By Jess Moore
Upon finding out about the 15 coal seam gas (CSG) wells approved for
development in the northern Illawarra,3,000 people joined together on
Austinmer Beach in May this year to spell out “stop coal seam gas!”.
Together with other campaigns across NSW this action helped win a
temporary moratorium on new –though not existing –fracking projects,
an upper house inquiry and a ban on evaporation ponds.
Stop CSG Illawarra is now organising it’s second action to show
community opposition to coal seam gas mining and call for what’s needed:
an immediate moratorium on all CSG mining,a Royal commission into all
aspects of CSG and a ban on fracking.
On Sunday,October 16,the community will be marching across Sea Cliff
Bridge to defend our water. We are marching because CSG mining:
–Damages aquifers –the local approvals are in a big aquifer system
that feeds surface and ground water systems and sustains rainforest along
the escarpment.
–Always involves contaminated drawing contaminated water out of the
coal seam that can destroy soil,plants and drinking water supplies –
it’s high in salt and can contain toxic and radioactive compounds and
heavy metals.
–Is a major user of water –the CSG industry states that a single
well takes about 13.5 million litres of water to fracture.
- Is a fire hazard and explosion risk –CSG is mainly methane,as
little as 65% of methane is captured,and leaks are part of the process.
- Risks a range of direct and indirect health impacts such heart,
lung,kidney and neurological problems and cancer.
All are invited to walk the bridge with the community to stop CSG
together.
The action will meet 11:30am,Sunday October 16,Leeder Park,
Coalcliff. Please travel by train,ride your bike or walk if possible,
as parking is very limited. Also,we’ll be walking rain or shine,so
bring appropriate clothing or protection!
For more information call Jess 0416 232 349 or Chris 0425 329 963 or
visit the website:www.stop-csg-illawarra.org.
