Duo step up protest

Duo step up protest by Joel Gould, August 17, 2012, Fraser Coast Chronicle
RAISING awareness about the dangers of coal seam gas was the reason for Croftby residents Linda Weston and son Cameron Mitchell walking from the NSW border to Swanbank. The duo arrived at the Swanbank Power Station yesterday after a five-and-a-half day trek that also raised funds for the Lock the Gate Alliance as it takes on Arrow Energy’s proposed coal seam gas pipeline that is slated to run from Casino to Swanbank. The pair were met by a group of residents from Ipswich, the Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley who are concerned about the impact of hydraulic fracturing on the aquifer and river systems in their pristine region. Lock the Gate Alliance’s Ipswich representative Cassie McMahon said the walk was to “make sure that people know what the issues are and how it (the coal seam gas industry) can jeopardise their water security in the future”. The main concern revolves around hydraulic fracturing and the “chemicals distributed throughout the aquifer systems”. “We are wanting the coal seam gas industry to answer more questions and address what our concerns are before they come in and start the process,” Ms McMahon said. “The Scenic Rim landholders have very clearly expressed to Arrow Energy they want to have base line testing done on the properties so that if any contamination happens there would be evidence of what the water situation was before the contamination occurred.