Activist group the Ballina Knitting Nannas held a send-off for Kayak 4 Earth’s Steve Posselt outside the Nationals election office in Ballina on Monday.
The group has also disputed outgoing Ballina MP Don Page’s claim that gas miner Dart Energy has relinquished its title over all land in the electorate.
Mr Posselt is on an epic journey by wheeled kayak to connect chaotic climate events around the world and promote renewable energy production.
The Nannas say they would like to see ‘clean renewable energy replace coal and gas as soon as possible, because of the long-term health effects on their grandchildren and great-grandchildren of cancer-causing chemicals’.
‘Once released, these chemicals can persist in our air and water for a long time.
‘Recent statements that “the area of Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 445 covering the Ballina electorate has been removed” are inconsistent with the map released by minister for Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts on December 4. It showed areas of Rous, Meeschaum Vale and Baggotville in Ballina Shire are included.
‘Unconventional gas mining also uses horizontal drilling which can be carried out 2km into adjacent areas.
‘Ballina Nannas feel they have been betrayed by local National Party members who allowed this northern rivers lease for CSG and unconventional gas mining to be renewed.
‘As members of the coalition, local National Party members also voted down moves by the NSW Greens and Labor in state parliament to ban CSG mining on the northern rivers, late in November.’
The Nannas’ weekly knitting protest will now be set up outside the National Party election office in Kerr Street, Ballina.
Thank you Knitting Nannas! More guts than the Nats and a fairer representation of the country people of the Northern Rivers region. We have been betrayed by our National Party representatives and the next election results must reflect this. Can we vote for the Knitting Nannas?