Gloucester locals this morning blocked access to the site where gas company AGL plans to frack for coal seam gas.
Protest organisers say local farmers and tourism operators from the mid north coast district ‘are opening their arms to supporters from around the state to join the Gloucester Protection Camp and help protect the valley from invasive coal seam gas mining’.
Tourism business operator Brian Kilby, who is at the protest this morning, said, ‘This is a local issue, about the beauty and community of the Gloucester Valley, but we know this is also a problem that people around the state are grappling with.
‘We think that this valley is really special: people come from around NSW to visit the spectacular World Heritage mountains behind us,’ Mr Kilby said.
‘We think AGL and the state government are putting that all at risk for a short-term industry that will damage Gloucester.
‘People from around NSW have contacted us to ask if we want help in keeping Gloucester beautiful by taking peaceful action against the coal seam gas fracking. They know the government has sided with AGL, so they’re offering to side with us.
‘We want them to know that people are very welcome to come to the Gloucester Valley to help us keep our water and our lands beautiful and safe from mining. We’re in this for the long haul, and AGL need to know that.’
Todays protest is on Fairbairns Road, Gloucester.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
