Caught in protestor crossfire at Bentley

Last week the NSW Supreme Court overturned the suspension of Metgasco's exploration licence, which was issued in May by the state government, which cited inadequate community consultation on the company's behalf.

But Metgasco has got the go-ahead it plans to drill within months at its Bentley Rosella E01 well site.

Anti-gas protestors have vowed to again descend on Bentley.

Rosella is located on the 280 hectare native pasture property, "Disputed Plains", owned by Limousin breeders Rob and Shirley Graham and their son Peter.

The Grahams said the previous protests were an ordeal and warned they would prosecute trespassers.

Not only were they subjected to continual bullying and threats - which included protesters saying they "know where your grandchildren go to school" - but their day-to-day farming activities were severely restrained.

"For four months we couldn't get cattle in or out," Peter Graham said.

Fences were knocked down and holes with piping were dug which were used to padlock protestors to the site. A shed was also graffitied and a car concreted in a gateway.

A security fence had to be erected around the house on the property, which is not occupied, to protect it from thieves and vandals.

"Horses from tick-infested properties were also brought in for a protest ride, with no thought to the consequences of spreading serious livestock diseases," Mr Graham said.

"Many times we called police or the council to move people off our property."

Metgasco's licence suspension came amid intense public scrutiny, two days before Metgasco was due to drill.

As many as 2000 protestors had assembled at the Bentley site and speculation was rife that up to 800 police were to be sent to break the blockade before drilling kicked-off.

The Grahams run 400 breeders, including stud animals under the Silky Oak Limousin name, and signed a contract with Metgasco three years ago to allow gas exploration at an old quarry site on their property, about 100m from the road.

The exploration operation will run for six weeks, 24 hours a day.

They said they've received support from the Northern Rivers community, even those who oppose the gas industry, who believe protests should not harrass or prevent farm work.

"At the end of the day, this is a legal operation and those who oppose it can have their voice heard just as well by staging a protest in town, without stopping us farming," Mr Graham said.

Politicians of all persuasions are looking to distance themselves from the rancour surrounding Metgasco's Bentley gas project.

Clarence MP Christopher Gulaptis, whose electorate covers Bentley, said the issue needed to be put to bed sooner rather than later.

He said the first plan of attack (against the Supreme Court's ruling) would be to explore grounds for an appeal, on which the government was working.

"We can't have a community in conflict and under enormous stress and it's more than just the farming sector," Mr Gulaptis said.

There was clear consensus by the North Coast community in opposing coal seam gas, he said.

"It is imperative governments and consent agencies look at the triple bottom line when assessing these proposals and that includes environment, economic and social aspects. It is clear there have been negative impacts socially that have been overlooked."

The Greens have anticipated heated protests. Greens upper house member Jeremy Buckingham wrote to the Police Minister requesting the Police Force "respect the right of citizens to peacefully protest matters that they care deeply about".

"While NSW Police is there to enforce the law, it should not be used as a private security force for a company against the broad community," he said.

Members of the Greens will go to the Bentley protest site today to launch a Bill to ban gas extraction in NSW and to allow the Minister to cancel gas production licenses without compensation, in the public interest.

The party pledged to introduce the Bill on Tuesday, May 5 as their first act in the new parliament.

"There was a lot of rhetoric during the election campaign over which party would protect land and water from coal seam gas. Now we will see just who is genuine about stopping coal seam gas, and who was just bluffing voters. This bill will sort the wheat from the chaff."

Finding the right balance at Bentley

THE gas industry and primary production can co-exist and farmers on the North Coast should not be denied the opportunity to access alternative income sources, say the farmers at the centre of the Bentley Metgasco drama.

Father and son Rob and Peter Graham (pictured) own a beef enterprise where drilling for gas is due to resume now the state government's suspension has been overturned.

They entered into a contract with energy company Metgasco because they saw it as an opportunity for additional revenue.

"Farmers should have the chance to cover some of their fixed costs with money not available to them through the normal marketing of their product - let's face it, cattle prices have only been good for a few months," Peter Graham said.

"Farming and gas production does work elsewhere - Queensland and Camden are examples.

"We see it as extracting a product that is needed, without affecting the ability of the land to be farmed."