The Coal Dust Free Streets project forges grassroots community networks while gauging public opinion of coal dust and the proposed fourth coal loader (T4). This is a how to guide for those who want to doorknock in your local area and add your voice the ‘chorus’ of suburbs already surveyed.
The Coal Dust Free Streets DIY Downloads
Click to download:
Fact sheet: The proposed fourth coal loader (T4), dust and your health
A3 survey sheets
Tips for doorknockers
Why doorknock for coal dust free streets?
This doorknocking has a few very useful outcomes:
The project links doorknockers with residents / community members / residents groups in their local area, and thus builds these personal networks and connections. This is important because it is precisely these relationships that will be needed later as community campaigns continue and face new challenges (such as a potential T4 approval; and progressing the grassroots push to cover coal wagons and stockpiles).
The project links supportive residents into an online database so that they can receive direct campaign updates about T4 and tightening dust controls. This is important because it allows people to be linked in directly rather than hearing second hand through the media.
The project makes an important and powerful political point and generates media interest. In late 2013/early 2014 we surveyed 1270 residents; this compares with a couple of nationwide two party preferred political polls at the time which surveyed 1400-1500 people. This isn’t a survey of ten people in the mall, it’s a pretty good indicator of actual public opinion (which happens to be opposed to T4 and strongly in favour of tighter dust control measures). Your doorknocking will add to the tally and reinforce the message.
Getting started
Can you let us know you are planning to do some doorknocking? This way we can provide a bit of support and arrange collection of the finished survey sheets. Send an email to ctagnewcastle[@]gmail.com.
Be sure to read the ‘doorknocking tips’, and download and print off a stash of factsheets and survey sheets. If you don’t have access to an A3 colour printer to run off survey sheets, again just send an email to ctagnewcastle[@]gmail.com and we can run some off for you to pick up.
As a rule of thumb, we have found it takes about an hour to survey 10-12 residents. If you set a target of 30-50 houses, this would mean 2-3 ‘runs’ of doorknocking each lasting 1-2 hours.
If you can find another 2-3 people in your suburb who are keen to doorknock you should be able to survey 150-200 residents which is a good total. If you manage to do more, even better; but no one is asking you to take on more than you are comfortable with.
Making a declaration
If you are ‘flying solo’ and just doorknock 30-50 houses in your area that is quite ok and is a valuable contribution to the project. However if you do have a small community team in your suburb and you are in a position to doorknock a couple of hundred houses (or more) you may consider scheduling a ‘declaration ceremony’ for the completion of your doorknocking.
This could be a picnic in a local park or community garden, a gig at a local bowling club or a street party. The idea here is that you tally up your survey results and then ‘declare’ that your community wants the coal wagons and stockpiles covered and is opposed to T4 (which is what you are highly likely to find, if the first 1270 surveys are an indication!)
See our first declaration party invite here.
It’s a good idea to invite state and federal members of parliament and local politicians if you do hold a declaration ceremony – and let the media know its happening. We can assist you to do this if you like.
Returning your survey sheets
Please return your finished survey sheets when you are done so we can log the results and connect people to the campaign update list.
Want to organise a team of doorknockers?
If you are organising a team and are considering putting on a declaration ceremony, please email us and we can send some additional useful tips for community organising.
Need more info? Support? Got questions?
Please don’t hesitate to send an email to ctagnewcastle[@]gmail.com.
Media releases and fact sheets
9/5/14 Majority want the train wagons covered
28/4/14 Covering the wagons a winner for Islington
27/4/14 Survey shows public want coal wagons covered
27/4/14 Survey quizzes more than 1,200 residents on the coal industry
24/11/13 Tighes Hill community launches coal dust free streets
8/12/13 Tighes Hill residents call for covered coal wagons and stockpiles
Download our Fact Sheet or our Door-Knocking Tips
Tags:
Dust and health campaign
Community Action Kits