A film highlighting the human impacts of a proposed coal seam gas project in the Pilliga Forest will be aired in a free screening at the Dubbo Wesley Hall next week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Pilliga Rising features Coonamble farmer Adam Macrae and Pilliga Pottery founder Maria Rickert, of Coonabarabran.
They join retired farmer and citizen scientist Tony Pickard and Orana Arts’ Paris Norton in the 40-minute documentary, speaking out against the Santos Narrabri Gas Project and its proposal to drill 850 gas wells across 95,000 hectares of Pilliga bush and farmland.
The Narrabri project is the first of seven gas fields planned for the region, extending as close to Dubbo as Tooraweenah in Gilgandra Shire.
Gas Field Free Dubbo Region convener Sally Forsstrom has spoken to hundreds of people outside the Talbragar Street post office, where GFF holds a stall every Wednesday.
She said “farmers came to us in tears” over a proposed pipeline from the gas fields.
She urged people to attend the free screening of Pilliga Rising on Thursday, February 28.
ALSO MAKING NEWS:
“The purpose of this film is to show the social impacts on people that are going to have to live with the gas wells on their doorstep,” Ms Forsstrom said.
“[Tony Pickard’s] property is right next to the 850 coal seam gas wells, so Tony is a farmer that will feel the most direct impact of anybody if that gas field goes ahead.”
She said “most people that are reliant on bore water – and that’s anyone from Dubbo to the Queensland border” did not want drilling for coal seam gas in the Great Artesian Basin.
In August 2018, Dubbo Regional Council resolved not to support CSG exploration in the Dubbo Regional local government area, following a period of community consultation.
“Dubbo is a very connected town,” Ms Forsstrom said.
“People really have concern for others and with the election coming up, this is a chance for local people to ask their candidate what their position is on coal seam gas.”
Commissioned by the Wilderness Society, Pilliga Rising has been produced by award winning production company Balangara Films.
“The coal seam gas issues in the Pilliga forest drill a hole in my heart (pardon the pun),” director Mark Pearce said.
“It’s the people of this region and their unique Australian outback lifestyle that reminds me of humanity’s best qualities.”
“I’m not against mining but it must be done in respect to three key things,” Mr Pickard said.
“It must be done with respect to the environment. It must be done with respect to the rules, laws and regulations of the country or the state and area where you are working. And it must be done with respect to the people in the area where you’re going to operate.
“Those three things are not being respected by Santos in this region.”
Sydney Morning Herald columnist Elizabeth Farrelly said: “Pilliga Rising is a mesmerising, heartbreaking, exhilarating tale of community unified in defence of land and livelihood. See it and see it soon”.
WHERE TO SEE IT
Coonamble Bowling Club: Monday, February 25, 5:30pm
Coonabarabran Flix in the Stix: Tuesday, February 26, 6:30pm
Gilgandra Services Club, Wednesday, February 27, 6:30pm
Dubbo Wesley Hall, Thursday, February 28, 6:30pm
