Opposition to CSG increases

LAST OPTION: Judy Deucker, Judy Whistler, Hank Deucker and Jim Whilster fear their only option will be to lock the gate to keep CSG mining off their properties.

OPPOSITION to the coal seam gas (CSG) industry appears to be gathering momentum in the Lockyer Valley with a groundswell of opinion against the industry.

Announcements made by local state politicians and councils, who have spoken against the industry coming into the Lockyer Valley, have hit a chord with a Lockyer Valley Shut the Gate movement.

However a spokeswoman for the group, Judy Deucker, has expressed doubts as to whether the political parties will be true to their word after the elections and sees no other option but to lock out the mining companies.

"I'm not sure they (the politicians) would come out to the farm and support our cause," Mrs Deucker said.

"Bob Katter is out there and all the talking he does is just to justify the hat and the LNP is just as keen on the CSG industry."

Mrs Deucker said she believed the CSG industry would ruin not only the groundwater, but the lifestyle farmers have in the Lockyer Valley and questioned the benefit of decisions made in Brisbane in favour of overseas owned mining companies such as Arrow Energy.

"How stupid are the people in Brisbane who didn't think this thing through?" she said.

"Our politicians are representing overseas companies."

Hank and Judy Deucker have lived on their farm, which is situated on the northern edge of current CSG and coal mining leases, for 20 years and in the Lockyer Valley for 42 years.

They hope to raise awareness in the region of what they say is the real cost of mining leases.

"CSG will obliterate smaller farms," Mrs Deucker said.

"There is not much else we would be able to do but lock the gate."

The Lock the Gate movement is an Australia wide movement with 1500 farmers in its membership opposed to CSG mining.