GRAFTON NANNAS KNIT-IN OUTSIDE HOGAN'S OFFICE

On Thursday July 24 the Grafton Nannas gathered to knit at a different venue - outside the Prince Street office of our Federal MP, Kevin Hogan, Member for Page.  As two nannas were meeting with Mr Hogan to discuss the government's position on gas mining,it was decided a knit-in outside his Grafton office was a good idea.

While indicating they were pleased that Mr Hogan continued in his opposition to gas mining in the Page electorate, the Nannas outlined some of their concerns about statements made by politicians such as the Prime Minister and the Minister for Industry wholeheartedly supporting the gas mining industry.

Their concern about this was reiterated in  a letter handed to Mr Hogan during the meeting.  The text of  part of this letter is printed below:

We consider that far too often politicians and their governments, which are supposed to represent their constituents, are more interested in representing "the big end of town" to the detriment of the ordinary people.  In using the excuse of the importance of the economic advantages of developments such as gas-mining will bring, they ignore the detrimental social, economic and environmental consequences which will have long-term effects on the general community.

We believe that you could play a very valuable role in educating those politicians in the Federal Government who are such enthusiastic supporters of gas mining.  As well as explaining why so many people oppose this industry, you could show them that these opponents are a diverse group across the community - not just the so-called "itinerants" and "ratbags" that some of your ill-informed colleagues choose to label them.

An additional service you could perform for your constituents would be to educate your Northern Rivers State National colleagues who are only now showing some concern about the gas mining industry.  We suggest you could arrange a fact-finding tour for them and yourself to a gas mining area in Queensland to speak to those farmers and other community members who are severely impacted by the industry.  Lock the Gate Northern Rivers would, we are sure, be able to provide you with advice on a suitable area to inspect and information on a range of local people to speak to.

We suggest that you also extend the invitation to State Nationals Leader Andrew Stoner who is certainly in need of education on this issue.  As Minister for the North Coast his attendance would be an added advantage. 

We urge you to take up these suggestions in educating your colleagues.  If you do so, you will be performing a very valuable service to your constituents and to many other concerned community members around the country.

After the discussion with the two Nannas, Mr Hogan joined the Nannas outside to be presented with a Nanna beanie knitted by Nanna Trinette and a photo with the Nannas.

The Nannas enjoyed very much the new venue and the chats they had with passers-by.  But they will be returning to their old "haunt" outside the office of Chris Gulaptis.  They don't want our State MP to think they are neglecting him!

 SERIOUS  KNITTING  NANNAS  HARD  AT  WORK

 

 AND  THE  DECORATIONS

Honesty in Question?

The Nannas were quite upset on Polling Day to find that the Nationals had openly attempted to deceive the electorate by displaying signs as pictured below.

CSG Mining (Unconventional Gas Mining) is predominantly a state issue and the Nannas think this is stretching things a tad too far.

The Federal Govt can have some input on Gas Mining as indicated by the recent passing of the 'Water Trigger Legislation'. The fact that Janelle Saffin strongly pushed this legislation shows how concerned she was about gas mining in her electorate.

The Nannas will be meeting with Mr Hogan in the not too distant future to discuss this and many other issues of concern to them.

YET ANOTHER NEW VENUE FOR A KNIT-IN

The Grafton Nannas have been quite nomadic in the last few weeks!  The Federal Election inspired them to move around town - last week to the campaign office of the Nationals' candidate, Kevin Hogan, and this week to the campaign office of the sitting federal member, Janelle Saffin M.P

The Nannas delivered a letter to their local member, similar to the letter that was delivered to the National candidate's campaign office at the  knit-in the week before.  As Ms Saffin was campaigning elsewhere in the electorate, the Nannas delivered the letter and a gift of  one of Lynette's elegant Nanna necklaces to a campaign volunteer.

Letter and gift delivery.

Page MP Janelle Saffin is opposed to CSG mining in her electorate - a fact which really pleases the Nannas.  It is truly wonderful when your parliamentary representative actually represents the interests of the majority of her/his electorate - something we Nannas regret does not happen enough throughout our nation.  Far too often MPs are tied to the policies of their parties which are often not in the interests of the communities they represent.

The Nannas have found it very refreshing to knit in different parts of town for the last two knit-ins.  They have had nannerly chats with dozens of passers-by about their knitting and the gas-mining industry.

NANNA HEAD DECORATION

 
NANNA  CREATIVITY

Maureen's Tea Cosy - top pompom to come

 

Deb's Triangle - part of a chain

The Nannas know that Mr Gulaptis, our state MP, has been missing the Nanna knit-ins outside his Grafton office in the last few  weeks.  But, as soon as the election is over, the Nannas will be back in their old haunt!

The Nannas just had to lend their support to the federal election - and show that they know the federal parliament has powers over gas mining - powers they want to see continued and, if possible, strengthened.

ANOTHER KNIT-IN - ANOTHER LETTER

The Grafton Loop of the Knitting Nannas held their weekly knit-in as usual outside the office of Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis on Thursday 22nd August.

Nannas pause for refreshments.

It was time for another letter to our hard-working parliamentary representative Chris Gulaptis.  The reason  - another move by the NSW Government to disempower local communities and help their mining friends.  The Government is proposing to amend the Mining State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) so that community groups have less chance of taking the government's planning decisions about mining to the courts.

The Nannas' concerns in their letter to Mr Gulaptis

The Knitting Nannas are writing to you again because we are appalled that the Government is proposing to disempower local communities even further when it comes to mining development.  We object very strongly to the amendment to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries).

 The proposed amendment means that the "significance" of the "resource" (be it a coal or gas resource or whatever) to the economy becomes the central consideration in the approvals process.  This means that other matters of importance to the local community – such as their amenity, health, water resources, and the natural environment – will be downgraded to minor considerations.

The Knitting Nannas fear that the Government is forgetting the importance of those people they are supposed to represent – the general community.  We also note that many people are becoming increasingly concerned about the continuation of governments' anxiety to promote mining despite public unease.

We believe that this amendment to the SEPP should be abandoned in the interests of the general community and our children and grandchildren.

 Letter Delivery Team with letter & flower.

A couple of determined Nannas.

(No messin' with us!)

Every time the Grafton Nannas deliver a letter to Mr Gulaptis' office they present him with a charming yellow flower.    By now he should have a sizeable bouquet - or maybe a wreath - to decorate his office and remind him of Nanna concerns!

 NANNAS  LIKE  TO  LEARN  NEW  SKILLS

French knitting

NANNA  CREATIVITY

 

And then there was the little memento of our visit - not a yarn bomb this time.

Non-yarn Bomb

NANNAS CONCERNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT'S NEW PLANNING SYSTEM

Grafton Nannas once again carried their chairs and needles and settled outside the office of Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis to knit, plot and chatter AND to deliver a letter outlining their concerns about the NSW Government's proposed new planning system.

The Nannas enjoying working with the yellow yarn.

The Nannas' letter, delivered to the office with the usual yellow flower, urged our MP to speak to the Minister for Planning about making the proposed new planning system more community-friendly.

(We did not deliver the letter personally to Mr Gulaptis because he left the office and was away for such a long time that we thought he was avoiding us.  Hard to believe that our MP would want to avoid talking to such charming, harmless Nannas!  However, we were SO pleased that he returned just as we were about to leave and had a brief chat with us.)

The Nannas believe the Government's proposed changes give too much power to industry and development interests.  We want to see:

1. The principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) incorporated in the new system.
2. Rights for the ordinary community to access judicial review to remedy unlawful decisions made under the legislation for State Significant Development - including for coal mines and gas fields.
3. Removal of restrictions on third party merit appeals.
4. Incorporation of the environmental protections in the current planning system in the new system.

We hope to hear that Mr Gulaptis is lobbying enthusiastically on our behalf and the behalf of all the kiddies who have to live in the world that we are shaping.

In the meantime the Nannas will continue their regular knit-ins.  We enjoy so much our Nanna companionship, exercising our fingers, discussing our projects and chatting with the passers-by.

Speckledy, a Chook Against Gas, and a new friend kept the Nannas company.

GRAFTON NANNAS TRAVEL TO LISMORE FOR KNIT-IN

Four Knitting Nannas from the Grafton Loop travelled to Lismore on Monday 9th May. 

After stopping off in Casino for coffee, we visited the new Casino Environment Centre.  What a good  job those volunteers have done! The Centre is centrally located and has been beautifully decorated.  We Nannas particularly admired the comfy lounge chairs in the room adjacent to the shop - just the place for a tired Nanna to have a gentle snooze in the afternoon!  And there were some attractive local products on sale including soap "handmade in Nimbin by clean hippies", wooden photo frames, earings, and macadamia oil.

At Lismore we joined our wonderful northern compatriots, the Lismore Nannas,  for a knit-in outside the office of Lismore State MP Thomas George.

 The needles clicked and the tongues clacked as the two groups enjoyed a chat about their knitting projects and the current status of the coal seam gas campaign.  One passer-by, after assuring us that he supported our anti-CSG stance, asked why we were still campaigning as we had won the battle.  We pointed out that the battle was  far from over, that the CSG industry would be back and we were remaining vigilant.

The cool breeze encouraged Dorothy to don her knitted coat of many colours which was admired by the Lismore ladies, some of whom have been inspired to make a  knitted coat their next project.   Dorothy also performed her wonderful poem"Knitting Nannas" - which was greatly appreciated by the Lismore ladies.

Lynette has been very active and creative since our last knit-in and had some interesting products to show - crocheted bracelets, a very modish crocheted necklace and a smart phone cover sporting a Nanna logo.

We of the Grafton Loop really enjoyed our knit-in and will bring our needles to Lismore again. The Lismore Nannas indicated that they would travel south for a knit-in at Grafton some time  in the future.  We look forward to that.

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.

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