Less than four months to global doomsday - head for them thar hills!

Now I don’t know who NSW refrigeration mechanic Simon Young is or why he apparently chose Tenterfield for humanity’s last stand in Australia, but I’m willing to bet that he won’t have his $5,000-a-bed bunker finished and stocked before 21st December 2012 - just about when the Apocalypse is supposed to occur.
Being a bit of a natural cynic has me wondering if Simon is not just a piece of advertising fluff News Ltd is using to promote a TV show due to air on the Murdoch Group’s part-owned National Geographic Channel next Thursday evening.

NSW Local Government Elections 2012 - forty-eight hours until close of nominations

UPDATED 8 August 2012

NSW local government elections are being held on 8 September 2012 and, nominations close a month earlier at noon 8 August.

Here in alphabetical order area is a list of known candidates standing for the nine Clarence Valley shire councillor positions and a brief backgrounder on each:

Andrew Baker –  Maclean real estate agent, land developer, former business partner of the NSW Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis, extensive native vegetation land clearing appears to be a feature of his development style, standing for local government on a pro-development platform, not known for community involvement outside the range of his business interests.

Jane Beeby - works in Maclean, opposed sale of part of Maclean's public carpark, states is standing on a platform of commitment to community consultation/transparent government, appears to be/have been a committee member of the Australian Vaccination Network (Association) which was part of a discredited anti-vaccination/anti-medical science lobby group which became the subject of a 2010 Health Care Complaints Commission public warning later successfully challenged in court by the group.

Jeremy Challacombe – local business man, operates both Grafton and Yamba growers markets, NSW Nationals former chair and now vice chair and former 2011 election campaign director for Chris Gulaptis MP, unsuccessful 2008 local government candidate, supported NSW National Party proposal to investigate turning coastal rivers inland long after Clarence Valley communities rejected the idea of damming and diverting the Clarence River or one of its tributaries, unsuccessfully opposed O’Farrell Government’s closure of Grafton Gaol.

Greg Clancy – Coutts Crossing-based consultant ecologist with a wide experience in flora and fauna assessment and a particular interest in North Coast birdlife.

Joy de Roos – In 2011 was listed as ALP Lower Clarence branch president, office bearer at a Maclean preschool and a services club, believes local government is no longer connected to community.

Craig Howe – Grafton High School teacher, currently Clarence Valley Council Deputy Mayor, unsuccessful independent candidate at NSW 2007 general election, voted for  McDonald’s fast food outlet in Yamba, does not have a reputation for giving community concerns serious consideration.

Sue Hughes – business woman, Yamba Chamber of Commerce vice president, current shire councillor who voted against McDonald’s fast food outlet in Yamba.

Jason Kingsley – Grafton business owner who states was on Grafton Gaol picket line, nothing yet known concerning his policy agenda.

Michael McIvor – South Grafton business owner, nothing yet known concerning his policy agenda.

Margaret McKenna – Grafton business owner, current shire councillor, voted for McDonald’s fast food outlet in Yamba citing its food as “nutritious”, comes across as very partisan and pro-Grafton City.

Rod Morrison - Brushgrove flood levee campaigner.

Paul Parkinson – admits to having contested 4 local and 1 state election, former Kempsey shire councillor, persistent complaints concerning council’s lack of community consultation/transparency coincided with his period in Kempsey local government, does not appear to be a Clarence Valley resident as he lists his place of residence as Sherwood in the Kemsey area.

Margot Scott - Yamba-based civil marriage celebrant, standing on a growth and prosperity platform as yet undefined.

Jim Simmons – Maclean business owner, current Clarence Valley shire councillor, formerly on Maclean Shire Council prior to amalgamation, voted for McDonald’s fast food outlet in Yamba, basically pro-development.

Ian Tiley – Maclean-based, current shire councillor, former Clarence Valley Council and Maclean Council mayor, made Emeritus Mayor in 2008 for over 40 years’ service to local government, voted against McDonald’s fast food outlet in Yamba, opposed proposal to dam and divert Clarence River water, appears committed to community consultation and transparent local government, not afraid to take community concerns into council meetings, unsuccessfully stood for Labor Party federal pre-selection in 2008.

Karen Toms – Lower Clarence business person, current shire councillor and former National Party 2011 pre-selection candidate, opposed McDonald’s fast food outlet in Yamba, has earned a reputation for listening to community concerns.

Ursula Tunks – South Grafton-based former local business owner, working towards forming a representative body to co-ordinate and assist the plans of diverse chambers of commerce across the Clarence Valley, resigned as an ordinary member of the NSW Liberal Party in protest at continuing NSW Coalition support of disgraced former Nationals MP for Clarence, Steve Cansdell.

Richie Williamson – current Clarence Valley Mayor and former National Party pre-selection candidate in 2011, voted for supported the imposition of a McDonald’s fast food outlet on an unwilling Yamba community, started off well when first elected as a councillor by initiating council’s response to the threat to dam and divert the Clarence River but appears to have become complacent over the years, unsuccessfully opposed Grafton Gaol closure.

Quotable quotes

{Rabbett Run}

“I am outraged! Only I may rig polls!”
{Fake Andrew Bolt}

“BBC BREAKING NEWS: @MittRomney deported from Britain after discovery that UK already has its own home-grown gaffe machine in @LouiseMensch” {Brendan May}

“Explaining to the children what a ventriloquist was, he {Chris Gulaptis} compared it to watching himself perform in Parliament.”
{The Daily Examiner 2nd August 2012}

"Eww. Just tuned in and Tony Abbott's talking about having read 50 Shades but preferring Bride Stripped Bare. #tooearly" {Latika Bourke}

Cansdellgate - an update

It's unbelievable. He's still yet to face charges!

The Northern Star reports:

Almost 12 months after disgraced former Clarence MP Steve Cansdell walked into Grafton police station with documents proving he falsified a statutory declaration, he is yet to be charged.

On the morning of September 16, Mr Cansdell walked into the station with documentary evidence former staffer Kath Palmer signed a statutory declaration claiming she was driving his car when he was caught speeding by the Woodburn speed camera. As a result, Mr Cansdell would have lost his licence through accumulated demerit points in the lead up to the 2006 state election.

The electorate of Clarence that Mr Cansdell formerly represented stretches from Grafton, north to Casino and east to Evans Head.

On September 16, the former Parliamentary Secretary to Police Minister Michael Gallacher admitted his mistake, claiming at the time he hadn't understood the gravity of the situation.

"I made a dumb choice six years ago and just didn't realise the consequences," he said.

After months of investigation the NSW Police prosecution referred Mr Cansdell's matter to the Commonwealth DPP on March 8.

At the time NSW Attorney General Greg Smith said as Mr Cansdell had signed a Commonwealth statutory declaration on the back of the speeding fine, he could not be prosecuted by the state.

Investigations by the Northern Star revealed fines issued by the NSW State Debt Recovery Office had always been printed with NSW statutory declarations on the back. Mr Cansdell lost his licence in 2009 after he was caught doing 100kmh in an 80kmh zone at Clarenza.

A Commonwealth DPP representative said "the CDPP has no comment".

Acting NSW Opposition leader Linda Burney said it was unbelievable Mr Cansdell was yet to be charged.

"Nearly one year after Steve Cansdell admitted to the criminal offence of signing a false statutory declaration, it defies belief that he is still yet to face charges," she said.

Source: The Northern Star

Metgasco's claims regarding its CSG wastewater disputed

A Clarence Valley Protest July 26, 2012:

Metgasco CSG waste water contaminated with salt and heavy metals
Coal Seam Gas News 26 July 2012

Lock the Gate Northern Rivers has today revealed that a sample of wastewater from a Metgasco coal seam gas wastewater storage pond has been found to contain high levels of a range of heavy metals toxic to humans and wildlife. The sample was analysed at the NATA accredited EAL laboratory in Lismore (sample results and comparison with Drinking Water and ANZECC Environmental Guidelines attached).

This finding follows on from repeated claims by Metgasco that their CSG produced water is just ‘salty’ and the release of company data last week suggesting that, apart from the salt levels, the water meets drinking water standards.

‘These pond sample results confirm that there are indeed a range of toxic substances in addition to salts in the wastewater produced in Metgasco’s coal seam gas operations and stored in ponds around Casino,’ said Boudicca Cerese, spokesperson for Lock the Gate Northern Rivers.

‘The tests found 13 elements present in the sample at levels above the Drinking Water Standards, the majority of them heavy metals. Ten of these substances were also above the allowable limits for maintenance of healthy freshwater ecosystems.’

‘Many of these substances are well known for their toxicity and their release into local waterways via the sewage treatment plant or onto agricultural lands poses a serious threat to humans, domestic stock and wildlife.’

‘Aluminium, a neurotoxic linked with the onset of dementia and Alzheimers, was detected at 440 times drinking water standards and 800 times the allowable environmental limits. At elevated concentrations aluminium can be lethal to fish and other aquatic organisms and the animals that consume them,’ said Ms. Cerese.

‘Lead, a cumulative poison that can severely affect the central nervous system, was measured at 7 times drinking water standards and 20 times the safe environmental limit. Lead is renowned for its effects on children’s development and has been shown to cause cancer in animals.’

‘The sampling found levels of hexavalent chromium 50 times the guideline level required to protect waterways. Hexavalent chromium is known to cause lung cancer in humans and also adversely affects aquatic and marine life,’ she said.

‘The sample results clearly show that the community cannot rely on the water quality results provided by Metgasco and that there is an urgent need for state government authorities to undertake rigorous independent testing of all Metgasco’s ponds prior to any further actions regarding treatment and disposal of this wastewater,’ said Ms. Cerese.

‘In addition, these results sound a warning bell for the future, as the treatment and disposal of the vast quantities of water extracted in future CSG production will mean the accumulation of thousands of tonnes of chemical laden salts, potentially severely impacting ground and surface water quality, and putting at risk public, livestock and wildlife health.

‘Plans to use this water in agriculture or to reinject produced water back into the ground are a dangerous notion, one which will backfire on future generations,’ she said

Absolutely brilliant introduction to the delights of Regional New South Wales

And the North Coast has the lot!


http://youtu.be/UjW-CGJG8kE

Australia's answer to the Haka

Indigenous All Stars vs NRL All Stars 2011.

You must watch this – if only for the stunned look on the faces of the opposing team!

http://youtu.be/0Y59JIObk_U