Farmers fractured over CSG SHAN GOODWIN 18 Jun, 2015 04:00 AM...

Farmers fractured over CSG
SHAN GOODWIN
18 Jun, 2015 04:00 AM
CRACKS are emerging in the perception that the Northern Rivers farming community is united in opposition to the coal seam gas (CSG) industry.

Many prominent commercial beef producers and stud operators said they don't have enough information to make a decision and, given the controversial nature of the issue, they are reluctant to comment publicly.
Some are unwilling to put their opinion on the public record for fear of retribution or alienating others, particularly business contacts.
For those reasons, entirely understandably, little on the issue has come from the mouths of farming leaders and long-standing producers in the region, apart perhaps for the dairy industry - although it too is divided on the issue.
Northern Co-operative Meat Company chairman John Seccombe, Casino, said members have differing points of view on the issue and out of respect for that he has chosen not to publicly discuss his opinion.
"From day one, it has polarised this community, even broken up families," he said.
Richmond Valley mayor Ernie Bennett also declined to either support or oppose the industry, but said it was a misconception there was zero support among farmers for the industry.
What they were in agreement on, he said, was the anti-CSG movement was restricting healthy debate.
"At Friday's store cattle sale in Casino, five separate parties approached me to issue complaints about bullying tactics employed by anti-CSG lobby groups," he said.
"Many more have said they would like to express support for the CSG industry but fear retribution."
While they didn't want to be quoted, some producers said they thought regulations were adequate and the industry had a right to operate.
A number expressed interest in the potential for alternative income sources the industry might present.
Other producers were adamantly opposed to the industry on environmental grounds but didn't want to be 'put in the same basket as the protestors'.
One producer said the three National Party-held North Coast seats of Tweed, Lismore and Clarence were on a knife-edge on account of the issue.
"We're sick of hearing the CSG industry and agriculture can co-exist but only under the strictest of controls," he said.
"That doesn't wash with people who simply don't want the industry in this region under any circumstances."
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