CSG protest makes point

People opposed to coal seam gas mining were noticeable last Saturday as they mingled with the Beef Week crowd in Casino during the morning. You could see them buying steak sandwiches, getting the children’s faces painted or sitting having a coffee as they partook in the celebrations.

You could tell they were opposed to the mining of coal seam gas by the signs they carried: ‘No Fracking’, ‘Say No To Coal Seam Gas Mining’, ‘Happy Cows Need Clean Water’, ‘It’s My Water Too’.

Then, just before the Grand Parade, a small group of protesters gathered near the starting area of the parade gathering on the footpath hoping to join the tail end of the parade.

More than a dozen police stopped the group when it tried to follow the last float. Instead the police escorted them down the street about 20 minutes after the parade had finished and the onlookers has started to disperse.

Following a police car, and with police on horseback bringing up the rear, the small group of protesters grew as people from the crowd, some carrying placards, some without, joined the protest as it marched, swelling the numbers to a couple of hundred.

“We’re gathered here to bring awareness to an issue that affects all residents,” Lynda Brooks from Dyraaba told The Echo. “The protest was brilliant. The response from people was very positive. We’re here to make a stand.”

Lynda became involved in the anti-coal seam gas movement when a gas well was constructed not far from her property in Dyraaba. She researched the facts on coal seam gas mining and she was shocked.

“People need to be aware of the huge scale and dangers of this operation,” Linda said. “There’s 40 coal seam gas and 15 conventional gas wells – and a power plant – planned for Casino that are about 2km from the airport.”

Linda, dressed up in her green finery, was pleased with the way the protest went.

“The police were excellent,” she said. “We did liaise with them earlier in the week and told them it would be a peaceful participation.”