Greens to target CSG concerns

A VICTORIAN Greens candidate will contest the seat of Gippsland South in the by-election caused by the retirement of longstanding Nationals MP Peter Ryan.

Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber said the party was likely to choose a candidate within two or three weeks.

The election, for which the date has not yet been announced, will probably take place in four to six weeks, Mr Barber said.

Mr Barber visited Suzanne Wightman of Mardan at her organic dairy farm on Wednesday to discuss the issue of coal seam gas (CSG) mining and the forthcoming by-election.

“The Greens are looking forward to this by-election, because it will give locals a voice on one of the critical issues, that of onshore gas drilling and new coal mines,” he said.

“Much of the electorate is covered with licences to explore for coal and gas. Farms, and the whole agricultural future of the region, are under threat.

“Obviously there’s a pretty strong network of no gas drilling in the area. We have campaigned strongly on CSG in the last couple of elections.”

He said the Greens vote in the district had been increasing with each election.

“That shows it’s a vote changing issue,” Mr Barber said.

The Greens are pushing for a Victoria wide ban on CSG mining.

They also want the current government to tell Victorians whether the current inquiry into CSG will look into the possibility of a ban.

Mr Barber said the price of gas and electricity would continue to rise.

“We’ve got better alternatives now. Renewables are going to get cheaper and cheaper,” he said.

Mr Barber said companies mining for gas wanted to take advantage of the price increases, which are linked to the export price.

Ms Wightman said if CSG mining began in South Gippsland, it would devastate the farming industries.

The prospect of CSG mining in South Gippsland became real in her mind 10 years ago when she received a letter from a gas company asking to test drill on her property.

Hers is one of many properties displaying a “Lock the Gate” sign.

“There’s no way CSG and agriculture of any description can co-exist,” she said.

“It’s just not possible.”

She is concerned about contamination of groundwater with the BTEX chemicals used in CSG mining (or “fracking”) and heavy metals disturbed after long years in the ground.

“Imagine if our cows start drinking the water; the contamination goes straight into the milk and straight into the food chain,” Ms Wightman said.

She also said most farming businesses in South Gippsland practise “intensive” farming on relatively small properties, meaning the roads and machinery required for CSG mining would take up space farmers cannot spare.

She also said it would place stress on the cows and reduce their milk production.

She wants her government representative, whoever that may be, to prevent CSG mining taking place in South Gippsland.

“I’m happy with whoever can give me the ban,” Ms Wightman said.

Marg Thomas of Coal and CSG Free Mirboo North also met with Mr Barber.

“I think CSG mining is a huge issue and has been for some time. We’ve done a survey recently and we’ve come up with figures saying 96 per cent don’t support CSG,” she said.

“The community wants certainty and representatives who will bite the bullet and really push renewable energy.

“Farmers are wondering what’s going to happen after the enquiry.

“The government should take speedy action on that.”

By-election: Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber, left, said a Victorian Greens candidate will contest the by-election in Gippsland South. He met Suzanne Wightman of Mardan on her organic dairy farm.

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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Feb 11 2015. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry