Lock the Gate Alliance president, Drew Hutton, will be visiting and participating in the blockade at Glenugie, near Grafton, with coal seam gas company Metgasco about to force its way onto a property.
About 100 local residents and their supporters from across the region today refused company representatives entry to the site. A small number of police were on hand.
Mr Hutton said he expected the company to attempt to enter the site in the morning with more drilling equipment and accompanied by a larger police presence.
“A large group of Northern Rivers residents who are committed to non-violent civil disobedience to protect the community from this industry are expected to be present at the gate of the property in the morning,” Mr Hutton said.
“The whole of the Northern Rivers is committed to stopping coal seam gas from destroying their region so this will be the first of many blockades we will see in this part of the state.”
To get to the Glenugie site follow the following instructions:
Drive through Grafton to South Grafton, then turn right (south) onto the highway (as if you were going to Coffs Harbour). Eight Mile Lane is about 13km from Grafton (i.e. 8 miles). It is clearly signposted as the turn off to Wooli and Minnie Water. On Google Maps, Avenue Road is call “Golden Mile Road”. The site is on your left, about 1.3km from the corner of Avenue Road with Eight Mile Lane.