COAL seam gas (CSG) opponents have received council approval to set up a protest camp on private property adjacent to AGL’s Waukivory exploration project in Gloucester.
Gloucester Council granted approval for a 200 person campsite on a private property on Jacks Road this week, subject to conditions.
Protesters will have to raise $26,000 to cover council costs before they can occupy the site, while the timeframe and size of the protest camp has been capped.
A council business paper detailing the approval policy states: “NSW Police raised several concerns with the proposal.
“It is recommended that council approve the application but limit the length of operation of the campsite to a maximum period of six months."
Council stated the majority of the submissions were favour of the proposed development and generally based on supporting the rights of people in the community for lawful protest against CSG.
The submissions opposed to the development note their support of the gas industry and argue against people from outside the community needing to come here to have their say, council said.
CSG opponent Groundswell Gloucester backed the protest camp and called for public support to meet the bond payment.
“Everybody deserves the chance to peacefully object to bad laws and bad decisions and the camp allows ordinary people who cannot afford motels to do this,” Groundswell president Julie Lyford said.
“Groundswell (a not for profit organisation) cannot just write this cheque. We are asking 1000 Australians to show their support for Gloucester and our cause by donating $26 each to our camp fund.”
A statement from AGL said it supports the right to peaceful protest and acknowledged “that there are some people who will always be opposed to coal seam gas".
“There are also locals who support the work we are doing to secure energy supplies for the people of NSW.”
In May, the protest camp at Bentley opposing Metgasco’s coal attracted about 2000 people, sparking warnings that police would be called in to disperse the throng which had assembled on private land. However, protesters left voluntarily after Metgasco's drilling licence was suspended by the NSW government.