REEFER MADNESS: PROTESTERS HIT A DUD NOTE IN BOWEN
Water tested after protest
BOWEN’S water supply is being tested after anti- Adani activists hung a protest banner down the side of the reservoir overlooking the town.
Protesters from Front Line Action on Coal ( FLAC) claimed responsibility for the “banner drop” on Facebook.
But reviews on Facebook were mixed. While FLAC’s supporters applauded the unfurling, its opponents were quick to denounce the action.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Andrew Wil- cox said council patrols of the reservoir area would be stepped up and security cameras installed.
“Water security is very important to us,” Cr Wilcox said.
“They might want to put banners up on our infrastructure, but we can’t take the risk of the water being contaminated. We are putting in cameras and are asking police for more patrols as well.”
FLAC posted the photo of the banner and two protesters on top of the reservoir on Facebook early yesterday morning.
“This morning we staged a peaceful banner drop off the top of iconic Bowen water tower,” the group posted.
District Inspector Steve O’Connell, of the Mackay Police District, said the banner was taken down by council workers about 7.15am.
Bowen Deputy Mayor Mike Brunker condemned the banner protest. He said even though it was unlikely the water supply had been contaminated, council would test it to ensure it was safe.
“You can’t ignore these sorts of things,” he said.
“Council has to test the water to make sure there were no breaches of the reservoir itself.”
Cr Brunker said the fact that the two people pictured with the banner were able to scale the reservoir suggested a high level of athleticism.
“It looks like they might have the athletes here, the ones who know how to use ropes and are proficient at parkour ( the urban training discipline that simulates a combat obstacle course),” Cr Brunker said.
“It’s irresponsible to stuff around with water assets.”
Cr Wilcox and Cr Brunker think anti- Adani activists have a major goal to achieve before ending their weeklong “peaceful protest” next weekend.
“They were hoping for 150 protesters to come to Bowen, but there would only be about half that number,” Cr Wilcox said.
Cr Brunker said he was expecting some sort of event today.
“I think there might be something happening Tuesday and it wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to get activists into Abbot Point ( last night),” he said.
Insp O’Connell said it was offence to climb dangerous structures such as water reservoirs and that an investigation was under way.