The first of several planned community action walks against a controversial coal mine took to the streets of Gloucester on Saturday, September 10.
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Walkers were concerned residents from the town and from further downstream in the Manning River catchment.
Taking advantage of a town full of visitors for the Tri Challenge and farmers market, the walkers rallied in Billabong Park before proceeding peacefully along both sides of Church Street. Jointly hosted by the community groups Protect Gloucester, Groundswell Gloucester and the colourful Knitting Nannas, the walkers had a clear message to observers: they believe the proposed Rocky Hill coal mine at Forbesdale will be too close to the town.
Groundswell Gloucester’s Julie Lyford was thrilled with the walk’s result.
“We had new members sign-up for Groundswell, over 100 new signatures on the petition and over 60 submissions were written on the spot and are ready to be posted. There will be more protest walks, submission-writing workshops, door-knocking and other actions planned over the coming months,” she said.
“The vast majority of the community here and in the wider region is against Rocky Hill mine. We know the impending community impacts that this dirty, polluting eyesore will bring, it’s just 900 metres from homes and 5km from the main street. It’s too risky for other industries, it’s too risky for our community’s health. The Rocky Hill toxic coal dust will blow constantly over our valley and it’s your kids, neighbours and elderly folk breathing in that poisonous dust. It’s unacceptable elsewhere in the world and it’s unacceptable here.”