Shoalhaven Schools NOT for Sale

NSW Schools under threat from land use zoning changes.

Shoalhaven Schools Not for Sale


"The Greens are not prepared to stand by and watch our schools, hospitals, halls, churches, parks or any other public facilities that the Department of Planning wants to rezone for residential purposes sold off to the higher bidder" says Greens Candidate for the South Coast Amanda Findley.

"Land was set aside for the community generations ago and zoned in such a way as to make it very difficult to sell off for other purposes. Now the government wants to remove any impediments so that it can cash in on the increased land value these precious community assets tie up.

"The selling off of special use land assets to the highest bidder, usually for residential development, is short sighted and does nothing for planning for infrastructure needs into the future. It sets the state up for infrastructure failure and high cost land buy backs" she said.

"Should the Coalition be successful in forming government after the State election in March the Labor party are handing them all the right circumstances and excuses to move quickly to sell off property. I have no confidence that either major party will be interested in protecting special use land for hospitals and schools if the development lobby comes knocking. Across the state councils are being ordered to rezone this type of land - a diabolical plan to remove protection and snatch assets for quick sale.

" The draft Shoalhaven Local Environment Plan is very close to being released for public exhibition and we need our residents to scrutinise the maps and make a submission telling the Department of Planning that we say NO to having zoning protection removed from our public properties.

" In other areas rezoning of public facilities has taken place with little or no recognition of the consequences of zoning schools and hospital grounds as a part of the residential area.

" In Shellharbour for example over 30 properties that include schools, railways, police, churches and childcare centres have been rezoned for residential or business use.

" This is a real problem on more than one level for not only does it block public participation when it comes to rezoning public facilities but it also opens the way for any incoming state government to start selling land that was previously unavailable. The Greens will protect public land by reinstituting zoning which protects public infrastructure and instituting a parliamentary process for any sale of public assets in NSW" Ms Findley says.

"We need to send the message loud and clear that we want public facilities protected from redevelopment. We want our Council to boycott the demands of the Department of Planning and we want a policy commitment from all parties to reverse this diabolical grab for public assets".

Tax isn't the problem: Equity and Distribution is.

The mere word TAX can send some into a ranting fit but we cant forget the daily benefits that tax brings us. Free education, income support, health care, water and waste services, roads just to name a few.

Car tax isn't an altogether appalling idea but how should the money raised be spent?  Regional people need roads that are safe, safety programs for young drivers and more importantly we need money directed to a public transport system that will ensure that rising fuel costs do not further isolate us.

Rising fuel costs are not a thing of the past and as 'peak oil' comes into play we are in for some severe oil shocks. On average regional people pay more at the bowser and often private car travel is the only transport option available so there needs to be action to address regional inequity.

Talking to unemployed young people on the South Coast they cant afford to buy a car let alone fuel one and the transport options are so poor that getting to a place of higher education such as TAFE or University is impossible unless you can hitch a ride. At least with pensioners the option for community transport is available-  this service has seen a real rise in demand. When Shoalhaven City Council surveyed the needs of the city transport was the most mentioned service gap.

Simply if you can afford a large vehicle such as a 4x4 you should be able to afford more tax. 4x4s in particular use more fuel, put more pressure on ageing and failing roads and don't necessarily offer more safety. Most of the 4x4s I see are in the morning driven by mums dropping children at school and would rarely make it off road. Our family have two of these vehicles in our driveway- mine spends 80% of its time driving on a highway.

So if all the funds of a car tax were spent on improving Sydney's public transport system that would compound the distribution of wealth problems faced by regional dwellers. It could have a net benefit effect for the state, moving the most people in the most efficient manner- improving workplace productivity and take pressure of the roads- but tax needs to be about equity and we need to stop complaining about it and engage in constructive criticism of its distribution.
The axe the tax campaign is a typical reactionary position that we will see more of as the State Election campaign ramps up over the coming weeks, trying to win electoral favour without analysis of the deeper problem.

4x4s at work on the swings and roundabouts of tax, pay more, claim as a business expense- contribute less

Two Nights in an Activists camp - Eden NSW



We decided to spend two nights this week down at Eden with the group of activists who have been directly standing up to the woodchiping industry and the operation of the South East Fibre Exports woodchip mill and loading facility at Eden.

Along with our family we had a friend and five additional kids ten of us in total. The young people are keen to save our native animals and plants.

During the last week I have been asked the question- why protest-why participate in actions?
So I thought I should try and articulate what my thoughts are on the issue.

Woodchipping is a crime.

It directly contributes to the extinction of plants and animals.
Its a waste of valuable forest resources which should be nurtured to help Australia combat climate change.

It is unnessecary to cut down trees to make paper and cardboard products when we could be creating an alternative and local fibre industry.



We spend millions asking other countries to stop logging their native forests yet we are unwilling to do it ourselves.

 'OUR' tax dollars are propping up an industry that is not profitable.

We need to leave something in reserve for future generations.

There are other points to be made but you get the picture.

Activism comes in many forms for many signing a petition, making a  $ $ donation, attending a rallly are the limit.

I decided to take my action via the political process as I thought I could make a difference.

Some take up the cause at the 'front line' risking their lives, getting arrested, being subjected to violence and harrasment.

All these forms of protest are valid and needed to make sure that the issues around a 'cause' are making it into the mainstream, into peoples everyday as some are easily brushed over and lost in the dross.

Sometimes the only way to get attention is to conduct actions that make the headlines and that is exactly the intention of the crew that assembled in Eden this week.

Monday: a tripod was raised on the road and stopped the unloading of log trucks for 13 hours creating a que of trucks that backed up to the Princes Hwy and beyond.

Wednesday: Tripod raised again and work stopped for more than 3 hours.

Those at the tripod on Wednesday were assaulted by truck drivers. Mill workers also attempted to harass people camped nearby by trying to blockade them from leaving.


Thursday: A peacefull game of cricket at the entrance to the mill-play often stopped to allow log trucks to pass

Friday: 4 arrestted- two of which had been locked on to loaders - meaning the mill was seroiusly disrupted.

Timber industry workers were made aware that their industry is a damaging one and that people aren't scared to make a statement and take the industry on.

So were did we fit in the picture- hopefully we provided moral support at least  letting those willing to go hard know that others do care about the issue.

 We exposed friends and children to people they may not normally meet- an education for them to find people who are passionate about the forest issue and understand deeply the importance of its existance.

An education for us to talk to others and to retell their story to others unable to make it.
To do the best we can to make sure that the issue is not forgotten, spreading the word etc.
 So if you happen to be reading this and find it interesting-SHARE IT on especially to people who dont have a clue that the 'Forest Wars' exist and that people are making courageous up front decsions every day to put their selves on the line.

To the 'forest ferals' that I met-I salute you all and am committed to doing my bit in this battle to stop the stupidity that is woodchipping.

Holiday Blog thanks

So thanks to all of you who put up with reading the holiday blog with all of the spelling mistakes etc.
It was more challengeing than I thought to sit on  a bus bouncing along at 80klms and trying to type quickly while still in range on a mobile phone. So what you got was a product of the circumstances less photos- seems I need to download some thingy majig to allow photo uploading...but in the meantime its back to this parallel universe that is not holiday land.

Harris Lake is it a meteorite site?

Yarrie Lake appears to be perfectly round and apparently is dish shaped with the centre a mere 2m deep. It has a lovely fine sandy bottom and milky water which must be a clay suspension that comes from somewhere in it's catchment but not the immediate area as it is red dirt country. The locals swear by the bouncing meteorite theory as there are two other holes nearby that are supposed to have formed by the same event. It is a terrific place to stop but should be avoided on the weekends when it is populated by the local water skiing community. It is regulated camping but the sues are spread out so it is very private and makes you feel secluded. It rained most of one of the days we were there but that didnt stop us from swimming and hanging out by the camp fire with our projects. What we didn't know was that as we were relaxing in a light rain parts of Queensland were being hammered by torrential rain that caused flash flooding. All around us during this trip have been signs of lots of rain. The landscape is green and the humidity high were it would normally be very dry. The new growth on trees and shrubs is almost fluorescent green and with all the vegetative abundance has come an abundance of insect life. Butterflies of all shapes and colors have been most noticeable for me and I wish I had packed the identification book which gives field notes on their feeding habits.
We are a good bunch of travellers - easy to get along with- good company- good cooks for we have had some amazing camp dinners all cooked in the camp oven.

Part 4

The Warrunbungle campsite was almost deserted and we worked out that it was to do with the heat that you would normally experience but we have been extremely lucky with weather and avoided all the storms that have been rocking other parts of the state.
We enjoyed the Siding Springs observatory and it sparked another vibrant campfire discussion- I think that the concept of space has a habit of inspiring big conversations. The size of th telescope was incredible and to think that 2.5 grams if aluminum was used to replace the massive reflective surface annually makes you wonder at applied science.
Piliga nature reserve was waiting for us and some quick decision making meant camping at the sculpture site at Dandry Gorge. Once again there was water in the creek which was a classic sandy normally dry river bed with gum trees along the edge. It was a mixed forest with cypress in the mix. The sculpture walk was amazing in it's location and artistic interpretations. The gorge was just as impressive and would have been well worth a visit if the sculptures were not installed. The Piliga Nature Reserve looks like a great place to come mountain biking in cooler weather to explore some of the forest tracks available. It would be nice to longer longer but time is starting to put pressure on and there are still a few spots we would like to get to for a camp and quick explore.

Holidays part 3

Getting our man down felt like a huge effort so we stayed at the picnic grounds for lunch. Out injured man wasn't up for a big drive as he was in a lot of pain so we stopped in Doona State forest near Coonan.
It was fantastic to see this small remote community rallied and organized to say no to coal. When we made camp in the forest a security guard payed us a visit to tell us that we were camped in the middle of some exploration tran-sects that made up a grid looking for coal and gas and that security was keeping an eye on the machinery they were using. He must have been concerned by a bus load of ferals turning up in 'his' forest.
We were more concerned about the well wing of our injured man at that moment, but we had a lively camp fire conversation about coal and the damage of mining. We did see a wild Koala and I don't ever recall being in a place that supported wild Koalas so I claimed it as my first.

We moved on to Coonabarabran and stopped for a quick geology lesson at Crystal Kingdom, which was a small geology display that highlighted the features of the Warrunbungles which was our next spot to camp. It was interesting to see the local crystals from ancient volcanic actions and gave us a little understanding of the area we were heading to.
The Warrunbungles were spectacular and luckily for us the weather was mild enough to undertake some of the walks available Mick was the most adventurous and went to the grand high tops walk after completing the tor circuit with us less speedy walkers. We copped well enough but should have started the walk much earlier than we did. There was water in the campsite creek for us to wallow in and bring the body temperatures back to manageable level. I did the swamp walk circuit which was a bit of a challenge for someone who likes to admire swamps from a boardwalk as I much prefer forest walking.

Holidays part two

As we descended from the plateau the landscape changed rapidly. Passing through a pine forest the bus went dark and the sounds of birds went quiet after we had been serenaded by bell birds. It is a peculiar land holding at Barrington with state forests still 'managing 'land alongside the national park. Private property coming out of the Park is also bizarre as it is so steep that farming would be an almost useless pass time but still some time ago some one thought it could be a profitable enterprise.
We marvelled at the landscape around us with many ohs and ahhs. Scone was waiting for us to refill the camp larder a d to make sure we were heading in the right direction for Washpools camping area. A pretty spot that lays beneath a sandstone bluff that is part of the Towarri National Park. Camp cricket was the hit and so was the swim in the lovely shaded swimming holes that we washed off in after the exertion of a few rounds. We explored around the creek but decided to head of the next morning for a new camp spot with a side visit to the burning mountain. We practiced our survival/ retrieval skills when one of our crew went down with a pulled muscle. It was a good trial to prove to ourselves that if things did happen to go really pear shaped that we had the skills and ability to get our person back down to camp. It was a good kilometer in steep terrain and we placed our patient on a camp bed fortified with carrying poles.

Summer Holidays are great

My eldest daughter was born on 3 January, for at least the last fi e years we have t celebrated one at home as we have decided to go for a summer adventure. This years adventure started at Black Bulga in south Barrington on a friends property. Teased by the 'did I tell you I have two rivers' how could we resist. A few days of unwinding the pre Xmas coil and we were all feeling refreshed and ready to move on ( mind you we could had stayed and demanded squatters rights.
We headed on up to Barrington Tops and found a nice camp at Little Murray Creek right up on the plateau in the sub- alpine swamp lands. The forest was amazing snow gums with an understory of huge and most likely ancient tree ferns. The alpine meadows were alive with movement sound and color. The wildflowers provided a dense feeding ground for all sorts of creatures but the most visual being the butterflies. Frogs were almost deafening at night time- apart from the first night were we witnessed the most spectular and longest lightening storm I have ever seen. The bolts seemed to split the sky into two color zones the after burn on your eyes made it feel as though a black bolt had also struck. They broke apart like phosphorescence leaving a trail of fairy dust. I imagine that the super sonic crack of the thunder was as if the universe was creating an opening for us all to fall through. We all felt so close to the stars that our imagination was having a great time for the clouds had swallowed us up at the beginning of the storm.
We spent the next day exploring Junction Pools and the walking tracks around the swamp.