THE BYRON SHIRE
PAGE 18
Volume 25 #44 Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 23,000 copies every week
W R I T E T O YO U R M E M B E R O F PA R L I A M E N T I F N O T E N T E R TA I N I N G
Fracking: are mining companies poisoning local water tables? Ray Moynihan
A rare alliance of farmers and environmentalists looks set to succeed in its push for tougher regulation of the controversial process of fracking, which has recently come to the Northern Rivers, where domestic and foreign-owned companies hold widespread rights to explore for gas. Fracking, or Fracking, involves high pressure pumping of potentially toxic chemicals down wells to fracture rocks and release gas in coal seams or other reserves. It has raised serious concerns through documentaries such as Gasland, and a recent ABC TV Four Corners investigative report. According to its opponents, the process poisons water tables and leaves damaged ecosystems in its wake.
Beating the drums for Japan
The state Minister for North Coast Don Page told The Echo the new government would ‘immediately implement a tougher process, taking a precautionary approach’ which would retrospectively apply to existing exploration licences, and use ‘much greater caution’ in granting new ones. The demand for a moratorium however, being pushed by farmers, environmentalists, The Greens, Rous Water, and the Lock the Gate alliance, appears to remain unmet. There were ‘numbers never seen before at Durrumbul Hall’, say organisers of the Concert for Japan held last Saturday. ‘Over $30,000 was raised for Japan earthquake charities. The people of the rainbow region opened their heart to the people of Japan. Thanks to the artists, volunteers and the Durrumbul community for allowing us to Several gas companies are active host this expression of grassroots community generosity and international solidarity with the people of Japan. in the region, including the foreign Ganbare Nihon!’ Pictured on percussion, Qarsim Alum-zadzh, and didg player Eshua Bolton, who performed the owned Arrow, which has a licence smoking ceremony. Photo ‘Jeff ‘Drumming and Smoking For Any Change’ Dawson
Active local gas mines
to explore, and potentially use fracking, across more than 10, 000 square kilometres from west of the mountains, through Byron and down to
Filming police in public is your right Patrick Gray
Local gas exploration sites as published on www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/ assets/pdf_file/0008/317834/20100205-REF-PEL445-wells-BexHill2,-Geneva4,Keerrongt1,-Peacock2,-Tunglebung1.pdf.
The New South Wales Farmers Federation’s vice-president Fiona Simson told The Echo her group has ‘huge concerns’ about the ‘inexact science’ of fracking, and potential contamination from the chemicals involved, which aren’t registered for use in underground water systems.
gs to do go and thin Places to
Evans Head (see map above). The industry lists 45 chemicals that may be used in fracking, which it argues is ‘tightly regulated and safe’. However the National Toxics Network says only two of the most commonly used chemicals have been ascontinued on page 2
 Byron Police are warning citizens not to film their activities and threatening them with action for interfering in their work, despite such filming being entirely legal. The Echo became aware of the warnings not to film when your correspondent witnessed an altercation between police and a group of local youths in the early hours of a recent weekend. Two officers were overheard telling the group they could not record police on their camera phones unless they had the officers’ permission. When your correspondent indicated this was likely incorrect, his details were recorded and he was told he could face action for ‘interfering in a police investigation.’ However, according to the NSW Police Force’s own media unit, ‘Members of the public have the right to take photographs of or film police officers, and incidents involving police officers, which are observable from
a public space, or from a privately owned place with the consent of the owner [or] occupier.’ NSW Council of Civil Liberties president Cameron Murphy says police intimidation of amateur and even professional photographers is a serious and growing problem. ‘Police fear being filmed when they are acting beyond their powers or being unreasonable or aggressive,’ he told The Echo.
Beyond police’s power ‘We’ve had a number of incidents where police have seized cameras from journalists‌ it’s beyond the police’s power to do that, but we’ve had a number of incidents where this has been reported to us.’ The youths told The Echo they were filming the police because officers had allegedly used heavy-handed tactics and they wished to discourage any further incident. It’s an approach Murphy would like to encourage. ‘I’d hope that citizens that take pic-
tures when they see police acting in a manner that’s unbecoming of a police officer,’ Murphy said. ‘They have to be as accountable as anyone else.’ However, police may be able to use other powers against would-be citizen journalists. ‘Even if the police give you an unlawful direction, if the officer believes it’s lawful, they can arrest you for failing to follow a lawful direction,’ Murphy said. The good news is courts tend to take a dim view of such charges. A Tweed/Byron Local Area Command spokesperson said they were not aware of any of its officers advising members of the public that it is illegal to film police. If any member of the public has concerns or a complaint about officer conduct they should contact the NSW Police Force Customer Assistance Unit on 1800 622 571 between 8am and 4pm. Q See comment page 9
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