When the inquiry stopped in Taree earlier this month the Manning Alliance, which represents thousands of residents against coal seam gas mining, expressed an intention to make a second submission and this was approved.

“This is our second bite at the cherry,” chairman of the Manning Alliance, Peter Epov said.

“This time around we’ll be able to address things we couldn’t in the previous submission, things that have been raised by mining companies and the NSW government.”

Mr Epov could not reveal the specifics of the submission due to parliamentary privilege.

“There are a number of things we will be expanding upon.”

The alliance is acting in an auspicing role for the Mid North Coast Regional Council of Alliances (MCRCA) which will be based in Wingham. MCRCA formed last month from five anti-mining groups across the Mid North Coast including the United Myall Residents Against Gas Extraction (UMRAGE) which represents the Great Lakes.

The group will be preparing care packages over the coming weeks for Liverpool Plains protesters in the north-western slopes of the state.

Mr Epov said landowners have established a blockade using vehicles and heavy farm machinery to lockdown an exploration site after mining company Santos repeatedly refused to wait for the outcome of a nearby water catchment study before escalating its operations.

“The situation there is very serious and is now into its sixteenth day,” Mr Epov said on Friday.

Protesters say the region is unquestionably one of the most valuable agricultural areas in Australia fed by a unique network of aquifer systems.

“We may not be able to go there and show them [protesters] our support but care packages and even a miserable can of beans will show that we support them, we do care about their plight and that we oppose the bully boy tactics which are presently being employed against the Liverpool Plains Community,” Mr Epov said.

MCRCA will be accepting canned foods and beverages for care packages from their information centre on the corner of Isabella and Winter Streets in Wingham.

For more information contact manningallianceinc@gmail.com or phone 6550 5853.