No gas: A protest against a Santos project near Gunnedah. Photo: Paul Mathews
GUNNEDAH district farmers have set up a shop in the town’s main street, but they’re not selling produce or even jams and scones.
Instead, they’re spreading the word against the coal seam gas industry.
The farmers have taken a lease on the Conadilly St property just metres away from mining giant Santos’s own shopfront.
It’s a bid in what they say is to inform the community of the potential threat to the future of agriculture from coal seam gas development.
They expect the shop will give people the opportunity to find out more about the industry, including results of scientific research into the long-term effects on underground water and the serious concerns with possible breakdown of coal seam gas wells.
The move comes just months after Santos unleashed an advertisement campaign in print and television media.
The company removed one of the ads after local farmers accused it of filming segments on their land without their permission.
The shopfront’s attendants hope to circulate an ongoing survey that is gathering the opinions of landholders as well as townspeople.
Farmers say many people have already added their names to the survey, firmly stating they do not wish to live in a gasfield. The survey’s results will be compiled and presented to local councils.
