Three cheers to Cr Mustow for breaking Richmond Valley Council’s cone of silence on gas mining by initiating a review of their position on gas mining.
Yesterday three other councillors also expressed long-held concerns about the potential dangers of gas mining. They too deserve congratulations because it was quite clear that until then, they had been fearful of doing so.
Why is that? Who, or what, has been instilling sufficient fear in them for them not to speak out when they considered their own community to be under threat? And, if they have changed their minds, why on earth should anyone be concerned about that? Shouldn’t we all be prepared to change our minds, especially when danger looms and especially when we have accepted a position of responsibility for others?
Yes, these are big challenges for mayor Bennett and manager Walker and those councillors who have previously shown their support for the gas industry. However, I’m confident their intelligence and experience will now come to the fore in the light of the ever-increasing opposition, indicated by the latest community actions and surveys, and especially the latest scientific evidence.
I’m sure that if they now take the brave step of declaring Richmond Valley Gas Field Free, regardless of what the NSW Goverment decides today, their community will consider them heros.
Please do it before it’s too late.
Eric van Beurden, Tatham
