http://blogs.abc.net.au/nsw/2010/11/news-interview-david-casey-ma...

http://blogs.abc.net.au/nsw/2010/11/news-interview-david-casey-managing-director-eastern-star-gas.html?sitenewengland&programnew_england_news

Farmers head to Eastern Star Gas AGM

Posted 11 hours 16 minutes ago

* Map: Narrabri 2390

Farmers opposed to a high-pressure gas pipeline from Narrabri to Wellington, in north-west New South Wales, are travelling to Sydney this week to protest at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the proponent, Eastern Star Gas.

Up to 40 of the region's farmers say they'll make the bus trip.

The farmers say the company's pipeline will force an easement across a fragile floodplain in the Cox's Creek area, near Gunnedah.

Landholders say they're attending the Macquarie Street meeting because the company is ignoring their concerns about the floodplain's instability.

Spokesman, Jamie Bishop, says they've decided if the company won't listen, perhaps shareholders will.

"Basically, you've got massive amounts of water that flow through here in high concentrations and putting a pipeline of this nature on that floodplain we believe it will cause erosion effect," he said.

"Any large channelling for submerged pipelines will cause slumping that, in itself, will then cause re-directional flow of water and as a result of that it'll cause massive erosion."

But Eastern Star Gas managing director, David Casey, says he rejects claims his company is being pushy with farmers in trying to secure an easement for its gas pipeline from Narrabri to Wellington.

He says his company employs people who possess the skills to minimise the impact on farmers' land.

"From an erosion perspective the actual final corridor, or easement, in which we work can be as little as 30-metres and we give an undertaking to remediate every site," Mr Casey said.

"We're talking to landowners on a day-to-day basis to minimise the impact on them and the environment and we'll be employing 'best practice', making sure the best people are involved in the process."

Mr Casey says while he acknowledges the concerns of the farmers, he says they've not conveyed the extent to which the company has tried to consult with them.

"We've, to date, answered every question and addressed every issue that's been put to us in that regard," he said.

"Of course, we respect everybody's right to ask questions and for all shareholder to attend our AGM, but we would not be of the view that we haven't been pro-active in trying to