CSG protest for Page
"NOT happy, Don!"
That was the message more than 50 anti-coal seam gas protesters sent to Ballina MP and Minister for the North Coast Don Page at a small, peaceful rally outside his office yesterday.
The protest was one of the first actions following the State Government's release of new regulatory arrangements for the CSG industry last week.
An organiser, John Heaton from the newly-formed CSG-Free Ballina group, said Mr Page had been "noticeably silent" on CSG.
"He must realise that we do not want CSG here on the Northern Rivers or in any other part of NSW," he said.
Mr Heaton also burned the NSW National Party's mission statement, saying "it's not worth the paper it's printed on".
"A lot of people are disgusted with the National Party and with Don Page in particular," he said.
"This (fight against CSG) is going to take community action; stronger community action than we have ever taken before, but peaceful action."
Ballina Shire Greens councillor Jeff Johnson also spoke at the protest yesterday.
"Don Page has let his community down," he said.
"There are aquifers under the Alstonville-Wollongbar plateau and we have no guarantee about the impact on those aquifers if CSG mining is allowed."
Although Mr Page was not in town, he told The Northern Star that CSG was a "complex and emotional issue".
"I would urge people to consult the documents (from the Strategic Regional Land Use Policy package)," he said.
"What the government has done is put in place measures to protect land and water.
"This is actually a very strict regime.
"It is much stronger than what was there before."
Mr Page also rejected claims that he was letting down his constituents.
"I am not ignoring my community; I have never done that and I never will," he said.
Local environmentalist Tony Gleeson said he shared the concerns about CSG and its potential impacts.
But he said it was time to offer solutions.
"There are alternatives," he said. "If we value the future of our kids and our grandkids, and maybe even our own futures, then we must resist it.
"Instead of just saying 'no CSG', let's provide an alternative - clean, renewable energy."
