Trespassers will be prosecuted

There is an interesting article by Shan Goodwin in "The Land" this week which garners some comments from the farmers in the thick of it and a blunt warning to anyone who trespasses on their land...........
http://www.theland.com.au/news/agri...crossfire-at-bentley/2730838.aspx?storypage=3


Rosella is located on the 280 hectare native pasture property, "Disputed Plains", owned by Limousin breeders Rob and Shirley Graham and their son Peter.
The Grahams said the previous protests were an ordeal and warned they would prosecute trespassers.
Not only were they subjected to continual bullying and threats - which included protesters saying they "know where your grandchildren go to school" - but their day-to-day farming activities were severely restrained.
"For four months we couldn't get cattle in or out," Peter Graham said.
Fences were knocked down and holes with piping were dug which were used to padlock protestors to the site. A shed was also graffitied and a car concreted in a gateway.
A security fence had to be erected around the house on the property, which is not occupied, to protect it from thieves and vandals.
"Horses from tick-infested properties were also brought in for a protest ride, with no thought to the consequences of spreading serious livestock diseases," Mr Graham said.
"Many times we called police or the council to move people off our property."
Metgasco's licence suspension came amid intense public scrutiny, two days before Metgasco was due to drill.
As many as 2000 protestors had assembled at the Bentley site and speculation was rife that up to 800 police were to be sent to break the blockade before drilling kicked-off.

They said they've received support from the Northern Rivers community, even those who oppose the gas industry, who believe protests should not harrass or prevent farm work.
"At the end of the day, this is a legal operation and those who oppose it can have their voice heard just as well by staging a protest in town, without stopping us farming," Mr Graham said.

Politicians of all persuasions are looking to distance themselves from the rancour surrounding Metgasco's Bentley gas project.
Clarence MP Christopher Gulaptis, whose electorate covers Bentley, said the issue needed to be put to bed sooner rather than later.
He said the first plan of attack (against the Supreme Court's ruling) would be to explore grounds for an appeal, on which the government was working.
"We can't have a community in conflict and under enormous stress and it's more than just the farming sector," Mr Gulaptis said.
There was clear consensus by the North Coast community in opposing coal seam gas, he said.
"It is imperative governments and consent agencies look at the triple bottom line when assessing these proposals and that includes environment, economic and social aspects. It is clear there have been negative impacts socially that have been overlooked."


The Greens have anticipated heated protests. Greens upper house member Jeremy Buckingham wrote to the Police Minister requesting the Police Force "respect the right of citizens to peacefully protest matters that they care deeply about".
"While NSW Police is there to enforce the law, it should not be used as a private security force for a company against the broad community," he said.
Members of the Greens will go to the Bentley protest site today to launch a Bill to ban gas extraction in NSW and to allow the Minister to cancel gas production licenses without compensation, in the public interest.
The party pledged to introduce the Bill on Tuesday, May 5 as their first act in the new parliament.