The meetings were organised by Kaloorup landowner Cath Miller, a member of a group of residents opposed to the process of coal seam gas fracking in the Cape region.

Busselton shire residents, farmers, politicians and environmental professionals attended the series of meetings, which focused on the danger of 60-plus coal seam gas wells proposed for the area.

This included representatives from the Greens, the Wilderness Society of WA, WA Conservation Council and the Busselton Dunsborough Environment Centre.

Greens politican Giz Watson attended to voice her opinion on the protection of prime agricultural land and water from damages caused by gas exploration.

Protective legislation was discussed to cover the Cape to Cape region, similar to the Swan Valley Bill or the Perth Hills Bill which has been proposed by Alison Xamon of the Greens.

It was discussed that the proposed gas exploration of the Vasse coal shelf would directly affect the lives of 45,000 people who live and work in the region, particularly the 7000 living and working in the rural sector.

“We want to start to tell our story. We want to make a statement, a petition that will state who the signatories are, where they live and how it will affect them, people are afraid of what is going to happen,” Cath said.

“The majority of land impacted by the leases is prime agricultural land, providing approximately 30 per cent of the dairy, beef and potatoes for WA. We’re trying to show that industries other than wineries and tourism will be affected by coal seam gas projects. Food and water security will be a major issue in the future and it just makes no sense to destroy a prime agricultural area.

“We’re hoping our leaders here are watching what is happening in Queensland, NSW and the US and don’t make the same mistakes,” signatory and Jindong farmer, Debra Pederson said.

The Wilderness Society of WA’s Dane Griffen has been investigating fracking and said he had concerns about the impacts of the contentious activity.