By Susie Cunningham

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 THE hills of the Scenic Rim were well and truly alive on Sunday when more than 1000 people gathered at 69 registered locations to protest against coal and coal seam gas (CSG) mining in the region.

Farmers, tourism operators, landholders and regular visitors to the area stood side by side on the region’s namesake mountain peaks, in paddocks and in parks to call for the Scenic Rim to be spared from the advances of mining companies.

Hundreds of banners and creative messages blanketed the area for the Protestors on Peaks event, which was part of a national day of action organised by the Lock the Gate alliance.

Some protesters made simple sheets with spray painted messages, while others went greater lengths, slashing their words of opposition into paddocks or laying down to form human signs.

Helicopters from commercial television outlets, as well as a chopper hired by organisers, flew overhead filming the protesters.

The protest was organised by Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic (KTSRS), a group which formed earlier this year after a story in the Times broke news of mining exploration in the region.

Protest organiser Tracey Larkin said she was inspired by the strong response from their community, which three months ago barely knew of the extent of mining exploration permits.

Ms Larkin said it could not have happened without the efforts of each individual person involved in the protest.

“Our prime objective was to get media attention so we could tell our story nationally,” she said.

“Together we have achieved that goal,  which is absolutely fantastic.”

Ms Larkin said KTSRS had several reasons for wanting their story told.

“We hoped that it would educate our close neighbours of the Gold Coast and Brisbane about what is happening in this region, because most people were unaware of what was going on here and we have achieved that,” she said.

“We have also achieved a greater aim which is the dialogue between the public and politicians about their policy and what they’re going to do about it on behalf of the people, knowing that the people are objecting to coal and CSG in this region.”

KTSRS spokesman Innes Larkin said the protest was about sending a clear message that the Scenic Rim was locked to coal and gas companies.

“To mine here defies belief,” he said.

“We believe the State Government must correct its position and ban coal and coal seam gas here, to protect south-east Queensland now, before it’s too late.”

KTSRS will now turn its attention to lobbying the State Government.