14 DAY TRIAL // We just talked about the Metgasco gas company a few days ago, when we reported on its being accused of improperly disposing of the waste water resulting from its drilling activities.
The company now crosses our on-line paths once again, as earlier this week – on Wednesday, to be more precise – a man tied himself to a bulldozer in an attempt to prevent Metgasco from constructing a temporary holding pond in the catchment of Shannon Brook Creek, near Richmond Valley, Australia.
The man is Davey Bob Ramsey, a local musician, and he only let go of the bulldozer when the Police Rescue Squad arrived on the scene and compelled him to do so.
Although the said pond is supposed to only “house” the gas company's waste waters for short periods of time, locals claim that the damage done to the environment will be no different than if the pond was an evaporation one. Echo News reports that Ian Galliard, a representative of the Lock the Gate Alliance, stated loud and clear that “It's a farce that by changing the name of something you can still proceed with it.”
Apparently, Ian also added, “The State Government said we will not have any more evaporation ponds. Metgasco may call it a holding pond but it the same as every other evaporation pond I've ever seen.”
Given the fact that such a holding pond is quite likely to overflow at one point or another, thus polluting the nearby wetlands, it is no wonder that the communities living in this region are determined to do everything in their powers to keep Metgasco from constructing it.
In spite of Davey Bob Ramsey and his heroic endeavor, it seems that the aforementioned gas company will carry on with its plan build the holding pond, as it already received permission from high officials.