Gamilaraay woman, Suellyn Tighe will be casting off in a kayak from Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle this weekend with her mates the Knitting Nannas as part of the Rising Tide People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port.
“As a “freshwater woman” from Coonabarabran I’m not comfortable on saltwater, but I know the Nannas will take care of me cause we’re in the same boat in more ways than one!” she said. Suellyn Tighe has been campaigning against the Santos Pilliga/Narrabri gas project in the Pilliga Forest for over a decade.
Santos is planning to drill 850 gas wells in the Pilliga forest and surrounding farmlands, on Gamilaraay, Gamilaroi and Gomeroi Countries. The Pilliga is a recognised national biodiversity hotspot which provides habitat for critically endangered birds, animals and plants.
Knitting Nannas Against Gas and Greed formed in Lismore in opposition to coal seam gas mining. Many Nannas have visited the Pilliga, the last remaining gas project in NSW, to learn about its impacts on indigenous cultural heritage, water resources, communities and wildlife.
At this year’s blockade Nannas will have an information stall about Santos’ plans to clear a 30m+ wide corridor through the Pilliga forest and productive farmland for the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline to link the Narrabri Gas Project to the Hunter Gas Pipeline.
Without this pipeline the Narrabri Gas Project is not feasible. Nannas and others will provide help with writing and lodging submissions, drawing attention to the proposal’s impacts. For example – the risk of contamination to aquifers and the Great Artesian Basin if a leak or failure occurred during construction or operation of the pipeline.
Suellyn had planned to be in Brisbane this week to hear an appeal to a decision by the National Native Title Tribunal. Earlier this year the Tribunal ruled against Gamilaraay/Gomeroi peoples and granted Santos permission to drill gas wells in the heart of Gomeroi Country. But five days before the appeal Justice Natalie Charlesworth removed herself from the case after her connections to Santos were confirmed.
“As conceded by the tribunal in its decision, these wells will release huge volumes of greenhouse gases,” Suellyn said. “But since this outrageous decision I have received many messages of support. The Rising Tide Blockade is another plank I can tread alongside my Nanna friends to step up the fight and encourage others to join us in protecting country for future generations.”
Contacts:
Eurydice Aroney 0411 817 283 eurydice.aroney@gmail.com
Kathy McKenzie 0408 650 851 kmckmedia@gmail.com
Sydney Knitting Nannas & Friends https://knittingnannas.org/
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