The Gloucester alliance has decided to adopt and participate in Project Blue, which has has its goal ‘to preserve the agrarian amenity of the Manning Valley for future generations’.

“Gloucester sits at the headwaters of the Manning Valley and mining impacts here have the potential to impact the entire Manning River Catchment area. We want to support and participate in Project Blue,” Gloucester chairman Graeme Healy said. “It’s an excellent opportunity for the community to demonstrate its position against coal seam gas drilling.”

“We are very pleased to have Gloucester on board with Project Blue,” Manning Alliance chairman, Peter Epov said

“The people in Gloucester have really been doing it tough with all the coal seam gas drilling and the coal mining issues.

“I have heard some horrific stories, it’s just not fair, it’s not right, nor is it Australian.

“These large companies come in, they make promises and then renege on those promises when the price of coal goes up,” Mr Epov said.

Project Blue is a “silent people’s protest” which as been developed by the Manning Alliance with the aim of encouraging the entire community to express its concern and opposition to coal seam gas drilling in the Manning Valley, by tying a blue ribbon or something blue to their front gate or to their cars.

On Blue Day, October 31, the Manning Alliance is encouraging all people throughout the Manning Valley community to wear something blue.

There are also plans to stage a public rally on Blue Day that will co-inside with the NSW Upper House Inquiry in to coal seam gas mining, to be held in Taree on October 31.

The Gloucester Alliance has invited Manning Valley chairman, Peter Epov to speak at a rally which they will stage on October 16 as part of the National Day of Protest against CSG.