ANTI-fracking supporters celebrated the one-year anniversary of Victoria\u2019s ban on the practice at a gathering in Freshwater Creek on Thursday. <\/p>\n
The event at The Farmer\u2019s Place was held a little over a year after the state government\u2019s decision to permanently ban the exploration and development of all onshore unconventional gas, including fracking and coal seam gas.<\/p>\n
Victorian Resources Minister Wade Noonan was at the event, along with Geelong MP Christine Couzens, the chief executive officer and councillors from the Surf Coast Shire, and representatives from anti-fracking groups from as far away as Portland and Warrnambool.<\/p>\n
Frack Free Moriac\u2019s Alison Marchant \u2013 a leading figure in organising the community campaign \u2013 said the event was a celebration of \u201ca really momentous decision\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a big deal, it\u2019s still a big deal, and I think a world-leading decision; we\u2019re so fortunate that we had a government that was willing to listen to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Noonan said the response against fracking was \u201ca grassroots community campaign like no other\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe very clear and strong messages that came through over and over again were simple: anything that in any way compromises the environment in regional communities compromises the economy, and that\u2019s why this issue mattered so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said there was \u201ca level of pressure\u201d being applied from the federal government about gas in Victoria, so communities had to remain vigilant.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think you should have to win this fight twice.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ANTI-fracking supporters celebrated the one-year anniversary of Victoria\u2019s ban on the practice at a gathering in Freshwater Creek on Thursday. The event at The Farmer\u2019s Place was held a little over a year after the state government\u2019s decision to permanently ban the exploration and development of all onshore unconventional gas, including fracking and coal seam […]<\/p>\n