PROTESTERS WAGE ‘WAR’ ON CSG

HUNDREDS of protesters made their opinions clear at an anti-csg rally at Cecil Plains on Saturday. Radio shock jock Alan Jones spoke at the event to protest the proposed Arrow Energy Surat Gas project.

WAR was declared on the coal seam gas industry by vocal anti-mining advocates at a Cecil Plains protest at the weekend.

Landholder and founder of Save Our Darling Downs Ruth Armstrong and controversial radio broadcaster Alan Jones were two of the many speakers who addressed the 500 people gathered at the protest.

Local landholders, politicians and supporters of the cause wore T-shirts and held signs to voice their concerns over the proposal of an Arrow Energy Surat Gas Project.

Ms Armstrong, who lives on a property in the area, spends up to 40 hours a week researching and fighting the cause.

“The CSG industry has declared war on agriculture and I say bring it on,” she said. “They will not win anything. “This is a war and this is an army so rally the troops. We can’t do it alone.”

The protest was held on Graham Clapham’s property, just one of the many in the region that will be affected if the Surat Gas Project goes ahead.

The project will cover an area extending from Wandoan to Dalby and south to Millmerran and Goondiwindi.

“It’s not about personal attacks on our opponents, personal attacks on our government, or hate speech about those two parties,” Mr Clapham said.

“We’re passionate about agriculture; we’re passionate about protecting the land and resources here against inappropriate mining development.”

Mr Jones echoed these sentiments.

“We’ve got to be a lot tougher than we’ve been,” he said.

“This is a war, make no mistake. It’s an invasion which betrays common sense.”

Mr Jones said the current debate was “dominated by lies” and that intellectual debate was needed to win.

“We are saying this land is not to be contested. It’s as plain as the nose on your face, this is prime agricultural land,” he said.

“We don’t need any research into Cecil Plains as to what impact CSG mining might have.

“There is no contemplation of any other function being conducted on this land than agriculture and fibre.”

No representatives from Arrow Energy were present.

PHOTO: KEVIN FARMER LOUD AND CLEAR: Voicing their concerns over the proposed Arrow Energy Surat Gas Project are (left) Jacquelyn and Mikaela Pfeffer.

PHOTOS: KEVIN FARMER thechronicle.com.au SOD OFF: Wally Buckman of Kyogle was one of 500 protestors to voice his feelings at the Save Cecil from CSG rally on Saturday, over the proposed Arrow Energy Surat Gas Project.

Property owner Graham Clapham and organiser Ruth Armstrong both spoke at the rally.

Lyndy Moss travelled from Grafton to the rally.

Supporting their parents were (from left) Charlotte Mengel, Alice Hubbard, Ella Mengel and (front) Harry Hubbard.

Alan Jones addresses the crowd.