THE fight intensifies to prevent coal seam gas mining in the Camden Haven.
The Camden Haven Anti Fracking Group will take its quest to prevent coal seam gas exploration in the valley to the next level with a public forum in Laurieton on Thursday next week.
The group is led by a member of Climate Change Australia Hastings Branch, Ian Oxenford.
It formed two weeks ago but has already had three meetings and organised T-shirts and stickers to promote its cause.
“It [coal seam gas mining] just simply couldn’t co-exist with the commercial fishing, recreational fishing, tourism and agriculture in the area,” Mr Oxenford said.
Politicians of all levels have been invited to the forum.
The forum will hear from Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, national coordinator for the National Toxics Network, a community network based in Bangalow in Northern NSW.
Ms Lloyd-Smith is the key author of a briefing paper on the hydraulic fracturing process, which involves the injection into the ground of a mix of water, sand and chemicals to force out the coal seam gas.
Oyster farmers, members of the Camden Haven chamber of Commerce and other farmers are among those expected to attend the forum, Mr Oxenford said.
The Camden Haven group formed shortly after organisers of two beachside protests in NSW sent a message against the coal seam gas mining industry late last month when reportedly more than 2,000 people gathered to spell out “No CSG” on Byron Bay’s main beach.
About 1500 people spelt out “Stop Coal Seam Gas” on Austinmer Beach, north of Wollongong, after Apex Energy was given permission to drill 15 wells in the region.
Mr Oxenford said the Camden Haven had characteristics that increased the likelihood of contamination.
“It’s totally incompatible to have coal seam gas mining in a short water-shed like the Camden Haven,” he said.
“You wouldn’t want ponds of toxic waste sitting around in the valley. It’s prone to flash-flooding.”
Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott showed his support for the anti-fracking cause when he spoke at a rally against the approval of coal seam gas wells in Gloucester in Sydney in March and yesterday said the issue is still of concern.
“The new NSW Government has promised a lot in terms of protecting productive lands like the Camden Haven, Manning and Gloucester regions, and I look forward to them delivering. It is an issue of broad community concern,” Mr Oakeshott said.
He told the Port News in March he felt strongly about the NSW government’s lack of consultation with Mid Coast water users in the area and downstream water-users prior to the approval of the Gloucester wells.
The public forum will be at Laurieton United Services Club on Thursday, June 23, at 7pm.
Email a friend