Arrest as protesters blockade rig

A COAL seam gas blockade near Boonah saw one man arrested and another escape charge after climbing a drilling rig.

A protester on a drilling rig at Silverdale Plains. . Picture: Contributed

A COAL seam gas blockade near Boonah saw one man arrested and another escape charge after climbing a drilling rig.

Close to 20 protesters blockaded the Arrow Energy drill rig in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The protest was organised only hours before the anti-mining activists descended on the drill rig, located in the heart of the Scenic Rim's agricultural heart north of Kalbar.

The drill rig had been collapsed, having been scheduled to be dismantled yesterday, with its test drilling completed.

One protester climbed the drill in the early hours of the morning, but avoided being charged when he came down after being asked by police.

Boonah business owner and blockade participant Heike Mack-Behle said she was concerned the mining industry would hamper the local tourist industry.

"People come here to listen to the birds, not to trucks," she said.

"It's a very big threat to the tourism industry, we will lose our livelihoods."

Bunjergen Estate Vineyard owner David McMaugh said he took part in the protest to protect the region's biggest industries.

"Agriculture, grazing and tourism; they are the three things that keep this place going," he said. "This is an area that's clearly a food bowl, and clearly dependant on water quality.

"That's why we're concerned."

The local protesters were joined by a number from other areas where the coal seam gas industry is developing, with most of them stating they had taken part in the ongoing protest at Kerry, south of Beaudesert.

Arrow Energy vice president exploration Tony Knight said the company was concerned about the recent trend of protesters climbing drill rigs.

"While the community rightly expects the resources industry to operate safely, protestors also need to respect site safety rules," he said. "Climbing on rigs puts themselves, staff and others at risk."

Mr Knight said he was uncertain what the protesters hoped to achieve yesterday.

"The rig finished drilling on Monday and today was moved to work elsewhere.

"It is therefore unclear what the purpose of the protest activity early this morning was."

Originally published as Arrest as protesters blockade rig