Abbott ride greeted by CSG protest

AN OPPORTUNITY to make their feelings known about Coal Seam Gas (CSG) mining was taken by the MNC Greens yesterday.

Almost 80 protestors joined together at Bellingen's Lavender Bridge to try and catch the eye of Federal opposition leader Tony Abbott as he rode past as part of the NAB Cycle Challenge.

Mr Abbott was riding alongside local Federal member Luke Hartsuyker while the protestors displayed their 'Lock The Gate' message.

The protestors were more than aware that most of the riders would've raced past without giving them a second look but they hoped the effort at least made the Lock The Gate message widely discussed.

Coal Seam Gas is likely to be found in the hinterland west of Coffs Harbour but Greens candidate for the upcoming Bellingen Shire Council said residents in Bellingen, Urunga and Nambucca Heads are concerned about the possibility of minerals being mined in the high rainfall areas of the region.

"Evaporation and holding ponds cannot cope with the extreme rainfall of the Mid North Coast," Mr King said.

"They (the minerals) will overflow into our rivers thus poisoning our drinking water and destroying our fishing and tourism industries."