Linda Cockburn

A group of individuals heard there'd been an application to explore for Petroleum Products in the Huon. Having seen the outcome of other such exploration and exploitation in other areas of Australia and the world the group quickly came together and formed MAD (Mining Access Denied).

The aim of the group is to provide information to the residents of the valley in order for them to make informed decisions on CSG and other unconventional mining practices.

Our aims are three fold:
1] To provide information about the impacts of unconventional mining to the residents of the Huon.
2] To provide a platform for them to raise this issue with government.
3] To support the efforts of other communities in Tasmania.

Drilling for shale oil and gas in the Huon could see wells every 500 - 750m across the valley, with formed roads linking them for 24/7 access by heavy vehicles. Pipelines, compressor stations, and waste water ponds would decorate the landscape.

The experience of other states is that there is little local profit or employment. Rural areas are left with well heads and the potential of volatile and highly toxic chemicals, contamination of soil, water and oil for decades if not centuries to come.

Large food processors are refusing produce from NZ farms with drill waste in the vicinity and affected land owners in QLD and NSW are seeing the value of their properties plummet.

Is this what we need in the Huon or in Australia?
www.facebook.com/huonlockthegate

The group aim to print gate signs for property owners to show their non-support for CSG and other unconventional mining in the valley. With lots of shopping around we've found the best price from a local printer for 500 signs. It's going to cost $1600.

While the group have borne the costs of burning DVD's, printing labels, setting up websites, Facebook pages and volunteering their time, we can't do this on our own. That's where you come into the picture!

The risk is not getting the information out there in a timely manner. Once an application is in processing the community has 28 days to send in objections. The community needs to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of this type of development in order to make informed decisions.