The Bentley Angel sculpture will be raised on the main beach at Byron Bay at dawn tomorrow morning (Saturday) in a show of peaceful community protest against invasive gasfields in the northern rivers.
The Byron action celebrates a full year since the blockade of Metgasco’s drilling project at Bentley, near Lismore.
To celebrate the anniversary, Lock the Gate spokesperson Elly Bird said the community would come together to demand greater protection from the impacts of unconventional gas mining, amid escalating political pressure over CSG licences state-wide.
‘People from all walks of life will raise the symbolic Bentley Angel together to raise the alarm about uncontrolled mining in the Northern Rivers, and across NSW, and ask the Government for strict protection for our region,’ she said.
Byron is located in the Ballina electorate which is a hotly contested seat in the upcoming NSW election. Support for a Gasfield Free Northern Rivers has become the defining issue of the election campaign in the Ballina electorate.
Concert and speakers
Meanwhile, a concert tomorrow (Saturday, March 14) to raise funds and awareness for those affected and who are fighting against CSG has expanded its program to include speakers.
Co-organiser and musician Deidi Vine says apart from local performers, ‘A great lineup of speakers will also up-date everyone on the current situation in NSW and Australia in regards to coal seam gas mining and other invasive mining plans and proposals.’
Speakers to appear include Leard State Forest frontline activist Iris Ray Nun, Pilliga frontline activist Dan Lanzini, former greens senator Ian Cohen, NSW Green’s candidate Tamara Smith, Lock the Gate’s Ellie Bird, 11-year-old environmental singing/activist Holly Summerville, Aunty Barbara Randall-Kanyini and Kamaillie and Nanny Bonnie from the Narakwal Gidabul tribe.
Running from 10am to 10pm, the concert will feature the talents of Lisa Hunt, the Hottentots, Dub Collective, Swamp Catz, Camel Tones, Shooflys, Guy Chachel, Deidi Vine and many more.
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. 
