ON Saturday, the District Council of Robe became the first council in SA to declare its community gasfield and invasive mining-free.
In a ceremony to mark the milestone, 39 scrolls were handed to mayor Peter Riseley, from the Limestone Coast Protection Alliance.
More than 150 people witnessed the ceremony and a large Lock the Gate sign was also erected near the town's entrance.
The LCPA survey results show upwards of 90 per cent of people surveyed in the Robe rural area, Bray and Mount Benson wanted no gas fields or invasive mining.
It was fitting that the ceremony was held in Robe, with the council the first on the Limestone Coast to call from the state government to halt unconventional gas mining in the SE.
This eventually led to all seven councils voting to push the state government for a moratorium.
SA Parliamentary Leader of the Greens Mark Parnell spoke on the two bills that he will introduce to parliament this week.
The first called for a moratorium on unconventional gas and for permanent protection of farming land, conservation land and urban residential land from gas.
The other called for farmers and local communities to have more say on all forms of mining. "So many question marks and so many dangers are associated with fracking," he said.
Other areas which had conducted road surveys were expected to hold declaration ceremonies with local councils in coming months.
Photo: Lonny Peel.
Catherine Miller
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
