When: Friday 6th May 09:00-11:00 with question time to 12:00- Where: Natural Resources Building (W55) Lecture theatre EM6 University of New England
“David and Goliath, the Coal seam gas industry vs. Groundswell Gloucester, the reality of government, industry and community.”
Groundswell Gloucester is a non-profit, incorporated body created by a group of locals who want the right for the community to have the final say in the decisions that determine the economic, social and environmental future of the Gloucester Valley.
For 7 years the Gloucester community has campaigned against the AGL gas field. Groundswell says this project wasn’t safe, wasn’t needed and wouldn’t make a profit. On Thursday 4 February AGL announced that it would not proceed with the project and would relinquish their exploration license.
This is the story of their fight, the expose of politics and power, and policy on the run. The key presenter Julie Lyford, with her support team, will reveal the closeness of the relationship between mining and the NSW government. They will recount Ministerial meetings, responses to pointed questioning, approaches to technical and investment investigations, and manipulation of community consultation.
Julie Lyford was previously the Mayor of Gloucester Council and received an OAM for services to local government and the Gloucester community in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours. She has been preselected as Greens candidate for the seat of Lyne at this year’s Federal election.
