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This way lies O'Farrell madness

South East Forest National Park

This national park is a place that protects old-growth forests,

rugged granite formations and picturesque valleys and gorges.

Koalas, powerful owls and giant burrowing frogs are among the
threatened species protected within a park which also shelters
the state’s only known populations of endangered long-footed potoroos.

 

ABC News on 14^th March 2013:

There are concerns that motorists on the New South Wales south coast could be in the firing line under the State Government's plan to allow hunting in national parks.

The Greens have obtained a leaked document showing an area of the South East Forests National Park which straddles the Princes Highway has been designated "zone C".

This would mean unsupervised hunting would be allowed in that part of the park.

In the risk assessment document, parks workers raise concerns that the two-kilometre stretch of highway included within the zone is used daily by school buses, locals, tourists and tradespeople.

Greens MP David Shoebridge says the area lies just five kilometres north of the town of Merimbula.

"All the hunting was meant to be away from residential areas and the unsupervised parts, these so-called remote zone C parts of the national parks, were meant to be in the deepest, darkest parts of New South Wales," Mr Shoebridge said.

"But here we've got it right next to a township, right next to the busiest arterial road on the south coast which thousands of holiday makers and school kids use on a daily basis.

The document says park workers are also concerned about a mentally ill local resident who "tends to appear out of the bush without warning".

"The dangers are obvious to everyone apart from the Government," Mr Shoebridge said_____

Clarence Councillors Again Express Concerns About CSG Mining

Coal seam gas is very newsworthy at the moment with politicians at all levels of government anxious to demonstrate that they are (finally) listening to community concerns about this industry. Both the State and Federal Governments have recently announced new measures to address some of the issues identified by anti-CSG campaigners.   Whether these measures, most of which are directed to new rather than existing licences, will have any real effect is questionable.

Clarence Valley Councillors, like their state and federal counterparts, are well aware of community concerns. The previous Council passed two resolutions expressing concern about coal seam gas mining. And on Tuesday 12th March, with memories of the Glenugie vigil and blockade still fresh, another motion was put to the Environment, Economic and Community Committee of the Council.

Councillors Jason Kingsley, Craig Howe and Sue Hughes moved that Council write to State and Federal Ministers and local MPs calling for a halt to "CSG mining activity and all other forms of unconventional gas mining including testing in the Clarence Valley" until the release of findings of a number of inquiries relating to the industry's impacts on health, water catchments and other environmental matters could deliver a guarantee that there will be no detrimental impacts from this industry.

In their motion the Councillors stated: "In light of recent events there is increasing doubt as to the safety of CSG mining in both the areas of human health and the Environment. NSW Health recommended no more CSG expansion in Sydney until more studies can be undertaken into the effects on people’s health. The NSW Government recently tightened restrictions on CSG activity near dwellings, with the Deputy Premier stating that he would not like it in his backyard and that there was a possibility something could go wrong.

"If it is good enough for Sydney and the Deputy Premier, it is good enough for the residents and environment of the Clarence Valley."

Questions about the motion were asked by Councillors Challacombe and Baker. 

Councillor Challacombe stated that he had no problem with the motion "per se" but he wanted to establish that, if the five criteria were met, the motion indicated that CSG mining could go ahead. 

Councillor Baker stated that he did not believe that the motion indicated that this could happen and said that he would vote against it.  He spoke on a number of occasions during the debate and claimed that the effect of the motion would be to create uncertainty, that the level of community concern about the CSG industry has not really been tested, and that dealing with this issue was beyond the area of Council's responsibility.  In addition he referred to the inconsistency of the other levels of government which obtained benefits from CSG mining.

Councillor Howe stated that the effect of the motion would be to create certainty as there was uncertainty now.  He acknowledged that, while Local Government had limitations in this matter, Councils had a role in advocating for their communities.  He pointed out that the Department of Health concerns illustrated that there was doubt and a health risk and that we should be wary of taking risks in this matter.

The Committee voted four (Howe, Hughes, McKenna, Williamson) to one (Baker) for the motion.

It will be very interesting to see the vote at the full Council meeting on Tuesday 19^th March.  Of particular interest will be the vote of Councillor Challacombe, former President of the Grafton Chamber of Commerce.  Last year the Chamber came out in support of CSG mining in the Clarence after it had been lobbied (and reportedly wined and dined) by Metgasco, the CSG company involved in the test drill at Glenugie in January.

Hildegard

Northern Rivers

GuestSpeak is a feature of North Coast Voices allowing Northern Rivers residents to make satirical or serious comment on issues that concern them. Posts of 250-300 words or less can be submitted to ncvguestspeak AT gmail.com.au for consideration.

Senator Stephen Conroy may be many things, but Stalin he is not

 

"This government will go down in history as the first Australian government outside of wartime to attack freedom of speech by seeking to introduce a regime which effectively institutes government sanctioned journalism," News Limited chief executive Kim Williams said.

 

Yes, without a doubt Australian Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy  Stephen Conroy has a tendency to go too far whenever he looks at regulating areas which fall within his portfolio.

 

One only has to look at his attempts to censor the Internet to see how foolish he can be.

 

However, to equate him with a dictator whose insane policies resulted in the deaths of literally millions is going too far even for Rupert Murdoch’s News Limited.

Similar stories, different outcomes (well, so far!)

A comment piece in today's Daily Examiner has put the name Cansdell back in the public arena. Steve Cansdell, the former disgraced Member for Clarence, resigned from the NSW State Parliament on 16 September 2011 after he faked a statutory declaration concerning a speeding fine he received in 2005.




Seems Cansdellgate just won't lie down and die.

Here's what the Examiner's Tim Howard wrote today:

Differing face of 'justice': Identical crimes in separate countries but penalties poles apart

This story has a familiar ring to it, except for the bit right at the end.

A politician's car is clocked speeding and demerit points are to be docked from the driver, but a woman takes the rap, saying she was driving the car at the time.

Years later things between them sour and the woman tells authorities she has taken the fall for the politician, who eventually 'fesses up.

A by-election is called in his seat, the politician is forced to give up a promising post. His political career is over.

In time the politician and his accuser end up in court.

They are both sentenced to eight months' jail after the court found them guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice. There are serious inquiries about how much other senior politicians in the party knew about their indiscretions.

People in the Clarence Valley will recognise parallels to the case of former Clarence MP Steve Cansdell, who resigned his seat over the scandal of a false statutory declaration to save him from a speeding fine.

This is the story of former British MP Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce, who were sentenced in an English court this week.

While the details differ between the two stories, the thrust of the narrative is the same: a person of influence uses another person to avoid a scandal. When the relationship unravels, the truth comes out and there is a price to pay.

As I said, the difference in the story is the bit at the end.

While the court case aired a bit of dirty laundry, the details of the story came out and the British public were left in no doubt justice had been done and, more importantly, seen to be done.

In Australia there was no such satisfaction. Mr Cansdell was well and truly punished for his indiscretion, but in no way was justice seen to be done.

Metgasco Limited tells Australian Stock Exchange that it is indefiniately suspending operations in Northern Rivers region

Metgasco share price as at 12.15pm 13 March 2013:

Coal Seam Gas: Saffin and Elliott deliver on water resources protection

 

Hopefully the foreshadowed amendments to the C’wealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 will give the level of water protection Northern Rivers communities hope for.

 

Saffin hails new water protection as a win for the community

 

The Federal Labor Government today moved to tighten controls over Coal Seam Gas activities on the North Coast.

 

Page MP Janelle Saffin today announced that the Federal Labor Government will amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to provide greater environmental protection for water resources impacted by coal seam gas mining.

 

"This effectively means that Coal Seam Gas Mining could be stopped on the North Coast if it has the potential to adversely impact our precious water resources.

 

Currently there is no direct protection for water resources under our national environment law.

 

“I have said for years that we have to protect our water from the known risks of CSG mining.

 

“What I’ve said all along is that I wanted the Environment Minister, Tony Burke,  to find a way that we could draw water in the ambit of the EP and BC Act. And today he announced that he’s been able to do it.

 

“I’ve been working with the Minister and his advisors for some period of time on this.

 

“Last year we got the Independent Expert Scientific Committee that is undertaking bioregional assessments.

 

“I’ve told the minister that the community wanted us to find a way to have water included in the assessments for Coal Seam Gas.  And I thank the Minister for doing that.

 

"Without water there is no life and it's important we take steps to ensure our water systems are protected.

 

“I have been working with Justine Elliott locally and in Canberra, and at the Federal Government level we have done what we can.”

 

“With this amendment the Australian Labor Government is responding to community concern to ensure the long term health and viability of Australia’s water resources.

 

“This amendment means we have to take water into account for these kinds of projects, so I don’t see how they will be able to go ahead.

 

“The states however, still have the power immediately to give us an exclusion zone for the Northern Rivers.”

 

 

13 March, 2013

 

Media contact:  Lee Duncan 0448 158 150