‘Defend Our Water’ Presentation A Great Success

The newly formed Armidale Action on Coal Seam Gas (AACSGas) hosted a presentation by touring environmentalist, Michael McNamara and local environmentalist, Carmel Flint at the Armidale Bowling Club on 29 September 2011.

With over 50 people at the event and many engaging in a healthy discussion at the end of the presentation, the group is now set to tackle the problem of coal seam gas mining in New South Wales.

A rally is planned for the National Day of Action at 10am on Sunday 16 October 2011. It will be held at Curtis Park, below the Farmer’s Market.

Michael McNamara, a member of the national Lock The Gate Alliance, visited Armidale as his last stop on his tour of New South Wales to raise awareness on the highly risky activity of coal seam gas mining in New South Wales and Australia.

“As part of his ‘Defend Our Water’ tour of NSW, Michael spoke on the nature of coal seam gas, the risks it has for water supplies as well as the health of our land and atmosphere – especially on Australia’s agricultural land that produces our food” said Mr Tom Livanos, spokesperson for Armidale Action on Coal Seam Gas.

“Concerns about this type of mining has been raised by the National Water Council, the National Toxics Network, tourism operators, farmers, environmentalists, parents and concerned citizens across the country.”

“Local environmentalist, Carmel Flint, presented photos and information on the damage which has already been done in the iconic Pilliga State Forest near Narrabri. The Pilliga is currently under exploration licence by Eastern Star Gas and being mined on a trial basis.

“In the Pilliga, it is not only the threat to water, land and air which is an issue, it is the impact on native plants and animals, including threatened species like the Barking Owl and the Koala.  There is also a serious risk of increased fires in a fire prone environment.

“Both presentations focused on the lack of adequate assessment and analysis of the risks posed by coal seam gas mining – a relatively new type of mining – and focused on the need for a moratorium on coal seam gas mining until proper independent studies have been done” he said