Cross Posted from Sydney Morning Herald
Thousands of people have protested in New South Wales against coal seam gas mining.
The two largest protests were in Sydney and the north coast town of Murwillumbah.
The rallies are part of a national week of action against coal and coal seam gas and have been organised by the national Lock The Gate alliance.
They come after the New South Wales Minister for Resources Chris Hartcher offered to renew 22 coal seam gas exploration licences last month.
Jacinta Green of the Stop CSG Sydney group says coal seam gas production is already underway in Sydney at Camden and a new well’s been drilled next to the Nepean River.She says by renewing coal seam gas licences across Sydney suburbs and in drinking water catchments, the state government has allowed that the mining industry to endanger people’s precious water resources.
