NANNAS CAST ONTO THE BLOG AGAIN

Where have we been lately?

The Grafton Nannas have been indulging in too many nanna naps to post anything on the blog for ages.  But they haven't been ignoring matters gaseous.  The Nannas have continued with knit-ins at their usual venue outside the office of local member, Chris Gulaptis, MP.  And they have enjoyed nanna natters over several relaxed morning teas and an end of year nanna lunch.

But it's time we returned to serious matters!


Nannas Concerned about Salty Water Produced During Gas Mining

The Grafton Loop of the Knitting Nannas Against Gas have written to their local State Member of Parliament, Chris Gulaptis, about the environmental threat posed by the water produced during the gas mining process.

Nanna Lynette delivers the letter to Chris Gulaptis' office.

The Nannas understand that this water is usually very saline and that it is produced in large quantities.  Obviously the miners need to take great care in dealing with this liquid so that there is not a repeat of the 10,000 litre spillage that occurred some years ago in the Pilliga (in central NSW).

The Nannas asked Mr Gulaptis what precautions the State Government was taking to ensure that the produced water was safely stored and disposed of safely.

They believe that there is a need for regulation and also an effective monitoring/compliance framework so that mining companies do not shirk their responsibilities to the NSW community.

They also cautioned the Government about any proposal to let the industry self-regulate on this matter saying such a move "would be extremely risky and would not be in the interests of the community".

The Government's regulation of the gas mining industry leaves a great deal to be desired.  Government action has only happened following considerable public pressure and even then measures have usually been tokenistic (as in the case of the 2 km exclusion zone).  The Nannas expect rhat there will be a similar reluctance to act effectively on this matter.


Where were our Local Federal MPs when the Franklins came to Canberra?

Glenugie farmers Donna and Mick Franklin rode horses from Grafton to Canberra to protest against Metgasco's coal seam gas mining in their area.  They arrived in Canberra on  December 3 after an epic 74 day journey along the Bicentennial Trial.  The Franklins and others in their party were joined by other Clarence Valley people (including Knitting Nanna Sarah) outside Parliament House.

They must have been disappointed that the federal local members, Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper) and the newly elected Kevin Hogan (Page) did not bother to meet them on their arrival. The Glenugie area is in Hartsuyker's electorate but people from Page were also involved in the ride - and in the Glenugie protest and blockade which encouraged the Franklins to embark on their protest ride.

It was not really surprising that Hartsuyker was not present as he has never shown any concern about CSG or the Metgasco activities at Glenugie.  However, Hogan campaigned strongly against CSG in the recent federal election. So the Nannas are left wondering if Mr Hogan, influenced by his National and Liberal Party colleagues, is now re-thinking his anti-CSG stance.

The Daily Examiner's report of the Franklins' arrival in Canberra.

I

REFLECTIONS ON GLENUGIE

Glenugie drill site on  8th February.  Traumatron to the right.

All has been quiet at the former Metgasco drill site at Glenugie now for about three weeks.  The drill and all the infrastructure have gone - except for the double fence.  Even that dramatic machine - the traumatron - which held up Metgasco's removal from the site, has gone.

The traumatron

It's interesting to look back on those from elsewhere who joined  Clarence Valley locals in the vigil and blockade.  Some of these supporters were day visitors but others camped along the side of the road or on nearby properties. There was some fancy accommodation (caravans and campervans), while some slept in vehicles and others in tents - many of these being makeshift shelters. Some  campers stayed for weeks; some remained for days, then took a break back home before returning to Glenugie.

Amonst the visiting supporters the Grafton KNAGs enjoyed meeting were our northern Nanna mentors - who showed their talents in knitting, crafting decorations and then displaying these on the protesters' Christmas tree.

Glenugie was visited by a number of politicians - Greens MLC Jeremy Buckingham and Federal Member for Clarence Janelle Saffin.  Another Greens MLC, Jan Barham from Byron Bay, joined the Knitting Nannas for a knit-in while she was at the site.

The Mayors of Lismore and Byron also visited as did several of their fellow councillors.

Interestingly most local politicians did not seem to think the Glenugie action of sufficient significance to rate a visit - even though they did not have far to travel!  Clarence Valley Councillors Margaret McKenna and Jason Kingsley were the exceptions.

Regrettably our local state member, Chris Gulaptis, did not visit the site.  When the Nannas spoke to him outside his office in Grafton on  January 25, they offered to escort him to the site so that he could see it for himself and talk to the  locals there.  He declined.  Later, in a letter to the Nannas he said that he would visit the site a a time mutually suitable to him and the property owner.

The Nannas don't know whether that happened - but his visit should have been made when Metgasco was working at the site.  A visit after they had left was pointless.

A sign left across the road from the deserted drill site says it all

GRAFTON KNITTING NANNAS TALK TO MP

 The Grafton Loop of Knitting Nannas Against Gas (KNAGs) held a knit-in outside the Grafton office of Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis on Friday 25 January - our first knit-in outside the MP's office since our pre-Christmas knit-in.  Over the holiday period the Nannas have concentrated their activities around the Glenugie drill site.

 

The Nannas were pleased to have an opportunity to talk to Mr Gulaptis about their concerns about coal seam gas mining and the drilling at Glenugie.

These Nannas are not convinced.

New KNAG recruit Glenugie resident Sarah Fletcher presented our MP with a letter – and the customary yellow flower - from the Nannas.  She then took the opportunity to inform him about the impact Metgasco's test drilling was having on her life and the life of others near the drill site.

 One of the Nannas' current concerns is that our local member has not visited the Glenugie drill site. Such a visit would have given him an opportunity to talk to the locals and to see for himself why they are so concerned about Metgasco's activities in their neighbourhood.  In our letter we said that that our representative needed to listen to the views of a wide range of people on an issue as divisive as this is.  And obviously the views of those directly affected are particularly important.

From what Mr Gulaptis said, it seems that many local people have not contacted him about their concerns.  The Nannas hope that more people do so by either writing to or emailing him or by making an appointment and speaking with him at his office.  Actually getting on to our representatives about this issue should be part of our campaign against this invasive industry.  Protesting is one part – and lobbying is another.  Both are necessary.

Contact details for Chris Gulaptis MP, Member for Clarence:

            Email: clarence@parliament.nsw.gov.au

            Phone:  (02) 6643 1244

            Address: 11 Prince Street, GRAFTON,  NSW  2460

With the drill rig about to move from the Glenugie site, there will be relief for local residents – at least in the short term.  However, there is concern about just what the future holds.  The Nannas and many other locals are concerned about whether this site, and other parts of the Clarence will become part of a gasfield like that around Tara in Queensland.

It pays to advertise!

DRILL RIG ON SITE AT GLENUGIE

Today Metgasco finally managed to get a drill rig and other equipment into the Glenugie site.  It took them many hours and the efforts of around 60 police - mostly riot police - and the Police Rescue Squad.  We Knitting Nannas suspect that getting the equipment onto the site proved more difficult than it would have been some weeks earlier.  Protesters, from the Clarence Valley and other Northern Rivers areas  - including Knitting Nannas - gathered from before 7 a.m., prepared to peacefully protest at the mining company's plans.

Protesters gather at outside the Glenugie site early on 7th January

The riot police gradually moved protesters from the area in front of the access gate.  Then they had to remove those protesters "locked on", including one brave man perched high in a tripod and another lying locked on just in front of the gate.

The Knitting Nannas did not do much looping or purling today as they were too busy singing, watching, and photographing than to do more than brandish the needles and pull on the yarn  occasionally.

NANNERLY CLICKS OF THE GLENUGIE ACTION

Girls Against Gas about to be moved from the area in front of the Metgasco Gate

 The Nannas hope that these lasses will not be called on to 

become Knitting Nannas Against Gas in another 30 years or so.

We want CSG mining cast off NOW! 

Some Knitting Nannas can identify with 

the sentiments on this lad's T-shirt.

Our T-shirts could say "We knit because we were 

needled into doing it!" 

The Angel shows Riot Police the song words so that they can join in.

 "What is this weird woman doing ?  If we don't look,

maybe she'll go away.  Or maybe we could arrest her for distracting police 

from the lawful performance of their duties."

 "Whew! It's been a long morning.  Thank goodness for this sculpture.  

My feet are killing me and my ears are sunburnt.  This crappy regulation 

cap isn't doing the job.  I wish I had one of those Knitting Nanna 

yellow bandannas to wear on my head."

There it sat, lonely and sad-looking, until it was given a nannerly treat, 
a knitted and knotted makeover. Look at those eyes peering 
coyly from under the yellow bandanna!

 

SIGNS OF THE GLENUGIE BLOCKADE

The unmissable sign on the Pacific Highway south of Grafton

Since it began more than forty days ago, the Glenugie protest has grown.  The site has been visited by people from across the North Coast and the area occupied by the protesters along the roadside has expanded.  What has also expanded is the signage.  The Grafton Loop of the Knitting Nannas has been fascinated by these signs. New ones seem to be there each time we visit.

Below are a  few examples of the signage near the Metgasco drill site.

Will Metgasco giet the message?

Barry doesn't look happy with what's happening at Glenugie

 

 And then there were the seasonal signs -

...or next year  ... or ever!

KNITTERS DECORATE GLENUGIE CHRISTMAS TREE

Along with  other community members from the Clarence Valley and supporters from elsewhere in the Northern Rivers, the Grafton Loop of Knitting Nannas Against Gas (KNAG), has been in regular attendance at the Glenugie site where coal seam gas miner Metgasco plans a test drill.

Junior KNAG

Today the Grafton KNAGs were joined for their knit-in by KNAGs from Kyogle and Lismore as well as Jan Barham, Member of the NSW Legislative Council.  We were again serenaded by a guitarist from Brunswick Heads and watched two youngsters show their expertise with French knitting.

MLC Jan Barham (L) and KNAGs from Lismore and Grafton

Then the Lismore knitters produced their Christmas decorations and added some KNAG class to the Christmas tree in front of the Metgasco gate.

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.