Residents visited more than 70 Federal electorate offices right across the country today in support of the campaign to protect water resources and communities from risky coal and unconventional gas mining.
People gathered outside the offices of candidates across Australia, asking them to adopt the #Water4Life index in the lead up to the Federal election.
A set of photos from electorate offices around the country is available for download here.
“From Alice Springs to Bundaberg, from Lismore to Geraldton, and from Mt Gambier to Hobart, right across the country today people sent the message that Australia needs laws to protect our water” said Phil Laird, national spokesperson with Lock the Gate Alliance.
“New mapping released last week reveals that over 37% of Australia is covered by coal and gas licences and applications.
“Some of the nationally significant water supplies at risk include:
-
Sydney’s drinking water catchment,
-
Important groundwater resources for Perth and Alice Springs,
-
The vast inland water supplies of the Great Artesian Basin,
-
The wonderful desert rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin of south-west Qld
-
The recharge waters of the international tourist icon of Mataranka Hot Springs
“We’ve seen the damage that mining can do to water supplies in Australia – there have already been too many mining and water scandals like contamination of groundwater by CSG activities in north-west NSW and pollution of creeks from coal mining in Qld and NSW.
“People across the country recognise that this is everyone’s problem – if you eat food, drink water, and breathe air – then this is an issue that will affect you.
“As part of our Water4Life campaign, we’re calling on all Federal election candidates to make a clear public commitment to:
-
Protect nationally significant water resources
-
Support the ‘dining boom’ and
-
Ensure the health of people and communities.
“It’s time to demand action to protect our water for life, not for the mining giants” Mr Laird said.
More detail available at www.lockthegate.org.au/water4life
Photos are available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lockthegatealliance/sets/72157668409149416