Mayor backs no mining

COAL mine and coal seam gas wells will have no place in the Scenic Rim if mayor John Brent has his way.

Protester John makes his point at Bunjurgen Estate Vineyard yesterday.

MINING will have no place in the Scenic Rim if mayor John Brent has his way.

Cr Brent last week declared that he would attempt to ensure the region remains free from coal mine and coal seam gas wells.

He made the statement against the industry prior to a national day of action against CSG yesterday.

The action included protesters hanging from some of the highest mountains of the Scenic Rim.

According to Cr Brent mining in the Scenic Rim would put at risk the region's agricultural production and a number of protected environments.

He said while the mining industry is an important part of Queensland and Australia's economy he did not believe it was appropriate for it to be based in the Scenic Rim.

"But it's not good economic management to allow mining anywhere without considering the impact on the bigger picture," he said.

"This is not the right area for coal and coal seam gas mining.

"It is not consistent with our region and has the potential to damage our current industries and our local economy."

Despite the protests and comments like Cr Brent's the CSG industry has always maintained its practices are safe.

Dangerous BTEX chemicals used in overseas CSG operations have been banned in Queensland and gas companies have consistently denied their use.

Cr Brent said the people of the Scenic Rim must work together against the expansion of the energy industry into the region.

"We must fight this battle the right way. We have a legitimate argument to make and I'll be making that argument through the proper channels."

Boonah MP Aidan McLindon and his newly adopted Katter's Australia Party announced their CSG policy yesterday, calling for a moratorium on the industry.

"Katter's Australian Party will enact a 12 month moratorium and will give landholders the right to say no. These are concrete elements of our policy," Mr McLindon said.

The party also stated they would declare a number of regions, including the Scenic Rim, as "no go areas" and give landholders the right to stop mining on their land.

Arrow Energy currently hold the rights to CSG in the Scenic Rim with NSW company Metgasco also examining the possibility of a pipeline running from Casino in NSW to Ipswich.

Originally published as Mayor backs no mining