‘Disappointed’: Lismore council snubs community to remove historic anti-CSG entrance to Lismore signs

Heartfelt community pleas from residents and councillors who fought to keep their region gas field free fell on deaf ears during a loud and tense extraordinary meeting of Lismore council.

Heartfelt community pleas from residents and councillors who fought to keep their region gas field free fell on deaf ears during a loud and tense extraordinary meeting of Lismore council on Thursday.

In a motion put to council by councillor Big Rob and seconded by councillor Andrew Bing in council’s ordinary December meeting, it was resolved that council remove all CSG and nuclear-free zone signs and replace them with place welcome signs once budget allocation has been determined.

Councillors Battista, Bing, Gordon, Jensen, Krieg and Rob voted for the removal on December 10 while councillors Dalton-Earls, Guise, Knight-Smith and Waters opposed it.

Four council-owned signs in total have been earmarked for removal at entrance locations to Lismore.

Gas field free signage in the Lismore LGA will be removed after the motion was passed in an extraordinary meeting of Lismore council on Thursday December 19.

Chants of “save our signs” and “stop being in contempt of the community” were chorused outside Lismore council chambers by about 100 locals brandishing placards and banners.

The signs, at the entrances to Lismore, were erected following a historic Electoral Commission poll in 2012- when 87 per cent of the Lismore LGA voted against coal seam gas (CSG).

Meg Nielsen told a packed chambers the signs stood as an “important tribute” and they needed to stay in place to honour those who fought back 1000 gas wells that they claimed would pollute the region’s relied upon water supply.

Ms Nielsen said it was a “mammoth task” fighting gas mining messaging due to the government having no independent or science-backed information based on the dangers of fracking.

Mayor Steve Krieg interrupted proceedings to quell loud clapping from inside and outside chambers saying he would close the meeting if the ruckus continued.

Gas field Free Northern Rivers held a protest outside and inside Lismore council at their extraordinary meeting on Thursday to fight for the retention of numerous symbolic signs that marked the defeat of coal seam gas fracking in the Northern Rivers.

Educator and academic Aidan Ricketts said history mattered and these events created community unity like the city’s war memorials.

He said it would be a “tragedy” for the next generation not knowing what the signs were about.

Ruth Rosenhek spoke on behalf of Gasfield Free Northern Rivers Annie Kia, saying the gas field/CSG free signs in Lismore and beyond were a commemoration of an extraordinary grassroots democracy process and a united effort by people of every political affiliation.

“In addition to the official Electoral Commission poll commemorated by the “87 per cent voted No to CSG” signs outside Lismore, a total of 23 community surveys were done in the Lismore City Council area (part of a total of 147 in the Northern Rivers as a whole),” she said.

“The results were overwhelming, with a large majority voting for Lismore and surrounds to remain Gasfield/CSG Free.

Gas field Free Northern Rivers historic community survey data in the Lismore City Council area.

Cr Adam Guise said “numerous events” over a period of time won the victory for a gas field free northern rivers.

“Great grassroots democracy, door knocking, asking to see who wanted to live in a gas field free movement across all political spectrums,” he said.

Cr Guise said it delivered “profound results” and council should “fly that with pride in achieving that exercise in democracy”.

“We should be proud we stood together caring for the land we live in and that’s why we should keep our signs, “ he said.

Mr Krieg said the issue was not about turning Lismore into a gas field rather it was about modifying signage to welcome people to Lismore.

He said everyone had an opinion on what the signs represent but “we want uniform, modern, fresh signage”.

Cr Guise told chambers it was “disappointing” councillors voting to get rid of the signs refused to give reasons to the public forum but took it the floor with five other councillors voting in the same fashion.

“We want to know why you’re making these decisions,” Cr Guise said.

It was followed by a loud cry of “erasure” came from outside followed by Cr Rob yelling “see ya”.

Gas field Free Northern Rivers held a protest outside and inside Lismore council at their extraordinary meeting on Thursday to fight for the retention of numerous symbolic signs that marked the defeat of coal seam gas fracking in the Northern Rivers.

Councillors voting to remove the signs were Krieg, Rob, Gordon, Bing, Hall, and Battista while councillors Dalton-Earls, Guise, Waters, and Knight-Smith voted to keep them.

Loud booing from outside chambers was heard after the motion was defeated.

A man sitting in the gallery pointed at Cr Krieg saying: “You should be there for the community Mr Krieg.”

Cr Rob interjected and told the man to leave, then “get out”.

Councillors who voted to keep the signs said the decision was “very disappointing”.

Cr Knight-Smith said she received around 60 emails from people supporting the rescission motion.

“ … they represent a massive fight in our community from both sides of politics.

“A rail trail through a gas field would not be ideal,” Ms Knight-Smith said.

She said the signs represented the fight from the community and also a warning that the community had said no to coal seam gas.

Cr Dalton-Earls said he was hopeful councillors would change their minds considering the overwhelming community support to keep the signs.

“They are a welcoming part of our history and should be preserved. I’ve brought it up with the GM the signs cannot be discarded to landfill,” Mr Dalton-Earls said.