Monday 3 December 2012

GRAFTON NANNAS ACTIVE AT GLENUGIE

Since their launch - their first knit-in - on October 19th the Grafton Loop of Knitting Nannas has held a further two knit-ins and has had discussions about coal seam gas (CSG) mining with the Member for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis MP.

Two Nanna representatives met with Mr Gulaptis at his Grafton office on November 28th and presented him with a yellow flower and a letter outlining some of their concerns with Metgasco's Glenugie activities.  The discussion was predictable with Mr Gulaptis expressing his support for the CSG industry because of the economic benefits he claimed it would bring. He also stated that fossil fuels such as CSG were still needed because renewable energy was still not cost competitive.  He ackowledged that the Government was well aware of the degree of opposition to the industry in the Northern Rivers.


The two recent knit-ins have been at the Glenugie protest site on Avenue Road south of Grafton in the Clarence Valley.  CSG mining company Metgasco has prepared the site for drilling and is waiting on the arrival of a drilling rig.  Protesters from the local area and further afield have been at the site since 20th November.
Glenugie Drill Site
Amonst those supporting the Glenugie vigil have been Knitting Nannas from Lismore.  Visits to Glenugie from these stalwarts and the Grafton novices did not coincide until yesterday when one Grafton Nanna was delighted to meet a Lismore Nanna.  These two were able to compare their anti-CSG yellow knitting products.  The Grafton Nannas look forward to further contact with their northern colleagues.