Coal Seam Gas: A David & Goliath confrontation for Northern Rivers communities

 

Much has been written about plans to establish coal seam gas production wells on the NSW North Coast.

 

One mining corporation exploring for gas in the Northern Rivers, Metgasco Limited, has recently been offered a production licence for its Casino project.

 

So how big is Metgasco and how small are the individual land owners who are likely to feel the impact of these coal seam gas wells?

 

Well, one could look at the estimated size of Metgasco's gas reserves or total value of shares issued and compare this with the property value of someone living next door or near to one of its drilling wells.

 

However, visual images often tell the story better than words…….

 

Home belonging to a Metgasco director and shareholder:

 

 

Home in general vicinity of Metgasco’s exploration site at Glenugie:

 

CSGFree Northern Rivers: 'Call to Action - the Time is Now!'

http://youtu.be/umHQbFA5mfM
 

Monday, 10 December 2012

UPDATE ON GLENUGIE CSG PROTEST 10-12-12

The number of community members outside Metgasco's Glenugie drill site increased this morning because of the expected arrival of the drill rig. The crowd continued to grow throughout the day. During the morning a truck carrying equipment and a number of other smaller vehicles approached the site. These were delayed for some time because of an accident with a bicycle and traffic congestion near the site. Community members entered into the spirit of the season singing carols around a Christmas tree which had been placed in front of the entrance to the drill site. The crowd effectively blocked the entrance so that around 4 pm the Metgasco convoy left the site. It is expected that they will return tomorrow - presumably with an increased police presence.

Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition

Will history repeat itself in 2013?

 

Photo from ABC North Coast NSW

 

Given his poor performance as the NSW Member of Parliament representing the Clarence electorate, I imagine that there are many who hope that Chris Gulaptis departs in 2013 as abruptly as he did in 2004.

 

The then Minister for Local Government, Tony Kelly, notified me as the mayor of Maclean by voicemail that the council and I as mayor were sacked.

[Chris Gulaptis MP speaking in the NSW Parliament on 23 October 2012]

Little Kevvie obeys his real master's voice?

The Age 8th December 2012:
“LIBERAL Party candidates have been gagged ahead of next year's federal election, with Coalition backbench MPs under pressure to close their Twitter and other social media accounts.Fairfax Media has learnt of a directive from the head office of the federal Liberal Party in an opposition bid to limit ''stuff-ups and scandals''. The directive to preselected candidates ''strongly advises'' against using Twitter and that tweeting on behalf of the Liberal Party is ''not encouraged''.Several backbenchers have confirmed the strict measure, which was decided at the start of last month. One MP said the party was sending a clear message ''that depending on your seniority, use a great deal of caution when tweeting, and it is preferred that most MPs closed our social media accounts…”
Little Kevvie the Federal Nats candidate hasn’t uttered a peep on Kevin Hogan For Page over at Facebook since 16th November and has played dumb on Twitter for even longer. Co-incidence, timidity or ever the faithful Coalition footsoldier?

The End is Nigh?

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Looking back at this day in 1999

The New York Times

 

Memphis Jury Sees Conspiracy in Martin Luther King's Killing

By EMILY YELLIN
Published: December 09, 1999

A jury in a civil suit brought by the family of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. decided today that a retired Memphis cafe owner was part of a conspiracy in the 1968 killing of Dr. King.

The jury's decision means it did not believe that James Earl Ray, who was convicted of the crime, fired the shot that killed Dr. King.

After four weeks of testimony and one hour of deliberation, the jury in the wrongful-death case found that Loyd Jowers as well as ''others, including governmental agencies'' had been part of a conspiracy. The jury awarded the King family the damages they had sought: $100, which the family says it will donate to charity.

The family has long questioned Mr. Ray's conviction and hoped the suit would change the legal and historical record of the assassination.

''This is a vindication for us,'' said Dexter King, the youngest son of Dr. King.

He said he hoped history books would be rewritten to reflect this version of the assassination.