GRAFTON NANNAS VISIT BENTLEY

Looking down on the camp from the track from the drillsite.  Much of the camp is not visible in this photo.

Five Nannas from the Grafton Loop and one Nanna supporter travelled north to Metgasco's Bentley drill site on Friday April 4.

As well as giving us an opportunity to survey the latest area under threat from Metgasco's drilling plans, it gave us a chance to meet again with our northern Nanna compatriots and with others we'd met during the Glenugie and Doubtful Creek campaigns.

We were very impressed with the organisation of the camp which has been laid out like a small town with streets in a grid pattern . The camp, which a few days earlier had housed around 2000 people, is downhill from the drillsite and on an adjacent property. Shelters are mainly tents - and a few teepees -  but there are also campervans and a few caravans.

A gate-keeper directs day visitors to parking below the camping area.

The Lismore Nannas' shelter

The Grafton Nannas joined the Lismore Nannas  at their shelter, a structure reminiscent of igloo-type hangars in shape, consisting of parallel semi-circular metal supports covered with tarps.  It was a comfortable, well-equipped headquarters and even boasted a small "dormitory" in the rear.

Message wall near the gate of the protest camp

Bentley is currently in Thomas George's Lismore electorate.  However, there has been an electoral redistribution.  At the next State Election (in March 2015), Bentley will be in the Clarence electorate.

So Mr Gulaptis, our local member, will have a further experience of gas drilling in his electorate. (Not to say that he had any direct experience by visiting Glenugie when it was operational!  He only heard about it second or third hand - despite many invitations to visit and see for himself.)  We wonder if he might go and check this one out.  But ... we Nannas aren't really hopeful about this happening!

Some of the Grafton Nannas took photos.  I took many photos, some of which I intended to use on this blog but - alas - as a result of a really irritating Nanna moment, I deleted them all!  I only hope that this Nanna has  learnt her lesson and will be MUCH more careful in future. The photos I do have for this post are courtesy of Sarah Fletcher.  Thanks very much, Sarah.

Tripod near the entrance to the drill site

NANNAS ARE AT IT AGAIN

A small group of dedicated Nannas gathered again outside the office of our local MP Chris Gulaptis to knit (and crochet) AND NATTER.  (Some  of us are better at nattering than knitting - or crocheting!).

What we really appreciate is that Nannas come when they can.  Most of us lead busy Nanna lives and can't make it every week - but we click and clack our needles on the street whenever we can.

After our knit-in we learned that Mr Gulaptis was planning to attend a science forum on CSG in the Parliamentary Theatrette in Sydney.  We hope that he learns more about what concerns us Nannas about how gas-mining is going to affect the  life of the kiddies in the future. There is a really urgent need for our representatives to learn more about the problems of this industry.  AND we hope that ALL of Mr Gulaptis' National Party colleagues also attend the forum. 

Who but a Nanna could devise a wig as elegant as this?

 

Dorothy's wonderful cushion cover

It must be serious when even the dolls are protesting !!

GRAFTON NANNAS CALL ON GULAPTIS TO ACT TO PROTECT LAND AND WATER SUPPLIES

 The Grafton Nannas have written to their State Member of Parliament, Chris Gulaptis, calling on him to urge his Government to halt immediately all unconventional gas  mining in NSW.  The letter was delivered  to his office on Thursday 13th March.  A similar letter from the Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition was also delivered at this time.

Below is  the text of the KNAG letter.

Following the recent contamination to the groundwater in the Pilliga State Forest , The Knitting Nannas Against Gas – Grafton Loop are calling on the State Government to put a stop to all unconventional gas mining in NSW.

It is time our MPs took the step to protect the land and water supplies of the people in their electorates.

It is unacceptable that communities have to live with the threat of contamination from this invasive industry.

Below are quotes from the EPA and Public Health:

"On Friday, EPA chief environmental regulator Mark Gifford confirmed the contamination was caused by water leaking from the pond and that lead, aluminium, arsenic, barium, boron, nickel and uranium had been detected in an aquifer at levels ''elevated when compared to livestock, irrigation and health guidelines''.
 SMH, 8th March 2014

“The heavy metals in the water and particularly the high levels of aluminium are certainly a concern if this industry is going to spread.  I’m not confident the EPA has the appropriate testing methodology to deal with or prepare for such a contamination situation and the ongoing repercussions.”
Dr Con Costa, public health physician and GP, media release 12th March 2014

The industry has now been proven to be unsafe and as such should be halted immediately.

 The delegation presenting letters at the office of Chris Gulaptis

Nannas, Nannas everywhere!

I see them here, I see them there,
I see them everywhere
Nannas in Clarence,
Nannas in Lismore,
Nannas in Ballina
Nannas in QLD,
Nannas in Armidale I hear!
Nannas in the UK,
Nannas in the US of A
Knitting out and about each week,
Clicking up a storm, Oh what cheek!

Saving our Land & Water for the Kiddies - never doubt the power of a Nanna!!!!

Nannas with style

Nannas with flair

Nannas that care

Nannas who create

Wow those needles are great!

Nannas just chatting

and Nannas with art in their hair!

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

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.