news, local-news

A group of Illawarra knitting nannas took their fight against coal seam gas mining to Heathcote MP Lee Evans's office this week - and had a brush with the law in the process. The Illawarra Knitting Nannas Against Gas (IKNAG) assembled outside Mr Evans's Engadine office on Tuesday, calling for him to reveal his stance on Labor's bill seeking to ban CSG mining near the catchment. But the nannas were soon approached by the police, after a complaint from Mr Evans's office staff, and were asked to move. IKNAG member Cherry Hardaker said the group did not intend to upset anyone. "We were just sitting there knitting and the next thing we know, a lovely policeman was coming up to us, saying the office staff had complained ... a few minutes later, some more policemen showed up, it was quite funny really," she said. "We left straight after that ... we were going to leave anyway." The group took their cause to Mr Evans's office after he failed to respond to an email or repeated phone calls, asking him to clarify his position on the bill. Ms Hardaker said Mr Evans had contacted the group straight after their visit this week but they were still unsure of his stance on the CSG ban. "We just want a definite answer from him, and the other MPs in the Illawarra, as to whether they will vote yes or no on the bill," she said. IKNAG, on behalf of Stop CSG groups across the state, sent a letter to the members of the NSW Legislative Assembly last week, seeking their position on the proposed law. The Coal Seam Gas Prohibition (Sydney Water Catchment Special Areas) Bill 2013 has been tabled in Parliament. It aims to cancel petroleum titles relating to CSG and prohibit the granting or renewal of titles in the catchment's "special areas". Ms Hardaker said the group was still waiting for responses from dozens of politicians and planned to attend their offices for a reply. "We've had some wins in the Illawarra but it's only the beginning; we can't rest on our laurels," she said. Mr Evans's office was contacted for comment.

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