Opposition to the risks associated with coal seam gas (CSG) exploration and mining is growing across NSW. In northern NSW, thousands of people have rallied in Byron Bay, Lismore and The Channon to demand a moratorium on CSG.
Green Left Weekly’s Pip Hinman spoke to Lismore’s Labor Mayor, Jenny Dowell, about the campaign.
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Why did Lismore City Council decide to hold such a poll?
Council decided to hold the poll to gauge the community’s attitude to CSG exploration and extraction in the most accurate way we could — via the ballot box in conjunction with the September 8 local government elections.
Although we’ve had 7000 people marching in the streets of Lismore and 104 roads and streets declaring themselves “CSG free”, this is still a minority of our population. We have no accurate data on the level of opposition or support for CSG.
A poll (despite being non-compulsory) will give us that data and will allow us to more accurately represent the community view when we discuss CSG activity with other spheres of government and with the mining industry.
Are there dangers in this approach?
The risks are that people will not vote — although a poll we’d held about constitutional recognition for local government had an 87% response rate. I’m confident most people will vote.
We believe we’ve mitigated against accusations of bias, or presenting a loaded question, by accepting an offer from Southern Cross University to develop the question and the “Yes” and “No” cases.
It is possible that the mining industry may blitz the media to try and sway the vote — but that’s democracy.
I would suggest that the poll result will be nowhere near the 93-100% opposition to CSG that we have seen in the surveys of communities and roads. First, because it is only in the privacy of the ballot box that voters give their true vote. Second, because to date most of the opposition to CSG is coming from the rural sector or from our villages. Much of the large urban population appears to be uninvolved.
What special features do you think made it easier for Lismore City Council to go ahead with a poll?
Our council is predominantly progressive and the whole organisation has a four-year commitment to sustainability. We reflect a community that is politically aware, environmentally-conscious and highly engaged.
The movement for a “CSG-Free Northern Rivers” is well-organised, committed to peaceful opposition and has united farmers and environmentalists like nothing before. The time and mood is right for the poll.
What other sorts of campaigns about CSG are going on in your area?
You name it, we have it.
As I write, 100 people have shown up at the construction site for a CSG mining dam with their shovels to indicate it should be filled in.
Yesterday, we had a peaceful demonstration with an opponent chaining himself to a bulldozer while the Knitting Nannas Against Gas knitted No CSG triangles.
There are rehearsals going on for CSG-The Musical. It has three shows next week. There are numerous Facebook pages and Twitter groups for the movement. There is a Rig Watch, phone tree and email communication so that word of any activity spreads like wildfire. Community meetings in villages and in town have had speakers including environmental scientists, environmental lawyers and those skilled in community participation.
After Marrickville Council voted down Greens councillor Cathy Peters’ motion for a similar poll on CSG on June 19, she moved that council back a Local Government Association-organised poll for NSW. That was also defeated. Given the number of councils that have passed motions against CSG, do you think that such a NSW-wide poll would be possible and, if so, how could it work?
Any poll requires a level of community awareness of the subject of the poll question.
I am not confident that a majority of NSW residents, particularly those in urban areas, are aware of CSG so I am ambivalent about a statewide poll.
There are advantages in a regional approach, however, but I would be reluctant to direct any other region to hold a poll. Typically, councils do not respond well to a directive from the state to hold a poll, especially as the costs are born by councils.
I would have been delighted if other North Coast councils had chosen to hold a poll but unfortunately none opted to do so.
As we know, air and water know no local government boundaries so a poll that indicated a region’s opposition, or support for, CSG would have been helpful considering our councils are part of the Clarence-Moreton Basin, where the mining companies believe there is a large supply of CSG.