In this newsletter: Nanna fun at Customs House, Santos wants the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline approved without going through the usual assessment process, nuclear energy public hearings, forest defenders in court, Sydney koalas report, review of NSW anti-protest laws and more.
Sydney Knitting Nannas made our Christmas video in the Customs House courtyard at Circular Quay on Friday, so watch for a little madness in our Christmas messages, including a new song. We also had a meeting followed by lunch at the pub across the road. A fun day for all!
Thinking of joining the Nannas?
We are excited by the number of new Nannas joining us. Now is a good time to join as we plot what we’ll be up to before the federal election, expected in March or May. There are loops (groups) around the state and a new one being planned in Western NSW. We’re keen to hear from anyone who’d like to join us or to start their own loop. Contact us by phone or email. You don’t have to knit and you don’t have to be a Nanna.
Narrabri Lateral Pipeline – Santos pushing on with the Pilliga gas project
Community groups have denounced Santos’ attempts to avoid water and environmental scrutiny for its Narrabri Lateral Pipeline, part of the Narrabri Gas Project. The long campaign against this project has brought together First Nations people, landholders, the local community, unions, the environment movement and Knitting Nannas. The Knitting Nannas grew out of the fight against coal seam gas, and now there are more reasons than ever to stop it.
Santos argues the pipeline should not be subject to a full assessment of its impacts on water and threatened species. At the same time they have identified 46 threatened species as having “potential to occur” in the area where they plan to clear 30km of the Pilliga forest.
The pipeline cuts through productive farms and is an integral part of the Narrabri Gas Project, which if developed will risk the water of the Great Artesian Basin. The project had a record 22,000 written objections, yet the Independent Planning Commission approved it in 2022.
This is the Santos we’ve come to know – trying to push through a dodgy next step in this controversial development at this time of the year with little time for public comment.
The plan for the pipeline is on the federal environment department’s website. Comments are open until Wednesday 18 December.
Lock the Gate media release here
Wednesday, Thursday 11-12 December – Nuclear Public Hearings
Knitting Nannas will attend the federal government’s Inquiry into Nuclear Power Generation in Australia at both Lithgow and Sydney. Times for these events are still to be published on the website.
Wednesday 11 December – Lithgow & District Workmen’s Club, Millenium Room, 3/7 Tank St, Lithgow.
Thursday 12 December – Sydney – Cliftons Sydney 13/60 Margaret Street.
Monday 16 December – Bulga Forest Defenders in Court
The court hearing for four Bulga Forest Defenders, Jane Watson, Margo Kingston, Jesse Witney and Sydney Nanna Bronwyn Vost will be held in Taree Courthouse next Monday. Bron has 3 charges – locking onto machinery, refusing to leave and being in a reserved area.
Supporters are invited to Taree the day before (Sunday) to have dinner, go spotlighting for gliders, stay overnight and go to the court in the morning. Contact us if you are interested going.
Sydney Koalas
Tuesday 10 December – Campbelltown Council Meeting
6pm – Councillor Cameron McEwan from the Sustainable Australia Party has given notice of a motion for various koala safety measures on Appin Road and a series of letters to ministers and MPs. Two new Greens councillors are expected to back him up and strengthen the motion.
Knitting Nannas from the Campbelltown area will join Save Sydney’s Koalas and supporters at the meeting.
Update from Nanna Jeanette
- After Hawksbury Counsellors voted unanimously for a $70,000 koala plan there is hope that Campbelltown and Wollondilly Councils will do the same.
- 98 koalas were killed in two years in the Hawkesbury.
- In November MP Judy Hannan presented a petition with 22,000 signatures to State Parliament for koala protection in the Macarthur region. The petition was previously presented just before the parliament’s term ended and it wasn’t debated. It is now been brought forward to this term of parliament.
- Nine koalas were hit on Appin Road in 9 days and only one survived.
- The fight for koala corridors, improved fencing, overpasses and underpasses continues. Only one crossing has been started and it filled up with water in recent rains.
- Mallaty Creek must be protected as it is the most direct corridor connecting Nepean and Georges River koala colonies.
- Development is being fast tracked with 70,000 houses being built. Koala protection is not keeping up.
- Sydney University research reveals koalas are under severe stress and genetic diversity is in decline due to fragmentation of population by development destroying natural corridors connecting habitats. The Pacific Highway is a barrier to genetic flow with limited genetic variation east of the highway. Poor genetic diversity leads to the vulnerability of the species as natural variation is not there to allow adaptations to new threats.
- Eleven of the 20 coal mine expansions in NSW planning system would result in another 11,000 acres of koala habitat being cleared if they are approved.
Review of NSW anti protest laws related to the Roads Act
The review document by Transport NSW recommends a stakeholder working group be established to consider the laws, while the next review should take place in three years from now. The Statutory Review Report has been slammed by the Greens, NSW Council for Civil Liberties and others for ignoring community concerns about the draconian nature of the laws. Sydney Criminal Lawyers published an analysis of the review, which did not include the amendments to the Crimes Act made at the same time as the amendments to the Roads Act.
Newcastle Council supports Lord Mayor’s decision on Rising Tide
Sydney Nannas sent letters of support for the Rising Tide blockade to the Newcastle Lord Mayor and all Councillors following media reports that Councillor Pull (Liberal) had condemned the Lord Mayor’s actions in support of Rising Tide. We received some enthusiastic replies in favour of the event.
At their meeting last week Newcastle Councillors supported the Lord Mayor’s actions to support the Rising Tide blockade, with the exception of the two Liberal Councillors. Liberal Councillor Pull’s amendment to the regulations related to the Lord Mayor’s authority to act between Council meetings was accepted. The Lord Mayor will now be required to give councillors 24-hours notice before making decisions on behalf of the council between meetings.
Report from Sweden
Janine from Sweden attended our Friday meeting. She is associated with global movements Fridays for Future, XR and Scientist Rebellion.
Janine told us about a craftivism action earlier this year when many Swedish knitters knitted 1.5m long, 15cm wide red scarves. They were knitted together on a site near the parliament in Stockholm, and rolled into bales for easy carrying. As they weren’t allowed to touch the Parliament building, 1,500 people held the 4km scarf and sang as they walked around the building.
Their next event will be on 22 February. Sydney Nannas won’t be joining in because we already have too much planned. We wish the knitters well and we’ll follow their progress.
Nannas are watching
How Dare You – a reminder from Greta Thunberg and friends
Little Newry – the forest with a big heart. An update from Gumbaynggirr elders, Forest Ecology Network and many more people working every day to save it.
Forthcoming Events