Winton, Burrow join Butler in high profile chorus

According to Margaret River filmmaker and the man behind the release of the web-based documentary, Richard Todd, the risk to the pristine environment of the South West and Kimberly regions was enough to garner support from Winton, known for his passionate backing of conservation efforts in the state.

“We shot over 5 years, and had over 500 hours of footage which didn’t make the original Frackman film,” Mr Todd said.

“With so much material and information still to share, we decided to create these shorter films which can potentially reach a wider online audiences.

“Tim and I worked on the Ningaloo campaign and when he was in town last year, we met briefly to chat about the issue of fracking. 

At the time, Mr Todd said Winton left promising to investigate the issue further.

“He got in contact and essentially said ‘what can I do to help?’ and from there we started working on the microdocumentary.”

The film was finalised in just 10 days, with location filming and narration recording squeezed in between both Winton and Todd’s increasingly busy schedules.

“Tim and I worked closely together to bash out a final script, and of course his input in that regard was invaluable, putting into words what I have been working to create on film.”

Alongside high profile support from Winton, musician John Butler and Yallingup-based surfer Taj Burrow have both thrown their support behind the campaign. 

A second, shorter film will be released in the next week featuring Burrow, who Todd said was equally concerned about the prospect of gas mining in the region.

Winton hopes the issue will be one of the largest on the state election agenda, and said a government open to fracking was disconnected from public opinion.

“The fracking industry is not welcome in WA,” Winton said.

“A government that welcomes frackers isn’t just reckless – it’s a government that’s completely lost touch with the people.”

Mr Todd expressed alarm at comments made by Augusta Margaret River Shire President Ian Earl last year over the issue, and questioned whether Mr Earl’s comments accurately represented rate payer sentiment.

"It's really reckless, I was shocked to hear that the Shire President had come out in full support of this industry,” he said.

“I believe I could knock on 100 doors right now and I would say, based on all the gasfield-free communities in Australia and the declarations that have been made, I would get 90% of people saying they want no gas mines anywhere near this area, not even Whicher Range.

“I thought that was very reckless and I believe he was speaking on his own behalf, I don't think that the support represents how the people in this Shire actually feel about the issue."

In comments made to the Mail in October 2016, Mr Earl clarified that he did not support fracking one way or another.

“I am not for or against fracking, but as the science and geology tells us, it’s not going to happen in our Shire and I’m not going to get concerned about it,” Mr Earl said at the time.

“There are lots of more important issues to worry about and spend our energy rectifying.”

Mr Todd would like to see voters send a message to party leaders as they head into the polls and said the only way to ensure the future of the region’s environmental diversity and safe water supplies was to support parties actively backing a ban on gas mining.

“People should be looking to vote for a government invested in protecting these huge swathes of land that are, to mining companies, simply marks on a map – they are shaded areas where money can be made.

“There are parties willing to follow the trend set by hundreds of communities around Australia by either banning or placing a moratorium on gas licences.

To view the new micro documentary narrated by Winton, visit www.frackfreefuture.org.au. Further releases will be made later this week. The Shire of Augusta Margaret River did not respond to a request for comment.