The Clarence Catchment Alliance say there were thrilled with the support for their ‘ban on mining in the Clarence Catchment pledge signing’ last Friday but disappointed the signatures of two key candidates aren’t on the pledge.

Clarence Catchment Alliance CCA spokesperson Shae Fleming said the pledge signing was a public opportunity for candidates from all over the Clarence catchment, state and federal MPs, Elders, and community leaders to commit to banning mineral mining in the catchment to preserve our drinking water and environment.

“The event was a wonderfully positive morning of solidarity, with the public witnessing those individuals and parties that are fully dedicated to saving our rivers, protecting our water, and caring for our catchment,” she said.

“Neighbouring candidates from Coffs, Lismore, and the Northern Tablelands, as well as Traditional Owners from Yaegl and Sue Higginson, Greens member in the Legislative Council, joined 6 Clarence candidates and signed the pledge.”

Ms Fleming said the CCA received a letter from the NSW Government on March 16 on behalf of Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts and Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin stating the government’s support for mining in the Clarence Valley.

“The NSW Government is aligned with the NSW Minerals Strategy and is therefore not proposing a prohibition of mining activities in the Clarence Valley at this time,” the letter stated.

Ms Fleming said Nationals candidate Richie Williamson and Labor’s Leon Ankersmit were the only two candidates for Clarence who didn’t sign the pledge.

“Leon Ankersmit, Labor candidate for Clarence was in attendance but did not sign the pledge,” she said.

“He is on record verbally, as supportive of the CCA’s call to ban mining here, but party politics stopped him from committing in writing which was disappointing.

“Richie Williamson, Nationals, did not attend the event and did not take up the CCA’s offer to sign the pledge digitally.

“Although on record verbally as ‘anti-mining in the Clarence,’ Richie’s decision to not sign may be due to his party’s support of, and promotion of investment in, mineral mining in regional NSW.”