Shame on you all! When election promises go south

Image of O'Farrell and Cansdell from Steve Cansdell MP's Clarence Chronicles, June 20120

From Clarence Valley Review letters to the editor on 30 June 2010:

Expecting a lot

Ed,
In response to the article "Don't expect too much from Coalition, says Nats Chair" (CVR 23/6/10) I believe the electorate is expecting a lot.
If the Coalition Party does not and probably never intended to complete the Pacific Highway upgrade by 2016 then I say to those politicians, including the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Barry O'Farrell shame on you for exploiting those families who have roadside memorials to their deceased family members along the Pacific Highway.
I recall the many photographs which included Mr Cansdell taken beside these memorials in the printed media and on television trying to extract sympathy votes from the electorate.
I say shame on you all. Are there no politicians today with any dignity and fortitude in standing up for what they believe in without having to toe a party line?
The Coalition Party are backing away from every key commitment espoused by Mr Steve Cansdell against the present basket case State Government.
The electorate are not fools, it is the same old ploy used by all political parties when an election is imminent that any incoming Government will have a "very bare cupboard".
Is there no one out there who has dignity, honesty, shows respect for others and have a desire to help every member of the Community by becoming an Independent member?
If so, please step forward, we need you.

Lyne Dobson, Waterview Heights

Northern Rivers resident gets the last laugh on local tip charges

According to one NSW North Coast mayor:
"The State Government’s waste and environment levy is $20.40 a tonne to dump rubbish at the tip – charged on top of the council’s fees.
This amount is set to rise each financial year for the next five years until it reaches a capped price of $70 a tonne.......additional costs could not be absorbed into the current council budget, so they would have to be added to the waste levy in rates."
According to one NSW North Coast resident:
"After finding out what I had to pay to take my home e-waste and other items to the nearest council operated tip, I sent all of it over the border instead with a Queenslander returning home. Cost? It's free at that particular tip destination, so it was nothing, nil, nada, zero, zilch."
He also says he has no intention of voting for the Keneally Government because of the way it continues to milk regional New South Wales.

Pic at Google Images

Those sidebar polls are back again

I've just been reminded that North Coast Voices ran a series of sidebar polls in the lead-up to the 2007 Australian federal election.

So today we have posted the first for election year 2010 - on the subject of Tony Abbott and campaign promises.

Eyes right and join in the fun. Poll results will be published in posts at a later date.

The second poll planned will be on the topic of Julia Gillard.

Clarence Ahead invites climate change adaptation expert to speak at Yamba, 6 July 2010

At 6.30pm on Tuesday 6 July 2010 Professor Garry Willgoose is giving a talk on "Climate change, its consequences, and us" at the Yamba Bowling & Recreation Club by invitation of Clarence Ahead .

Admission is $30.00 and includes two course meal, tea or coffee. Bar service will be available. Further information can be had from Des Plunkett Ph: (02) 66. 433044.

Dr. Willgoose is an ARC Australian Professorial Fellow from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment at the School of Engineering, University of Newcastle, with expertise in the areas of hydrology; climatology; water resources; ecohydrology; erosion; climate change adaptation; mine rehabilitation; mine closure; mine environment; mining; uranium; nuclear waste disposal.

Rather amusingly I was alerted to this Clarence Ahead initiative by an obvious climate change denier writing in one of the NSW North Coast newspapers.

The letter writer appears to believe that the academic, who in September last year was reported to have said that more frequent heatwaves will present big problems in regional areas.....the biggest impact [of climate change] will be on health, water and local government works programs, will probably support the denialist position.

This should make for an interesting exchange during any question and answer segment on the night.

Photograph from University of Newcastle website