He noted that the announcement of the inquiry came hard on the heels of the admission by the head of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, Mr Ross Dunn, that coal seam gas drilling will inevitably impact aquifers. “The admission by Mr Dunn is vindication of those in the community who have been warning about the potential harmful impacts of coal seam gas on water. The announcement of the inquiry is wonderful news for many communities throughout NSW and the government should move to immediately implement a moratorium on all further coal seam gas exploration and project development, including AGL’s Gloucester Gas Project, until the inquiry has been concluded.”

About 70 people attended a meeting in Gloucester last week to hear Lock the Gate Alliance Management Committee member, Michael McNamara, speak about coal seam gas developments. In a comprehensive and compelling presentation, Michael and his wife Julie outlined the issues and major concerns about coal seam gas mining that are being voiced by communities in NSW and Queensland. In addition to the locals, there was a small contingent from the Buladelah area present, because the Myall River valley is the latest part of the state to face the threat of coal seam gas development.

This was the third meeting of the ‘Defend Our Water’ promotional tour that the McNamara’s are undertaking to mobilise public opposition in rural and regional NSW to coal seam gas mining in the lead up to a National Day of Action on coal seam gas planned for Sunday 16 October. The meeting strongly endorsed the National Day of Action. It is intended that a committee be formed to plan the activities that will be held in Gloucester to support the National Day of Action.