BRISBANE 12 January 2012 this morning the Kerry community and others from around the Scenic Rim established a blockade to stop drilling underway in Kerry, to allow time for baseline water studies and an independent study into the potential impacts of coal seam gas drilling on underground water.  please help us keep the blockade strong by coming down and standing with us.

In a press release the action group outlined their plan to ensure that investigations are carried out before permanent damage to the environment can occur.

Why is this important?

when coal seam gas drilling in the United States allegedly contaminated underground water supplies, mining companies refused to take blame. They challenged bore-owners to prove it was them. without test data confirming water levels/purity  pre-drilling, this was very difficult. some Kerry farmers and others in the community have been pushing for ‘baseline’ testing, to gain understanding of local groundwater systems and also as insurance, if something does go wrong.  We know accidents happen.  We are concerned that  if Arrow Energy pushes ahead with drilling before tests are done, there is increased potential for less accurate data and contamination. We are also asking for an independent study of groundwater aquifers which extend from the Scenic Rim into the wider south-east Queensland area including Brisbane. We need to fully understand these systems to assess the risk gas production might pose. How will we stop the drilling to allow for testing?

the Liverpool Plains and Gloucester have already given us the answer: late last year both communities used peaceful blockades to stop access to drill sites, while they negotiated with the gas companies. Their leverage was the expensive drill, forced to sit idle and the fact that their demands were not unreasonable. both groups successfully stopped drilling to allow for testing. (blockade photos from Gloucester and the Liverpool Plains)

How does a community blockade work? it can be as simple as a row of people on chairs, peacefully blocking access to the drill, as the photo above shows. the more people who attend, the more impact the blockade has. A united community is a strong force. With school-holidays at the moment, we plan to make a safe area for children in coming days.  We will advise when this  special family recreation section is established, with  shade from sun and rain, and place to play safely. We have plans for face-painting, drawing, organised games, activities and possibly a make-shift sand-pit. Today – we need as many adults as possible people to help establish the blockade and possibly more farm machinery to help ‘block’ the driveway. Day two, ideally 100+ people, with media etc. in the following days we will need to keep as many people on-site as possible for maximum impact.  A small overnight presence is also important. the blockade will be maintained until demands are met. Gloucester went for 12 days, Liverpool Plains for 20. Objectives of the Blockade: – to stop drilling to allow for baseline bore testing and groundwater studies – leverage to negotiate an independent Scenic Rim, wider south-east Queensland water study, including public ownership/rights to the full results – opportunity to re-involve the State Government and others, in lead up to the upcoming election. the Liverpool Plains community used its blockade to push for NSW  and Federal government intervention  – they called for the government to require Santos to postpone its CSG drilling until the Namoi Water Study was completed and its outcomes properly understood. – an opportunity to step up pressure from the Scenic Rim community for further protection of our farms, tourism and other industries, community health, natural resources and lifestyle. – potential leverage for Council to put further pressure on the State Government/future Government for protection of the region, in line with their submission to Government last month. The big questions – is it legal? Our legal advice is that blockading is not illegal until you have been requested to move on by the police or the landholder. in practice, police will, for a period of time, allow the blockade to happen -  arresting peaceful members of the community  makes authorities and the State Government look bad. Will I be arrested? there is always a risk of arrest but you can avoid this my moving away, if asked to do so by a police officer. Safety Safety is of paramount importance.   – no violence – physical or verbal will be tolerated. all participants must sign a code of conduct (see below) – signs along the road in both directions will warn passing motorists to slow down before they reach the blockade Code of Conduct all participants must accept the following terms – - to remain peaceful at all times – no physical or verbal abuse – follow directions of designated organisers – no alcohol or drugs – respect for potentially differing views of others – possible other conditions to be confirmed Insurance Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic, as a member of the Lock the Gate Alliance, is able to access public liability cover from this umbrella group. As such, KTSRS has been designated as organiser of the blockade, with involvement from members of the Kerry Valley community. KTSRS is a subcommittee of the Boonah Organisation for a Sustainable Shire. Background more than 80% of the Scenic Rim, a short drive from Brisbane and the Gold coast, is covered by coal and coal seam gas exploration permits. Community opposition to coal seam gas and coal mining in the region began in earnest less than six months ago, culminating in a massive Peaks Protest last October. Up to 1000 residents and supporters  took to the Scenic Rim’s name-sake mountains and paddocks to voice their opposition to mining, which also threatens agricultural operations and tourism – the mainstays of the region’s economy. the Scenic Rim Regional Council has also stated its opposition to coal and coal seam gas in the region. in a submission to the State Government last month, the council proposed changes to mining laws, which would protect the Scenic Rim and other similar regions from coal seam gas and coal mining. Baseline readings need to be done before any drilling. As such drilling should be postponed until a full independent study of the Clarence-Moreton basin and other aquifers is completed and results made fully public. it is also important to consider the link between the water of the Kerry Valley and wider Scenic Rim with water resources with the SEQ region – our waterways are ecosystem services for the Gold Coast, Logan, Ipswich etc because they feed directly into the SEQ water grid. If our water is polluted by drilling and frakking it could have huge implications not only for the Scenic Rim but for SEQ water resources.

<a href="http://www.international.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4406:scenic-rim-established-a-blockade-to-stop-drilling&catid=80:politics&Itemid=120tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.international.to/index.php?option=com_content”>Scenic Rim established a blockade to stop drilling

Tags: blockade, independent study, investigations, underground water supplies

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 at 10:00 pm and is filed under Farm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.