<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/DTDs/Podcast-1.0.dtd" version="2.0">
	<channel>
		
		<title>News from the Lock the Gate Alliance Inc.</title>
		<description>News from the Lock the Gate Alliance Inc.</description>
		<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/</link>
		<copyright>Lock the Gate Alliance Inc.</copyright>
		<lastBuildDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 02:57 +1100</lastBuildDate>
		<language>en</language>
		
		<item>
			<title>Lock the Gate calls for communities&#39; right to veto mining in SRLUP submission</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Lock the Gate Alliance submission to the NSW Government&#39;s Strategic Regional Land Use Policy has called for communities to be given a veto right over exploration, mining and gas production in their regions. 

Recommendation 8 of 12 in the submission reads: "Introduce a process to enable local communities to be able to say no to mining and petroleum exploration or production in their areas.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8042</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:56 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8042</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Lock the Gate Alliance Inc.]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Dart&#39;s Energy announces they will not drill in St Peters: Community group Stop CSG Sydney remains cynical.</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Stop CSG Sydney welcomes the ASX announcement today that Dart Energy will not drill in St Peters. However after 18 months of dealing with Dart Energy they remain cynical and will not abandon their campaign until the well is completely off the table.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8041</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 16:49 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8041</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Jacinta Green]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Coal seam gas plans for St Peters never had permission to go ahead</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Residents of St Peters have been shocked to discover the company that planned to drill for coal seam gas in their community never had a formal land access agreement with the owners of the proposed site.

This news comes just days after Marrickville Council voted unanimously to prohibit CSG on the site in question as a condition of the council issued development renewal. The St Peters site is owned by Dial A Dump and is home to a waste and recycling facility. The decision made by Marrickville Council on Tuesday 8 May permits Dial A Dump to continue operations provided it does not allow any CSG activity on the site.]]></description>
			<link>http://www.kateausburn.com/2012/05/09/csg-in-st-peters-never-had-permission-to-go-ahead/</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 12:33 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8040</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Kate Ausburn]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Marrickville Council unanimously backs residents in a big win effectively banning Coal Seam Gas from St Peters.</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Marrickville Councillors backed residents campaigning against coal seam gas in the inner city tonight when they voted unanimously to support a new condition on agreeing to the development application of a waste recycling business - to prohibit coal seam gas mining.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8039</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 09:57 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8039</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Jacinta Green]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Inner City Council votes	 to LOCK THE GATE - A huge win as inner city anti-coal seam gas campaigners gets unanimous support from local council to Lock the Gate on Coal Seam Gas.</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Stop CSG Sydney, one of many community groups part of the Lock The Gate Alliance, had a monumental win in the anti coal seam gas campaign last night. Marrickville Council voted unanimously to make approval of a Development Application conditional on no Coal Seam Gas development taking place on approved site.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8038</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 09:50 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8038</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Jacinta Green]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>NSW SRLUP Submission extended to 14th May</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Submissions to the NSW Strategic Regional Land Use Plans has been extended to the 14th of May.

Please get your submission in and encourage friends and family to do likewise]]></description>
			<link>http://haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/regionallanduse</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 14:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8037</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Lock the Gate Alliance Inc.]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>LEARD FOREST NEXT BIG BATTLEGROUND IN MINING FIGHT</title>
			<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8035</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 06 May 2012 08:49 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8035</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Lock the Gate Alliance Inc.]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Report confirms Coal Seam Gas a risk</title>
			<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8034</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 08:21 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8034</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Lock the Gate Alliance Inc.]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>New South Wales parliamentary inquiry shows Queensland the way on coal seam gas</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The New South Wales upper house inquiry into coal seam gas is set to issue a report today recommending the NSW government should cease issuing production licences for coal seam gas production until a &#39;&#39;comprehensive framework&#39;&#39; for regulating the industry is developed.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8033</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 14:21 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8033</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Government warned: Don&#39;t try to divide farmers and environmentalists</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Lock the Gate Alliance has warned the New South Wales Coalition that it risks losing the support of much of the rural vote it received at the last election if it continued to pursue its current policies on mining and coal seam gas.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8031</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:54 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8031</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Bellata (Home to world famous Bellata Gold Pasta) withdraws social licence for CSG, Hartcher must do the same, or will be seen as supporting CSG Worst Practice</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Bellata, Gurley, Terry Hie Hie farmers withdraw social licence from Leichhardt Resources: Hartcher must now withdraw government licence

The Bellata Gurley Action Group Against Gas (BGAGAG) has lodged a submission to the Director General (DG) of Trade &amp; Investment objecting to the renewal of PEL470 held by Leichhardt Resources Pty Ltd.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8030</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:25 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8030</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Penny Blatchford]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>The vast antique Pilliga Forest</title>
			<description><![CDATA[When word went out to environment groups, students and regional media that another Coal Seam Gas tour of Australia&#39;s most threatened semi-arid forest was on, the response was wide and enthusiastic. Last Friday in front of the National Park&#39;s Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre in Barradine, a large group from all ages and walks of life, gathered for the tour. Coming from Queensland to ACT and points in between, the group assembled to find out more about the Pilliga Forest and the threat of coal seam gas. Inside the discovery centre at Barradine, displays show the diversity of wildlife to be found in this vast antique forest.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8029</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:29 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8029</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Jacinta Green]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Lock the Gate Alliance call its members to action on 1 May</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Lock the Gate President Drew Hutton calls on all supporters to Rally against the Government&#39;s weak Land Use Plans on 1 May @ Martin Place Sydney]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8027</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:07 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8027</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Justin Field]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Lock the Gate warns CSG committee to back moratorium</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Lock the Gate Alliance President Drew Hutton has warned Shooters and Fishers Party MP and Coal Seam Gas Inquiry chair Robert Brown that he risks a backlash from the bush if the inquiry report does not recommend a moratorium on coal seam gas exploration and production in NSW.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8026</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:39 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8026</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Good science and balanced development must guide new LNP government in Queensland</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Lock the Gate Alliance today congratulated Queensland Premier Campbell Newman whose government yesterday ruled out approving the Acland and Felton coal mines on the state&#39;s Darling Downs and called on him to make science and balanced development the key themes of his term of office.

Lock the Gate president, Drew Hutton, said it was obvious Mr Campbell was going to make quick and decisive changes to the way things worked in Queensland and he was hoping Lock the Gate could work with the new government instead of going to war with it, as they had to do with the previous Labor government.

"Mr Newman has made a good start. The Acland and Felton projects should never get approval because they are on good agricultural land and in closely settled areas. Such places are not suitable for high-impact mining," Mr Hutton said.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8025</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:09 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8025</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Hutton condemns Palmer&#39;s &#39;mischievous&#39; defamation</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Lock the Gate Alliance president, Drew Hutton, responded with disgust to today&#39;s news that mining magnate, Clive Palmer, had made his defamatory comments about him to distract the media from negative stories about the LNP.

"Clive Palmer has simply made any defamation case against him more winnable because his comments were made knowing they were wrong and for mischievous, opportunistic reasons," Mr Hutton said.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8024</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:35 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8024</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Labor punished for selling state assets: Newman must learn the lesson</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Lock the Gate Alliance president, Drew Hutton, congratulated Campbell Newman on his election victory last night and welcomed his statement that he would govern for all Queenslanders.

Mr Hutton said the LNP should learn from the mistakes of the Bligh government which had been rightly punished by the voters.

"Anna Bligh&#39;s complete failure to appreciate the traditional nature of Queensland politics and the widespread belief that state assets should not be flogged off because the government can&#39;t balance the books led to the almost complete obliteration of the Labor Party in the Queensland Parliament," Mr Hutton said.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8023</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Mar 2012 11:33 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8023</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Lock the Gate welcomes Labor&#39;s plans to protect Bimblebox</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Lock the Gate Alliance welcome the overnight announcement by the Queensland ALP to protect nature refuges from mining, including the Bimblebox refuge near Alpha.

Alliance president, Drew Hutton, said this was a major concession by Labor and he called on the Liberal National Party to match the promise.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8022</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:37 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8022</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Media: Alliance locks the gate on Saxon Drilling</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Lock the Gate Alliance will begin blockading a training camp for coal seam gas drilling at Wellcamp on the outskirts of Toowoomba starting at 3 p.m. today.

The address for the blockade is Lot 31 Cecil Plains Road. The training camp is run by Saxon Drilling.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8021</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:40 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8021</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Media: Coal seam gas tenements in Brisbane suburbs</title>
			<description><![CDATA[A large coal seam gas exploration permit has been granted over a large part of Brisbane&#39;s western suburbs.

The permit, known as EPP641 is owned by BNG Pty Ltd which is a subsidiary of the large CSG company, Arrow which is, in turn, owned 50-50 by the multi-national corporations, PetroChina and Shell.

Suburbs of Brisbane covered by the EPP include Moggill, Pullenvale, Karana Downs and Brookfield and the tenement comes within a kilometre or so of the Kenmore shopping centre.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8020</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:13 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8020</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>LNP promises to protect nature refuges from mining in response to Lock the Gate questionnaire</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The LNP has agreed to refuse to allow mining in areas of high conservation value such as nature refuges in a response to the Lock the Gate Alliance&#39;s policy questionnaire.

This puts the LNP on a collision course with mining magnate, Clive Palmer, whose Waratah Coal project planned to obliterate the Bimblebox nature refuge, near Alpha in the Galilee Basin. 
The LNP also promised to protect from mining the eastern Darling Downs, the Golden Triangle in central Queensland and the Scenic Rim, south of Brisbane, although they received only a disappointing 5 out of 20 on the Lock the Gate scorecard.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8019</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8019</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>NSW Government&#39;s commitment to &#39;Community Consultation&#39; under a dark cloud as Petroleum Exploration licences for the Riverina are announced in the middle of the flood crisis.</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The new &#39;community consultation guidelines&#39; do not apply until after the exploration licences is granted, leaving flooded farmers in Urana locked out of the the process]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8016</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:13 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8016</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Jacinta Green]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Media: Lee Kernaghan to open and close Food Security Forum</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Australian country music singer and songwriter and 2008 Australian of the Year, Lee Kernaghan will open and close next Monday&#39;s Food Security Forum at the Brisbane Convention.

Mr Kernaghan, who feels passionately about the destruction being caused to the Australian bush by coal and coal seam gas, will sing some of the songs that have made him a household name in this country.

The Food Security Forum will be hosted by radio broadcaster, Alan Jones, and will feature four intelligent and courageous women farmers on the front line of the conflict with the resources sector in Queensland. These women are Ruth Armstrong, a cotton and grain irrigation farmer from Cecil Plains, Tanya Plant, a farmer who lives next door to the Acland coal mine, Katie Lloyd, a cattle farmer from Chinchilla who has had to live for several years with over 20 gas wells on her property, and Debbi Orr from the Tara residential estate who is forced to live next to a QGC gas field. All women are also mothers with small children.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8015</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:33 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8015</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Media: Fight goes on as Government fails on coal and gas promises</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Lock The Gate Alliance has described the Strategic Regional Land Use Plans and Aquifer Interference Policy released today by the NSW Government as just more broken promises and said the fight will continue to prevent coal and gas mining from wrecking NSW.

"The NSW Government has broken its promises to put some decent controls on coal and gas mining and instead chosen to literally sell the farm to coal and gas companies. 

"The community will not be deceived by the spin and rhetoric around this announcement by the NSW Government but will now redouble the fight against coal and gas mining in NSW.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8014</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:15 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8014</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Bligh government&#39;s &#39;green corridor&#39; plan mostly a sham: Lock the Gate</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Lock the Gate Alliance believes the only new and substantial environmental protections emerging from yesterday&#39;s &#39;green corridor&#39; announcement by Premier, Anna Bligh, is for the far western rivers.

Everything else would seem to be recycling old projects and staying well clear of any mining tenements.

Lock the Gate Alliance president, Drew Hutton, said the biggest spin was contained in sections 3 and 4 of the Premier&#39;s four-section plan.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8013</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:34 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8013</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Lock the Gate calls for action against coal seam gas polluter</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Lock the Gate Alliance is calling on the New South Wales government to take action against the directors of the coal seam gas company, Eastern Star Gas, in the aftermath of a report by its new owner, Santos.

Lock the Gate Alliance president, Drew Hutton, said former deputy-prime minister, John Anderson, and the other directors of ESG should be held accountable for the 20 environmental incidents relating to waste management problems, over-clearing of bushland at up to 39 well sites, kangaroo deaths in water ponds, and high levels of salt in water discharged into creeks.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8012</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/8012</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Report details CSG environmental failings</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Coal seam gas (CSG) explorer Santos has issued a damning report on the environmental record of its predecessor in the Pilliga State Forest, Eastern Star Gas.

Santos says environmental incidents were not reported to authorities and the treatment plant for contaminated water suffered multiple leaks and incidents.

It says it is going to spend $20 million upgrading Eastern Star&#39;s sites and equipment.

However, Santos&#39; vice-president in eastern Australia, James Baulderstone, says test results indicate there are no health or ecological risks.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wXC5Pb</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:56 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8011</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[ABC News]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>New CSG well drilled in Sydney water catchment</title>
			<description><![CDATA[On February 20, Proactive Investors Australia (and other industry journals) reported that drilling started on a coal seam gas (CSG) well in the Illawarra Coal Measures in the Burragorang region.

The well - Apex Burragorang DDH1 - is in the Warragamba catchment. It is being drilled under an agreement between Apex Energy and Ormil Energy.

Stop CSG Illawarra spokesperson Jess Moore said: "We are horrified to hear that drilling has started. This is step one of a project that risks the drinking water of people supplied by Warragamba Dam,]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wxHZnb</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8010</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Green Left Weekly]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Santos feels heat on tests</title>
			<description><![CDATA[SANTOS admitted yesterday a NSW gas company it recently bought failed basic reporting practices for weekly water testing, in another blow to the environmental credentials of the fast-growing coal seam gas industry.
The energy giant said it had identified "improper reporting practices" within Eastern Star Gas. It bought the company three months ago for $730 million to bolster its gas reserves, The Australian Financial Review reports.

The company has pledged to spend $20 million upgrading Eastern Star&#39;s site, equipment and processes in the protected Pilliga East State Conservation Area after it found the "reporting culture and many of its operational practices fell short of the standards the NSW government and community should be able to expect".

Santos has previously disclosed three contaminated water spills from operations formerly owned by Eastern Star.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/ziNxaA</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:49 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8009</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[The Land]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>News Interview: John Anderson, former chairman, Eastern Star Gas</title>
			<description><![CDATA[In this extended interview with ABC News reporter, Catherine Clifford, Mullaley farmer and former chairman of Eastern Star Gas, John Anderson, says claims by environmentalists of toxicity and damage in the Pilliga state Forest have been wildly exaggerated. He says he has always had a strong commitment to the environment and when he was a Minister in the Howard government he did everything he could to protect water. John Anderson says many of the allegations levelled against Eastern Star Gas&#39;s conduct do not take into account the reporting requirements set down in the company&#39;s licence conditions.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/xZ8xpe</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:14 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8008</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Catherine Clifford (ABC)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>News Interview: Carmel Flint, Northern Inland Council for the Environment</title>
			<description><![CDATA[In this extended interview with ABC News reporter, Catherine Clifford, Carmel Flint from the Northern Inland Council for the Environment defends independent test results conducted by the Council in the Pilliga State Forest. She says Santos&#39; report into Eastern Star Gas&#39; activity in PEL238 does not tell the full story about heavy metals. Ms Flint goes on to say the NSW government has failed to properly investigate the problems with coal seam gas in the area, allowing Santos to fill the void with information that should be independently verified by a transparent inquiry. She says the NSW government&#39;s secrecy is absurd.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wXYxyR</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:24 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8007</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Catherine Clifford (ABC)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Prior operator polluted Pilliga coal seam site, says Santos</title>
			<description><![CDATA[THE coal seam gas company Santos has admitted more than a dozen instances of pollution occurred at drilling sites in the Pilliga woodland in north-west NSW, many of them not reported to the government in an apparent breach of environmental monitoring rules.

A damning report released by the company found that the site&#39;s previous operator, Eastern Star Gas, had made serial breaches of environmental rules in contradiction of many of its public statements about environmental protection.

It identified 16 spills or leaks of contaminated water in addition to the four it had already acknowledged, and recorded work practices riddled with errors and casual mistakes.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/AsbeU0</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8006</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Ben Cubby, Saffron Howden (SMH)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Gas pond approval in murky waters</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Northern Rivers Lock the Gate Alliance has accused Metgasco of operating holding ponds that contain &#39;produced water&#39; (water that is extracted in the process of coal seam gas mining) without consent authority from Richmond Valley Council.

Lock the Gate spokesperson Boudicca Cerese said the ponds at Piora Quarry in Casino contain potentially toxic drilling fluids and that Metgasco had shown a "complete disregard for the laws governing development in this state."

She said documents obtained under the Government Information Public Access (GIPA) legislation and a Richmond Valley Council business paper showed that of the two ponds being operated at the quarry by Metgasco, one was constructed without ever obtaining an approval and the other&#39;s development consent expired in September 2010.

Ms Cerese went on to say that the ponds were entirely self-regulated by Metgasco, with no requirement for monitoring overflows, leaks or water quality.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/znzw7F</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8005</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Andy Parkes (Northern Rivers Echo)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Fight against gas</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Former dairy farmer Robert Morton was reared on the original Rock valley property where the Rosehill Buttery was established in 1875. He talks about those halcyon days when butter and cheese was transported to Lismore by bullock and shipped down the river far and wide, some of it finding its way to the halls of Parliament House.

"And that&#39;s where we&#39;ll end up if something&#39;s not done about coal seam gas," he says. "We don&#39;t want foreign greed to take over our basic needs - clean air and uncontaminated water. I love the land... and there&#39;s no way CSG can live in harmony with agriculture. I&#39;m really concerned about the overriding of farmers&#39; rights to their own land that&#39;s been owned and passed down for generations."]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zf06Yf</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8004</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Terra Sword (Northern Rivers Echo)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Santos operations report &#39;a horror movie&#39;</title>
			<description><![CDATA[A REPORT by coal seam gas mining company Santos about its operations in the Pilliga East State Forest reads like "an environmental horror movie", green groups say. 
After buying Eastern Star Gas in November last year, Santos carried out a review of its drilling operation in northwest New South Wales.

In a report to the NSW Government, Santos said there had been more than a dozen instances of pollution, including leaks and spills, many of which were not reported.

Lock The Gate Alliance president Drew Hutton said the report showed there was a need for a full moratorium on CSG "or Barry O&#39;Farrell can expect all sorts of trouble in the years ahead".

The report pointed to toxic spills of produced coal seam gas water, excessive clearing of precious bushland and salt-laden water discharged into creeks.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/ysmmmt</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:35 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8003</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[AAP via Courier Mail]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Doubt cast over parties&#39; CSG efforts</title>
			<description><![CDATA[A landholder advocate on southern Queensland&#39;s Western Downs says he does not expect either of the major parties to do much to rein in the power of mining companies.

Dalby lawyer Peter Shannon has represented landholders in disputes with coal and coal seam gas (CSG) companies. 

He says the state Labor Government is too close to the resources industry to act independently if environmental interests are threatened.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wceYLH</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:35 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8002</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Sam Burgess (ABC)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Setback for CSG: Santos</title>
			<description><![CDATA[THE coal-seam gas industry&#39;s campaign to win over farmers and environmentalists has suffered an inside blow. 

Claims from Santos revealed yesterday show one operator regularly ignored spills, was not open with its partners and potentially cleared land without approvals, The Australian reports.

The gas giant made the claims about Eastern Star Gas, its operating partner in the Pilliga State Forest, in a report to the NSW government yesterday.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wOLeg7</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8001</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Weekly Times Now]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Santos to upgrade Pilliga Forest CSG project</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Mining giant Santos says it will scale back CSG operations at the Pilliga State Forest while it spends $20 million to improve its facilities]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zsx6iZ</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:16 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/8000</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[ABC The Business]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>CSG needs more research</title>
			<description><![CDATA[IT&#39;S all very well for you to editorialise in favour of coal-seam gas and the economic benefits to be gained ("Don&#39;t lock the gate on CSG", 22/2). But what benefits would accrue in the long term if it turns out that CSG mining ruins the land, poisons underground and surface water, and degrades productive soils? 
I&#39;ve read somewhere that CSG will last for 100 years. What happens then? More to the point, this damage is being done now. That means pastures and water supplies are potentially already being damaged thereby adversely affecting agricultural production.

Without more research, we can&#39;t be sure that CSG mining is not destroying the land. The profits look wonderful, but let&#39;s not be blinded by dollar signs. Future generations will still have to eat.

M. Fielding, Toowoomba, Qld

YOU report the head of exploration of French energy giant Total as being a great supporter of CSG ("We&#39;ve got CSG &#39;totally wrong&#39; ", 22/2).

It should be noted that the French banned gas extraction by fracking in France in June last year. It should also be noted that in October, it was reported the French government planned to revoke a shale permit held by Total because of concerns about fracking.

 ...Paul Tooker, Gladstone, Qld]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/ADlj6B</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7999</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Comments in The Australian]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Silver lining in Eastern Star clouds (PayGate)</title>
			<description><![CDATA[DESPITE the outcry by green groups, there is good news in the bad news from Santos that its $720 million November acquisition, Eastern Star Gas, had an "unacceptable culture" in the way it went about its coal-seam gas business inside NSW&#39;s Pilliga State Forest.
The bad news was bad all right, with Eastern Star said by its new owner to have had a culture of accepting spills and water-handling shortcomings that caused elevated salt levels and plant dieback. Then there was an apparent avoidance of reporting mishaps and the clearing of land without prior approvals.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wJIuN0</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7998</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Barry Fitzgerald (The Australian)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Council no vote on mine project</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Gloucester Shire Council has voted to write to Gloucester Resources Limited (GRL) officially objecting to their application to develop a mine in the shire.
GRL has lodged an application for Director Generals requirements with the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure to develop a mine known as the Rocky Hill Coal Project off McKinley&#39;s Lane.

In a mayoral minute to last week&#39;s council meeting Mayor Geoff Slack said he believed the company had taken that step because "of the pressure that this council has placed upon the NSW State Government requesting refusal for exploration licences held by the company."]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wQnrMD</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7997</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Gloucester Advocate]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Council support for priority status for Gloucester in study</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Gloucester Shire Council has thrown its support behind a bid by Independent Member for Lyne Rob Oakeshott for a scientific study to be undertaken on the impact of coal seam gas mining on the Gloucester Valley&#39;s water resources.
Mr Oakeshott, along with Independent Member for New England Tony Windsor secured tighter regulation of coal seam gas mining during neogitaiotns last November on the mining tax, and has written to Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke, requesting priority research status for Gloucester.

Councillors voted to support Mr Oakeshott&#39;s request, and will advise the Premier and the relevant government departments of their support.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/AdB5VM</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7996</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Gloucester Advocate]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Work begins on CSG test well</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Apex Energy has started work to sink a new test coal seam gas (CSG) well in the Illawarra.

Associated company Ormil Energy informed the stock market on Monday the Apex Burragorang well will be drilled to a depth of 560 metres.

The well will not be fracked.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wm2ZMm</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:27 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7995</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[ABC News]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>How to mend Queensland&#39;s CSG divide</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Three little words strike fear into the heart of at least 40 per cent of Queenslanders: coal seam gas. These three seemingly innocuous words have managed to divide a state, and become the hottest topic in the Queensland election.

A poll published by The Australian earlier this week articulated what many have been thinking: 40 per cent of Queenslanders don&#39;t support coal seam gas extraction (while 33 per cent do).

As for the rest... the jury is still out with the remaining 27 per cent. Should even half of those decide they&#39;re not in favour then the majority of the Queensland population won&#39;t support the extraction of CSG.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/AwwWYH</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:47 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7994</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Tina Hunter (The Conversation via Climate Spectator)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Wollongong council to back Stop CSG community conference</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Stop CSG Illawarra will host a community conference on March 25 to discuss the impacts of the coal seam gas industry and the campaign to halt it in New South Wales. Wollongong&#39;s Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery will open the conference, and Wollongong City Council has agreed to waive all fees for the use of the city&#39;s Town Hall on the day.

Wollongong City Councilors have been generally supportive of the community campaign. In October last year it voted unanimously to urge the NSW government to ban CSG mining in the region&#39;s water catchments.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/xe7agj</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7993</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Chris Williams (Green Left Weekly)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Don&#39;t lock the gate on CSG [too fracking late]</title>
			<description><![CDATA[SOMETHING is badly amiss when Queensland bushies embrace Green Left Weekly, and the opposite ends of the political fringe, the Greens and Bob Katter&#39;s Australian Party, find a common cause. 

[What a sham(e) you can&#39;t leave a comment]]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zmvuMX</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7992</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[The UnAustralian (and they'll probably charge you to read it)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Many Australians have got coal-seam gas &#39;totally wrong&#39; [one French fracker certainly has]</title>
			<description><![CDATA[FRANCE banned Fracking and this frackwit is aiming at our farmers for revenge.

Yves-Louis Darricarrere, vice-president of Total E&P, says the local industry has not done a good job is selling coal-seam gas to the public Source: The Australian 

THE head of exploration at French energy giant Total has called on the Australian oil and gas industry to better promote the benefits of coal-seam gas development, saying the issue has become mired in confusion and misinformation.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/x3niyP</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7991</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Andrew Burrell (The UnAustralian)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>NuCoal strikes $76m deal for Hunter Valley project</title>
			<description><![CDATA[SHARES in the troubled explorer NuCoal Resources jumped 12 per cent yesterday on news it would issue shares worth $76 million to buy the Plashett Coal Project in the Hunter Valley from private producer the Bloomfield Group.

The Plashett project is an exploration target strategically near NuCoal&#39;s Doyles Creek and Dellworth projects.

To fund the Plashett acquisition, initially NuCoal will issue 35 million shares worth $10.5 million, or 30¢ each. In the second and third tranches, an unspecified number of shares, worth $29.25 million and $36.25 million, will be issued once the coal resources are proved up. Assuming a constant 30¢ share price across the three tranches, NuCoal will issue about 253 million shares to Bloomfield, representing about 28 per cent of the company.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/ApcguW</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7990</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Paddy Manning (Business Day)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Town says no to coal mine</title>
			<description><![CDATA[ROSEWOOD residents won&#39;t stand for a new mine in the heart of their town 10 years after they got rid of it, its council representative says.

Councillor David Pahlke yesterday reaffirmed his council&#39;s opposition to the renewal of a mineral development licence (MDL) in Rosewood.

Cr Pahlke said MDL357, opposite Rosewood High School, was the subject of a court case 10 years ago.

"There&#39;s no way the town would stand for mining right next to the school," he said.

"We can accept the Oakleigh mine, because it&#39;s only got a couple of years left. But the other one has been sitting there for 10 years. It&#39;s time for it to be extinguished. Everyone went through this 10 years ago.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wEVY6R</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7989</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Peter Foley (Queensland Times)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Odd alliance of protesters</title>
			<description><![CDATA[THE threat of arrest did little to deter hundreds of protestors who marched on the Acland mine coal dump and rail loading facility in Jondaryan.

Radio personality Alan Jones and federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter were among the more than 300 protestors who marched on the site with the intention of blockading it in opposition to a stage three application to expand production at the Acland mine.

About 50 police were on hand to maintain order and direct traffic.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zMcswb</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7988</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Tim Braban (Toowoomba Chronicle)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>(Audio) Protests against mines continue</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Queensland is one of Australia&#39;s resource rich states - but should the mining dollar come at the cost of agriculture?

The latest protest is against the expansion of a mine near Jondaryan.

Steve spoke to Bruce Denney from New Hope Coal.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wozloa</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:26 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7987</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Steve Austin (612 ABC Brisbane)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>POLL: CSG industry rejects negative polling</title>
			<description><![CDATA[How do you feel about coal seam gas extraction in Queensland?

The oil and gas industry&#39;s peak body has dismissed the latest Newspoll survey showing the majority of Queenslanders fail to support coal seam gas extraction.

Forty per cent of voters said they were not in favour of the coal seam gas industry, while 27 per cent remain uncommitted to the issue, the Newspoll published in The Australian newspaper yesterday showed.

The survey revealed just 30 per cent of Queenslanders were in favour of the sector.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/yE4o2Z</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:21 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7986</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Marissa Calligeros (Brisbane Times)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Climate Spectator: A CSG conundrum</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The overwhelmingly important issue in assessing our response to coal seam gas - and similar unconventional gas sources such as shale gas - is the impact of CSG development on climate change.

There are, of course, a lot of problems associated with drilling, extraction, transport and so on, but the same is true of other fossil fuels, not to mention renewables like wind, which have attracted a fair bit of community opposition in some places.

The climate change question raises two issues, neither of which can be easily resolved.

First, what is the global warming potential of CSG, and how does it compare to conventional natural gas?

Second, what&#39;s the relationship between CSG and the broad campaign to stabilise the global climate?]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/A2jLpG</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:12 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7985</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[John Quiggin (Business Spectator)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Jones, Katter and The Greens join forces to shut down mining facility</title>
			<description><![CDATA[An unlikely alliance of protestors led by Bob Katter, Alan Jones and The Greens has upped its campaign against mining companies acquiring valuable farmland by blockading a coal-loading facility in Queensland.

Jones, a passionate opponent of coal seam gas expansion, teamed up yesterday with Katter and the Lock The Gate organiser and co-founder of the Australian Greens, Drew Hutton, to protest the expansion of New Hope Coal in Jondaryan west of Brisbane.

Jones, who was No. 2 on our Media Megaphones power list and No. 8 on our Sydney list, said LNP opposition leader Campbell Newman had indicated to him that they would stop expansion in the area.

"There is only 4.1% of Queensland which is prime agricultural land," Jones told the assembled crowd according to the Australian Financial Review. "All we are saying in the interest of food security and water is quarantine the 4%."

Katter&#39;s fellow Australia Party leader Aidan McLindon said his party would enact a moratorium on coal seam gas drilling and would protect farmland from mining giants.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/x66Aha</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7984</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[The Power Index]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Hundreds rally, march against coalmine at Jondaryan</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Several hundred people rallied and marched at Jondaryan, west of Toowoomba, on February 20 to protest moves by New Hope Coal to expand its coalmine at nearby Acland.

Speakers at the rally were from an unusual range of backgrounds, including radio shock jock Alan Jones, maverick federal MP Bob Katter, Greens Senator Larissa Waters and local farmers. Lock the Gate Alliance president Drew Hutton chaired the rally.

Residents, including local landowner Tanya Plant, say they are concerned that the noise and dust from the New Hope coalmine is affecting the health of their children. She told the January 28 Australian, "It has been worrying to have one of our children coughing a lot for months. We are concerned about those really small particles, as well as things like heavy metals."]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/xqMpUE</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7983</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Jim McIlroy (Green Left Weekly)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Room for better publicity on CSG</title>
			<description><![CDATA[THE coal-seam gas industry has admitted it could be better at self-promotion, in the wake of a Newspoll that reveals community support for the sector is floundering. 
Rick Wilkinson, from the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, said the survey showed CSG was not "top of mind" for Queenslanders but conceded there was room for improvement in the industry&#39;s public relations.

"There are always opportunities to communicate better and explain the benefits of the industry," he said. "It&#39;s extremely important; we cannot have an industry without community support."

The Newspoll, published in The Australian, revealed that 33 per cent of voters were personally in favour of CSG extraction in Queensland, 40 per cent were against and 27 per cent were undecided.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zrNsAu</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7982</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Sarah Elks and Rosanne Barrett (The Australian)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Unlikely allies wave their banners high</title>
			<description><![CDATA[THESE are strange times indeed when Bob Katter kisses a Greens senator. 
But yesterday in 39C heat at Jondaryan on the Darling Downs, they were only a part of one of the oddest collections of political interests ever to share the back of a truck.

Alan Jones did his Sydney radio show yesterday morning then flew up to the area where he was born; Mr Katter and his Katter Australian Party were there in their big red bus, the Katmobile; Greens senator Larissa Waters was there; even the Socialist Alliance, albeit with signs in the crowd rather than on the stage.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/x81FkL</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7981</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Andrew Fraser (The Australian)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Bligh links fracking to schools: critics</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Premier Anna Bligh wants to spruce up the image of an unpopular and controversial gas industry by linking it to the future of Queensland&#39;s children, critics say.

Ms Bligh on Monday announced her Mines to Minds plan would use billions in royalties from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry for an education trust.

From 2015, a $4000 scholarship would be provided to every Year 12 student who goes on to undertake further education or training.

The multibillion-dollar gas industry in Queensland processes coal seam gas (CSG) into LNG.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/ADA8vV</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:09 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7980</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Petrina Berry (AAP via Nine News)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Protestors blockade New Hope</title>
			<description><![CDATA[According to Alan Jones, yesterday was a "day of national shame".

The radio personality stood up alongside environmentalist Drew Hutton, Federal MP Bob Katter and Greens senator Larissa Waters at a Lock the Gate rally in Jondaryan protesting the possible approval of the Stage 3 expansion of the New Acland mine.

Several hundred protestors turned out at the rally before marching to the coal dump entrance and setting up a blockade.

Radio personality Alan Jones spoke to the protestors, and said that coal and coal seam gas mining would affect food security.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/yA5r3c</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7979</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Gen Kennedy (Toowoomba Chronicle)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Katter&#39;s party joins anti-mine protesters</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Queensland politicians and conservationists have teamed up to protest against a coal mine expansion, saying they want to stop mining companies from destroying valuable farmland.

Katter&#39;s Australian Party leaders Bob Katter and Aidan McLindon on Monday teamed with radio identity Alan Jones and Australian Greens senator Larissa Waters to rally against New Hope Coal&#39;s expansion towards the town of Jondaryan, west of Brisbane.

While only about 300 people live there, Mr McLindon said a planned stage-three expansion of the mine site would destroy prime farming land in the area.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/yFY3Ko</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:06 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7978</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Nathan Paull (AAP via Nine News)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Camden region coal seam gas capital</title>
			<description><![CDATA[THE Camden region is fast becoming known as Australia&#39;s coal seam gas capital.

The area has the highest number of gas wells in NSW, Primary Industries Department data shows.

Within 20km of Camden&#39;s CBD, there are 73 coal seam gas production wells and 83 exploration wells.

The wells are present in many suburbs including Spring Farm, Currans Hill, Narellan and Menangle Park.

Coal seam gas is a natural gas mostly made up of methane and produces about 40 per cent less greenhouse gas than coal when burnt.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/xTBKGJ</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:53 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7977</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Tahnae Goldsworthy (Macarthur Chronicle)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>LNP government will fix CSG &#39;mess&#39;, Campbell Newman says [and everyone else rolls their eyes]</title>
			<description><![CDATA[CONCERNS over Queensland&#39;s multi-billion dollar CSG industry demonstrate the need for a Liberal National Party government to "sort out the mess," according to Campbell Newman. 
As anti-mining protests continue in Queensland, a Newspoll conducted exclusively for The Australian has found only 33 per cent of respondents in favour of Coal Seam Gas industry development and 40 per cent opposed, something the LNP leader seized on today.

"Clearly that&#39;s not good enough and it reflects that Labor have created a mess," Mr Newman said while campaigning in Brisbane.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/yO6yJ6</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:54 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7976</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Jared Owens and Rosanne Barrett (The Australian)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Mining industry&#39;s big lie</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Sector&#39;s PR machine fails to mention how the rising dollar and wages are driving manufacturing jobs overseas

The New York Times recently asked its online readers a simple question: should the newspaper check the claims made by politicians before it reports them? The response was a torrent of bemused hostility. What, the readers wanted to know, did the newspaper think its job was?

Much has been written in recent years about the difficulty that the media seems to have sorting fact from fiction and distinguishing balance from barracking but the mining industry provides a clear example of the difficulties that all our media seem to have dealing with - an industry that spends more on public relations than some industries spend on research and development.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zGngch</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7975</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Dr Richard Denniss (Canberra Times)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Who Owns The Drip? The answer will surprise you</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Neighbours to Moolarben Coal feel Mid-Western residents would be shocked to learn "The Drip" is owned by the mine.
Local landholders and operators of the Goulburn River Stone Cottages, Colin and Julia Imrie, said the "privatisation" of the regional tourist icon had sparked outcry among local residents.

"Most people think The Drip is part of the Goulburn River National Park, but it isn&#39;t," the couple said. 

"The area containing The Drip and Corner Gorges was crown land but we found out recently - to our astonishment - that the lease was converted to freehold sometime last year to Moolarben Coal. 

"The Drip has effectively been privatised and [is now] in foreign ownership."

Moolarben Coal responded to the couple&#39;s comments on Friday. A company spokesman said planning documents on public exhibition make clear there is no mining activity planned for The Drip or lands adjacent to it.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wu484H</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:03 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7974</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Darren Snyder (Mudgee Guardian)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Koalas in fight to stop mining</title>
			<description><![CDATA[ONE of Australia&#39;s richest people is setting up a koala sanctuary on Ipswich&#39;s doorstep, partly as another step in stopping mining in the area.

Graham "Skroo" Turner, who owns Spicers Hidden Vale at Grandchester among a swag of resorts under the Spicers banner, is passionately anti-mining in the Ipswich region.

In an ironic twist, while the State Government is helping him set up the sanctuary, he is opposing them in the battle to stop mining.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wC0rf3</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7973</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Peter Foley (Tweed Daily News)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>(Audio) Mining on farmland will be a key Qld election issue</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The mining versus agriculture debate is expected to be one of the hottest topics for rural Queensland during the state election campaign.

And on just the second day of the official five week campaign, a rally is being staged on the Darling Downs, protesting against a nearby coal mine.

It&#39;s been a long running debate in the bush, the struggle between farmers and miners for land, which sees Queensland&#39;s booming resources sector pitted against primary producers.

Today there&#39;s up to 100 people rallying near Jondaryan, a town west of Toowoomba on the Warrego Highway which is close to the Acland Coal Mine.

Rally organiser from the Lock the Gate Alliance Drew Hutton says he&#39;s concerned about an expansion of the mine known as stage three.

"It&#39;s going to got to a four million tonne a year mine, which is a medium sized mine to over ten million tonnes per year."]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/z4yLIE</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:10 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7972</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Arlie Felton-Taylor (ABC Rural)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Carbon price doesn&#39;t deter coal exploration</title>
			<description><![CDATA[THE impending carbon price has done nothing to deter investment in the coal industry, with spending on exploration surging faster than any other mineral commodity.

Coal exploration spending in Australia rose by 62 per cent last financial year as the industry dominated corporate activity in terms of inbound investment and mergers and acquisitions.


Investment in searches for new coal deposits reached $520 million, pushing it closer to rivalling iron ore and gold - both of which also grew significantly on the back of record-high commodity prices.


The data, published by the government agency Geoscience Australia, undermines the claim by the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, that the carbon tax would be the death of the coal industry.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zYXyeL</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7971</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Peter Ker and Adam Morton (SMH Via The Land)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Majority in Qld opposed to coal seam gas</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The majority of Queenslanders are either opposed to coal seam gas extraction or are undecided about it, according to the latest Newspoll.

Forty per cent of voters said they were not in favour of the industry, while 27 per cent remain uncommitted to the issue, the Newspoll published in The Australian newspaper shows.

Among those opposed to coal seam gas there was no obvious trend in political party preference, with Labor and LNP voters opposing it almost equally.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/ymZND9</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:29 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7970</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Bigpond News]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Labor to blame for low CSG support: Newman</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Queensland is divided on coal seam gas mining because of the government&#39;s handling of the industry, Liberal National Party (LNP) leader Campbell Newman claims.

A Newspoll published in The Australian newspaper on Monday showed only 33 per cent of Queenslanders were in favour of coal seam gas.

Mr Newman takes a different message from the poll.

"A third were against it, a third were in support of it and a third were undecided," he told reporters in Brisbane on Monday.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/Abm6bf</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:59 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7969</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[AAP via Nine News]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Behind the Seams: why coal seam gas is central to Qld election</title>
			<description><![CDATA[In formally initiating the Queensland election campaign by asking Governor Penelope Wensley to dissolve parliament yesterday, Premier Anna Bligh remarked that Queensland campaigns are usually characterised by wild cards. They&#39;re also a wild ride.

This election campaign will be no different, and coal seam gas will be one of the most interesting of many intriguing and important issues.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/ztF3UW</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7967</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Mark Bahnisch (Crikey)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>The pink surfboard conundrum: calculating risk v a social licence to operate</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Coal seam gas issue presents a wicked problem. Wicked problems are hard to define, have competing values and cannot be definitively solved. For wicked risks, perceptions are just as important as the risks themselves.

So when a wicked risk becomes a hot political issue how do you know whether you&#39;re being reliably informed or being sold a pink surfboard?

Recently, Ben Cubby reported in the Sydney Morning Herald on the public relations challenges discussed at an industry conference:]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/xLsnB2</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7966</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Professor Roger Jones (Crikey)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Quiggin: don&#39;t write off CSG if you&#39;re worried about climate change</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The overwhelmingly important issue in assessing our response to coal seam gas (CSG) and similar unconventional gas sources such as shale gas is the impact of CSG development on climate change.

There are, of course, a lot of problems associated with drilling, extraction, transport and so on, but the same is true of other fossil fuels, not to mention renewables like wind, which have attracted a fair bit of community opposition in some places.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/A42w6e</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7965</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Professor John Quiggin (Crikey)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>The precautionary principle v the fierce urgency of now</title>
			<description><![CDATA[In discussions of the coal seam gas issue, the precautionary principle is regularly invoked as a reason to abandon or delay the development of the industry. But what is the precautionary principle? And how does it apply to the issues surrounding the development of coal seam gas?

A deceptively simple principle

It is common to refer to "the" precautionary principle. However, there is no such beast - at least, there is no single, consensus wording of the precautionary principle. It is an idea that has evolved over time, and found written expression in different ways. While those one-sentence statements of the principle seem clear enough on first reading, using it as a practical decision-making tool is, as is often the case, far less straightforward.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wfWFvh</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7964</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Dr Robert Merkel (Crikey)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Land use and CSG: what rights do property owners have?</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Coal seam gas activities in Queensland and NSW have created scenes of confusion, conflict, and sometimes, chaos. At the heart of much of this conflict has been land?-?in particular whether a landholder has the right to refuse coal seam gas companies&#39; access to the access to land when the company wants to explore for coal seam gas, or produce the gas from a landowner&#39;s property.

Such conflict has given rise to the creation of a number of community groups that seek to limit the access of the companies. Such notable organisations include the Caroona Coal Action Group and Lock the Gate.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/AleuNr</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7963</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Dr Tina Hunter (Crikey)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Industry group rejects CSG survey findings</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) has dismissed a survey that found just 30 per cent of Queenslanders support the coal seam gas (CSG) sector.

A Newspoll for the Australian newspaper has found 40 per cent oppose CSG development, while another 30 per cent are undecided.

APPEA spokesman Rick Wilkinson says Queenslanders are not overly concerned by CSG extraction.

He says it ranked seventh out of eight top of mind issues in the lead-up to the state election.

"If we were on a popular cooking show on television, seven out eight would have had us thrown off the program," he said.

"While we&#39;re always concerned to make sure that we communicate as best as possible, this says that it doesn&#39;t rate in the top five of the concerns of voters."

Mr Wilkinson say the CSG sector has an image problem.

He says the industry needs to do more to self-promotion.

"We should do a much better job in that area," he said.

"I think we can&#39;t over-communicate - have the conversation with communities to make sure that they understand what we want to do. 

"Also that we understand what their concerns are so that we can address them."]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/yxkV0w</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:47 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7962</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Andree Withey (ABC Wide Bay)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>(Audio) CSG protests move to Toowoomba</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Coal Seam Gas is shaping up to to be one of the big issues of this campaign.

Steve spoke to anti-CSG campaigner Drew Hutton.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/y9Mi1z</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:01 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7961</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Steve Austin (612 ABC Brisbane)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Lock the Gate to shut down Acland coal dump</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Lock the Gate movement will be shutting down the coal loading facility of New Hope Coal&#39;s Acland mine tomorrow (Monday 20 February).

The Lock the Gate Alliance is planning to march on the Acland mine coal dump situated at the edge of the Jondaryan township. This facility has been accused by Jondaryan residents of polluting their town and causing serious health problems.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/7960</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:32 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/7960</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Support for CSG collapses: Newspoll</title>
			<description><![CDATA[PUBLIC confidence in coal-seam gas development has collapsed in the sector&#39;s production heartland of Queensland. 

It is where two-thirds of voters oppose the $60 billion industry or are undecided about it, far outnumbering its supporters.


An exclusive Newspoll for The Australian, gauging the top-of-mind issues for voters as campaigning gets under way for the March 24 state election, found only 33 per cent of respondents were in favour of CSG development. Of these, 11 per cent were strongly in favour. 

However, 40 per cent of voters were against the industry, with the remaining 27 per cent undecided, Newspoll found.

Health and the economy remain the priority for Queensland voters. Crucially, the Liberal National Party is perceived to be the better economic manager by 47 per cent of voters, against 28 per cent for Anna Bligh&#39;s Labor government.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wyy6Ie</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7959</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Weekly Times Now]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>CSG industry spin can&#39;t change the dirty facts</title>
			<description><![CDATA[In September last year, the coal seam gas (CSG) industry launched a multimillion dollar advertising campaign called "We want CSG". It is sponsored by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) - the peak national body for oil and gas exploration - which represents companies such as Shell, Santos, Origin Energy, British Gas, AGL, PetroChina and ConocoPhillips.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zEUBcJ</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7958</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Jess Moore (Green Left Weekly)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Mayor recommends stand against CSG</title>
			<description><![CDATA[THE Clarence Valley Council will take a public stand against coal seam gas mining if Mayor Richie Williamson gets his way at tomorrow&#39;s meeting.

The mayor has recommended that the CVC "as a matter of social responsibility and in the long-term sustainability interests of the environment and the community, does not support or endorse coal seam gas activities within the Clarence Valley area".]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/xjupde</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7957</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Ross Kendall (Clarence Valley Daily Examiner)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Newman flags free rein to the mining industry</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Cambell Newman&#39;s criticisms of the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) have sent a shiver down the spine of every Queensland landowner who would like this department to keep closer control of the mining industry.

Mr Newman is quoted as saying he believes the environmental regulator is full of "green extremists" and needs to learn what its true function is.]]></description>
			<link>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/7956</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:43 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/media/display/7956</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Drew Hutton]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>CSG industry &#39;failing to get point across&#39;</title>
			<description><![CDATA[MULTINATIONAL companies developing $70 billion of liquefied natural gas projects using coal-seam gas in Queensland have failed to properly explain the benefits to the nation, according to the man known as the pioneer of the industry in Australia. 
In his first public comments on the battle between farmers and the companies working to turn coal-seam gas into LNG, former Santos chief executive John Ellice-Flint said the rapid pace of development meant the industry had "not put enough effort" into informing the public debate.

He said a more informed scientific debate on the process was urgently needed and called on farmers and the industry to get together to resolve their differences -- to prevent politicians imposing ill-conceived regulation.

"The best thing landowners and the industry can do is get together, and politicians should not bring in rules and regulations that have unintended consequences for all parties," Mr Ellice-Flint told The Weekend Australian.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/xoP6yc</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7955</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Damon Kitney (The Australian)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>CSG overhaul threatens miners</title>
			<description><![CDATA[A PLAN to prioritise environmental assessments of coal and coal seam gas projects in parts of Queensland and NSW could hurt Santos, Arrow Energy, BHP Billiton and Shenhua.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard phoned premiers this week and urged them to sign up to a new approvals process for coal and CSG projects and for measuring their impact on a region&#39;s water resources, The Australian Financial Review reports.

The NSW Minister for Resources and Energy, Chris Hartcher, said NSW had concerns about the plan.

"We would not support any approach that would create delay, duplication or uncertainty in our planning approval process," he said.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/A61joM</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:13 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7954</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[The Land]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Prime Minister has Manning letter about coal seam gas mining</title>
			<description><![CDATA[THE coal-seam gas concerns of Manning and Gloucester residents have been raised directly with the Prime Minister of Australia and referred to the recently established Interim Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining. 


Member for Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott hand-delivered a comprehensive letter from the Manning Alliance to the Prime Minister this week, which outlined the potential threat from coal-seam gas (CSG) mining to the environment, water catchments and food production. 



Mr Oakeshott said the Prime Minister understood the local community&#39;s concerns about the potential impacts of CSG and coal mining, and had referred his request for the catchment to be identified as a research priority area to the Expert Scientific Committee.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/wYV3Os</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7953</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Manning River Times]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Govt asked to step on gas over CSG chemical assessments</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The National Farmers Federation has raised concerns about the use of chemicals by Coal Seam Gas companies on agricultural properties and the consequences for landholders who have to sign vendor declarations guaranteeing the clean health status of their livestock.

The national farming body has asked the Federal Government to step on the gas over chemical assessments and to pump greater resources into helping the national chemical assessment regulator to assess the new chemicals being introduced to farms by gas companies.

Industrial chemicals used in the CSG industry were fast becoming a legal issue for farmers who had statutory requirements to sign vendor declaration forms for livestock and other commodities produced on their land.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/w8b5yL</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7952</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[James Nason (Beef Central)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Residents urged to take stand</title>
			<description><![CDATA[IT WAS almost a full house when the Southern Downs Protection Group held its mining forum on Wednesday night.

Five insightful speakers took the microphone, each sharing their research and experiences about mining. They urged the audience to take a stand against mining in the Southern Downs.

Lock the Gate Alliance president Drew Hutton said there were 20 open cut mines earmarked for Warwick.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/ws4qiA</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7951</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Warwick Daily News]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Group fights coal proposal</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Maitland environmentalists have joined forces with their Hunter counterparts to pass a resolution rejecting a proposed fourth coal terminal.
A small group of Maitland residents attended the Paddock to Port public forum in Newcastle on Wednesday night with the group calling on the NSW and Federal governments to reject the coal terminal and associated mine expansions in the Hunter.

"We are confident that people have been encouraged to become more involved in this issue by lodging submissions of objection when the project is released for public comment," forum organiser Bev Smiles said.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zLA6Kk</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7950</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Maitland Mercury]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>(Video) Council considers mining gains</title>
			<description><![CDATA[Tamworth Regional Council has met with coal seam gas giant Santos to discuss the economic benefits of mining developments in the region.
The council says the industry would boost city finances - but has assured residents no deals will be made without considering all potential impacts.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/xBaHho</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7949</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Simone Cameron (NBN News)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Activists drill vigilance message over coal seam gas</title>
			<description><![CDATA[COAL seam gas activists have called on inner west residents to be vigilant, saying a St Peters site remains vulnerable to drilling.

Stop CSG Sydney spokeswoman Jacinta Green said Dart Energy&#39;s licence for drilling in Sydney had expired but the company was renegotiating with the state government for renewal.

Ms Green said the licence had expired last October.

A spokesman for Dart Energy said the renewal of the licence PEL 463 that covers part of Sydney was being decided by the department.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/AmbnDR</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7948</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Deborah FitzGerald (Inner West Courier)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Green light for coal seam gas</title>
			<description><![CDATA[MINING companies have received the green light to drill for coal seam gas in more than 100 sites around Sydney including the inner city.

A NewsLocal investigation has pinpointed 114 coal seam gas exploration wells in Sydney where digging has already taken place, including a 1251m shaft off Military Rd, Port Botany, and 800m deep wells at Debnam Court. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Comment below.

There are 73 coal seam gas production wells within 20km of Camden according to Department of Primary Industries data, including sites at Spring Farm, Currans Hill and outside Rosemeadow.

In the same 20km radius there are another 83 exploration wells where mining companies are approved to search for coal seam gas.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zkku0P</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7947</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Tyron Butson (Inner West Courier)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Murky water testing angers</title>
			<description><![CDATA[IT looks dirty and unappetising, but Glenda Mather is more worried about what we can&#39;t see.

Holding a glass of pre-treated Fitzroy River water, the outspoken councillor muses on what it contains.

"The State has effectively given mines and coal-seam gas companies a permit to pollute," she says.

"Who knows what metals and chemicals have washed downstream."]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zAEMZf</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7946</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Adrian Taylor (Rockhampton Morning Bulletin)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Park calls on govt to sign CSG Agreement</title>
			<description><![CDATA[KEIRA MP Ryan Park is urging the NSW Government to follow Queensland&#39;s lead and sign up to the National Coal Seam Gas Agreement that aims to strengthen regulation in the industry.

"I have always said that coal seam gas is a significant issue for our local area," Mr Park said. "I have written to the NSW Minister for Energy, calling on the NSW Liberal Government to sign up to the National Partnership Agreement and get scientific advice before they give out any more permits for the exploration of this gas."

He said it was time to stop playing the "blame game" and have a sensible discussion about the issue.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zOW6pM</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7945</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Northern Exposure (Northern Illawarra News & Events)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Farmer steps up for election</title>
			<description><![CDATA[DUNCAN McInnes is preparing to fight for Division 6 at the upcoming local government election in the Scenic Rim.

Mr McInnes has spent his life working on the family farm and raising four children with his wife Mary.

He has also represented his industry locally, nationally and internationally.

He is a supporter of sustainable agricultural practices and is passionate about supporting primary production by tackling issues such as coal seam gas head-on.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/yFtXVD</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7944</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Ipswich Advertiser]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Moray sale heightens &#39;two-speed economy&#39; claims</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The reported $110 million sale of a Central Queensland grazing property to an Indian coal miner this week has highlighted the growing concern over the &#39;two-speed&#39; economy emerging in parts of northern Australia, in the face of rampant mining development. 

High-profile cattleman Graeme Acton and his brother Evan have reportedly sold their choice 122,000 hectare Clermont district property Moray Downs to Indian mining billionaire, Gautam Adani, for its vast coal deposits.

Moray is said to include about one-third of the entire coal deposits in the Galilee Basin.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/xNfWAL</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7943</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Jon Condon (Beef Central)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Hunter community takes stand against new coal terminal</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The Hunter Community Environment Centre released the statement below on February 16.

The Paddock to Port public forum held on February 15 in Newcastle was attended by over 150 people. They unanimously passed a resolution to reject the proposed fourth coal terminal for Newcastle.

"The meeting resolved to call on the NSW and federal governments to reject the fourth coal terminal and associated mine expansions in the Hunter on the grounds of cumulative impacts on health, biodiversity, farmland, other industries and the Hunter River," said forum organiser, Bev Smiles.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/y854X0</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7942</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Green Left Weekly]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>(Audio) Big price could set precedent for rural land</title>
			<description><![CDATA[A grazier has confirmed an Indian mining and energy company has paid $120 million for his 125,000 hectare cattle property in central Queensland.

Evan Acton&#39;s business bought Moray Downs for just $7 million in 1990.

Now Adani plans to build a new town, roads, railway and port facility and mine 60 million tonnes of coal per year for export.

Mr Acton says the deal sets a benchmark for other Indian and Chinese companies looking for coal.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/yewRL0</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7941</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Neroli Roocke (ABC Rural)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Former Santos boss John Ellice-Flint heats up Blue Energy</title>
			<description><![CDATA[JOHN Ellice-Flint is planning a return to the petroleum industry in the coal seam gas sector he helped pioneer. 
Mr Ellice-Flint will join Blue Energy, subject to shareholder approval, as an executive director charged with growing the company&#39;s resource base in Queensland.

While managing director of Santos from December 2000 to March 2008 Mr Ellice-Flint was the driver behind the development of the company&#39;s eastern states coal seam gas portfolio, which now underpins its plans to build a liquefied natural gas plant at Gladstone on the Queensland coast.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/zDlnwh</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:18 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7940</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Cameron England (AdelaideNow)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Opposing property sale for coal mine &#39;a lost cause&#39;</title>
			<description><![CDATA[The landowner who sold his central Queensland property to make way for the state&#39;s biggest coal mine says he did not have a choice.

Evan Acton has agreed to sell his Moray Downs cattle station, north of Emerald, for around $110 million. 

The station has been in Mr Acton&#39;s family for around 20 years. 

The property spans more than 300,000 acres, with a third of the land sitting directly above a massive coal deposit. 

Indian mining giant Adani Group began negotiating to buy the land from Mr Acton two years ago.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/AuQlUT</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:36 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7939</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[David Lewis and Paul Robinson (ABC Tropical North)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Wyong mine tensions mount</title>
			<description><![CDATA[TENSIONS are rising between Wyong Shire Council and Kores, the Korean-owned company proposing the Wallarah 2 underground coal mine near Wyong.
Council last week voted to invite Kores officials to the table for a briefing on the mining proposal, with mayor Bob Graham saying he was "miffed" by the lack of communication from the company.

On Thursday, Cr Graham told ABC Central Coast Radio that he and fellow councillors "were dead set against mining" under the Central Coast water catchment.

Wallarah 2 general manager Kerry Heywood told the radio station the upcoming meeting with the councillors had been "precipitated by" Kores.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/xItR2D</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7938</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[David Stewart (Lakes Mail)]]></author>
		</item>
		
		<item>
			<title>Coal expands at Taroom</title>
			<description><![CDATA[COCKATOO Coal will open an office at Taroom this month to keep the community informed on their coal mine project.

A spokeswoman for Cockatoo Coal said it was close to finalising a lease agreement on a building and, once it was fitted out, it should be ready for opening early next month.

"We currently have a project office in Miles which employs 11 people and we will have two people manning our new office in Taroom."

Cockatoo Coal plans to establish a coal mine 7km southeast of the Taroom township.]]></description>
			<link>http://bit.ly/AyMQ2N</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00 +1100</pubDate>
			<guid>http://lockthegate.org.au/news/display/7937</guid>
			<author><![CDATA[Gladstone Observer]]></author>
		</item>
		
	</channel>
</rss>
