Support farmer protest against coal
Event date/time:
4 June 2009 - 10:30am - 11:30am
Farmers are looking for your support for an hour or so this Thursday morning. Busloads of farmers from the Liverpool Plains and Gloucester regions are coming to town to a rally outside NSW Parliament in support of a Greens' bill being debated that day. The bill seeks to quarantine prime agricultural land and water from coal mining (more detail below).
When: From 10.15 am, rally officially commences at 10.30am, Thursday 4 June 2009
Where: Outside front gates, NSW Parliament, Macquarie Street, Sydney
What: Around 150 farmers and their supporters including senior NSW Farmers Federation representatives. Big displays of Liverpool Plains and Gloucester region produce, their clean water and some dirty coal. Banners, corflutes, speakers.
For more information: 02 9230 3551
Visit http://www.miningdirt.org.au/ for the Safeguarding Agricultural Land and Water From Mining Bill and related background material.
Background
Food production and water supplies in NSW's 'food bowl' farming districts, including the Gunnedah basin and the Gloucester Valley, are under threat from coal mining. Farmers are angry that the government is prioritising mining at their expense.
They are in town to lobby Labor, National and Liberal Party MPs in support of Greens private member's bill which seeks to safeguard their rich farming land, rivers and water catchments from the damage caused by mining.
The Safeguarding Agricultural Land and Water from Mining Bill prohibits new mining developments and mining exploration on land defined as prime agricultural land. The bill also bans mining and mining exploration within a kilometre of rivers and aquifers that feed prime farmland.
The bill is a test for the major parties: will they stand by NSW farmers or keep kowtowing to the coal industry, at the expense of local communities and the environment?
When: From 10.15 am, rally officially commences at 10.30am, Thursday 4 June 2009
Where: Outside front gates, NSW Parliament, Macquarie Street, Sydney
What: Around 150 farmers and their supporters including senior NSW Farmers Federation representatives. Big displays of Liverpool Plains and Gloucester region produce, their clean water and some dirty coal. Banners, corflutes, speakers.
For more information: 02 9230 3551
Visit http://www.miningdirt.org.au/ for the Safeguarding Agricultural Land and Water From Mining Bill and related background material.
Background
Food production and water supplies in NSW's 'food bowl' farming districts, including the Gunnedah basin and the Gloucester Valley, are under threat from coal mining. Farmers are angry that the government is prioritising mining at their expense.
They are in town to lobby Labor, National and Liberal Party MPs in support of Greens private member's bill which seeks to safeguard their rich farming land, rivers and water catchments from the damage caused by mining.
The Safeguarding Agricultural Land and Water from Mining Bill prohibits new mining developments and mining exploration on land defined as prime agricultural land. The bill also bans mining and mining exploration within a kilometre of rivers and aquifers that feed prime farmland.
The bill is a test for the major parties: will they stand by NSW farmers or keep kowtowing to the coal industry, at the expense of local communities and the environment?
