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Now they have set up a mining company |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 07 July 2005 |
Whether or not you agree with their tactics you have to admire the protesters? creativity and staying power.
Michael
Parkes, 55, from Booroobin, has been camped at the site for two weeks
straight. He says he?s been singing in the rain for most of the time,
buoyed by the spirits of fellow protesters and the justness of their
cause.
Meanwhile, offsider Steve Thompson has donned executive garb
because he?s on the board of Maleny?s latest enterprise - a mining
company. This latest venture was sparked by the Prospecting Permit
taken out by Matthew Smith last week. Mr Smith staked his claim this
week on 2-4 Bunya Street for the purposes of prospecting. Uniton,
Police and security guards aren?t taking it seriously. But Steve is.
And so far he has 120 employees behind him.
?We hope to become
Maleny?s biggest employer, outstripping IGA,? he said, tongue-in-cheek.
?I believe we?re the biggest mining company in Maleny.
?We're
growing rapidly. And there are rumours of possibly going public. We?re
turning the whole mining industry process upside down. Instead of
mining and then re-vegetating, we're going to re-vegetate first and
then mine. A tourist drove by the other day and told me to get a job.
If only he could see me now.?
There was some movement at the
campsite yesterday, and some traffic disruption, as police moved gates
in order to bring in a campervan for security guards to sleep in. Relieved protesters said they were still allowed to come and go as they pleased.
However
three protesters - Jon Woodlands, Joe Colreavy, and Graham Earle - have
been targeted by the developers and warned to back off or face civil
action. They are not allowed on site and, according to protesters,
Uniton will be holding them legally accountable for anything they say
that leads to a loss for the company. Joe Colreavy was unusually quiet
yesterday.
Michael Parkes and Steve Thompson are two of the protesters
who have been camping on the site.
?They?ve been told to back off basically,? said Mr
Parkes. Other than that Mr Parkes said the atmosphere at the site was
upbeat. ?It?s great. The beat is so happy and motivated. The camp is
full of song.?
Even the rain has not dampened their spirits. ?Truly,
we?re swimming in our tents at night, but with smiles on our faces.
It?s the cause that?s keeping us motivated and positive,? he said, as
singers chanted in the background. ?We're going to dive them crazy with
our singing,? joked a woman.
Protester Gillian Pechey said she was
worried protesters were being stereotyped. She said one radio report
yesterday said Maleny consisted of ?dairy farmers and hippies?. But
people at the site came from all walks of life, she said. Even so they
could do with more support from farmers and businesspeople, who would
be most affected by Woolworths? presence in town. ?It?s extraordinary
to me that we don?t have some support from farmers and businesspeople.
I think they need to think about their livelihoods and not just sit on
the fence and watch this unfold.?
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Last Updated ( Friday, 08 July 2005 )
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Range News 2005 - ON 
