Media Alert
28/09/01
Police Move in on Climate Protesters
Police have moved in to shift protesters opposing construction of the
Somerton gas-fired power generator and pipeline, making way for the fragile
eco-system of the Merri Creek to be destroyed over the remainder of the day
and the weekend.
Victorian Trades Hall Council site has green bans on the entire project,
although the tactics of the contractors undertaking the projects has made
them difficult to uphold, according Building Industry Group convenor Brian
Boyd.
"Pumps have been moved down to the creek and excavators are ripping up a
trench towards it now," said Friends of the Earth campaigner Brad Gill, who
was moved off the site after preventing the destruction since early this
morning.
A ruling by Federal Environment Minister, Senator Robert Hill states that
'construction of the pipeline in the vicinity of Merri Creek will not take
place in the period 15 October to 31 January - this timing is dictated by
the need to avoid the peak spawning period for the Southern Bell Frog.'
Campaigners are determined to prevent construction until this time, after
which the project will be unviable.
"It's been a tough morning for the campaigners here," said Friends of the
Earth spokesperson Michelle Braunstein, "but it is vital that this
generator does not proceed. The UN's own body of scientists have said that
cuts in CO2 of 60-80% are required now to avoid catastrophic climate
change. The community has said that enough is enough and taken matters
into their own hands to counteract the government's complacency and
laziness. The support ofTrades Hall Council shows that this is not a
fringe issue, but an urgent need to restructure our energy systems and
conserve energy rather than letting private companies run amok as they are
now."
Updates from the site:
Michelle Braunstein, Friends of the Earth 0402 208 164
Brad Gill, Friends of the Earth 0400 805 281
Further comment:
Tristy Fairfield, Friends of the Earth 0411 220 704
Brian Boyd, Trades Hall Council 0418 587 461
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Friends of the Earth Melbourne (Australia)
PO Box 222 Fitzroy 3065
312 Smith St Collingwood
Phone: (03) 9419 8700
Fax: (03) 9416 2081
(International: tel. +61 (3) 9419 8700; fax +61 (3) 9416 2081)
www.melbourne.foe.org.au
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