All aboard the CSG bus

Wanda waits to welcome the Coal Seam Gas Inquiry bus to Kyogle.

The NSW parliamentary inquiry into coal seam gas rolled across the Northern Rivers in a blue and white bus on Wednesday.

It stopped at Casino and Kyogle on its way to Alstonville, where the inquiry was held. The committee will inquire into, and report on, the environmental, health, economic and social impacts of coal seam gas activities.

The mining companies indicated they would not attend the Alstonville inquiry, choosing instead to meet privately with the committee.

At Kyogle, people opposed to the mining of coal seam gas lined the road where the parliamentary bus would pass on its way to morning tea with local landholders and others. It was a colourful and cheerful bunch which gathered outside the Exchange Hotel.

"We're here to welcome the inquiry and hopefully give them an idea of the depth of the concern in the local community," Leah Hobbs from the Kyogle Group Against Gas (GAG) said.

Suddenly, word went out that the parliamentary bus had hit town. The chant went up: "Clean and green and no coal seam" Banners were raised. Placards waved.

The bus trundled down the main street then turned left past the protestors.

Wanda from GAG welcomed the bus with a bunch of flowers. The driver was momentarily confused as to whether to stop or not. He slowed down as Wanda approached the bus door but then took off again. Inside, the white-shirted crew flashed broad grins.

After an hour of waiting it had all happened in a minute. But the protestors were satisfied that their welcome (and their concerns) has been recognised.

Georgina Ramsay is a certified organic farmer from Findon Creek north of Kyogle who presented information to the inquiry at Alstonville later in the day.

"I'm here because we need clean water, clean soil and clean air to provide clean food," she said. "We have to have something to hand to the children."

Another farmer, Sasha, added, "Coal seam gas mining is all about short term gain. But water is our most valuable asset."

Wanda, still clutching her welcome bouquet and looking like she was the on the verge of a trip to Kansas with her shiny red shoes, said she was very excited to have the committee visiting Kyogle.

"I hope the committee listens carefully to community concerns," she said.

The parliamentary bus left the protestors and drove to the Harrison's farm on the outskirts of Kyogle. There the committee had morning tea beside a lake under which Metgasco's gas pipeline is proposed to run on its way to Ipswich. The committee met with landholders and others concerned about coal seam gas mining.

There were no representatives from Metgasco, Arrow or any other coal seam gas company. Metgasco had already met with the committee that morning (and showed them a gas well) and said they would not attend the afternoon's inquiry.

"They had a closed-door meeting with the committee," Leah Hobbs said. "The mining companies haven't got the guts to stand up at the (Alstonville) inquiry to put their case in front of people."

Jeremy Buckingham from The Greens is deputy chairman of the committee. It was his party that initiated this inquiry. He agreed with Leah.

"They (Metgasco) told us this morning how fantastic their operations were; how good for the community. But I asked them - if this is so fantastic and so good for the community why aren't you

appearing at the inquiry in your community? They're too cowardly and gutless."

Peter Phelps from the Liberal Party is another member of the inquiry committee. He's more unsure about… everything.

When asked about the experience of communities in the USA where coal seam gas has been mined he said he didn't know about the American experience. Or about France's banning of hydraulic fracturing. And no, he hasn't seen Gasland but he does believe that it's unlikely that toxins released from fracturing the coal seam would infiltrate the groundwater.

The chairman of the committee is Robert Brown from the Shooters and Fishers Party. He's a big bloke with a confident manner.

He sees no problem with the non attendance of the mining companies at the Alstonville inquiry session (preferring to give their evidence separately).

"They can give their evidence however they please," he said. "These inquiries are all about getting the view points of people affected by the issue. We're here to talk to everyone."

Then his assistant grabbed him by the arm. It was time to climb aboard the bus and head to Alstonville.