Coffs Harbour Nannas join Lismore Nannas at the Knitting Nannas Against Gas exhibition at the Lismore Library… and other news from NSW Nanna loops.
Lismore Knitting Nannas Against Gas (KNAG)
KNAG Exhibition
Lismore public library’s KNAG exhibition for Youth Week is on from 10 April for six weeks.
Nannas curated the exhibition, which reflects the evolution of the Nannalution and our unique response to issues affecting our communities. It gives a glimpse into a whole lotta needling going on over 14 years. It includes some objects that were gifted to Nannas with love, and the work of photographers now passed, and others gloriously ever present who have supported us.
Julie and Chris from Coffs attended the KNAG exhibition with Nannas Judi and Meryl. The exhibition has resulted in a boost to Nanna numbers for KNAG. Coffs Nannas were delighted to spend time in Lismore, reminiscing about the Pilliga protests and the Kitchen Table shenanigans in Canberra in 2024. They also heard about the many other actions undertaken over the last 12 years. KNAG have a proud history of Nanna activism and were the first such disorganisation to be formed.
Waste disposal
KNAG oppose Lismore Council’s plan to dispose of garbage into an old quarry site. Council is planning to accept waste from as far away as Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast. Our big concern is that contaminated runoff will drain into the Wilson and Richmond Rivers.
Acland ANZAC Day Service
Nannas attended the ANZAC Day service at Acland, as they have been doing for many years. In 2008, the new coal mine operators bought up almost all the properties in Acland to expand the mine onto site of the town. Only one resident remains in Acland, but there is always a good turnout for ANZAC Day.
Coffs Harbour Loop
Great Koala National Park (GKNP)
Coffs Nannas continue their work to bring an end to native forest logging. The GKNP has still not been declared by the government, and Forestry continue to carve off small areas of forests for logging, particularly areas adjacent to logging roads.
Compartments 4-5-6 of Pine Creek State Forest are now being clear felled as these compartments are designated ‘plantation’. Compartment 14 was logged about 18 months ago. These compartments are close or adjacent to the wildlife corridor known as the Forest Bridge. The corridor allows koalas and other wildlife to move between the low elevation Bongil Bongil National Park to higher elevation Bindarri National Park.
The Pine Creek Forest Bridge is not being logged at present. However, it is still listed for future logging on the NSW Planning portal.
Other matters in which Coffs Nannas are engaged
- We oppose local government support for plans to develop the Jetty Foreshore for private, multi-storey, and high-end housing on sand dunes. The former Council offered a land swap—2 parcels of land close to services which would have been ideal for desperately needed low cost and public housing. The state government declined this offer. This was in spite of a referendum conducted by the Electoral Commission in which 68.9% of rate payers voted against the Jetty development. This is a case of developers winning over the will of the local community through a deal between the NSW Labor government and the local council, now dominated by the National Party.
- Coffs Nannas visited the KNAG exhibition in Lismore on Wednesday 6 May.
- Some of the group meets regularly at Gaza / Lebanon / Iran protests in prominent places at busy times—on the highway and at the Jetty.
Hunter Loop
On Sunday 3 May, Hunter Nannas gathered on Horseshoe Beach for a Rising Tide paddle out in support of Newcastle local, Zack Schofield, and other participants aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla sailing to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid.
Zack, a Rising Tide organiser, was one of six Australian activists imprisoned by the Israel Defence Force when it intercepted and boarded the flotilla. They were later released on the Greek island of Crete. Two of the organisers of the flotilla continue to be held in Israeli detention. There are grave fears for their safety.
Zack’s mother, Joanne Jaworowski, gave a powerful speech at the rally while the police presence was deemed overkill.
The following morning, Nannas joined the snap action to call on Sharon Claydon, Federal Member for Newcastle, to condemn Israel’s actions towards the flotilla and in Gaza, and support flotilla participants.
Three members of the Australian delegation, including Zack, set sail from Greece towards Gaza, days after release from Israel’s illegal detention. They joined seven other Australian humanitarians, who have been sailing with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Illawarra Loop
Illawarra Nannas thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Wollongong May Day march and celebrations. May 1 was selected as International Labour Day by the Second International held at Paris in 1889. The first May Day celebrations in Australia were held at Barcaldine, Queensland on 1 May 1891.
The Illawarra Nannas held a relaxing social afternoon, chatting, drinking tea and singing protest songs to welcome new Nannas who joined the group when they participated in the Green Fest Sustainability Market at Corrimal High School on 29 March.
On Saturday 16 May 11.30am – 12.30pm a rally will be held outside the Wollongong office of Paul Scully, the NSW Minister for Planning. The rally will protest the government’s policy of continuing to expand coal mines. There are now 19 new coal projects in the planning system.
Glouster Loop
Gloucester Nannas meet monthly to discuss issues and engage with the public about concerns and campaigns.
Wednesday 27 May, Nanna Carol will be one of the speakers at Generation Women, ‘Nevertheless, she persisted: Stories of Resistance, Resilience and Revolution’. It’s a 6:30pm for 7pm start at the Beresford, 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills, Sydney. Tickets are $45 or $35 if a member. Event Link
Knitting Nannas for Native Forests – South Coast Loop
‘Big Spotty’ is believed to be the world’s tallest spotted gum (standing at 72 metres) and has a 12-metre circumference. The campaign to save her is in full swing. (About Regional)
Other news from the South Coast
- 15,000ha are listed for logging across the South Coast.
- Citizen science work in Glenbog State Forest has mapped 1000 wombat dens for protection. Critically, these identified sites get no exclusion-zone protection. However, Forestry say they will avoid running machinery over their burrows!
- The citizen scientists have identified 100 greater glider den trees, which means a logging exclusion zone of 50 metres is established around each den tree.
New Nanna
Leanne, a new Nanna from Capertee, combines her love of birds with her textile art by knitting birds. https://songlarkstudio.com/
Ride the Gas Line
Nannas from many loops attended the Behind the Scenes – Ride the Gas Line Zoom on 5 May. Riders, Sally Hunter and Sharyn Stein, told us what people were saying along the pipeline route from the Narrabri Gas Project to the Newcastle gas network.
The good news is:
- since 2014 no new gas wells have been drilled in NSW! That’s a win!
- the coalition of groups opposing the gas project and its pipeline is standing strong,
- two other pipelines from Narrabri to the gas network have already been scratched because of community action,
- the bush telegraph continues to pass new information down the gas line.
Riding horses along the pipeline worked brilliantly for Sharyn, Sally, her husband, Geoff, and their friend Cassie who joined them on some of the ride. It made it easy to reach out to people who otherwise would not have engaged with them. People were comfortable to share information during kitchen conversations with a cuppa.
One landholder, who had not been to any meetings, spoke to them for 45 minutes from his tractor. Another was unaware of the campaign and was very concerned as their business relied upon having a quiet environment for foaling thoroughbreds. The construction of a pipeline would destroy that.
People along the pipeline told of their interactions with Santos—familiar tactics straight from the Santos playbook:
- contractors trying to pass themselves off as fishermen with rods but no tackle,
- Santos vehicles being driven up and down roads to intimidate landholders
- landholders being told the pipeline can easily be moved. A 200m wide corridor for the pipeline was approved in 2009 and to move it, Santos has to lodge an application with the Planning Department. To date no applications have been lodged.
Sharyn and Sally reached a new audience on social media—Facebook and Instagram. The ride coincided with the beginning of the international fuel crisis, and one post got over a million views. They were also featured in rural media and will be featured in the Women’s Weekly soon.
Other information shared in the Zoom:
- the depth of the pipeline is 600cm, but the cracks in the dry black soil go for 1200cm,
- Santos needs to do more surveying to get a pipeline licence—landholders are not giving them access to do the surveys required,
- Penny Sharpe has said that the government does not have the capacity for land acquisitions for the pipeline,
- Santos is releasing a report on a review of all its assets on 26 May,
- 74% of gas usage has a commercially viable alternative.
The horses were faced with obstacles along the way—like railway tracks but “by the time we finished, they were the quietist horses ever”, said Sharyn.
Sharyn and Sally are resolute that they will win.
Wednesday 13 May – High Court Canberra
Community group, Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group (DAMSHEG), will be in the High Court this week to defend their successful appeal against the Mt Pleasant coal mine in the NSW Appeals Court—a landmark decision that sets a precedent for the consideration of fossil fuel emissions. Nannas will be there to support DAMSHEG and their legal team in the High Court’s first-ever climate case.
If DAMSHEG loses this case, Mt Pleasant will become one of Australia’s largest export coal mines. If they win, it may set a precedent that will help protect communities across Australia from coal and gas mining.
Links
The Minns Labor Government will open new areas for gas exploration in Far West NSW for the first time in more than a decade.
Albanese government axes funding for $45 billion Inland Rail project linking Melbourne to Brisbane (ABC News)
Gas companies will be forced to set aside local supply under major Labor shakeup (The Guardian)