Around the Northern Rivers in December 2020

 

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On 7 December 2020 Development Application SUB2020/0038 (Lot 104 DP 751388) lodged by Robert Donges (a former Maclean and Clarence Valley council officer) on behalf of Kahuna No. 1 Pty Ltd was withdrawn while still within the Clarence Valley Council public exhibition period.

The development application included 336 residential lots, four drainage reserves, one commercial lot and one public reserve in what is essentially a high density configuration along James Creek Rd, James Creek.

IMAGE: Clarence Valley Independent

Withdrawal was hardly surprising given the lack of transport and other infrastructure which would be needed to be in place for a potential village-sized population of at least 840 people, as well as storm water and environmental concerns.

The owner of this lot has submitted a request to Clarence Valley Council that the unspent portion of application fees which it sets at $20,000. As council policy will only allow return of up to 50 per cent of an application fee (being $11,415.00 in this case) the matter is going to council’s ordinary monthly meeting on 15 December 2020.

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In August 2020 Maclean High School announced it was starting a cattle and livestock showing team, under the guidance of Primary Industries Teacher, Christopher Kirkland. Last month Maclean students took part in the Northern Schools Prime Steer Show at Glen Innes, NSW. I'm sure that experience will set them up for success in 2021.

Maclean High School – Cattle and Livestock Showing Team 2020

IMAGE: Clarence Valley Independent

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The Maclean Agricultural Show was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Maclean Show Society will be given $10,000 from the federal government towards its 2021 show to held on 20 to 21 April next year. The Clarence Pastoral & Agricultural Society Ltd will receive $17,682.68 towards its 2021 agricultural show.

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From 1 March 2021 Clarence Valley travellers will be able to connect through to Melbourne as part of Regional Express’ expansion on the back of the collapse of other regional airlines due to the COVID-19 pandemic’ From March Rex will begin flying nine return flights from Sydney to Melbourne and travellers boarding from Grafton Airport will be able to connect straight through, with baggage checked to their destination.

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Yaegl woman Pauline Clague has been awarded this year’s $20,000 Natalie Miller Fellowship. She is the 9th recipient of this fellowship and the first Indigenous person. 

The Natalie Miller Fellowship (NMF) supports the professional leadership of aspirational women in all sectors of the Australian screen industry; developing further skills, knowledge and connections through fellowships and programs. Its vision is to achieve gender diversity in screen leadership, resulting in a greater breadth of storytelling, better company performances, innovation, and a more dynamic, inclusive and robust industry for everyone.

Well-known as a producer of documentaries and short stories, Pauline has at least 16 films to her credit.

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It appears that Lismore City Council and Rous County Council wrote to the NSW Berejiklian Government encouraging the development of a $220 million 50 giglitre second dam on Rocky Creek to the south-west of the existing dam, before the dam proposal went to puclic exhibition for community input. Many local residents are not amused by this discovery. The proposed dam is supposed to supply four local government areas.

IMAGE: https://rous.myglobe.app/bulk-water

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Clarence Valley Independent, 9 December 2020:

Greg Clancy: “…if [mining companies] spend millions on exploration then they expect [to mine] … we need to speak out strongly against all mining proposals.”

Andrew Baker: “…to turn our back on any potential mining at this stage is doing the community a disservice.

“We should, rather than just accept there are concerned people in the community … we should be fully informed before making these decisions.

“…we should find out where council and councillors fit within our sphere of influence and not give people false hope that we can extinguish mining licences.”

Arthur Lysaught: “I think it was three years ago when Greg gave me the Greens [position] … but I said at the time, if I ever thought someone would affect the river, I would stand beside him to preserve the most pristine river in the country, maybe the world.

“The unfortunate part of this; whatever stance we take, others make the decision.”

Peter Ellem: “Yes and the greed merchants will continue to have a crack, whether to harvest dam water or reopen a mining industry through exploration.

“The end result is they want to mine … and with the government supporting one company [with an exploration grant], we have to be ever watchful to protect our river catchment and [associated] industries [like] tourism and recreation.

“…just like damming the Clarence and CSG mining, this kind of mining is not appropriate here and there should be a moratorium.”

Karen Toms: “We have an amazing river … but I am concerned because I heard what our state MP [Chris Gulaptis] has said.

“The general manager is right, we need to have a position … but 10,000 signatures … well done to the community to start rallying.

“We are here to represent our people … we are the responsible authority for our water so we do have some skin in the game.

“Tell them [mining companies] … to bugger off.

“It’s important send a strong message to the state and federal governments and the miners: leave our water alone.”

Deborah Novak: “A lot of people out there are scared to step up … but this is where they have come together [to gather 10,000 signatures].

“It’s important for the state and federal governments to see that the [petition organisers] are professional … and really amazing and it’s the young people who have stepped up.”

Greg Clancy (right of reply): “Over 10,000 signatures suggest that this is not only the concerns of a few people.

“…despite covid, the groups have worked very hard; I commend the Clarence Catchment Alliance and the Clarence Environment Centre … all working hard on this issue to make the general public aware.

“…it’s scientific, it’s facts about what we know mining does to river systems.

“We only need one accident and there goes the entire river.

“It’s not a case of not having mining anywhere, but it has to be in areas of minimal impact.”

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Echo Net Daily, December 2020:

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has blown the whistle on the government after obtaining a ‘damning’ NSW Department of Education School Profile of Murwillumbah High School, the proposed site of the mega campus, which shows major capital works are badly needed there.

Making cost savings by shelving replacement or maintenance of buildings at four public schools appears to be the main driver of the NSW government’s agenda for its mega Murwillumbah Education Campus, says Ms Saffin.

These four public schools – Murwillumbah High, Wollumbin High, Murwillumbah East Public and Murwillumbah Public – all have their own well-established traditions of academic, sporting and cultural excellence,’ Ms Saffin said.

Ms Saffin has invited NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell MLC to come to Murwillumbah early next year to meet with the four Parents & Citizens Associations and other representatives of students, teachers and staff, and the local community.

‘Our school communities deserve to hear from Minister Mitchell what the evidence-based educational benefits to Murwillumbah’s primary and secondary school students are of the government’s plan to merge them into one “mega” campus by 2024.

‘However, the evidence is mounting that the Department has dragged the chain on capital works and maintenance at Murwillumbah High and Murwillumbah East Public School, badly affected by the 2017 floods, and the Department’s fix is to close four schools and replace them with a centralised American model.’……

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Conga line of #COVIDIOTS strikes again?

 

It is hard to believe that “Doris” and the conspiracy theory littered website Our Greater Destiny exists.

However sadly, it is not quite as hard to believe that a serving NSW police officer from Grafton would be silly enough to send a reportedly 1 am 7-page email, peppered with QAnon inspired nonsense about globalist agendas and dictatorships, which seeks to blame police violence on COVID-19 public health orders rather than the inherently aggressive nature of police culture.

The emailed letter the police officer signed appeared to have been an open letter written for him by by someone at Advocate Me.

Post from "Doris" website dated 5 November 2020:

AUSTRALIAN POLICE EXPOSE COVID19 FR@UD

Extract from NSW Police Senior Constable Alex Cooney’s letter to Commissioner Mick Fuller.

Many of us believe that we are removing our own rights and freedoms by enforcing these rules upon the community, including our family and friends. And the community are confounded by the intensified police enforcement around peaceful freedom protests and how inconsistent this was when compared with the Black Lives Matter protests.

This contradiction is further destroying public confidence.

We are reaching out to all our fellow police officers across the country, to write a similar letter to their respective police commissioners, or sign our form here to show your support for this stance, which we have called Cops for Covid Truth.

With trust in our police force now seriously eroded, we ask you to consider now challenging the necessity of the ongoing restrictions to restore community trust, by being an integral part of returning our State and Country back to normality.

Regards

Alexander Cooney

Continue at https://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2020/11/cops-for-covid-truth.html

‘COVID truth’ letter to NSW Police Commissioner sparks internal investigation

The six-page letter, which claimed many members of the force were “fed up with the approach to enforce oppressive rules placed upon the population in the name of COVID-19 and the looming mandatory vaccinations”, was attributed to a police officer in the Coffs-Clarence Police District.

It questioned the severity of COVID-19, the testing regime, and the move towards ensuring the Australians were vaccinated against the coronavirus once a vaccine was available.

NSW Police confirmed they were aware of the matter, which was now the subject of an internal investigation. Continue at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-04/nsw-police-officer-under-investigation-over-covid-truth-letter/12843756.

Aussie Cops For Covid Truth by Michael Smith

Grafton still chasing after its lost Regional City classification

Grafton, NSW
IMAGE: www.visitnsw.com

The 2016 national census recorded the population of Grafton in the Clarence Valley as 10,385 people living in 4,696 dwellings, with an average household size of 2.27. 

Last year it was optimistically estimated that the population had grown to 10,629 people - an increase of 224 people in the last 3 years - though how many of these are Pacific Highway road workers who will soon move on to other areas is not known.

The fact of the matter is that Grafton's population in the 28 years between the 1991 and 2016 census only grew by est. 125 people. 

Grafton, which was made a city over 135 years ago, has been in decline now for at least the last 20 years. Its regional city status was removed by the Baird Coalition Government in 2016 when it was reclassified as a strategic centre.

It is unlikely to have city status reinstated while the local population continues to age and, in some years more people are leaving or dying than are coming into Grafton as permanent residents.

Clarence Valley Council continues to hope and throw money at an intractable problem........

The Daily Examiner, 21 August 2020:

Clarence Valley Council’s local strategic planning statement will form the basis of council’s direction with regard to their plans over the coming years.

It is a large document that has received submissions over the past months from community groups, government organisations and ratepayers having their say about how it should be approached.

As the draft of the plan came before this week’s Environment, Planning and Community committee, Mayor Jim Simmons took the opportunity to question the balance of where the priorities lie.

Mr Simmons said he supported the focus on returning Grafton to regional city status, and the emphasis on the strategic importance of Grafton, the surrounding infrastructure and industry.

However, he was concerned the draft was too Grafton-centric. “When I read this document, the first thing that hit my head … is the emphasis placed on expenditure in Grafton and the surrounding areas,” Cr Simmons said.

“I would like the rest of the information in the report to also hit me in the face, and get a little bit excited over what it means for areas outside Grafton.

“I’d like to see the same thing hitting me in the face for the Lower Clarence — in fact the whole Clarence Valley.” It is a sentiment reflected in comments made on the draft planning statement. The report to council notes there were a number of well-articulated concerns raised about the focus placed on Grafton and the apparent emphasis, and therefore council spending, in and around Grafton.

“This included requests for no more spending on a number of areas, including the airport, a possible freight hub, efforts to grow the population and promoting Grafton as a Regional City,” it states.

“Some submissions stated that Grafton is not an attractor for residents of the Lower Clarence, who are more likely to use Ballina and Lismore for shopping, medical, air travel and other needs.” The report states despite these submissions, it was recommended council continue to support the promotion of Grafton as a Regional City, to provide for the community and grow the economy and provide job prospects and social opportunities.....

COVID-19 Pandemic 2020: across the Clarence Valley major retailers have shut up shop

Across the Clarence Valley major retailers have shut up shop.

The Daily Examiner, 26 March 2020:

Mosaic Brands, which owns Rivers, Millers, Noni B, Autograph, Crossroads and Rockmans, among others, announced it would be closing its stores as of yesterday evening and stood down 6800 staff.

When The Daily Examiner contacted one local retailer affected by the announcement, staff had not yet been told they would be stood down.

The move will have significant ramifications for the Clarence, with at least eight stores being affected, seven of which are situated in Grafton Shoppingworld.

Carol Durrant, assistant manager at Rockmans on Prince St, said while the impact could be “disastrous” for the local economy in the long term, it was not unexpected.

She said there had been a significant decline in the number of shoppers during the past week.

“Well, we knew it had to come as both my daughters are in retail in Queensland and they had been shut for the last week – it had to come,” she said.

Ms Durrant said the downturn in shoppers was a sign the community understood the new social distancing measures.

“I think people are realising it is non-essential and we haven’t seen a soul all day,” Ms Durrant said.

“They are really getting the message.” For anyone who ventured into Grafton Shoppingworld it was impossible not to notice the impact the pandemic was having at a local level.

The chairs have been removed from the food court with the recently announced ban on indoor eateries and there were few people out shopping.

Mosaic Brands said in their announcement the measures were temporary. “All team members affected by the store closures will be stood down with access to leave entitlements while the group reviews government support schemes that may be available to them,” they stated.

“The group has recently seen a significant drop in store traffic and revenue, a direct result of the community’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the government’s social distancing recommendations.” A Grafton Shoppingworld spokesperson said the announcement would affect seven stores in the centre but noted the centre would remain fully open.

“The centre is constantly liaising with all relevant authorities and will follow all directives in regard to its operation to ensure a safe environment for all,” the spokesperson said.....

Pubs are closing all over the Clarence Valley as pandemic containment measures come into effect

Grafton Hotel

The Daily Examiner, 24 March 2020:

Fitzroy Street was filled with the sweet sounds of bagpipes at noon yesterday as Grafton Hotel closed its doors indefinitely. 

Steve Smith received a call from his wife late last night following Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement that several businesses, including licensed pubs and clubs, would close in a bid to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. 

Grafton Hotel regular and piper Peter Lougher marked the occasion with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne on Fitzroy St at noon, surrounded by staff and regular patrons. 

Mr Smith said the ­shutdown, which could be in place for as long as six months but will be reviewed monthly, was a “kick in the guts” for many people who would no doubt feel the long term impacts of the ­closure...

Grafton civil rights law firm has a win in the High Court of Australia which should stop NSW Police from unlawfully arresting people for the sole purpose of questioning them when there was no intention at the time of arrest to bring them before a magistrate

The Grafton civil rights law firm of Foott Law & Co. had a win in the High Court of Australia on 4 December 2019 in the matter of a 2013 wronfgul arrest. 

In this lengthy progession through the lower courts to the High Court solicitor Joe Fahey was assisted by Dominic Toomey SC, Dallas Morgan and Dean Woodbury.

The High Court dismissed the appeal in State of New South Wales v Robinson and ruled concerning the power of a police officer to arrest a person, without a warrant, under s 99 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW) ("the Act") when, at the time of the arrest, the officer had not formed the intention to charge the arrested person with an offence. A majority of the High Court held that s 99 of the Act does not confer a power to arrest a person in such circumstances.....

The High Court unanimously held that in New South Wales, at common law, an arrest can only be for the purpose of taking the arrested person before a magistrate (or other authorised officer) to be dealt with according to law to answer a charge for an offence ("the single criterion"). Nothing in the Act displaced that single criterion. An arrest under s 99 can only be for the purpose, as soon as is reasonably practicable, of taking the arrested person before a magistrate (or other authorised officer) to be dealt with according to law to answer a charge for an offence. A majority of the High Court held that it followed that the constable did not have the power to arrest Mr Robinson pursuant to s 99 when, at the time of the arrest, the constable had not formed the intention to charge him. The arrest was unlawful.

Grafton experienced more hot days in past 30 years

Grafton's average monthly rainfall 1959 to 2018:

Grafton's average water balance after the evaporation rate is accounted for:

Graphs from http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/climate-guides/

It should be noted that longterm averages are a crude measurement tool and do not always reflect conditions experienced in specific years.

The Ugly Face of Climate Change Denialism on NSW North Coast: "your world's future is in the hands of God, not in the predictions of a little girl and false prophets"

Coffs Harbour Christian Community School, newsletter, 26 September 2019, p.1:

https://twitter.com/FairAusPol/status/1178869197574553601

The Daily Examiner, 3 October 2019, p.1:

The Dean of Grafton’s Christ Church Cathedral has spoken out against a Coffs Harbour school principal who used a school newsletter to slam students for their recent climate strike.

In a column released last Thursday, Coffs Harbour Christian Community School principal Rodney Lynn dismissed the climate change protest as “doomsday waffle talk” and took aim at the face of the global climate strike, Swedish 16-year-old Greta Thunberg.

In response, Christ Church Cathedral’s Very Reverend Gregory Jenks said the piece was typical of the agenda of conservative right-wing Christians, and said it was inappropriate commentary from someone involved in the education system.....

Rev Jenks said he believed the views of Mr Lynn were not good for the planet and not good for children.

“I think it betrays a stunning ignorance of thinking on climate science, and (Mr Lynn) is not in the same league to be up against thousands of climate scientists,” Rev Jenks said.....

Rev Jenks, who is an adjunct senior lecturer in the School of Theology at Charles Sturt University, said Mr Lynn’s use of scripture was “incredibly naive and fundamentalist”.

“What’s sad is this isn’t a personal agenda, this is typical of the agenda of conservative right-wing Christians articulating a ultra-conservative expression of Christianity and it’s nasty,” he said.

ABC News, 1 October 2019:

Trevor Crawford has two children at the school and said he was "absolutely disgusted" when he read the column in the school newsletter.

He said the column was "over the top", especially Mr Lynn's indirect comments about Ms Thunberg.

"To turn around and use her condition of Asperger's as a mental problem and that must be a reason why she shouldn't be believed, it's wrong," he said.

An estimated 6 million marchers participated in the global climate strikes, led by Ms Thunberg, on September 20 and 27 this year.

Liisa Rusanen from the Coffs Coast Climate Action Group also criticised Mr Lynn, saying "everything Greta Thunberg says is thoroughly backed by science".

"I'm surprised that a school principal doesn't recognise that.".....

The newsletter was published a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned against causing children "needless anxiety" about climate change.

In 2004, Mr Lynn apologised after distributing leaflets describing state schools as "seed plots of future immorality, infidelity and lawlessness".

The school's chairman declined to comment, and Mr Lynn has been contacted for comment.

Daily Mail, headline, 1 October 2019:

White, middle-aged Christian private school principal slams climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, 16, as a 'little girl with mental problems' - and urges students not to believe her 'doomsday waffle talk'

BACKGROUND

Coffs Harbour City Council holds its next ordinary monthly meeting on 10 October 2019. Media reports this week suggest that councillors may be considering declaring a climate emergency, thereby joining 55 other Australian local governments who have declared to date. These include Clarence Valley, Lismore, Byron Bay and Tweed councils in the Norther Rivers region.

Students and supporters in the Coffs Habour area participated in the 20 September 2019 global School Strike 4 Climate. Coffs Harbour students also participated in two other school strike protests in 2018 & early 2019.

NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission will investigate complaints concerning the behaviour of officers belonging to an elite police unit in Grafton

The Daily Examiner, 3 September 2019, p.3: 

The NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission will investigate complaints into the behaviour of officers belonging to an elite police unit in Grafton in May. 

Grafton solicitor Greg Coombes has lodged complaints with the LECC, alleging officers from Strike Force Raptor targeted him over a two-day period when he was due to defend a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang on an animal cruelty charge. 

The State Crime Command’s Gangs Squad formed Strike Force Raptor in 2009 to tackle outlaw motorcycle gangs and any associated criminal enterprises. 

Mr Coombes said the LECC had two courses of action open to it. 

“They can direct the police to investigate the complaint, or they can run their own investigation,” he said. 

“In my case they’ve decided to take the harder option and conduct the investigation themselves.” 

Mr Coombes said he understood the LECC could recommend anything from exoneration to sacking following an investigation. 

“I’m certainly glad they’re taking this seriously,” he said. 

“It’s one thing to hassle bikies, but it’s another thing entirely to actively interfere with the court process.....

NOTE: 

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is an independent statutory body. Its principal functions are to detect, investigate and expose serious misconduct and serious maladministration within the NSW Police Force and the NSW Crime Commission. The Commission is separate from and completely independent of the NSW Police Force and NSW Crime Commission.

Past investigations can be found at https://www.lecc.nsw.gov.au/investigations/past-investigations/2019.

Police hunt for information in Lawrence and Sandy Beach about alleged perpetrator of NZ terrorist attack

The New Daily, 18 March 2019:

Family members of the Australian man charged with murdering Muslim worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand are devastated one of their own could be involved in a massacre.

Brenton Tarrant’s grandmother, Marie Fitzgerald, said the family was gobsmacked he’d been charged over Friday’s shooting attacks on mosques in Christchurch.

“It’s just so much of everything to take in that somebody in our family would do anything like this,” the 81-year-old woman told Nine News in the NSW city of Grafton on Sunday.

“The media is saying he has planned it for a long time so he is obviously not of sound mind.”

Tarrant went to Europe after his father died of cancer in 2010 and came back a different man, Mrs Fitzgerald said.

“It’s only since he travelled overseas I think, that that boy has changed completely to the boy we knew,” she said.

His uncle Terry Fitzgerald apologised on behalf of the family for his nephew’s alleged murderous act.

“We are so sorry for the families over there, for the dead and the injured,” Terry Fitzgerald said.

“What he has done is just not right.”

Tarrant spent most of his time on computer games during his high school days, rather than chasing girls, his grandmother added.

The family had dinner with Tarrant in Grafton a year ago for his sister’s birthday.

His sister and mother have been put under police protection after Friday’s attack, which has left 50 dead and others in a critical condition on hospital.

Meanwhile, counter-terrorism police raided two homes on the NSW mid-north coast on Monday as part of investigations into the shootings.

Officers from the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team searched a property in Sandy Beach, near Coffs Harbour, about 8.30am on Monday, before storming a second house at Lawrence, near Maclean.

“The primary aim of the activity is to formally obtain material that may assist New Zealand Police in their ongoing investigation,” the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police said in a joint statement.

“The community can be assured that there is no information to suggest a current or impending threat related to this search warrants.”

Tarrant was not on any watchlist in Australia or New Zealand, despite online profiles linked to him containing white supremacist material.

The 28-year-old posted a 74-page document online before the attack. A 17-minute video of the shootings was also live-streamed.

The JCTT is made up of officers from the AFP, NSW Police, as well as ASIO and the NSW Crime Commission.

–AAP

Well hoorah, NBN Co is to roll out its inbuilt obsolescence across Yamba commencing in June 2018

It has been reported in local media that NBN Co will be commencing the Yamba rollout of its allegedly high speed broadband in June 2018, with Maclean and Grafton rollouts to commence in January 2019.

This news is quite frankly underwhelming.

Whatever information NBN Co was giving out obviously didn’t include the type of connection that was on offer, as this important point was not mentioned by journalists and there is contradictory information on the company's website.

These three urban areas in the Clarence Valley are yet to hear if households and businesses are being offered fibre-to-the-curb, fibre-to-the-node or fixed wireless.

Because it is certain that the best option fibre-to-the-premises isn’t on offer to regional second cousins of the big metropolitan areas.

Personally I will carefully refuse to look at any construction works taking place in Yamba come June, July and August.

The sight of all those water-filled trenches will be too depressing.

Who starts extensive in-ground construction in winter at the low-lying, high water table mouth of a floodplain, I ask you?

* Image from Hakuri Sad Party