text: Member for Page Kevin Hogan has expressed disappointment at the announcement by Metgasco that they will resume gas exploration at the Rosella E01 site in Bentley.
  “I believe very strongly that this decision flies in the face of community opinion” Mr Hogan said.
  “The majority of people in the Northern Rivers believe, like me, that lingering concerns about land and water contamination and the industrialisation of farmland have not been adequately addressed by the industry.”
  Mr Hogan said that the intensive nature of agriculture in the region and the importance of the local environment to tourism and quality of life made the Northern Rivers particularly unsuitable for CSG development.
  “The opponents of coal seam gas are sometimes branded as a noisy minority. In this community they are not. They’re fathers, mothers, professionals, farmers and senior citizens who have unanswered questions about the industry and are therefore uncomfortable about it developing here at present.
  “I have organised a meeting next week with Peter Henderson, the CEO of Metgasco to convey my belief that there is currently not community support for CSG within the Northern Rivers.”