Staff reporters
A Neighbourhood Watch-style organisation is being established in the northern rivers to keep an eye – and a camera – on coal-seam gas explorers and miners, to ensure they are keeping to the letter of the law.
The organisation, to be called Northern Rivers Community Watch, will utilise a number of marked and unmarked vehicles equipped with the latest electronics to monitor, film, record, gather information, report on and inform the public of the activities of CSG companies.
Community Watch spokesperson Philippe Dupuy said, ‘every move, especially trespasses, infractions and illegal activities will be recorded. We will be reporting daily on Twitter and Facebook’.
Mr Dupuy said the group would ‘provide the constant alertness and readiness that the northern rivers communities need to mobilise and act to protect land and water’.
‘Together we will cost CSG companies so dearly that they will have to pack their things and go. We will not be held to ransom by greed and shortsightedness.’
Mr Dupuy said many people were losing patience with the polite petitioning of governments and councils to no affect.
‘We have spent hours upon hours writing to the government, to relevant ministers, members of parliament. We have submitted papers to parliamentary enquiries, protested in thousands and provided scientific data to prove our point
He said it was now time to take non-violent direct action.
‘Now we are going to take ongoing direct action to stop CSG companies from plundering, soiling and polluting our homes. We will be doing the job that the Richmond Valley Council and the state government are paid to do but disappointingly don’t. We will be on watch 24/7’.
People wishing to become involved can contact NR Community Watch on 0401 237 903.
