Monday, December 28, 2009

MYTHBUSTING: manageing climate change will loose jobs!

I recently read an interesting article on the myth that is propagated by government that tackling climate change will result in job loss. This appears to be a factless statement when you read what DR Richard Denniss f the Australia Institute has to say. This article has been partially reproduced from Issue 29 of the Green Mag.


The main argument against tackling climate change is that we can't do anything untill we have figured out where all the people who might lose their jobs will work.  A history review will expose past practices.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, employment in coal mining fell from 30,400 employees to 16500 in 1999. So in one decade, employment in the coal industry fell by more than half. Apparently, when the introduction of labour-saving technologies wreaks havoc on regional communities we don't care but if  we are tackling climate change its quite a different story.

"Ah, but that was due to market forces", I hear you say. "The difference with the Carbon Pollution Rediuction Scheme (CPRS) is it's the introduction of governmnet policy that will cause the job losses. Responsible governmnets would never introduce policy that would cause job losses." Yeah right.

Lets start small. The introduction of National Competition Policy (NCP) and the associated privatisation and contracting out resulted in the direct destruction of tens of thousamds of jobs. This was not an unintended consequence: it was the specific aim of the policy. According to the Electricty Supply Association, employment in electricty generation in Victoria alone fell from 9382 employees in 1994 to 5420 in 1998. That's 4000 workers in four years and at the time when Australian unemployment was substantially higher than it is today.

The impacts of the NCP were small compared to the longer term devastation of the manufacturing industry associated with 20 years of tariff reductions and the pursuit of free trade. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs in the search for a level playing field but, of course, these jobs were not seen as a barrier to the pursuit of this policy agenda. On the contrary, the language was that of  'freeing up' unproductive labour for employment in other areas of the economy. At the time, it was not seen to be necessary or even possible to forecast where these 'freed up' workers would end up.

And then we get to the big one, the recession we had to have. In the fight against rising inflation and rising imports, it was deemed necessay to drive interest rates so high that more than one million people lost their jobs. This was not just Paul Keating's folly: Treasury and the RBA was right behind the approach. We had to break the back of inflationary pressure even if it meant breaking the backs of many Australian families.

The point is..unemployment is destructive, wasteful and unequitable..but it is important to analyse the past in order to understand what is really going on in the current debate around mining jobs, green jobs and con jobs.

Firstly many industry groups, which are expressing concern about job losses, are crying crocodile tears to impress their workers. They were unconcerned in the past and will be unconcerned in the future. Nobody should think for one minute that, if some labour-saving technology were to be invented tomorrow, industries wouldnt install it at the expence of their regional workforces...

The simple facts are that no-one could envisage how many people would be employed in the mobile phone industry, or the internet industries and no one declared 'wait' we don not know were the photo lab workers will go- when we embraced the digital camera era.

If you want to read this article in full- go to Issue 29 of Green Magazine page 12.



Sunday, December 13, 2009

Church Bells Ring for Copenhagen



At 3pm today (Sunday 13 December) the Church bells rang out- not with a sound of warning but to offer hope that the world can tackle climate change.

An intiative of the Alliance of Religions and the World Combined Churches, the religious orders have joined political leaders and activists to send an important message of 350 parts per million as a peak amount for carbon pollution.

Churches across the world rang their bells 350 times, locally churches in Kiama participated in the event.

In a show of solidarity those who attended Rasberry Day at Foxground also put down their plates and cups and joined in to make as much noise as possible on this important issue.

A passionate speach from Howard highlighted to the gathering that in some respects we are ushering in the decade of cooperation, as humans had no choice but to listen to their neighbours and find ways of working together to make global change.

Let me know of any events that happened around your town today at 3pm- did you hear the Church Bells ring and wonder why!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Alcohol Ban on Shoalhaven Reserves.

 A couple of weeks ago the Mayor of Shoalhaven dropped a mayoral minute on our laps at the beginning of a meeting asking for alcohol bans in 37 reserves across the Shoalhaven.

The ban was suggested as a 24 hour ban on Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, New Years Day and Australia Day, it was a hotly debated item that took well over an hour to discuss. I voted against this ban at this point for a variety of reasons.

Firstly we had been given no opportunity to discuss this issue prior to debating it. No data had been supplied to Councillors in regards to alcohol related incidents in the Shoalhaven. No community consultation had taken place to gauge the impact that such a ban would have on the community, and finally one that I feel strongly about- Civil Liberties- for it is my opinion that some of the regulations we live with are draconian and unnecessary. I was of the opinion that this was an increase in police power that was not required as police already have many powers to arrest those doing the wrong thing, move on large groups and confiscate alcohol.

Fast forward to Tuesday 8 December and we were back in the chamber to discuss the issue once again. this time it was a whole lot different to the previous fortnight. The local radio talkback had been in overdrive and their seemed to be a considerable amount of community support for the ban.

As the meeting commenced there were 12 uniformed police in the gallery- some obviously on duty as they had hand guns etc. These guys and girls had brought along a contingent of supporters.
The local commander was given the opportunity to speak and gave a video presentation of police footage from local riot days at Huskisson and some CCTV footage that was quite disturbing. The Councillors who had strongly supported the ban from the outset constructed an argument that basically framed any non supporters as not supporting police, a very difficult position to be in and intimidating.

The local command gave a commitment to turn a blind eye to any family groups enjoying a few quite drinks in the park and to use sense and discretion.
I found this to be a paradox-How could it be OK for one group of people to be drinking and another group alongside them in trouble with the law! Is booze banned or not!

After a long and passionate debate that included tears, accusation and the usual grandstanding style of some, a compromise position was reached.

This year a trial 24 hour alcohol ban will be in place across Shoalhaven reserves, results of the success or otherwise is to be reported back to Council, and police will continue to discuss reducing alcohol abuse in general.

Connect to friends!

A few of you have asked how to be kept up to date with the content of this blog.

I have just added a followers Widget-its on the right hand side of this page.

Click on FOLLOW and put in your details, this should help you to stay connected.

You must have a google account which many of you already have thru google groups.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Children have a right to sex education!

Locally I am the pariah...responsible for making statements only in this blog on the issue of sex education at our local high school. Statements that some people are in violent disagreement too.

When my daughter came home from school and told me that she was told you can get pregnant from pashing, I immediately went to work on researching the program being taught.

I did eventually speak informally to one of the women who delivered the program at school that day and it seems my daughter misheard it wasnt pashing that would get her pregnant but passion that could lead to pregnancy.

I have maintained throughout this debate that the problem lies in the material that is given to the children for them to further research. I also spoke to Dr Leslie Cannold about the issue and heres what she had to say. (if you want the full version click on the text to go to Dr Cannold's website)

Your children have a right to sex education. This right is a component of their sexual rights, themselves a subset of the human rights guaranteed to them in international laws, human rights documents and other consensus statements.


But don't cry out for joy or fly off the handle with rage just yet. Because whatever abstract entitlement our kids have to accurate, relevant and age-appropriate information about sex, relationships and reproduction in the classroom, most aren't getting any. Education, that is. They are getting plenty of sex, some of it unwanted, as well as sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and, if they are same-sex attracted, a worrying dose of suicidal thoughts.

On the flip side to Dr Cannolds comments I thought I should show a sample of the information that is available on the Choices Decision Outcomes recommended link ..Gravity Teen, you should go visit this sight and look at the emotion laden messages that are clearly one sided and in my opinion designed to induce guilt.

Two nights later, it was still bothering me. My mom, dad, and I were out to dinner and in the middle of my parents' conversation, I blurted out "Mom, were you pregnant when you were 16?" She just looked at me with tears filling her eyes. She explained to me how she had an abortion, and as an eight-year-old, I could only imagine what it was. She said something about my sister, whom she had named Elizabeth, being in Heaven. At that moment it clicked for me that I had lost my sister.


Over the next three years, my mom became more active in the pro-life movement. She became the executive director of NOEL: The National Organization of Episcopalians for Life. I grasped the concept of what an abortion really was and got used to the fact that I was deprived of a sister I should've had. It was scary to know that my mom had killed someone that was so important to me.

When I turned 11, I was invited to speak at the Memorial Service for the Unborn as a sibling of an aborted child. I talked about how much I missed having an older sister and how I missed out on the little things, like watching her get ready for Prom or for her wedding. Spreading my experience of abortion was a big deal for me because it had been so much to overcome. Even though it wasn't me that had had the abortion, I felt bad and cried a lot about it.

Again you can click on the text for the full story and follow the tabs around the site- it makes for interesting reading. CDO doesn't appear to have anything to do with the site, but the fact remains that it is recommended to anyone who visits CDO.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Today's lesson: condoms in the classroom cause controversy

Sydney Morning Herald and ABC Radio today picked up on the issue of Choices Decisions Outcomes program delivering a message thats not compliant with NSW health.


the following was reported by Journalist Heath Gilmore

Today's lesson: condoms in the classroom cause controversyHEATH GILMORE


December 3, 2009


Picture from Q and A ... the Choices Decisions Outcomes’ website.





A PRIVATELY run sex education program operating in NSW public high schools questions the effectiveness of condoms for preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Real Choices Australia operates the program, Choices Decisions Outcomes, mainly in government schools across Australia. One of its directors and spokeswoman, Debbie Garratt, has links to the Catholic Church and has worked with anti-abortion groups.

The program is used at Ulladulla High School. Teams are trying to promote it in the Newcastle, Kempsey, Macksville, Port Macquarie and Taree regions. On the Choices Decisions Outcomes' website, students are warned that condoms are not 100 per cent effective in stopping sexually transmitted infections. It highlights that children who engage in sexual activity are ''flirting with danger''.The website goes on to say there is ''no scientific evidence that condoms prevent the transmission of most sexually transmitted diseases''.

The NSW Greens MP John Kaye said the program compromised the State Government's public health strategy, which says the use of condoms during casual sexual encounters ''significantly'' reduced STI transmissions.

''The program is using subterfuge to infiltrate the classroom and indoctrinate young people with a minority viewpoint, putting their sexual health at risk,'' Dr Kaye said.

Ms Garratt said the program, which catered for the first four years of secondary schooling, encouraged adolescents to make healthy lifestyle choices regarding their sexuality as well as health and relationship issues.

Asked whether the website was designed to dissuade students from using condoms, she said some readers may have inferred the wrong meaning. ''The message is that condoms are not 100 per cent safe,'' she said. ''We don't promote abstinence as the preferred option.''

Nicholas Parkhill, the chief executive of ACON, formerly the AIDS Council of NSW, said questioning the effectiveness of condoms put the lives of young people at risk.
''It is very concerning to learn that groups are questioning the effectiveness of condoms in relation to the prevention of HIV and other STIs,'' Mr Parkhill said.

Ellie Freedman, medical education co-ordinator of Family Planning NSW, said scientific evidence existed that condoms prevented the transmission of most STIs. She said laboratory studies showed latex is impermeable to STIs.

''At Family Planning NSW we advise that consistent condom use is the most effective way of protecting against STIs,'' Dr Freedman said.

A spokesman for the Department of Education and Training said Real Choice Australia did not require departmental authorisation for its presentations, only approval from principals.

''Where an external speaker addresses students on a topic, the regular classroom teacher remains present to ensure the information is consistent with the curriculum,'' he said.

''Condom use is included as one of several options for minimising the risk of infection.''

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Liberals anti CPRS and Trees!



Federal Liberals are doing their best to block Labors pathetic Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, and now with Tony Abbott as the new leader an even more extreme conservatisim is born.

Meanwhile on the home front- Local Conservative Liberals Guile and Ward
 (oops thats right Im supposed to call them independents) are dishing up there own brand of anti-green, with their latest attack on the City tree policy.

Clr Guile has got a bee in his bonnet that rural hedges are unsightly and a blight on the rural landscape. For someone who one day hopes to grow grapes- he had better start looking into the benefit trees provide.
 He also thinks that it should become the elected Councils job to get involved in tree removal disputes and give us the opportunity to debate and overturn the technical officers advice in regards to the removal of trees. Clr Guile has consistently argued that Council should be a more professional outfit and yet he wants to reduce our fortnightly debates to trees trees trees!

The other problem that has not been considered is that if we create a policy that protects rural views, then there is an expectation that those living close to the ocean should have their views protected also. Yet this would be a direct conflict in the attempts that are being made to stabilise coastal vegetation as a first line defence with rising sea's.

What if you want to farm carbon and plant out your 100acres with trees- how would that work in a landscape protectionist policy.

The tree policy may not be the best peice of policy, but it looks like that certain group of Shoalhaven Clrs ( Watson, Proudfoot, Guile, Ward, Kearney, Green) may take this opportunity to create an even worse policy than current.

So I am off to research tree policies around the state and see if we can actually improve things rather than make it easier to cut down trees in the Shoalhaven

Photograph of the Largest Spotted gum in the Shoalhaven- Thankfully safe in a reserve.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Greens name candidates for 2011 State Election

Here is how the Herald reported the results from The Greens pre-selection process.

Greens name election hopes
ANDREW CLENNELL


November 30, 2009 (Sydney Morning Herald)

THE executive director of the Nature Conservation Council, Cate Faehrmann, and the Mayor of Byron Bay, Jan Barham, are set to become state MPs for the Greens after winning preselection at the weekend.

Ms Faehrmann will be in Parliament sooner than the next state election in 2011 because she has been preselected to fill the casual vacancy state MP Lee Rhiannon will create when she leaves the Legislative Council to run for the Senate at next year's federal poll.

A quirk of the preselection is that Ms Faehrmann was an unsuccessful rival for the Senate preselection against Ms Rhiannon this year even though Ms Faehrmann had the backing of the Greens leader, Senator Bob Brown.

A Sydney lawyer and councillor, David Shoebridge, Ms Barham and the Orange City councillor Jeremy Buckingham will be the top three on the Greens ticket for the upper house in the next election.

Missing out on one of the top three spots was the Rhiannon-backed Rockdale councillor Lesa de Leau, who came second to Ms Faehrmann for the casual vacancy. With the Greens polling 12 per cent in the latest Herald/Nielsen poll, the third seat could be winnable, boosting Greens numbers in the upper house to five.

As well as Ms Faehrmann, the other MP up for election in 2015 is John Kaye.

Greens sources last night were hailing the result as the ''Greening of the Greens'' against the Rhiannon-Kaye harder left forces. Ms Barham, Mr Buckingham and Ms Faehrmann are seen as ''large G'' Greens.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Carbon Pollution On the Rise!

Carbon dioxide emissions from human activities rose 2 per cent in 2008 despite the economic effects of the global financial crisis, according to a paper published in Nature Geoscience.


Total missions in 2008 reached an all-time high of 1.3 tonnes of carbon per capita per year, the paper found.

The paper – by scientists from the internationally respected climate research group, the Global Carbon Project (GCP) – said rising emissions from fossil fuels last year were caused mainly by increased use of coal.

However, it found there were minor decreases in emissions from oil and deforestation.

“The current growth in carbon dioxide emissions is closely linked to growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” said one of the paper’s lead authors, CSIRO’s Dr Mike Raupach.

“CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion are estimated to have increased 41 per cent above 1990 levels with emissions continuing to track close to the worst-case scenario of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

"There will be a small downturn in emissions because of the GFC, but anthropogenic emissions growth will resume when the economy recovers unless the global effort to reduce emissions from human activity is accelerated."

The GCP estimates that the growth in emissions from developing countries increased in part due to the production of manufactured goods consumed in developed countries.

In China alone, 50 per cent of the growth in emissions from 2002 to 2005 was attributed to the country’s export industries.

According to the GCP’s findings, atmospheric CO2 growth was about four billion metric tonnes of carbon in 2008 and global atmospheric CO2 concentrations reached 385 parts per million – 38 per cent above pre-industrial levels.

More than 30 experts from major international climate research institutions contributed to the GCP’s annual Global Carbon Budget report – now considered a primary reference on the human effects on atmospheric CO2 for governments and policy-makers around the world.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Banning Election Donations- Is Rees going far enough!

Rees nade the announcement that banning developer donations was now at the top of his agenda. Years of pressure from The Greens must have brought about Ree's change of heart as he prepares himself for the 2011 election with a new cabinet and so clled new donations direction. but as always the devil is in the detail, and just like the current donations situation could see candidates exploit any loopholes. Further commentry......

Rees falls short on donation reform

By Angela Dorizas

The New South Wales Government ban on political donations from developers does not go far enough to reform election funding, according to Greens MPs, State Opposition and local government.

NSW Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said the ban introduced by Premier Nathan Rees this week included no commitment on banning corporate donations, limiting individual donations or capping election expenditure.

“If Premier Rees really wants to demonstrate he’s putting a new broom through this government he needs to do a lot more than just ban developer donations,” Ms Rhiannon told GovernmentNews.

“The model we have put forward, which is based on what’s happening in Canada and has often been supported by various Labor and Coalition MPs in recent years, is a total ban on donations from corporations and other organisations, a strict limit on donations from individuals, tight caps on how much money can be spent at election time and also bringing in limits on how much third parties can donate and also use in election time.”

Ms Rhiannon said the NSW Government was playing catch-up on banning political donations.

“Mr Rees is a late convert to this because we’ve actually, over many years, we’ve introduced a bill into the NSW Parliament about banning developer donations as the first step to achieving this,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“It's good that he’s now come on board, so we welcome that, but it certainly needs to be seen as just the first move in a far more reaching reform process.”

Ms Rhiannon called for the immediate disclosure all corporate donations to the Government and Opposition in the lead up to the 2011 state election.

Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell said the Rees Government had failed to cap spending, ban corporate donations and ban lobbyist success fees.

He said the Labor Government urgently needed to address the ‘donations for decisions’ culture that had developed within the planning system.

Local Government Association president Cr Genia McCaffery welcomed the Premier’s announcement on developer donations, but warned of potential loopholes.

“We absolutely support it, but developers could easily step around it,” Cr McCaffery told GovernmentNews.

“I personally do agree with Barry O’Farrell, where you ban all donations except from individuals, and have a cap of $1000. That to me is the sensible thing to do.”

In announcing the ban on donations, Mr Rees said he wanted to change the “perception of campaign funding” within the state.

He introduced an immediate ban on donations from developers to the NSW ALP, introduced legislation to extend the ban on developer donations to all parties and referred campaign spending caps, donation caps and public funding of elections to the NSW Parliament’s Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.

The committee is due to report back to Government by March 2010.

Ulladulla Primary School and governance.

Year 5's curriculum has a focus on governance and how all the different spheres of government work.
I was invitied to speak to my nephews year 5 class at Ulladulla Public School. The class had prepared a long list of questions covering a vareity of topics. For me the most challengeing part of this excercise was trying to convert what can be quite complex things into something that was relevant to the kids.

One of the questions asked was what is it like being on council, my kid friendly explanation went like this.

Sometimes its like the playground at lunchtime, when you meet up with other people, and some want to play football, some handball and others skip. If I want to play handball I have to convince the others not to play football or skip, sometimes you have to compromise and play handball for a while and football a for a while and finally sometimes you have to stick to what you want and play by yourself.

What do Councils do?

I gave them a list of things that could understand easily and then gave the following analogy for planning.

Say you wanted to go on a long bike ride- well you just wouldn't hop on your bike and go but you have to plan and get ready by knowing where you want to go, the best way to get there is it by road or on a bike path, do you have to wear a helmet, do you need to take water and lunch. So you would do a lot of work before you go on the journey and this is similar to Council planning for the future.

One young fellow asked me what it meant that land was owned by the crown!

I also had to explain who could vote in an election.

I hope they had an interesting session, I really enjoyed their questions and it was evident that they were paying attention when they asked questions that related to some of the issues discussed
(What are the hot issues in Council right now!)

I gave them all some homework- to fill in the survey that has been prepared as part off Councils consultation strategy for the Community Strategic Plan. So hopefully that will be some more different ideas feeding into the plans of the future!

Thanks Ulladulla Public for a great day.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

A new Pool for Shoalhaven Heads!

A new pool is one of the recreational facilities that have been proposed for the Shoalhaven Heads Tourist Park. Nothing wrong with that one would think- except that less than 30 metres from the gate is the village pool. A pool that Council struggles to keep open and supervised for a full day.


When Council supported this additional piece of infrastructure I was almost lost for words!

Those in favour of the park getting the pool argued that a premium tourist product needed a pool to give it a resort feel and that tourist didn't want to compete with locals for water space! Oh and that people didn't feel safe in the village pool and that the opening hours didn't suit the holiday schedule.

My counter argument was that we should be maximising the assets we have and diverting the funds from creating something new to improving and extending the village pool to better meet the needs of the tourist  park (and locals) during peak season.

I don't know the costings for the new pool but even a guesstimate of $50,000 would provide ample funds for extended lifeguard hours, some water play equipment, and the subsidised costs for the visitors. Ongoing maintenance should make such a plan sustainable.

I thought my proposition was logical- I think those in the gallery agreed and they would have liked this additional funding spent on some long overdue maintenance on their pool at  Nowra, which they are fighting to save. 

Locking the public out of Tabourie Reserve

Holiday Haven Tourist Parks are located on Crown Reserves throughout the Shoalhaven.These camping facilities provide a huge amount of dollars into Councils revenue, so at Tuesday nights meeting when it was suggested that we lock the public out of the reserve by installing a boom gate to protect the paying customers and keeping the car park private, there was only one response that needed to be given- NO.

Instead of going down that simple path, I had to convince at least 6 others that this was a bad plan.

The facts emerged as the debate went on.

No Community Consultation had taken place,
No existing boom gate at the facility that blocked the road (even though Councillors were told there was).
No other parking was available to the public that is family friendly access to both the lake and Wairo Beach.

Councils across NSW have been given license to operate caravan parks on crown reserves, one of the conditions of the license is that they provide camping areas and not have the majority of the parks swallowed up by private vans and council cabins. This historic decision supported equity for all people no matter how big your wallet. The very idea of Crown Reserves in my opinion is the essence of public access.

The argument against the boom was strong, and we at least now have a commitment to consultation before any further action is taken.

Common Sense saves the day!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Climate Change Adaptation Forum and Workshop


The forum and workshop, held in Sydney and Melbourne, will address climate change adaptation and managing the risks and building resilience.
Times and places
Melbourne Forum (Melbourne, 24 November 2009)
Melbourne Workshop (25 November 2009)
Sydney Forum (Darling Harbour, Sydney, 26 November 2009)
Sydney Workshop (27 November 2009)

This forum will:
Outline what adaptation is and how it relates to mitigation
Describe what are we adapting to - an overview of the science and key issues
Introduce ways to assess vulnerability, including compound risks with other emerging conditions such as economic contraction and peak oil
Outline approaches to building adaptive capacity and key capabilities around innovation and learning
Identify implications for strategy and business models
Provide participants with a new strategic frame to address climate impacts, as well as practical approaches they can apply.
Read more about Climate Adaptation Flagship.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Coastal Hazard Draft Policy Approved for Exhibition


At tonight's development committee meeting, Council adopted a draft policy to deal with rising sea levels and coastal development. The plan was given a last minute name change removing the word hazard in an attempt to soften the blow.


Over the last 18 months or so Council has been conducting studies into areas of high risk which includes the Millionaires row at Mollymook beach, testing for vulnerability when it comes to sea level rise and climatic change. Consultants UmWelt have come back with a report that includes some hazard mapping with indicators for the years 2025,2050 and 2100. These line's were revised to reflect the adopted draft position of the NSW State Government which has a 40cm rise by 2050 and 90cm rise by 2100.

So what does it all mean.

Basically, the plan extinguishes building rights on land that is seaward of the 2025 line. This land is classified as HIGH RISK and when you look at it you can see why. It is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of storm surges. Dunes with a good vegetation mix could help in mitigating the impacts, and is one of the recommended actions within the report.

Anything land-ward of the 2025 line has some building opportunities but these have been reduced and had new controls put in place.

Like many places around the state (not just coastal) some properties are devaluing due to climate change.

As a farmer who has been dealing with drought over the last 7 years we have been working with the Department of Primary Industries and CSIRO on adapting our business to suit climate change.

Like drought, knowledge of rising sea levels is not something that has occurred overnight, but has been solidly in the public eye for the last 10 years. Councils now have a duty of care to produce adaptation plans for their regions.

I decided to research the changes in ownership along millionaires row and was surprised to find property changing hands for premium prices as little as 8 months ago in these high risk areas. This area has been attracting the million + price tag since 2004, the buyer beware alarm bells should surely be ringing in such low lying coastal areas.

It was around 2004 that a good friend of mine decided to sell her low lying lake front property at a reduced price because of her concerns about climate change.

Low lying areas are suffering world wide from rising sea levels, farmers in NSW have been living with reduced income and land devaluation because of climate change induced drought. Island Nations are feeling the impacts keenly.

Decadent, Prepostorous Spring

I adore spring, its so decadent, sensory even sensuous, a feast for eyes, ears, nose and body. I'm surprised someone hasn’t try to ban it.
Working at our farm garden today I hilled soil full of life onto potatoes, and daydreamed of the fluffy white spuds or waxy kipflers I will be enjoying in a matter of weeks. I admired the strong shoots of the new corn bursting through and the bright green carrot tops now long enough to sway gently in the breeze.
The orchard is a work of art also, with small summer fruits taking shape, an utter abundance of foliage on the grapes and kiwi fruits, the delicious smell of the last of the citrus blossoms.
I watched tiny chicks follow their mother hen, and red headed wrens preen their newly coloured feathers in the light spray from a leaky hose. I gathered up my collection of food under the shade of the mandarin tree. Colours so bright they are almost preposterous or at least from an abstract artwork on the walls of famous gallery.
 The abundance is an illusion though, like a dessert mirage, for just below the surface lurks the grim fingers of drought ready to snatch away the fruit of our toil.
So from my heady sensory heights I fall and think once more about population pressure and the ever-diminishing farm land that has the smallest of chances to escape the fingers of drought and supply food for our always gaping jaws. Has our government condemned us to a life of imported food from China, through its newly aggressive immigration position? Leaving us vulnerable and unable to care for ourselves. Have they considered that blind consumption is the mantra that has been created by governments' hell bent on growth at any cost. Life giving water resources, barely enough to satiate the thirst of the nation now. Are we destined to rape the fresh rainfalls of Tasmania from the once suggested pipeline!
So interconnected is our web that each decision that impacts on our direct environment impacts directly on us- yet so many seem unable to accept that simple reality- we are just an animal, overpopulating and destroying the ability to sustain ourselves. I drift into the rose garden, drawn by the sweet late afternoon perfume drawing in not only me, but the end of day bees looking for that last feast to share with the colony and wonder will we do the same!

(Photo of one my favourite local nativeorchids known here as the "Flying Duck Orchid.)

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Community Forum Voted Down

This first year on council one of my focus points has been on better access for the community in regards to council's business.
All the ideas that I have put forward to improve consultation have been voted down, the latest being the forum prior to Council meetings. The idea of the forum was to have open access to all 13 Councillors in the one spot for members of our community who feel that the Consultative Bodies do not represent their interests. Community should be invited to share its experiences and contribute ideas for the city's future. Shoalhavens reputation as a Council that doesn't listen will be a difficult one to repair and a years worth of decisions is not the only way to turn that situation around.

I won't give up when it comes to improved community consultation and will keep bringing forward amendments for current practices so that Council can be more inclusive.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Tomerong Tip Part Four the closing statement

Closing Statement


This submission is a brief analysis of the application that has been put forward to the community.
It is plain to see that the application inadequately addresses environmental, land management and traffic issues.

The application if exposed to close and prolonged scrutiny would doubtless reveal additional issues that require addressing.

The Shoalhaven markets itself as a tourism location that has pristine waterways and natural vistas for the visitor to explore and enjoy. The Jervis Bay area, and its catchment in particular, attract many visitors from the domestic and overseas market.

It is an area of high environmental value and a semi-rural community lives here for the peace and quiet of a healthy environment. Given that the environmental credentials of the area have been long established, residents should expect a quality lifestyle, not the potential to be living next to a toxic waste dump.

When asked at a briefing as to why such a sensitive environmental site had been chosen for this facility, one of the joint preparers of the EIS stated "the landfill will be in a mined-out quarry, simple as that".

No consideration for the environmental implications and no confidence generated in the EIS. This is not just about filling an old quarry but changing the topography of the site with a 50 metre hill of toxic waste - in an environmentally sensitive catchment.

The Shoalhaven Greens are also shocked that the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) have deemed the condition of the Princes Highway adequate to support increased volume in heavy vehicle haulage.

This is of great concern as it appears to remove liability from the RTA should there be an increase in vehicle accidents due to increased congestion and the need for transport operators to meet deadlines and fulfil contractual agreements.

The Shoalhaven Greens are of the firm opinion that the only responsible course of action to take in determining the application is to enact the precautionary principle. Refusal of the application should be the recommendation on the grounds that it is not possible to guarantee the health of the environment or ensure as to what may happen in either the short or long term future on this site.

It is not possible to prove that toxins will not escape into the catchment via ground water, surface water or air and in light of this inability to prove that the development would be benign, the application must be refused.

We trust that the relevant Ministers and Panel members will exercise their environmental and social responsibilities and reject this proposal.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Tomerong Tip Part 3- Environmental Issues.

Water Quality and Environmental Issues


Development, particularly industrial development, in sensitive environmental areas must be proven to be benign or beneficial to the biodiversity, water and air quality of that area. This is spelled out in detail in the government's environmental legislation and the South Coast Regional Strategy.

It is clearly impossible for this proposal to meet those criteria and therefore renders the proposal completely unsustainable. The Tomerong quarry is in an area of high environmental significance, being in the catchment of St Georges Basin with the major feeder stream, Tomerong Creek, running mere metres past the quarry and its leachate/holding dams, and the headwaters of Moona Moona Creek and the Jervis Bay catchment.

Any toxic spill from this site would have serious consequences for Tomerong Creek and St Georges Basin.
The applicant cannot guarantee that there will be no leaching of toxins from this site or overflows of
polluted water, especially during extreme rainfall events. The reliance on mechanical pumping devices to reticulate water through the site and maintain leachate pond levels is problematic.

The applicant has already identified issues with ground water moving through the rock profile in locations above the current ground level of approx 13.5 AHD.
The precautionary principle must be applied to protect the already stressed St Georges Basin and its surrounding environment due to the applicant's inability to guarantee no leachate or toxic water overflows from the site. The leachate will be toxic - it is unsuitable for irrigating the site and toxins will be transferred into the catchment if the leachate is used as irrigation via aerosol action of sprayed water containing particulate.

Accidents happen and any pollution event resulting in toxins being released into Tomerong Creek could be catastrophic. St Georges Basin is already pushed to the brink of environmental health by the development
around it. This was recently recognised in the Federal Government's decision to stop any further housing
development within the catchment at the location known as Heritage Estates which would have directly impacted upon St Georges Basin.

To allow a large facility storing toxic solid and liquid (leachate) waste in the catchment of a still healthy, precious natural resource can only be described as epic folly. To quote Council staff, "there is only a very narrow buffer between the quarry and the sensitive water bodies leading to significant waterways".

Tomerong Tip Part 2- Road Issues

Transport and Road Issues


The Princes Highway will act as the principal corridor for waste trucks entering the facility and has for many years been identified as one of the most dangerous roads in the state, with black spots along its length, and is already dangerously overloaded with heavy vehicles.

Moss Vale Road through Kangaroo Valley cannot cope with this traffic, nor can the historically significant Hampden Bridge. The alternative route through Nerriga cannot accommodate heavy traffic over Oallen Ford thus creating an untenable transport situation for the delivery of waste from Wingecarribee Shire as is
proposed in the application.

The bypass of Berry is unfunded and most likely years away, so these heavy trucks will be passing right through the main street of Berry as well as Nowra, Milton and Ulladulla and then they arrive at the junction of Island Point Road and the highway.

This intersection is a major accident hotspot, which has already been identified as dangerous. It is still dangerous despite having been remodelled twice, but not with this proposal in mind. Traffic accidents at the Island Point Road/Princes Highway intersection have in the past caused the Princes Highway to be completely closed for long periods of time, an unacceptable situation for the residents who rely on the highway as the only access route north and south.

More horrendous accidents at this intersection are likely and if the intersection is closed then the alternative truck route to the quarry via Hawken, Pine Forest and Parnell Roads is totally inadequate to deal with such traffic. And although it is not mentioned in the application or is likely to be in any subsequent approval, there will be nothing to stop the waste trucks taking the Hawken Road route at any time as a short cut or when bridge access via Gumden Lane is flooded.

This will result in a quiet residential village with traffic calming devices and a primary school being impacted upon, an intolerable situation even for a short period. Throughout the region our network of roads is considered inadequate, additional multiple heavy vehicle movements will compound the problems of poorly maintained roads and in our opinion present opportunities for more vehicle accidents, specifically with large trucks.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Tomerong Tip- Part One- General Issues

Shoalhaven Greens have created a position paper in regards to the proposed Inert Waste Facility- otherwise known as Tomerong Tip. To make it easy to read in blog format I have seperated it into four parts The first part will deal with some of the general issues we have identified with the proposal.

Waste Management Issues in general


Waste, especially potentially toxic building waste, should be dealt with as close to its source as possible.

Local councils should work with all other levels of Government to minimise waste, not look for sites in other areas in which to dump it.

We find it morally unjustifiable for one community to dump its waste on another.

Every community should deal with its own waste.

It makes environmental sense to keep waste, especially toxic waste, operations small and close to source.

Reducing transport costs and the associated impacts must be a priority in waste management.

Additional freight on the inadequate south coast road network is untenable with unacceptable costs to amenity and to society in a general sense.

The issue of CO2 emissions from additional and unnecessarily long haul trucking has not been addressed in the application.

All levels of Government have an obligation to reduce CO2 emissions at every possible opportunity.

The argument that this proposal will extend the life of existing tips is indefensible.

Firstly the Shoalhaven already trucks its 4000 tonnes of building waste each year to the Illawarra; an appalling situation that puts our waste problems into another area when it should be dealt with here in the Shoalhaven at existing facilities.

Secondly if councils want to extend the lives of their tips they need to enforce adequate waste reduction measures on their communities and governments need to encourage manufacturers to reduce non-recyclable components in their products.

Taxing non-recyclable waste at source of manufactures would be an obvious step.

Leadership in regards to waste reduction is needed, innovation and new methods of manufacturing to reduce reliance on landfill will provide for more economic benefits to Australian people, through the creation of new jobs, compared to the current process of landfilling.

We find a potential conflict of interest in a State Government appointed panel determining this application when the same government will reap the reward of up to $50 a tonne in levies for the waste dumped in the near future and an undisclosed waste levy for outgoing years, two-thirds of which goes straight to Treasury.

If convenient holes in the ground are continually sought to dispose of waste there will never be an
incentive to eliminate waste.

Building waste should be recycled and any waste that is unable to be recycled at a municipal level should be returned to the manufacturer and dealt with at source.

The cost to the community of the Shoalhaven in receiving 100,000 tonnes of building waste to the
very centre of the city each year by road should be enough on its own to reject this proposal out-ofhand.

How will the company monitor loads dumped, ensure no inappropriate material comes in and collect and dispose of it if it does?

The Environmental Impact Statement says that they will but how?

We believe it to be inevitable that inappropriate toxic waste will be dumped on this site.

Impacts on other nearby local industries such as tourism is difficult to measure.

The Shoalhaven has invested significantly into its tourism product and should take a protectionist approach to maintaining its market share of domestic travel.

Part two deals with transport issues

Monday, October 5, 2009

The Cove- Film on Wednesday 7 October 2009 @ Sussex Inlet Theatre


Hello All,

Here is one of those last minute opportunities that come our way.

Sussex Inlet Theatre presents

Movie starts at 8.15pm but join us for nibbles first at 7.45pm

Tickets are a steal at $10 per head and  transport for the first 20 will be running from Milton Public School carpark at 7.15pm on Wednesday 7 October. Car pool if you can!

This film is not to be missed it is classified M and is not planned to come to Ulladulla.

Click on the title above to link to a movie trailer on YouTube.

                                                                       See you on Wednesday Night.
                                                                      (A Fundraiser for your local group The Shoalhaven Greens)

Monday, September 28, 2009

Recording of Council Meetings not On

The issue of recording Council meetings has been floating around for a few months now. I first suggested it in May as a way of providing more access to the community for Council meetings.

At present you must attend the meeting or listen to a broadcast by Shoalhaven FM (which may or may not happen).

Council has been heavily criticised in the past for its lack of consultation and community engagement, having the recorded meetings made available to the public added in my opinion another layer of accountability.

Clr Andrew Guile claimed that it was just an 'indulgence' and had little benefit

Clr Gareth Ward tried out his budding lawyer skills and regaled us with tales of liability, qualified privilege and so on ending with a recommendation that any liability issues remain with Shoalhaven FM as a continuing service broadcaster.

It is interesting to see how each of the Councillors reacts to this issue. At a previous meeting Clr Watson had a mind to support me on this issue, but not this time as he claimed it just another expense.

It is part of my role to continue to look for innovative ways to improve accountability, access and engagement for the community. Having no success in this issue certainly doesn't deter me from continuing with this mission

Berry Sustainable Living Forum

Saturday was spent in Berry with Tannar, as we attending the morning session at the Four Seasons Sustainability Forum.

Deny and Kim, put together an excellent mini expo that offerred a variety of products to follow up on and interesting lectures from local people.

The first lecture was a tag team effort by Kelly Upton and Gerrard Proust, who took the audience on a walk through their sustainable garden at Tomerong and through the garden project that Kelly works on in Bomaderry. With many photos and an enthusiastic presentation style, they inspired the audience to go away and get busy in the garden, they gave away seeds and fruit tastings from their harvest. Tannar was most impressed about this as she clutched some bags with bean and parsley seeds.

Colin Irwin gave an interesting talk on the design elements of housing and how something as simple as the placement of the home on the land can make all the difference to the comfort of the home throughout the seasons. From the delight full family home that has been completed as the Sustainable House Shoalhaven Project to the large and private residences Colin presented many options to the assembled.

Ben van der Wijngaart discussed transition and took us on a positive journey through the huge issues that challenge us as a nation when it comes to climate change-to looking at the possibilities for a post climate change world. The future can look bright, it really needs community to get together and put pressure on government to deliver the outcomes that most of the population would like to see enacted.

Tannar wanted to take the electric motor bike that was on display. She was most impressed by its futuristic look and of course the fast red colour it was painted.

I wanted to pack up the aquaponics display and take it home for instant installation in the front garden. What a practical way to achieve a water feature while growing your own vegetables and fish.

We had an enjoyable morning together and either Tannar is a remarkably patient child or she just found the day interesting ( I hope it is both) and we made it through to lunch time before heading South again.

Well done to Deny and Kim, who went to a lot of effort in trying to demystify the issue of sustainability and show that we all have a role to play from changing light globes to taking responsibility for our own power consumption.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Lies, Derision, Back Stabbing its all here in local Government!

Now for the truth!


Below is the follow up piece that the paper printed. But what they feared to print goes like this.

On Monday night, when I 'dared' challenge Clrs Ward and Guile for their roles as deputy, they decide to dish out their little petty tyrant punishment by voting me out of the position of Chairperson for the climate change committee. Of course they will deny this allegation, but I had two separate informants tell me of their backstabbing plot. Besides I have witnessed them execute similar plots on others so was hardly surprised at my fate.
Clr Ward has also threatened me in the past and delivered his vitriolic responses to some of the issues that I have raised.

I have appealed to Clr Ward's ambitious sense of self and requested that he set an example in the chamber and not reduce the argument to ridicule and derision, something he could take with him into state politics setting a new standard in behaviour. It would seem an impossible task for a young man who appears to model himself on the very bad behaviour that government is renowned for.
At least I am under no illusion as to what Clrs Ward and Guile represent.
Sometime ago I raised a notice of motion in regards to meeting etiquette, that had simple statements such as,
Listen without preconceptions and be open to new ideas.
Respect others' points of view.
Encourage quieter people to speak
Avoid negative body language
Avoid sexist language
Address the issue not the person
Avoid all aggressive verbal or non-verbal interactions
Avoid side-conversations and interjections
Leave the room if you don't want to listen

These amendments were howled down as 'unnecssacary' as they are part of an 'unspoken code which all will follow'. I am tempted to raise them again, as Clrs Ward, Guile and Co seem unable to abide them.
Such is politics :-)

Findley explains why she stood against the Shoalhaven’s young deputy mayor

25/09/2009 1:08:00 PM South Coast Register.

AFTER spending a year as Shoalhaven City Council’s youngest-ever deputy mayor, Gareth Ward was re-elected this week.

However he faced a challenge from Greens councillor Amanda Findley.

Cr Findley said she nominated to “give my peers a choice”, and while the votes overwhelmingly went against her, felt it was a worthwhile exercise.

“I felt I had something to offer when it comes to maturity,” Cr Findley said.

While saying she thought Cr Ward had done “a very good job” as deputy mayor for the past 12 months, Cr Findley added, “I’m just as capable, and maybe slightly more mature.”

She admitted being critical of Cr Ward’s behaviour during council meetings, saying he was prone to giggling, passing notes and talking while others had the floor.

“I also wanted to do it for gender equality and women’s representation in local government,” she added.

Cr Findley was supported by Shoalhaven Independents councillors Greg Watson and Josie Young, and said Cr Watson’s vote was “a surprise”.

“At least he had a choice, and that’s what democracy is about,” she said.

After his victory Cr Ward said he was looking forward to being part of continued changes at council.

Greens and Watson ally- How the paper reported it.

Here is how the paper reported my noination for Deputy Mayor

Watson and Greens join forces in deputy vote
23/09/2009 8:19:00 AM South Coast Register.

THE old adage that politics makes strange bedfellows was demonstrated on Monday night when Shoalhaven City Council elected its deputy mayor and assistant deputy mayor.
While the Greens in the past couple of years have condemned former Shoalhaven Mayor Greg Watson, and the Shoalhaven Independents Group’s links with developers who donated to election campaigns, Greens councillor Amanda Findley and Cr Watson united as leadership positions were put to the vote.

Incumbent deputy mayor Gareth Ward and assistant deputy mayor Andrew Guile were both opposed by Cr Findley.
Cr Ward retained his position 10 votes to three, with Cr Findley supported by Cr Watson and Josi Young from the Shoalhaven Independents Group.

In the vote for assistant deputy mayor Cr Andrew Guile was victorious nine votes to four, with Cr Findley also attracting the support of fellow Ward Three representative Cr Robert Miller.

Following the vote Cr Ward congratulated Cr Findley for nominating for the positions and putting the democratic processes to the test.

He also praised his fellow councillors, and the mix of qualities they brought to discussions.
"There is both experience and wisdom, as well as energy and ideas, in this room," Cr Ward said.
Cr Guile said it was "a privilege to sit around this table" with other councillors.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Tasmanian Forest defenders take heart in Forestry bungle!

This year we visited Tasmania and spent some time at Camp Flozza- a protest camp set up to keep Forestry Tasmania accountable for their actions in some of Tassies most devine old growth forest. We took part in a mass action that took us into the area that was being decimated for a  road that will create greater access to the ancient forest. Over the last 2.5years many protesters have been arrested for trespass- seems today there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Read the following Media Release from Still Wild STill Threatened

Conservationists convicted of trespass in the Upper Florentine valley will be contacted and urged to appeal against their convictions, according to Still Wild Still Threatened.


The organisation that spearheaded protests in the old growth forests of the Upper Florentine said that more than 90 charges of trespass have been laid and gone before the courts since February, 2007. Still Wild Still Threatened will put a call out via the internet sites Facebook and Myspace, as well as email contact lists, to the 90 plus people arrested in the Upper Florentine for trespass, including many international visitors, urging them to get legal advice to appeal against their convictions.

This follows the revelation that Forestry Tasmania bungled the exclusion zone boundary and gave wrong information to the police, resulting in the trespass charge against Derwent Valley grandmother Lynda Blyth being dropped. The police have also communicated that trespass charges against others accused of trespass would also be dropped if they fall into the same category as that of Ms Blyth, who was arrested over 200 metres from the exclusion zone.

“Dozens of people have stood up to the Government, Forestry Tasmania and the logging industry to defend the ancient forests of the Upper Florentine and they have been wrongly accused of breaking the law,” said Natalie Keene, Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson. “Many have been wrongfully convicted because the police blindly accepted the word of Forestry Tasmania.”

"Those wrongly convicted should have legal and other costs incurred through their arrests and trials reimbursed by Forestry Tasmania," Ms Keene said.
The Upper Florentine exclusion zone has been in place off and on according to the bungled boundaries since April 2006. Since then, there have been a constant community presence and numerous protests resulting in over 90 charges of trespass.
"Forestry Tasmania should apologise to all the members of our community they have wrongly accused of breaking the law," said Ms Keene. "We demand that the Tasmanian Government put in place a more effective watchdog for Forestry Tas, whose incompetence continues to be exposed." Ms Keene said.

"Premier Bartlett has egg on his face because he blindly accepted Forestry Tasmania's claims that people were breaking the law. We hope this development will encourage him to be less gullible - and more clever - in his approach to the forest issue." said Ms Keene.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Sex Education and the Fred Nile Group

The shocking discovery that my daughter participated in a sex education class that has links to the Fred Nile Group has led to some pretty interesting conversations over the last week.

It has also led me on an interesting journey around the Internet- trying to find more information, but I haven't been on my own.

When the beans first spilt, I contacted Dr Leslie Cannold a well known ethicist and campaigner for the rights of women to make informed decisions. I wanted to let Leslie know of the confusing identity that Choices Decisions Outcomes had created when linking itself to Real Choices Australia which has the same three letter acronym as Reproductive Choice Australia. Both organisations are diametrically opposed in regards to the rights of women to have an abortion.

Leslie pointed out to me that the organisation Federation of Pregnancy Support Services Inc which certifies the trainers (Ulladulla High School) is an umbrella organisation for the Right to Life groups that underwent scrutiny via the Federal Government Senate and had to make significant changes to its constitution to prove impartiality and gain federal government funding.

A cross party Private Members bill was introduced in 2006 to cut through the confusing state of pregnancy counselling services offered in Australia.

Senator's Natasha Stott Despoja, Judith Troeth, Carol Brown and Kerry Nettle introduced the Pregnancy Counselling (Truth in Advertising) Bill 2006. The Bill extended the widely accepted principle of transparency in advertising to pregnancy counselling services.

Sadly, anti-abortion services advertise in ways designed to mislead and confuse women. These services provide false information to women about the risks of abortion, and will not refer women to a termination service, even if they request it. The Bill draws a line in the sand when it comes too false advertising. It prohibits agencies that will not refer for abortion from disguising this fact in the ads they put in GPs surgeries, and in the Yellow and White Pages,

So three years later on we are still in a position of misleading information with the Choices Decisions Outcomes program being delivered to teens by the Right to Life followers with no choices given to parents in regards to participation. A position that has to change. Public schools should not be engaging in one-sided debate but remain secular and allow young people to thrive in a balanced environment. For religious schooling there are plenty of private school options available.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Shoalhaven a loser in electricty privatisation.

Shoalhaven will lose jobs in the public sector should the NSW State Governments electricty asset sale go ahead.

Not only Integral jobs will go, but opportunities will be lost at Bamarang Gas Fired Power Station which was approved in 2006.

Electricty in NSW may need a shake up- but it is a renewable future that it is crying out for not privatisation.

Read what Greens MLC John Kaye had to say on the situation...


As details of Finance Minister Joe Tripodi's so-called "energy reform" package emerge, it is increasingly clear that the Rees government is selling off the existing coal-fired power stations in all but name only. Their electricity privatisation strategy is in deep trouble, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "Despite Joe Tripodi's expensive overseas trip and six months of high pressure marketing, it is now clear that the Rees government is struggling to find even one purchaser willing to pay a premium price for a slice of the state's electricity industry.
The Finance Minister is softening us up for a failure of the tradesale. Such is his lack of confidence in finding buyers with enough cash that he is preparing a stock market float of some of the most attractive assets and a potential fire sale auction of the rest. "Anyone who was not ideologically committed to privatisation would pull out at this point

"Without regards for the disastrous consequences for households, the environment and power station workers, the Rees government is pushing ahead despite the lack of interest and the risks of losing billions on a forced sale.

"Once the strategy has begun, the Rees government's commitment to the early purchasers to put the entire industry under private control will force a fire sale of the remaining assets. "The thin veneer of so-called ‘gen traders' model has finally been stripped away.
Joe Tripodi has admitted that the private sector will get almost complete control of the power stations for the duration of their technical life. "Any pretence that the coal fired power stations are not being handed over to private control has been destroyed by the admission that the traders will have day to day control over operations, maintenance and the future of electricity workers.
"Gen traders will also be given the right to invest in the powerstations to prolong their lives or increase their coal-burning capacity," Dr Kaye said. For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Hooded Plovers Hounded of Beaches

Thanks to well informed friends I was dismayed to find out that over the last month dogs have been hounding the hooded plovers who are trying to make good with nesting on South Coast beaches.

Hoodies as they are know to locals are rare due to the interference from humans and man's so called best canine friend running wildly on certain beaches.

Unfortunately the owners of these dogs seem to keep getting away with their pooches interfering with Hoodies breeding season and so the decline in numbers.

These small birds nest in a depression on the beach and are very sensitive to disturbance.

My task this week will be to call for additional ranger patrols particularly in and around the beaches of Bawley Point were the nesting activity is occurring.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Sex Education and the Religious Right

My 12 year old daughter came home from school yesterday and informed me that

"you can loose your virginity by pashing (kissing) some one"

WHAT THE!!!!

Call it good management or otherwise but my daughter already had 'that' talk and knew this to be a lie.

So I did what any parent would do when presented with this sort of information, I started researching what was going on at school.

Ulladulla High School has volunteers present to the children a program called Choices, Decisions, Outcomes (CDO) a so called "innovative, value based education program for adolescents encouraging responsible decision making regarding sexuality".


The young people were given a take home kit which included an appraisal card directing children to a web resource. All of this seems fairly tame but focused on the issue of teen pregnancy.

The web site is also partnered by an organization calling themselves RCA or Real Choices Australia a pro-life anti abortion organization.

RCA is a three letter acronym which in my opinion has been 'borrowed' from Reproductive Choices Australia… '[is] a coalition of organisations and individuals who are interested in ensuring that women’s reproductive rights are protected and enhanced in Australia'.

As I went about this research I also discovered that the program was delivered by the local Baptist Church. Their representative Mrs Rhonda Avasalu is a member of the Christian Democratic Party (The Fred Nile Group) and was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2007 Federal election. The Fred Nile Group are renowned for their homophobic, fanatical religious views, anti- abortion and anti- civil rights.

I find it very disturbing that my local public high school can continue to deliver such a program to its year seven student body, when a similar program was banned in June 2009 by the NSW Education department because of its links to the Fred Nile Group.

'An expert in sex education in schools, Associate Professor Anne Mitchell of La Trobe University, said it was entirely appropriate for children in years 5 and 6 to be taught about conception, pregnancy and life in the womb. Professor Mitchell states however "My problem would be if it's put in an ideological framework, if it's being used to influence people's thinking about abortion."

The program taught at Ulladulla High School needs to be brought to the attention of the NSW Department of Education and banned because like the other program it is linked to the Christina Democratic Party ( Fred Nile Group) and a known anti abortion group ( Life before Birth).

When I contacted the Dept of Eduction, I was advised that school principals have the discretion to endorse programs that "enrich learning".

Any assistance from the community on this issue would be appreciated and I urge any one with information to share it with the Minister for Education, myself or Ulladulla High School.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Goodbye Village- Hello Suburban Strip.

The sun sets on the scenic buffer zone for Milton.
On Tuesday night I went to Council prepared to challenge the loss of the scenic preservation of Milton Meadows. If Milton is to loose this scenic buffer that helps identify the village, then at the very least there should be some social benefit in the form of a Retirement Village.
A Retirement Village is what the developer has said he wants.
High Care facilities is what the region needs.
The State Government have given the extra bonus to the developer by demanding a residential zoning for rural lots.
The Liberal faction of Council ( Clrs Ward, Guile, Bennett, Soames and Brumerskyi) are determined to see that the developer gets a choice of subdivision or the retirement village plan.
The developer will then have a seriously enhanced asset that could be sold for sub-division at any time.
The votes were cast on Tuesday night with one councillor away a tied vote of 6/6 meant the Mayor had to use his casting vote. He voted with the group of Councillors who wanted to insure that the land was not frittered away into subdivision but allow the developer his dream of building a retirement village.
Milton residents could only enjoy this reasonable decision for about 20 mins as Liberal Councillors, Ward, Guile and Brumerskji lodged a recision motion knowing that in two weeks time when the absent Councillor Josi Young returns they will have the numbers to give the developer a gift and rob Milton of its character.
To add insult to the situation Clrs Young and Proudfoot are supposed to represent Milton and support the change in zoning to allow subdivision.
Councillor Guile suggested that we could control subdivision through adding control plans. He seems to have forgotten that once the zoning is issued the Land and Environment Court would see this as the overriding land use and approve an application for subdivision regardless of the intent to build a retirement village.
This issue has outed the hypocrites, the hollow promises to work together, to consider consensus decision making and support our communities through representation.
I'm sure if the villages represented by the Liberal faction where in the same situation it would be entirely different.
So whats left to do- All Milton/Ulladulla residents need to lobby the Councillors particularly the ones who represent this area and ask them to see sense in the compromise of not changing the land from rural to residential- but still allow the opportunity for retirement living focusing on the needs of the community and delivering a high care facility.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Travel Expenses Reviewed

(photo caption: Clearing out the old to make way for the new!)

A recent review of travel expenses for Crown employees has been conducted. The findings of the review has recommended a downward shift in the milage allowance payable. This downward shift has seen 9c removed from the top rate now payable at 75c a kilometre and an increase in the rate for smaller cars increaseing from 57.5c to 63c a kilometre.


The Premiers office say the changes are required to bring the payment in line with the rates declared by the Taxation Office.


I beleive this downsizing of the allowance to be a good move, as there is a more incentive for crown employees ( includes Councillors) to drive smaller cars- the previous top rate of 86.2 c per kilometre provided no incentive at all.


Smaller more fuel efficeint cars on the road will help to reduce transport CO2 emissions.


I am looking forward to 2010 when the first commercially available full electric cars are supposed to be introduced on the Australian market. I wonder how the tax department will deal with travel allowance then!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Milton Meadows- Caught between a rock and a hard place.

This coming Tuesday 11 August brings to Councils agenda the rezoning of 15 hectares
(37 acres) of land in Milton, that helps to create the rural interface between town and farmland. The motion that is currently on the paper I just cannot support as it opens up the potential to subdivide the land into a large lot subdivision (down to 2000sqm if dual occupancy is applied, call this plan A).
This is completely at odds with the original reason behind the rezoning application for a retirement village with a high care facility.
A request has been made to staff to offer up a way forward that protects the land from large lot subdivision but gives the developer the opportunity to move ahead with the original retirement village plan (call this plan B).
So by supporting Plan B, I find myself "between a rock and a hard place" as I am effectively supporting development on land that the community wanted quarantined against development to help retain the village atmosphere of Milton.
However, by voting NO for plan B, I help turn the land over to more development that has no social benefit. The owner of the land already has the existing rights to carve the block into 4 portions, which I think is ample development for this part of town. I would like to vote to retain the current zoning, but as a loan Green voice in Council, I simply won't have the numbers to block the development. In Milton there is already ample land zoned to accomodate retirement living, we don’t need to rezone any prime farmland.

For more history read on…..

The land that is known as Milton Meadows is on the Southern side of Milton. Mostly a hillside that once was cleared it has some remnant rainforest vegetation along an intermittent creek bank. The land helps to give a rural edge to Milton and joins on to other farmland, a school and some residential blocks.
When creating a Strategy plan for the future of the district Shoalhaven Council consulted with the community on a number of things, strong representations were given to council that wanted coastal villages to maintain their own identity and not become a homogenous never ending suburb!
So, it was with this in mind that the land was given a scenic hatching or a special zoning that meant the land couldn’t be turned into suburbia!
Over the years, the developer of this land put pressure on Council to remove the special zoning to allow them to develop a retirement village. Council eventually caved to this pressure.

If you feel strongly about this issue please contact myself and Shoalhaven City Council.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

The Great Disruption- Climate Change Commentry

Paul Gilding has been an activist for sustainability for 35 years, working for NGOs, business and government. He explains why physics and biology have determined that our current model for economic growth is finished, and how the human race will face its biggest challenge ever.

Click on Paul's name above and go listen to the Audio file archived by ABC Radio's Background Briefing.

I found Paul's discussion insightful and wondered why couldn't more people see things in this way.

Check out the theories of Jared Diamond on why societies chose to succeed or collapse. His book Collapse is very interesting but this video gives the time poor insight into Jared's thoughts.

Monday, August 3, 2009

ABC Knit In Tuesday 4 August at Nowra Library.

A mountain of knitted squares ready to be 'Wrapt with love' Image courtesy of ABC Radio web site!

Nowra Library 10.30am will play host to Tuesday 4 August Knit in event. I have packed my needles and wool and will join the knitters for a morning of clatter and chatter!

Community Radio

Last weeks Council meeting saw a huge turn out in the gallery. Not only were the residents of Worrigee out in force but supporters for 2UUU(Shoalhaven FM).

Shoalhaven FM is a community radio station that has been around since broadcasting a variety of shows with volunteer presenters. It all seems fairly innocuous, but then there is this small niggling issue of its links with the Shoalhaven Independents Group (Greg Watson's mob). Ex Mayor Greg is notorious for having one of the largest local government campaign funds in years (+$90K) and a business connected to him have been long term 'Sponsors' of the station. One ex member of the Shoalhaven Independent group Jim McCrudden is now a presenter who enjoys having a dig a council and all other levels of government. None of this really bothers me it all fits within the legal framework of community broadcasting.

What does bother me though is the very loose policy statement that gives donations for this radio station ( and one other) without, in my opinion a strong application process.

All other applicants who seek funding from council must present a comprehensive application to council that has a budget attached and some form of documentation in regards to the commercial or non commercial status of the organisation. It would seem fair to me that community radio stations should not be exempt from this process and should provide council a copy of their financial statements and a statement of the years activities. This way should any one ask why are they receiving funding, there is a solid information to provide.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Simple request turns into a fiasco!

After nine months as a Councillor at Shoalhaven you would think that I would not be surprised by much. Last Tuesday however made me laugh so hard at how the Brothers Grim (Guile and Ward) can turn a simple request for a sub-committee into a roaring political grandstanding session.

I chair the Climate Change Committee who's charter is to 'Guide Council's response to community concern and exposure to risk regarding the potential impacts of Climate Change'.

Council staff thought that Councillors could be interested in participating in a sub group that looked at the risks to council assets and how mitigation could be integrated into asset management plans. For the amount of noise that my support for this request created- you would have thought that a vast amount of money had been requested. Accusation of 'political grandstanding' and trying to force the hand of councillors to 'bow to the god of climate change' bounced around the chamber. The brothers grim even suggested that the motion was to paint them as climate change deniers and part of the development dozer set-this is what made me laugh the most as there was no accusing going on- just themselves painting their own picture! Ward went on to say 'some people thought it good governance to create a committee, but to get things done you should just abolish committe and get on with the job'.

The Mayor joined in asking if we had a committee to look at the impacts of the Y2K issue, another asked if the asset of paper and pens would be included and councillors expected to waste their time risk managing these.

So it was with these attempts to belittle the process, intimidate, grandstand and generally carry on like children that made me laugh and be surprised that the request could be argued with so much vitriol.

So if you're looking for cheap entertainment I highly recommend coming along to a council meeting some day soon!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Milton Library- Small with a BIG Heart.


Milton Library may be small and may only open for short hours- but some would consider it the heart of town. With over 200 people through the doors each day( Its only open Wednesday and Friday for 5 hrs) it well and truly services the town. From story time for preschoolers, large print books, DVDs, music and magazines and a public access computer it has the lot, even the building can boast its historic virtues as the old town hall built in the early 1900's.


I was horrified to learn that it was Council's intention to close Milton Library when the Ulladulla Library gets its upgrade. I wanted to move swiftly to cast away any ideas that this little library is going anywhere. On Thursday 25 June I put forward a notice of motion that requested that Council affirm a commitment to keep Milton Library open regardless of the state of play in Ulladulla. It was good to see that Councillors were unanimous in seeing this great asset remaining in the community.


Milton has a great blend of older persons and young people who use the facility, it is within easy walking distant of the retirement village, 3 primary schools, one high school, and numerous preschools. All Shoalhaven Libraries are part of the South Coast Library co-operative which covers Kiama to Bega and helps to extend the catalogue and share resources amongst South Coast residents. Volunteers are keen to help out at the Library so I hope that in the future we will be able to incorporate a friends of the library service so that we can extend access for the community, but for now, I am satisfied with the result of Thursdays meeting and the commitment to keep the library.

Friday, June 26, 2009

POWER SHIFT:Youth Climate Summit



Last nights council meeting saw unanimous support for my motion requesting funding for 2 youth delegates to attend the Power Shift:National Youth Climate Summit.

What was behind my actions?

Every year along with many other volunteers I attend World Environment Day at Ulladulla High School. the event is for year 7 and covers many aspects about the importance of our environment-my group focuses on biodiversity in plant life and how important plant life is in the web of life.

This year I attended the assembly to represent the Landcare group. Principal Tracey Provost gave an excellent talk on the challenges of climate change, Tracey made the statement 'that those who would make the greatest difference were in the room today'-Tracey meant the young people, but nearly 200 faces turned towards me, with expectant looks on their faces.

When I had time to reflect on this moment, I felt deeply ashamed that people of my generation-the so called Generation X are letting the Millennium Generation down when it comes to real action on climate change. We haven't been able to effectively lobby government to give us the tools we need to reduce carbon pollution- those tools include a Carbon Tax (not the useless version of CPRS currently being debated) a commitment to demand management, investment in energy savings technology and a move to renewable energy.

When I heard about Power Shift: National Youth Summit, I felt that sending delegate from the Shoalhaven was an excellent way to empower our Youth to help take control of the debate. Knowledge, skills and tools will be available for the delegates that attend, I hope that our Shoalhaven delegates come home as Climate Change leaders and help pull others along the path to action.

Thanks to the other Councillors who supported this small financial commitment that hopefully will have great benefit for helping empower the youth of Shoalhaven.


Shelter to Close it doors as letter requesting more rentals goes out.

Salt Care - follow link to see their services  I received the sad news that our local homeless shelter needs to close it's doors on Sund...