s east.

Neil Rankine of climate action group Groundswell Bass Coast told Green Left Weekly that two exploration licences concern locals.

He said one company is looking at underground coal gasification, a process in which underground coal seams are set on fire in a low-oxygen environment to release flammable gases.

This company is also looking at an open-cut mine. There is also an exploration licence held by a local landowner.

Environmental and community groups are holding a public meeting at Wonthaggi town hall at 7.30pm on October 5 to discuss the threat.

Friends of the Earth’s CSG Roadshow tour details are:

· Warrnambool, Oct 3: 7.30pm, Archie Graham Centre, 118 Timor Street
· Colac, Oct 4: 7pm, Colac RSL, 21 Murray St, Colac.
· Ballarat, Oct 5: 7.30pm, PORTICO ON STURT, 31 Sturt St
· Geelong, Oct 6: Geelong Heritage Centre, upstairs from Geelong Library (51 Lt Malop St Geelong)
· Melbourne, Oct 7: 7.30pm, New Council Chambers, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Streets, Carlton.