New England group forms against coal seam gas mining

After a screening of Gasland on August 10 attracted 60 people to Armidale’s Progressive Cinema, more than 30 people stayed after the film to discuss what to do locally.

Carmel Flint, from the Northern Inland Council for the Environment, alerted those present to plans for coal seam gas mining in the Pilliga forest south of Narrabri and new coalmines endangering native forests.

The meeting decided to form a local action group to stop coal and coal seam gas mining on agricultural land, as well as in native forests.

The No Fracking Way concert by the band Dead Letter Circus at the University of New England was held on August 17.

Plans are under way for a field trip to the Pilliga from September 16 to 19 organised by the Armidale National Parks Association (NPA) and the Armidale leg of the Defend Our Water tour by the Lock the Gate Alliance on September 29.

Sustainable Living Armidale and the Socialist Alliance New England will be present with stalls at the concert and the Armidale NPA will provide information about the Pilliga.

The campaign against coal seam gas mining is attracting a lot of media attention, but also a broad range of people of diverse ages and political convictions.

Traditionally, mining and farming were seen as complementary parts of many rural communities.

Now, even farmers who at first welcomed mining companies onto their land are turning against them.

People in the cities are affected as well, if not directly then indirectly through the risks to our water and agricultural land. The risks are immense, but so is the potential for broad alliances resisting corporate might.