Members of Armidale Action on Coal Seam Gas and Mining (AACSGaM) are joining peaceful protests and blockades at the Maules Creek coal mine in the Leard State Forest and at Santos’ coal seam gas mining operations in the Pilliga Forest.
Twelve people from Armidale and Uralla took part in the peaceful blockade of the proposed Maules Creek open cut coal mine in the Leard State Forest near Boggabri, in mid-December.
Along with over 120 people from around Australia they had responded to the calls to join the protest from local farmers in the Maules Creek Community Council, and from the Gomeroi Traditional owners, both of whom have been opposing the approval of the mine for three years.
“The Leard State Forest is renowned for the amazing diversity of wildlife that depend on the trees. Not only are there healthy koala populations and rare birds, but also the most stunning abundance of microbat species in NSW,” said Armidale conservationist Kate Boyd.
Marty Branagan, Lecturer in Peace Studies at the University of New England, put it pointedly “If you are concerned about climate change the worst things you can do is knock down a forest, mine for coal, and then export it.”
“From the start AACSGaM has been particularly concerned about the rapid expansion of coal mining in the Leard State Forest and coal seam gas mining in the Pilliga Forest. We have made community connections and organised several tag along tours to the Pilliga and to Leard State Forest,” said Pat Schultz, one of the main organisers.
Bea Bleile emphasised that “While we are not directly affected here in Armidale, the proposed mining operations threaten our water, including the Great Artesian Basin, and would turn the North West of NSW into an industrial waste land. It is important to stand in solidarity with the farmers and the traditional owners who are directly affected.”
For more information call Bea Bleile on {mobile prefix oh four}58 752 680.
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