AMONG the dozens of protesters to assemble outside AGL’s Gloucester headquarters last Wednesday was Bundook couple Pete and Kiri Theo.
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The couple moved to the Gloucester area from Sydney four years ago to raise their two young children, Alexander and Aria.
They had been thinking about relocating to Singleton, but were put off by the large number of open cut coal mines in the area.
The Theos finally settled on a property on the Manning River at Bundook where they now raise rescued horses.
“We loved the clean air, the clean water,” Mrs Theo said.
The Theos knew there were mines in the Gloucester area, but said they were unaware that coal seam gas exploration was also occurring.
“We weren’t aware there were any wells here. I was really shocked when I heard wells had already been fracked in the valley,” Mrs Theo said.
Mr and Mrs Theo said they were reassessing their future in the valley.
“Our eldest son Alexander is about to start preschool. We did want to send him to school in Gloucester, but we’re now seriously reconsidering it,” Mrs Theo said.
“We don’t want him to be exposed to any risks from coal seam gas or future open cut mining close to Gloucester.”