Can't Eat Coal, Can't Drink Gas

Dear fellow residents of the NSW Southern Highlands (and Matt Brown MLA).

There will be a large rally in Sydney on Sunday. It will be a really interesting combination of Greens (yes some "Capital G" Greens) and Farmers, and environmentalists and people who just have a grievance with how the State has fared over the last 16 years (mostly dyed-in-the-wool Liberals and National Party supporters).

So there will be something for (nearly) everyone in this rally - from Bankers and Stock-brokers to bushies, the unemployed and the (supposedly) " retired" like me. It will be a group with a common theme - people who love and respect the bush, Nature and the environment.

This rally has been developed by the Lock the Gate Alliance (anti-coal seam gas people), and the peak Environment groups - Nature Conservation Council and many other environment groups.

The organisers of the "Shoo Cockatoo" campaign are going; and so will I.
Caroline Graham from Rivers SOS and I will travel up to there together.
Many hundreds of campaigners from all across the State will be heading to Sydney.

This is not an anti-labor rally, per se.
I prefer to think of it as the first step towards retribution against NSW Labor for the damage they have inflicted over the last 16 years of imbalanced, pro-development, pro-mining favouritism (especially the evil Part 3A legislation). Others will have their personal reasons for attending and waving their placards.

I will be there to try to stand up for the Rivers, and "Upland Swamps" of the Southern Catchment, and the local farmers whose aquifers are still threatened by the risk of mining by Gujarat NRE (not an immediate threat, but a threat none-the-less). Oh yes, I will be there to stick up for the silent threatened species, especially the Orchids, of course, such as my beloved Kangaloon Sun Orchids from Butler's Swamp, Kangaloon (image attached).

Kangaloon Sun Orchid - endangered by the threatened actions of the SCA

My personal motivation is the failure of the Sydney Catchment Authority (and the NSW Water Minister, Phil Costa) to understand the real threat their proposals posed to the Kangaloon Aquifer, and to the local farming community.

Everyone is welcome to join in.
If you cannot do that, at least please take notice of this rally (on the "telly" on Sunday night, and the papers and radio on Monday morning).

And please remember the efforts of the people who are going to Sydney this Sunday, when it comes to casting your vote the following Sunday.

Personally, I am sending this note out not to tell anyone who to vote for - just who I WILL NOT TO VOTE FOR.
The rest is up to you all.
That's democracy in action.

I have copied this note to my local Member Matt Brown MLA,

• Matt you had the chance to avoid this - four years ago when a number of us came to lobby you privately, about the Kangaloon Aquifer. But you chose to ignore us.
• You thought I was a dead set "Greenie". How wrong you were. I was and still am, a genuine Environmentalist. There is a difference.
• I have voted Labor all my life - but I can no longer do so in good conscience - thanks to YOU, Matt, and the NSW Labor Government.

Denis Wilson
Enrolled voter in the Kiama electorate.
Robertson NSW 2577

Attachment from Nature Conservation Council

Dear Friends,

After community action from farmers, conservationists and voters across NSW, both Labor and Coalition are under pressure to deliver this election to protect communities, agricultural land and water from the impacts of coal mining and coal seam gas.

After years of delay, Premier Keneally announced a plan this week to (supposedly) introduce stricter controls on the mining and gas industry, including identification of exclusion zones and banning some toxic chemicals used in coal seam gas extraction.  The Coalition have pledged to protect Dharawal State Conservation Area from mining and create a new national park; and are focusing on impacts to agricultural land and water resources.  

This Sunday, join people from across NSW to send the message home:

Can't Eat Coal, Can't Drink Gas
- NSW Election Rally to protect local communities, agricultural land and water from mining impacts.

When: 12 Midday, this Sunday March 20

Where: Martin Place, Macquarie St end, Sydney.  

Across NSW, communities are organising to protect their health, water, climate and agricultural land.  On Sunday, people will be attending from communities facing new coal seam gas projects at Camden and Gloucester; farmers from the Liverpool Plains stopping the undermining prime agricultural land; citizens from Western NSW tackling the proposed Cobbora coal mine; Southern Sydney and Illawarra local working to protect our drinking water from underground coal mining; and St Peters residents facing off a proposal to extract coal seam gas from under Sydney city.
This Sunday, one week before the NSW Election, join us to make the message loud and clear: "Food before coal. Water before gas.  For our land, our water and our future."
Speakers include:

John Thomson, Broke resident from the Lock the Gate Alliance;
Tim Duddy, Liverpool Plains farmer and independent candidate for the Upper Hunter;
Bev Smiles, Mudgee landholder from the NSW Nature Conservation Council;
Peter Martin, businessman and convenor of the Southern Highlands Coal Action Group;
• Cate Faehrmann, NSW Greens MP and mining spokesperson;
  
Julie Lyford, long term community campaigner and Gloucester Shire Councillor; and
Emceed by Simon Thomsen - restaurant critic for The Daily Telegraph; long-term editor of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide; and a judge on Channel Seven's upcoming Australian Iron Chef series.

This election, demand your politicians put communities ahead of mining profits. 

Cheers,

Holly Creenaune

Outreach Co-ordinator
Nature Conservation Council

Web:  www.nccnsw.org.au/march-20-rally and www.lockthegate.org.au

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=201739353184982

P.S.  Bring your banners, placards, friends and family to stand up for local communities, agricultural land and water at 12 midday this Sunday March 20th at Martin Place, Sydney.

*****

Here follows some useful information regarding arrangements for those going to the Rally being held in Sydney this coming Sunday 20th March.

Buses and parking

• The rally starts at midday at the Macquarie St end of Martin Place
• Best place for letting people out of buses is probably Hospital Road
• The rally will finish at 1 Farrer Place (out the front of Governor Macquarie Tower) at 1:30pm.  Farrer Place meets Young St (at a dead end), Circular Quay is very close, as is Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Macquarie St (Opera House / Botanical Gardens end, that has a lot of bus parking).
• Car parking is expensive, the cheapest by far is at the Domain ($10).  More expensive options and closer options include 131 Macquarie St; 1 Martin Place; the MLC centre 19-29 Martin Place.
• Road closures: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents/stpats_parade_2011_closures.html
• Clearways (ie. can't park here or let down passengers):http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents/stpats_parade_2011_clearways.html
• Traffic arrangements map:http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents/downloads/stpats_parade_2011_map.html