SEPTEMBER 18, 2016: North Boyanup will declare itself Gasfield Free at a community celebration today (Sunday September 18).
The declaration follows an extensive survey of the community that saw residents go house to house, road by road asking their neighbours if they would like to declare the area gasfield free.
97.5 per cent of the community said yes to the declaration.
Kathy Thomson from the Boyanup Gasfield Free Group said the survey results were a clear indication of the community’s concerns at moves by the onshore gas industry to get a foothold in the area.
“We are in the middle of Bunbury Energy’s proposed gas mining lease and we are saying very loudly that the industry does not have a social licence to operate in our community and should leave us alone,” Ms Thomson said.
“We have good agricultural land here and clean water and we do not want an invasive, dirty and risky industry moving into our community and threatening our land, our water and our health.
“Today’s event is a coming together of the community to celebrate our right to determine our own future and enjoy our land and our community.”
North Boyanup will become the latest in nearly 400 communities around Australia who have declared themselves gasfield free. It will be the second community in the south west to make the declaration following Stratham, which declared on July 24.
“Community members from across the south west will be coming to the event and joining in the celebrations today,” Ms Thomson said.
Speaking to the crowd will be local Collie Preston MP Mick Murray who has led the charge in the Labor Party for a ban on fracking in the south west. Other political candidates have also pledged to attend.
The official Gasfield Free Community Declaration will be made at 11am today (Sunday September 18) at 37 Lillydale Road in North Boyanup.
Members of the public and the media are welcome to attend the event.
Further information: Jane Hammond 040 392 6467
Pics available on request
www.frackfreewa.org.au t: @frackfreeWA FB: Frack Free WA