The Town That Said No To AGL
How Gloucester Was Saved From Coal Seam Gas
The threat from the well resourced fossil fuel industry and their political friends is ever present. It is often a David and Goliath struggle, but they can be beaten, as was demonstrated by the recent rejection of the absurd proposal to dig a dirty coal mine in the beautiful Bylong Valley, and by the defeat of AGL when it tried to construct over 300 coal seam gas well on the doorstep of the small town of Gloucester NSW.
This book tells how the Gloucester community fought against the might of AGL and the NSW Government to stop the construction of the gas field.
The first print of this fascinating book sold out, and the second print is now selling at the heavily discounted price of $17.00 plus $5.00 handling and postage.
Gloucester’s win against AGL is a marvel and a massive victory and a tribute to all those who have given so much of their hearts and minds and souls to achieve this outcome.
Most importantly this book will provide inspiration, hope and essential strategic insights to all those many other communities whose battles are still going or have only just begun.
Jean Kittson-performer, writer and comedian
John Watts’ timely book explains the motivation and plots the unstinting efforts of a bunch of volunteers in the small town of Gloucester in the Mid-North Coast region of New South Wales.
Their group, Groundswell Gloucester, took on AGL Energy, one of Australia’s oldest companies, and a firm long used to getting its own way – particularly in the state where it was founded. Against the odds, Groundswell won – heading off a plan to puncture the verdant upper Manning River with what would have been hundreds of coal seam gas wells linked by a steel lattice of pipes and pumps. Just how they succeeded will be of interest to other communities (and other developers).
Peter Hannam – Sydney Morning Herald Environment Editor
At a time when people across Australia are standing up against governments and corporations intent on destroying land and water for fossil fuels, John’s story of Gloucester is critically important. It is a story of a small, brave, tenacious and resourceful community pushing back, never giving up, and winning.
Jeremy Buckingham – Member of the NSW Legislative Council
The Town That Said No To AGL, is a reminder that democracy is precious and fragile, but a few good people with courage and grit can confirm its resilience.
Joanne McCarthy – Newcastle Herald