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Saturday, 25 August 2012
BirdLife Northern NSW invites you to a meeting about the fate of the Coastal Emu, Grafton 31 August 2012
Media release
BirdLife Northern NSW, has been joined by local residents, ecologists and local environment groups to call a meeting with the RMS (formerly RTA) to discuss the proposed Pacific Highway Grafton Bypass route.
A Public meeting has been arranged for 6pm on 31st August at the Community Centre 59 Duke Street, Grafton.
This route will travel from Glenugie to Tyndale via the Pillar Valley and Tubacia wetlands and then beside the Coldstream River east of Tyndale to the Harwood bridge.
Birdlife Australia, Northern NSW spokesperson Dr. Greg Clancy said “The only suitable route that will reduce the impact on the ecosystem is the ‘Orange’ route, which approximates the existing highway. It was rejected by the RMS on social and economic grounds.”
“The preferred route of the bypass intersects the home range of the last significant population of the threatened Coastal Emu. There are only about 100 emus left in this isolated population. As well it transects the habitat of over 80 threatened flora and fauna species. Ecologically the RMS could not have chosen a worse route. Will this drive our local icon to extinction?”
If you have concerns on this route you are encouraged to attend this meeting.
Contact:Dr Greg Clancy 66493153 0429601960 gclancy@tpg.com.au
Friday, 24 August 2012
Shame, Mr Editor, shame!
Mangling the Queen's English: a case study
Orams was writing about Prince Harry (the subject matter doesn't warrant mentioning here) when he wrote, "Actually, if I really had of said that I would probably be writing Coastal Comment from the comfort of a hospital bed."
Orams hedged his bets with his next paragraph and wrote "Instead, I think I may have said something like "What about me, sweetie; don't you find me sexie? Well, don't you?""
An editor he might be, a wordsmith he ain't.
Who edits the editor?
Image credit: Dave's Mechanical Pencils
Clarence Valley Council Election 2012 Candidate Scorecard: Week Three
Candidates standing for the nine councillor positions at the 8 September 2012 Clarence Valley Local Government Election are being rated on their individual campaigns to win over voters.
The score range is -10 to 10. Every candidate starts at zero (0)
Scoring began in the week ending 10 August 2012.
This week it’s all about fronting the forums and what candidates told the local media which affect the score.
Name Designation Running Score
Rod Morrison Independent 0.5 + 1 + 0.5 = 2 this candidate increased his score by attending the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1) with a little extra on the side for his commitment to his village.
Margot Scott Independent 1 + 1 + -0.5 = 1.5 Margot scores for attending the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1). However she also whittles away at her score with a hint that underneath the campaign rhetoric this inexperienced newcomer thinks local government is really just about roads, rats and rubbish.
Paul Parkinson -5 + 1 + -3 + -3 = -10 this candidate scored for attending Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1) but left many open-mouthed when he stated that he couldn’t make any election promises as there was no way of knowing what Clarence Valley Council’s budget was like – completely ignoring the fact that he can inspect budget papers going back years online or at council chambers (-3). More points went when he displayed a defeatism which appears to indicate a reluctance to fully support Clarence Valley communities' stand against coal seam gas mining (-3)
Craig Howe Independent 0.6 + 1 = 1.6 Craig’s score increased because he attended Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1), however it is hard to forget the many times he voted for developers over the objections of local communities.
Andrew Baker Independent 0 + -10 = -10 this candidate excelled himself during the week by failing to give any undertaking that he would support Clarence Valley communities (-4) and for expecting voters to accept that a man - who as a director and major shareholder allowed two companies to rack up what sounds like millions of dollars in debt until the bank called in the receiver – should be allowed anywhere near the local government annual budget (-4). While he wasted the time of every voter at the Maclean meet the candidates forum as he trailed an imaginary broken wing (-2).
Ursula Tunks Independent 2 + 1 = 3 Ursula moved up the scoreboard for attending Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1). She doesn’t increase her score beyond that because this week she denied she was an Independent and instead described herself as “party-less” - which begs the question as to which political party she may next decide to join.
Joy de Roos -1 + 1 = 2 added to her score by attending Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1).
Jim Simmons Independent 0 + 1 + 1 = 2 gained for attending Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1) and with a long history as a councillor putting some of the new to local government candidates to shame by comparison.
Greg Clancy Independent 3.5 + 1 + 2 = 6.5 this candidate increased his score again this week. Firstly for his attendance at the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1) and secondly because he is the only new candidate who truly understands the relationship between a healthy environment, sustainable infrastructure and a viable economy (2).
Jane Beeby Independent -3 + 1 + -2 = -4 this candidate both won and lost points this week. She attended the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1), however the alleged vague conspiracy against herself she expounds rather than honestly explaining her anti- vaccination stance continues to worry some voters (-2) . Which is somewhat of a pity as she has taken an anti-coal seam gas stance.
Sue Hughes Independent 2.5 + 1 + 2 = 5.5 her score grows as she attended the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1) and, in doing so, reminded residents that she has come through for the Valley with regard to moving a successful resolution against coal seam gas exploration before impacts from this type of mining are known and other votes in the Chamber.
Karen Toms 2.5 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 6.5 increased her running score by attending the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1) and, in doing so, reminded voters that she has always been good value for local communities (2). She earns an additional point for calmly campaigning no matter what stumbling blocks are placed in her path by ill wishers hinted at in The Daily Examiner online comments (1).
Michael McIvor Independent 1 + 1 = 2 this candidate remains a bit of a dark horse who attempts to explain himself in slogans and clichés. So although he adds to his score for attending the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1) that is the only positive, which sadly is offset by his fairly high opinion of his own untested capabilities.
Jeremy Challacombe Independent -1 + 1 + -3 = -3 he scores for attending the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1) but loses points for those stale ideas and for continuing to pretend that being a senior member and office bearer of the NSW Nationals will not politicize his position on Council if elected (-3). It didn't assist his candidature to find local media reporting that he had been caught breaking CVC rules for farmers' markets by having campaign literature displayed on his own produce stall. What else can be said about a candidate who thinks in two-word slogans?
Richie Williamson 2 + 1 – 0.5 = 2.5 Richie scores for attending the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1). He only loses half a point this week for pretending he doesn’t have political ambitions which potentially affect his attitude as Mayor and councillor – simply because most of the election field is so abysmal that this classic fence sitter’s time in local government is beginning to look rosy by comparison.
Margaret McKenna Independent -2 + 1 + -2 = -3 scored for attending the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1). However, Margaret lost what had been gained by pretending that she actually gave a hoot about the badly planned West Yamba re-zoning. When she has been quite happy to go along with private developers virtually creating the draft Development Control Plan for that same urban expansion, after previously voting in 2009 for that joke of a Yamba Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan which had to be endorsed so that the West Yamba Local Environmental Plan could be passed as approved on the same day (-2).
Jason Kingsley Independent 1 + 1 = 2 this candidate talks easily but in the end says very little. He slowly increases his score on the basis of attendance at the Maclean and Grafton meet the candidates forums (1).
Did Gulaptis tell anyone in his electorate about the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry Into The Establishment Of Special Economic Zones?
Between February and April 2012 the Legislative Assembly Committee on Economic Development started and apparently finished a public inquiry looking at ways the NSW Government can contribute to the sustainability and growth of regional economies by stimulating business investment and job creation. With an emphasis on the viability of establishing special economic zones providing state tax and financial incentives to promote economic growth, employment and investment in regional and rural New South Wales.
The NSW Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis, whose electorate is experiencing ongoing job losses and economic stress, is on this committee and attends its meetings and was present at its one and only public hearing this year.
The inquiry received thirty-eight submissions and only one was identifiable as coming from the NSW North Coast, but it was also from outside his electorate.
Did this MP even bother to send out a media release or write an opinion piece for a regional newspaper informing local government, chambers of commerce, community organisations and interested residents that they could put a case to this committee for their region receiving special consideration?
Perhaps Mr. Gulaptis might like to explain his apparent lack of action.
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Red Rocks 4 Eva!
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in this full length video takes all press conference questions regarding the never-ending “sexist and vicious" rumours about her spread on the internet by "misogynist nut jobs" and the factually incorrect and defamatory statements made about her in News Limited’s flagship newspaper and serial offender, The Australian.
Pic from Google Images
Pic from Google Images
What sort of management culture did Richie Williamson & Co import into the Clarence Valley?
The Daily Examiner 12 August 2011:
SCOTT Greensill has been appointed the general manager of the Clarence Valley Council.
Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson yesterday announced the appointment of the father of three and Singleton Council general manager to the council’s top job.
Cr Williamson said the job was one of the most important in the Clarence Valley and welcomed him to the position......
The Daily Examiner 15 December 2011:
CLARENCE Valley Council general manager Scott Greensill said he had nothing to fear from a Supreme Court judgment handed down on Friday in a case involving his former employer, Singleton Council……
Judge Schmidt was critical of Mr Greensill, pointing out he "certainly acted inconsistently" with the council's code of conduct by delegating "all responsibilities" in the Nichols matter to assets manager Gary Thomson yet continuing to still work on the case. Her judgment said she would have had more to say about Mr Greensill, but as he had resigned from the council just prior to the Supreme Court hearing four months ago that requirement had "disappeared"…..
The Singleton Argus 9 March 2012:
A SECRETIVE group of men and women has been overheard regularly in a Singleton café, at times, discussing sensitive Singleton Council affairs.
The gatherings have occasionally included up to five councillors and a former senior council staff member…..
General manager Lindy Hyam was told of the apparently clandestine get-togethers on Monday, several hours before a regular open council meeting was set to consider three anonymous code of conduct complaints against Cr Alison Howlett…….The allegations arose from 2010 when Cr Howlett sought details from Mr Greensill of the appointment of Henry Wilson as the council’s assistant general manager…..
The Daily Examiner 27 April 2012:
A LEGAL wrangle, which will cost a NSW council more than $1 million and involves Scott Greensill, has no impact on his current position as general manager at Clarence Valley Council.
"What happens at Singleton Council is completely a matter for Singleton Council," CVC Mayor Richie Williamson said yesterday……
The second of two judgments involving Mr Greensill's former employer, Singleton Council, was handed down by the Supreme Court last week…….
Judge Monika Schmidt quashed the report and ordered the council to pay Cr Nichols' legal fees.
"The only reason that it was not necessary to make orders against Mr Greensill was because he left the council's employ," her judgment said…..
The Newcastle Herald 14 August 2012:
The Supreme Court case also revealed that former Singleton general manager Scott Greensill had not disclosed to councillors his involvement in the handling of the complaint against Cr Nichols.
Mr Greensill resigned from the council days before the Supreme Court case.
The Singleton Argus 17 August 2012:
THE state government has thrown out the $1million code of conduct complaint against Singleton deputy mayor Paul Nichols.
There was no evidence to support anonymous allegations that came from a council meeting two years and five months ago…..
Cr Nichols’ barrister, Robert Lovas, told the August court hearing that the person who made the complaint may have been beholden to Mr Greensill and they may have collaborated…..
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