Eco-warrior joins farmers' crusade

ON CAMERA: Kodi Twiner records comments from a police officer about their presence at the blockade.

Contributed

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GLADSTONE resident Kodi Twiner's passion for the environment is infectious.

Fuelled by curiosity and her desire to learn Kodi made the seven-and-a-half-hour drive to join farmers and people all over Queensland and New South Wales to "lock the gate" on Arrow Energy. This was after she received a phone call from a friend who had scaled the drill rig at Kerry in protest - first thing he did was call Kodi. Kodi said he was up there for 28 hours because he had a firm belief in the cause.

"He refused to come down until Arrow Energy talked to the community about their concerns," she said.

Kerry, a small community near Beaudesert, was swamped when more than 100 people from all over Australia protested against Arrow Energy.

Kodi said The Kerry Blockade went for 11 days and was about taking action against Arrow Energy asking them to do baseline underground water studies before drilling.

"These are true-blue Aussies. Rural farmers who work hard for their living and coal seam gas exploration and extraction threatens their whole existence," she said.

Kodi said Gladstone was a hot topic at the blockade.

"It was interesting to learn that the dredging and LNG projects here (in Gladstone) are being discussed everywhere," she said.

Timeline

2.30am Sat - Kodi awakes to find the drill rig was removed

7am Sat - Mounted Police arrive

8.30am Sat - Hats are laid down and Farmer Rodd makes his speech

8.55am Sat - Arrow trucks roll over the farmers' hats

Kerry Blockade

• A protest against Arrow Energy not consulting the community and doing baseline underground water studies before drilling
• Qld and NSW farmers protested
• The event was orchestrated by The Lock the Gate