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| Lock the Gate’s Drew Hutton, Shay Dougall & farmer Lee McNicholl |
The Hopeland community in the Western Downs yesterday
celebrated saying NO to coal seam gas (CSG) taking over their farmland,
threatening their water supply and ruining their lifestyle.
About 30 locals gathered at a local property where Rev.
Graham Slaughter of the Uniting Church accepted the declaration saying a
massive 85 per cent of locals did not want the invasive gas.
Attendees included some of the region’s local identities and
farmers including Lee McNicholl, Roy and Heather Flett and Pam and George
Bender, Chris Hasler and Joe Hill. Parts of Mr Hill’s farm last week was
flooded with treated CSG waste water.
The Hopeland Community Sustainability Group organised the
event as a celebration of people-power against multi-national mining companies,
determined to intrude onto some of Queensland best grazing and cropping land.
Speakers included the group’s spokesperson Shay Dougall,
general practitioner Dr Geralyn McCarron who spoke about the health concerns
surrounding CSG and Lock the Gate’s, Drew Hutton who outlined the failure of
governments - past and present - to protect local communities and farmlands. International performer, singer-songwriter,
Pamela Fay made the event complete with her beautiful singing voice.
Mrs Dougall said: “Hopeland farmers are exceptional business
people. Farming is a business with a finite and delicate resource and a product
with a premium and clean and green reputation, including some significant
operations in Hopeland that are certified organic and biodynamic. There is no room here for CSG which is in
opposition to these principles.”
The Hopeland community is the first in the region to take
such a bold step. Mrs Dougall will also present the declaration to Independent
Senator, Glenn Lazarus at a public rally in Brisbane at Parliament House on
Thursday.
Contact: Shay Dougall 0746654072; Kate Dennehy 0419 432 624
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