Paul Oboohov, Canberra

Sixty members and supporters of Save the Ridge blockaded tree-clearing machinery to prevent it leaving a fenced compound on the Bruce/O’Connor Ridge on June 18. They aimed to stop tree-clearing for the Gungahlin Drive extension through the Canberra Nature Park.

After police threatened arrests, protesters allowed a small bobcat to proceed out of the compound for stated fencing gravel work. During the afternoon some trees were knocked down along the edge of a previously cleared area.

Protesters established a base camp on the ridge to inform passing cyclists and pedestrians of the danger to the ridge, and as a meeting point.

The blockading action follows the passing in the ACT Legislative Assembly of a Labor government bill to make the Gungahlin Drive extension project immune from planning and environmental legislation. The government subsequently moved to restart tree-clearing work.

Save the Ridge activists are preparing to mobilise when the major tree-clearing is expected.

From Green Left Weekly, June 23, 2004.
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