A rescission motion to reverse Council’s December 10 decision to remove all CSG and nuclear-free zone signs on the edge of town, failed last night in the Goonellebah chambers.
The rescission motion by Councillors Adam Guise, Jasmine Knight-Smith and Virginia Waters, was that Council reverse its decision to remove the signs and replace them with welcome signs once a budget allocation has been determined.
Councillor Guise cited community unity and historical significance while Cr Steve Krieg opposed, arguing the signs’ removal was about modernising entranceway signage.
Integral part of history
Bentley farmer and CSG Trojan warrior, Meg Nielsen, said the signs are a really integral part of Lismore’s history. ‘They stand as an important tribute to the 87 per cent (of people) who voted “no” to CSG.
‘In my opinion, it would be disrespectful to remove them.
‘These signs are also a reminder of the debt that each and every one of us owes to those members of this community who, rather than just blindly accept the gas industry’s assurance, consulted independent experts, medical hydrologists, toxicologists from Australia and overseas. These experts identified serious risks to health of this community, as well as pollution and depletion of waterways and aquifers from fracking.
‘These signs need to remain in place out of respect for the many thousands of people of this community from all walks of life, who all took time out of their busy lives and did all they possibly could to achieve this monumental outcome so that we, all of us, can continue to live in this beautiful area saved from the industrialization of 1,000 gas wells that threatened our farmlands and our water resources – keeping it free from pollution and damage that the fracking brings.
Forever grateful
’As part of the farming community, I am forever grateful for those that took a stand to protect our farmlands, our livelihoods and our well being.
‘But it’s not just about the benefit to farmers, is it? It affects the whole community. So much of this region’s economy is based on agriculture and horticulture, and all these industries depend on productive, unpolluted land and good, reliable water. I cannot over emphasise the importance of these issues in our environment. Unfortunately, my family has personal experience of the problems – the gas industry drilled wells on my sister-in-law’s family farm in Ohio. The water on their property is no longer drinkable, nor are they allowed to use it for watering livestock, not even for growing crops.
‘I was part of a group of farmers that made several trips to state parliament. We were armed with reports from experts that were highlighting the many risks. We had appointments to meet with government ministers like Anthony Roberts, the then minister for energy, and we found that although they had been briefed by the gas industry promoters, the government had absolutely no independent information whatsoever, no science based advice on the effects of fracking from any experts, nor were they informed by the experience of any farmers living around gas fields overseas.
‘Consequently, it was a mammoth task for this community to counteract the industry propaganda with the New South Wales Government. However, the Federal member for Page, Kevin Hogan, had visited the gas fields at Tara and Chinchilla, and had already formed the opinion that this industry was not appropriate for the Northern Rivers landscapes, and was not compatible with our agricultural industries on which this community depends.
Faith in Australian democracy
‘For me, personally, these signs restore my faith in Australian democracy and a prevailing fair mindedness, a reminder that neither a corporation intent on profiting from damaging a community’s well being, nor a bully with a spiteful agenda will be allowed to spoil life for everyone.’
Cr Adam Guise said the signs were a mark of pride ’It is worth remembering, this wasn’t a single protest or blockade. It came after many, many years of numerous events around the region, including musicals and music festivals and chasing drill rigs and attending protests and town hall meetings, and of course, what informed the survey results is the great feat in grassroots democracy, which is to organize street by street and go and door knock and get people’s views on whether they wanted to live in a gas field free community.
‘That is a no small tribute to the people gathered here tonight and all those that have come before us to do that. It took a whole of community movement to achieve that, and it’s worth remembering that was across political spectrums, as people have attested to tonight. It was not just related to a single interest group or a political party.
Let’s not rewrite the past
‘Let’s not rewrite the past or tear down history or create division. Let’s continue to show our pride in our wonderful community.
The Mayor said he was in a no win situation. ‘I know I’m going to cop it, but I get told that I don’t speak enough, and then when I do speak, I will be in the wrong as well. So here goes – this is, for me, not about turning Lismore and the LGA into a gas field. It is a very honorable act that that happened at Bentley. I drove past there often on my way to work, and that has solidified the Lismore LGA right to be gas field and nuclear free. That is not what this motion is about. In my opinion, I’m not going to get on the phone straight after this meeting to see Montgomery Burns from the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and say there is an opportunity here. That is not what this is about.
Welcoming people to Lismore
‘This is about modifying some signage at the entrance ways to our city and to our villages to welcome people to Lismore. Everyone has their own opinions as to what those signs represent. Those opinions are more than valid, and I accept that the 60 or so people that emailed me, I am grateful, and I read every single one.
‘The reality is that this is not going to open up Lismore to become a gas friendly city or a nuclear friendly city. That is not the case. The voices of the people have clearly spoken on this.
‘What it is about is welcoming people at our entranceways to our city and our villages with uniform, modern, fresh signage. And that’s what I want to see for Lismore, and it’s as simple as that, so I’m going to stick with my original decision.’
Cr Guise also said that it was disappointing that the councillor who voted to get rid of the signs weren’t prepared to stand up in the chamber and explain their reasoning and justification. ‘They’re hiding behind putting the motion to the floor rather than using this opportunity, in a public forum to speak speak on the rationale and reasoning why. Yes, we’ve heard from the mayor, but there’s five or so other councillors that would seemingly be voting in a similar fashion, and it behooves you to explain to the public and remain accountable as to why you make these decisions.
Those in favour of the rescission motion were Councillors Dalton-Earls, Knight-Smith, Guises and Waters. Those opposed, were Councillors Gordon, Hall, Battista, Rob, Bing and Krieg.
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