Northern Rivers communities and Bentley in particular need to keep a sharp eye on National Party MPs, particularly those with electorates on the North Coast, as it appears that former Lismore City councillor National Party member Peter Graham may be trying to play the political mates card in order to activate the terms of his access agreement with coal seam & tight gas miner Metgasco Limited.
Echo Netdaily 27 April 2015:
A Bentley landowner is hoping the state government will support any moves by gas mining company Metgasco to begin exploring for gas on his property.
Farmer Peter Graham, a former Lismore city councillor, signed an access agreement with Metgasco in January 2012, which covered his family’s land at Bentley.
Before any drilling could take place, thousands of protestors set up camp on land adjacent to the Graham’s property, vowing to stop any drill rigs from entering.
With reports of up 800 police set to ‘break’ the Bentley blockade, the state government announced that it was suspending Metgasco’s drilling license.
Last week, however, the NSW Supreme Court overturned that decision, describing it as unlawful.
Now Mr Graham wants Metgasco to get on with the job, arguing NSW Premier Mike Baird was supportive of the industry.
‘Throughout the state election both Labor and the Greens were saying that Mike Baird was supportive so I assume that support is still there,” Mr Graham told ABC radio.
He rejected claims that there was no gas shortage, saying NSW was buying gas from Queensland instead of developing a local industry.
Mr Graham said he was concerned that local Federal National MP Kevin Hogan and state National MP Chris Galaptis had spoken out against the industry.
‘It does concern me and I have to talk to my National Party friends.
‘I need to sit down and talk with them, and the industry needs to sit down and talk with them,’ he said......
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