CSG changes in the pipeline

CSG protestors with Janelle Saffin outside her office on Tuesday.

PAGE MP Janelle Saffin will ask parliament to broaden the assessment requirements for the proposed Lions Way pipeline from Casino to Ipswich after receiving a petition signed by 1361 people opposed to its construction.

The petition was presented to Ms Saffin on Tuesday, with Kyogle Group Against Gas spokesperson Boudicca Cerese saying they had obtained legal advice that the pipeline would have significant impacts on the World Heritage listed Border Ranges National Park and that at present, these impacts are not being assessed.

“This pipeline could have serious impacts on both the vegetation in the World Heritage area due to erosion in this very high rainfall region, and on the water quality of the many pristine creeks in the area due to sedimentation,” Ms Cerese said. “There are also significant risks from weed invasion and the spread of pests and diseases as a result of construction of an industrial gas pipeline in such an environmentally sensitive area.”

Ms Saffin said she would speak in favour of the petition when she tabled it in parliament.