400 people from across Narrabri Shire and North West NSW turned out in Narrabri last night to show clear and urgent opposition to the NSW Government’s NSW Gas Plan and Santos Narrabri Gas Project in the Pilliga.
Growing opposition to Santos’ coal seam gas plans in the Narrabri district was escalated by the recent announcement of the NSW Gas Plan, which does nothing to relinquish coal seam gas licences in the region. The mass demonstration comes as Nationals MP for Tamworth called for the Liverpool Plains to be quarantined.
"Why should we have to sacrifice our land and water in Narrabri while others across the state are being quarantined from this polluting coal seam gas industry?" said Narrabri Shire farmer Jeff Carolan.
"Coal seam gas mining is not safe, groundwater is being put at risk and we don’t want it here.
"We know the Pilliga is the most significant water recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin in all of NSW. It would be insanity to build a gasfield in the water recharge area that so many farmers rely upon," he said.
"Santos has done their best to divide this town, but the huge turn out against coal seam gas last night in Narrabri shows an enormous display of community strength," said Narrabri resident Deborah Briggs.
"We are learning that if we stand together, we can keep this region gasfield free.
"The 400 people in Narrabri last night made one thing very clear - families, farmers, business owners, us Gomeroi people in the Narrabri Shire overwhelmingly do not want to sacrifice our land and water to become coal seam gas fields."
A full set of photos from the day are available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lockthegatealliance/sets/72157648917281898/