Local coal and coal seam gas information group, People for the Plains, conducted its Annual General Meeting in Narrabri at the end of November.
Outgoing president Dr Hugh Barrett said that he was “pleasantly surprised” at the large number of people who attended the AGM.
“We could have filled the executive positions several times over and we had to have a ballot for a number of the positions” he said.
In his president’s report, Dr Barrett summarised the group’s numerous activities over the past year and its success in gaining an understanding of the processes surrounding coal seam gas developments and the likely impact of these developments on people in the Shire.
Dr Barrett cited the group’s four day field trip to the Queensland gas fields as a seminal learning experience, alongside numerous forums that People for the Plains hosted, including those featuring John Fenton, a Wyoming rancher affected by CSG, actor Michael Caton, and health and scientific experts.
He noted that members from the group participated in community surveys in districts surrounding Narabri, asking community members and farm families “Do you want your land or road gasfield free”?
“To date, 2,760,000 hectares in the North West have been declared “Gasfield Free by the will of the community”, with more than 96 per cent on average saying they oppose gasfield industrialisation.”
“People for the Plains has met on a number of occasions with Council and politicians and made numerous submissions.
“Stalls were run at the monthly markets and in the main street of Narrabri and at AgQuip.
“Much has been done but there is much more to do, particularly with respect to coal” said Dr Barrett.
Representatives from throughout Narrabri Shire were elected to the new executive, with Sally Hunter the new president.
Vice presidents for the next year are Stuart Murray and Sarah Ciesiolka, secretary Kirsty Kelly, treasurer Jennifer St Vincent Welch, response co-ordinator Tony Pickard, events co-ordinator Sandy Findlay, publicity co-ordinator Victoria Hamilton and digital communications co-ordinator Ann Loder.
“I am really excited to be working with such an enthusiastic and well informed committee” said new president Sally Hunter.
“I am buoyed by the amount of local support for this issue and encouraged by the ongoing growth in numbers”.