July 22, 2002 Food plant terror - Irradiation opponents tell of violence, threats  July 7, 2002, Sunday by Elissa Lawrence Sunday Mail (Queensland, Australia) Protesters against the controversial [nuclear] Narangba [food] irradiation plant have allegedly been the target of death threats, violence and surveillance. Organisers of community meetings and those publicly opposed to the plant, which is north of Brisbane, say they have suffered harassment, including threats to burn down their houses and vandalise their property, and repeated anonymous phone calls. Some residents are in favour of the plant, but protest groups believe the methods used by the plant's operator, Steritech, to sterilise medical supplies and some foodstuffs could put the community at risk. Steritech denies the plant poses any threat. Everyone for a Nuclear Free Future spokeswoman Robin Taubenfeld said many residents had been threatened. "Residents have the legal right to protest and the right to voice their opinion but there have been cars visiting their houses, appearing to survey them," she said. "At the protest site recently, a car drove up the road, over the kerb and directly at several people."  Last week, a Dakabin resident, who did not want to be named, had the intercom on his front gate smashed. Frank Jell, of the East Narangba Community Action Group, said his home had been targeted. "We have been harassed," he said. "We've had all sorts of phone calls telling us to watch out for low-flying aircraft or that our house was going to be burnt down. "Recently, a brochure with our names on it had cigarette holes burnt in it and put under our doormat. "We've had cars parked outside our home sitting there for hours. "Until something happens, there's probably not much you can do about it. Early in the piece we complained to the police but we don't bother any more. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It's certainly not nice. I took over the lead role in this protest action because the woman who did it before took the threats seriously and she backed right off. "But it's got to keep going -- it's too important an issue. All it does is make us more determined to see it through. "If we start cowering to these people we might as well just give it away." Caboolture Shire Council cancelled a public meeting to discuss the plant on Friday night amid fears it could turn violent. But it still attracted about 200 protesters, who met peacefully at the Steritech site for several hours. Residents, who have hired a lawyer, discussed a planned rates revolt that would see them withhold rates in a trust account.