Action in The Pilliga

Check the Pilliga Push Facebook page for the latest action – so far today – new gate, foul smelling water sprayed over protesters, lock ons, gate opened – what’s going on!!

I visited the Pilliga Push camp yesterday to see and hear what was going on in the Pilliga with Santos’ coal seam gas project. This is the only coal seam gas project left in NSW and is in one of the critical recharge areas of the Great Artesian Basin.

Farmers to the west of Pilliga rely on this to water their stock and towns rely on it for their water supply. Currently water flows to the surface through bores without the aid of a pump but CSG threatens to stop this flow and it may contaminate the water or deplete it.

Therefore some very conservative farmers have been locking onto the gate into the Santos’ property to stop the company from building new infrastructure. When this happens work stops and the police do not come to arrest them. Today new gates were put on the gate with narrow mesh to stop them from locking on.

It is a different story when protesters from the camp do an action. They are first isolated by the police then intimidated, threatened and in some cases harmed. Some of these people are fearless some are fragile but they are doing something that they believe in. The gulf between activist and farmer has been bridged. Farmers are grateful for their continuous efforts. With recent rain the farmers work has increased and they cannot afford to spend the time at the site.

A big action is planned for 19-21 February but in the meantime an action will be on most days. If you have a journalist who likes to camp get them out there for a week or so. The camp is on private land, camping is free and the site is well set up and organised.

Let's stop CSG in NSW.

Information on Pilliga Push http://pilligapush.com/

Latest Action https://www.facebook.com/groups/pilligapush/

Great Artesian Basin information http://www.gabpg.org.au/great-artesian-basin

Great Artesian Basin scientific report http://www.gabpg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/GAB-Report-Second-Edition_Final10032015.pdf