Anti-fracking lobbyists plan CHB meeting

Farmer Donald James will share his experience with oil and gas exploration at a public meeting. Photo / File

Lobby group Don't Frack the Bay will hold a public meeting in Takapau later this month to raise awareness of rural communities about the issues and threats associated with oil and gas exploration.

Don't Frack the Bay said in a statement that its seventh public meeting would be held at the Takapau RSA at 7pm on Wednesday, November 27.

The group's chairwoman, Sarah Cates, said the meetings had been successful in contributing to the public debate in Hawke's Bay.

The main speaker for the Takapau meeting will be Donald James, a farmer from southern Hawke's Bay who has personal experience of the effects of oil and gas exploration on his local community.

"It's important for rural communities to stand together or [they] risk being divided by the oil companies," Mr James said.

"There is also a risk to our farm values and our access to finance. People should make themselves aware of the issues."

At the meeting, Paul Bailey will discuss the economics of oil and gas, and Filipa Hope will cover the interim report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Jan Wright, who advocated caution because of the issues associated with pollution of the aquifers, waste disposal, well integrity and the more complex earthquake-prone geology of the East Coast.