Our History
The Lock the Gate Alliance was formed in 2010 following meetings in New South Wales and Queensland of landholders, organisations and communities concerned about the ongoing and rapid expansion of coal and coal seam gas development.
A declaration was made: farmers would lock their gates to these rapacious industries. Ten years on and the Alliance continues to gain momentum, with rural and urban communities all over Australia stepping up to defend our land, water, and future from the invasive coal and unconventional gas industries.
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In late 2010 representatives from over 40 community, professional and environmental groups from across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia convened in Broke to discuss the challenges of unchecked mining for coal and coal seam gas. The forum found that there were common issues experienced by communities where coal and coal seam gas extraction was being expanded. The forum considered the role of government in the expansion of these industries and the lack of consideration for the will of local residents and communities in the approval of coal and gas projects.
Meanwhile in south-east Queensland a meeting was held where local landholders, farmers and environmentalists gathered to discuss a response to the state government’s approval of a number of major coal seam gas developments. It was at this meeting, at Warra on Queensland’s Darling Downs, that the name “Lock the Gate” was decided. So began the campaign calling on landholders to refuse to allow access to gas companies and refuse to negotiate sale of their properties to coal companies.
The Lock the Gate campaign was launched on 22 November 2010 when farmers from south-east Queensland gathered in Brisbane around a farm gate, vowing to take a stand to protect their farms and communities from inappropriate mining.
Lock the Gate Alliance was incorporated in NSW on 8th December 2010 and became a registered company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act 2001, on 6th March 2012. The inaugural AGM was held in Murwillumbah on 11 June 2011, and the second AGM was held in Newcastle on 15 September 2012.
Lock the Gate continues to grow as a diverse grass roots community movement working to protect land and water resources from mining impacts.
