Lock the Gate Alliance has condemned the move by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to sell out the bush one week, then try to sell it to the city the next.
Ms Palaszczuk this morning promoted Western Queensland’s Cobb & Co historical sites at Brisbane’s Radacliff Place as part of the Year of the Outback tourism campaign.
St George resident Leanne Brummell said it was unlikely many tourists from the city would want to visit the Cobb & Co sites if the coal seam gas industry was allowed to drill on top of them as planned.
“Armour Energy and Santos Shell JV want to further pierce the Surat region like a pin cushion with CSG wells - Surat hosts one of the most famous Cobb and Co sites on the Balonne River.
“What tourist is going to want to come and visit a gasfield?
“As it stands, there are gas wells within 30km of the Surat village, and much of the Western Downs has been pockmarked thanks to this invasive polluting industry.
“Armour energy’s closest approval is now 10km from Surat.
“The Premier also just last week announced the go ahead for the massive Arrow Energy project, which will further condemn the Western Downs to a death by a thousand cuts.
“While it’s great the Premier is encouraging city people to visit the bush, this campaign feels like a ‘see it before it’s gone forever’ push.”
Ms Brummell will join the knitting nannas for a protest outside Santos' head office at Santos Place, 32 Turbot St, Brisbane CBD, tomorrow (Friday) from 11am.