Labor fires a shot across the bow

The Daily Examiner letter to the editor 25 September 2013:

Coalition repeat job

The new Coalition Government has reinforced its historical neglect of regional Australia by announcing it will axe the Department of Regional Australia.

They are repeat offenders in this. Whether it was Robert Menzies who scrapped Chifley's co-operative regionalism program, Malcolm Fraser who obliterated Whitlam's Department of Urban and Regional Development, or John Howard who took the axe to that same department after the Hawke-Keating governments committed to rebuilding it, the Coalition has a lamentable record.

It means that all of us in the great regions around the nation will now need to steel ourselves for a battle to secure the support and funding required to ensure economic and social cohesion outside the capital cities.

It already appears clear that the Coalition will also not honour funding for 103 projects across regional Australia with a combined project value of more than $1 billion that I signed off on as minister but for which contracts were not concluded before the election.

To throw regional needs and priorities like these into the mix of a super-sized government department is clear evidence of the Coalition's apathy towards regional Australia.

After promising the National Press Club just weeks ago that regional development would be at the forefront of the Coalition's policy agenda, Nationals Leader Warren Truss has yet again been rolled by the Liberal Party.

If the Nationals cannot stand up for regional Australians, who can they stand up for?

Just as Prime Minister Abbott has dissolved the department responsible for foreign aid, split small business across departments, paid lip service only to disability and aged care and abolished the regional department, his message is very clear. If you're not front and centre, you won't be heard under Prime Minister Abbott.

The Hon Catherine King MP, Acting Shadow Minister for Regional Australia

The facts about the O'Farrell Government's October 2013 announcements as they relate to coal seam gas exploration and mining on the NSW North Coast

CSG exclusion zones are in force from 4 October 2013 for existing residential areas and areas zoned as villages across the state, and the North West and South West Growth Centres of Sydney.....

The CSG exclusion zones prohibit new coal seam gas exploration and development in and within a 2 kilometre buffer around existing residential and village areas in all 152 councils across the state, and the North West and South West Growth Centres of Sydney. [NSW Dept. of Planning & Infrastructure,4 October 2013]

More than 250,000 hectares in the Mid and Far North Coast regions have been identified as high-quality farmland as part of Government initiatives released today to better protect agricultural land from mining and coal seam gas (CSG) projects. [Minister for Planning & Infrastructure and Minister for Primary Industries,joint media release,4 October2013]

Pipelines associated with CSG development will also be prohibited within the exclusion zones, but are permitted within the two kilometre buffer zone, subject to development approval. [NSW Strategic Land Use Policy,FAQ sheet,October 2013]

Existing coal seam gas pilot/test and production wells in exclusion zones and within the 2km buffer zones are not affected by this announcement and, presumably any existing tenements which are under active exploration are also exempt from these provisions. It is also possible that current exploration licences per se may be exempt from these exclusion and buffer provisions.

High quality Northern Rivers agricultural land is not automatically exempt from coal seam gas exploration and mining – it must be assessed by the gateway panel against any proposed coal seam gas development application. This panel does not have the power to reject any development proposal and can only recommend further studies or modifications to the application under consideration.

Legislation has been drafted which makes it mandatory that the estimated economic significance to the state is to take precedence over environmental, agricultural or social considerations when a coal seam gas development application is being considered. 

In addition, the NSW Government has failed to implement a process to refer CSG projects to a federal scientific committee that considers water quality issues.

No Northern Rivers agricultural land appears to be is within an identified critical industry cluster.

A limited amount of land on the NSW North Coast has been identified as subject to exclusion zones, as it has been classified by the NSW Government as future residential growth land.

None of the smallest rural villages appear to be formally in exclusion zones at this stage (with the exception of part of Goonengerry in Byron Local Government Area found to meet village criteria for exemption) and State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) Amendment (Coal Seam Gas) 2013 is yet to passed by the NSW Parliament.

Metgasco Limited’s plans for an estimated 1,000 gas wells in the Casino district may be affected by these recent NSW Government announcements. This exploration, mining and production company has itself revised down its gas reserve potential by 20 per cent in anticipation of new legislation and industry regulations.

Whether the company's attempt in the Casino area to classify tight gas (which is highly likely to require fracking) as conventional gas survives scrutiny, should one or more local residents take any development consent to court, remains to be seen.

Metgasco’s ordinary share price has never fully recovered from the combined effects of the market’s knowledge of widespread community opposition to its commercial plan for the region, its cessation of mining activity and loss this year of yet another potential farm-in partner. 

The market is again reacting with a 12.5 per cent fall in Metgasco's share price holding at close of business on 4 October.

UPDATE:

In apparent anticipation of the foreshadowed changes to land use policy, in 2012  Macquarie Energy, a subsidiary of Dart Energy, said it would move to the Northern Rivers region of NSW, where it holds exploration licences that cover Byron Bay, Ballina and Lismore and surrounding rural areas.

* Dart Energy advised in September 2013  that the transfer of Petroleum Exploration Licence 445 (PEL445) from Arrow Energy has been completed. PEL445 is a sizeable licence, covering 7,076km² of the Clarence-Moreton Basin, in northern New South Wales

* According to the government, the exclusion zones leave 90 per cent of the state's energy resources untouched...

Laughing at Abbott supporters

* Found on Twitter

Yamba Triathlon Festival, Friday 11 to Sunday 13 October 2013 - Event Schedule & Road Closures

Download Road Closures & Detours as pdf »

FRIDAY 11TH SATURDAY 12TH & SUNDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2013

The running of the Yamba Triathlon Festival by Elite Energy Pty Ltd will take place on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th October 2013 along River St, Wolli St, Yamba Rd, Angourie Rd, Deering St, Lakes Boulevard. The event will also affect access to the car park at Ford Park and the Whiting Beach car park and boat ramp. Residents will be given access to affected roads at the discretion of an Authorised Traffic Controller when it is safe to do so.

During this event, some roads will be affected by Road Closures and changed traffic conditions for short periods. These roads include:

Car Park Closures

Whiting Beach Car Park & Boat Ramp between 8:00 am Friday 11th till 6:00 pm Saturday 12th October.
Ford Park Car Park between 8:00 am Thurdsay 10th till 6:00 pm Sunday 13th October.

Road Closures

River St between the Ford Park Car Park and Wolli St from 6:00 am to 11:00 am Saturday 12th and 6:30 am to 2:00 pm Sunday 13th October.
Wolli St, between River St and Claude St from 7:00 am to 11:00 am Saturday 12th and 6:45 am to 2:00 pm Sunday 13th October.

Interruptions to Traffic Flow

Traffic Controllers will be located along the course and will make every attempt to ensure there is minimal interruption to traffic flow.

We acknowledge the local community for their support of the event that will highlight Yamba to a wide audience, provide an economic boost for local business and employment. We thank you in advance for your patience with regard to change traffic conditions and will endeavour to limit interruptions where possible.

For further details contact 4423 7775 during business hours.

YAMBA TRIATHLON FESTIVAL 2013 EVENT SCHEDULE
FRIDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2013
TIME	EVENT	LOCATION
4.00pm	Registration Opens - 1000m Ocean Classic Swim	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
5.00pm	Registration Closes - 1000m Ocean Classic Swim	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
5.15pm	Race Briefing - 1000m Ocean Classic Swim	Transition - Ford Park, Yamba
5.30pm	RACE START - OCEAN CLASSIC SWIM	Yamba Bay
6.30pm	Optional Registration Opens - All Events	Shores Tavern, 64 The Mainbrace, Yamba
7.30pm	Optional Registration Closes - All Events	Shores Tavern, 64 The Mainbrace, Yamba
7.30pm	Ocean Swim Presentation & Welcome Dinner	Shores Tavern, 64 The Mainbrace, Yamba
SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2013
TIME	EVENT	LOCATION
5.30am	Registration/Transition Opens - Sprint Triathlon (inc Junior Series 16-19yrs)	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
6.30am	Registration/Transition Closes - Sprint Triathlon (inc Junior Series 16-19yrs)	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
6.30am	Lifestyle Expo Opens	Ford Park, Yamba
6.40am	Race Briefing - Sprint Triathlon (inc Junior Series 16-19yrs)	Transition - Ford Park, Yamba
7.00am	RACE START - SPRINT TRIATHLON (INC JNR SERIES 16-19YRS)	Yamba Bay
8.00am	Registration/Transition Opens - Enticer Triathlon (inc Junior series 12-15 yrs)	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
9.00am	Registration/Transition Closes - Enticer Triathlon (inc Junior series 12-15 yrs)	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
9.10am	Race Briefing - Enticer Triathlon (inc Junior series 12-15 yrs)	Transition - Ford Park, Yamba
9.30am	RACE START - ENTICER TRIATHLON (INC JNR SERIES 12-15YRS)	Yamba Bay
9.30am	Registration/Transition Opens - MINIMAN 10-11	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
10.30am	Registration/Transition Closes - MINIMAN 10-11	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
10.30am	Registration/Transition Opens - MINIMAN 7-9	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
10.40am	Race Briefing - MINIMAN 10-11	Transition - Whiting Beach (500m from Finish)
11.00am	RACE START - MINIMAN AGES 10-11	Whiting Beach, Yamba (500m from Registration)
11.30am	Registration/Transition Closes - MINIMAN 7-9	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
11.30am	Registration Opens - Fun Runs	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
11.40am	Race Briefing - MINIMAN 7-9	Transition - Whiting Beach (500m from Finish)
12.00pm	RACE START - MINIMAN AGES 7-9	Whiting Beach, Yamba (500m from Registration)
12.30pm	Registration Closes - Fun Runs	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
12.30pm	Registration Opens - Criterium Race	Registration Marquee - Fair Trader Drive, Yamba
12.40pm	Race Briefing - Fun Runs	Transition - Ford Park, Yamba
12.45pm	RACE START - 2km FUN RUN	Transition - Ford Park, Yamba
1.00pm	RACE START - 5km FUN RUN	Transition - Ford Park, Yamba
1.30pm	Registration Closes - Criterium Race	Registration Marquee - Fair Trader Drive, Yamba
1.40pm	Race Briefing - Criterium Race	Fair Trader Drive, Yamba
2.00pm	RACE START - CRITERIUM RACE	Fair Trader Drive, Yamba
4.00pm	Lifestyle Expo Closes	Transition - Ford Park, Yamba
5.00pm	Presentation - Triathlons, MINIMAN, Fun Runs & Criterium	Shores Tavern, 64 The Mainbrace, Yamba
SUNDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2013
TIME	EVENT	LOCATION
5.30am	Registration/Transition Opens - Classic Distance Triathlon	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
6.30am	Registration/Transition Closes - Classic Distance Triathlon	Registration Marquee - Ford Park, Yamba
6.30am	Lifestyle Expo Opens	Ford Park, Yamba
6.40am	Race Briefing - Classic Distance Triathlon	Transition - Ford Park, Yamba
7.00am	RACE START - CLASSIC DISTANCE TRIATHLON	Ford Park, Yamba
2.00pm	Lifestyle Expo Closes	Ford Park, Yamba
2.00pm	Presentation - Classic Triathlon	Shores Tavern, 64 The Mainbrace, Yamba

"The call will ring loud from every hilltop and into every valley, ravine and gully in the Northern Rivers....Here comes Metgasco - Again!"

Metgasco Limited is about to stir the hornet’s nest again......

The Daily Examiner 3 October 2013

THE call will ring loud from every hilltop and into every valley, ravine and gully in the Northern Rivers.

From the top of the ranges, to the east, to the shady spots beside our swimming holes and creeks.

On every headland, in every bay, in every pub and at every dinner table.

Here comes Metgasco - Again!

The NSW Chief Scientist acknowledged in a report to the State Government that the coal seam gas industry lacks community support and a social licence.

When Metgasco fracked off last time many people breathed a sigh of relief.

But very few in the know believed the claim Metgasco was withdrawing because of actions undertaken by the NSW State Government.

And here we are, less than 12 months after the Northern Rivers celebrated the company's withdrawal, facing its imminent return.

The Liberal Party needs to ask itself, is lowering the price of gas worth losing the seats the Nationals just won on the North Coast.

Because rest assured, come the next Federal Election, if Page is dotted with gas-wells a large chunk of the population won't be happy.

The new Nationals Member for Page needs to act quickly if he is to get a decent slice of the regional funding pie

This was the new Nationals Member for Page Kevin Hogan in the local media:

The Northern Star

24 September 2013:

A CHANGE of government has brought uncertainty to the upgrading of the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange.

The Labor campaign promise of $3.5m to go towards the renovation of the Casino Saleyards has fallen by the wayside with the Coalition now in power.

Newly elected Nationals MP for Page, Kevin Hogan, said all was not lost.

"We didn't make that promise but I really like the idea, as I see the value of contributing to the upgrade of the saleyards," he said.

While Labor's Regional Development fund has been disbanded, Mr Hogan said it would be replaced with the Coalition's Stronger Region fund.

"As soon as their door is open I will have the application on their desk," he said.

25 September 2013:

However, Member for Page Kevin Hogan is good at multitasking, yesterday packing up his old office while being interviewed for this story simultaneously.

The poll will be officially declared today and he will get the keys to his office.

For his first 100 days of office he has set himself some big goals.....

He planned to roll out funding for the Pacific Hwy upgrade and work toward fulfilling his campaign promises to provide more than $4 million to Ballina District Hospital as well as making installation of CCTV in Casino a priority....

It would appear that Kevin Hogan is very optimistic about his chances of securing funding under the Stronger Regions Fund and is patiently waiting for it to open its doors before acting.

Because under Stronger Regions what will be created are finite area funding pools from a budget of $400 million (with no funds distributed before 2015-16), Mr. Hogan actually needs to be vigourously lobbying now if he is to deliver a local funding arrangement capable of delivering the $3.5 million required for the Casino Regional Livestock Exchange upgrade as well as the many other infrastructure needs of local councils and communities.

Until then, the only money coming into the Page electorate for regional development will be that former Labor Government funding which Treasurer Hockey has been unable to claw back.

As for Ballina Hospital, well that is a costed $5 million Coalition election promise due to be delivered in this financial year. Again Hogan needs to get his skates on and see the hospital funding signed off on as soon as possible because there is a clear intention in the Coalition costings that this financial year it will only be spending $35 million in new funding nation-wide.

When it comes to the $3.6 billion Pacific Highway upgrade funding which Kevin Hogan promised to release and the promised $2.1 billion in extra funding – one has to wonder where it is all coming from.

Coalition election promise costings make no mention of this $5.7 billion and, it appears that for the next three years the Abbott Government will only be spending the same total amount outlined in the former Labor Government’s upgrade plan. In other words no more than $2.5 billion in total.

One also has to wonder where Mr. Hogan’s promise to obtain $463,969 in funding for 55 CCTV cameras in Casino CBD is leading, for the Abbott Government’s Safer Streets Program will not be releasing any funding until the 2014-15 financial year and how much money it holds in hand will likely rely on how much is received by government under Proceeds of Crime legislation.

Abbott's candidate may turn out to have questions to answer in NSW ICAC corruption investigation

The Sydney Morning Herald 21 September 2013:

Mr Hartcher's preferred candidate, Karen McNamara, was installed after intervention by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, then the opposition leader.
Ms McNamara was elected to parliament at the September 7 federal election....

The Sydney Morning Herald 23 September 2013:

The new federal Liberal MP for Dobell, Karen McNamara, has been drawn into controversy about political donations on the NSW central coast due to her role as campaign manager for a state MP whose office has been raided by corruption authorities.

The electorate offices of NSW MPs Darren Webber and Chris Spence were raided by the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Friday. Mr Webber is the member for Wyong and Mr Spence for The Entrance.

The raids are believed to be linked to revelations by Fairfax Media last year that two staff members of state Energy Minister Chris Hartcher, who holds the central coast seat of Terrigal, had been referred to election funding authorities by the Liberal Party.

The Liberals alleged the pair -policy adviser Tim Koelma and Mr Hartcher's electorate officer Ray Carter - had breached election funding laws shortly before the 2011 election. Ms McNamara was Mr Webber's campaign manager for the 2011 campaign.

Fairfax Media can reveal that during her preselection interview for Dobell, Ms McNamara said that as campaign manager she had raised up to $100,000 for Mr Webber's campaign.

But the claim was questioned by a member of the NSW Liberal state executive, Hollie Hughes, who said she had been advised party records indicated official receipts were far less than that - as little as $50,000.

It is understood the Liberal Party finance director, Simon McInnes, confirmed to Mrs Hughes that the official fund-raising figure was far less than that claimed by Ms McNamara.

Ms McNamara said in a statement she had complied with her obligations as Mr Webber’s campaign manager ‘‘to the best of my knowledge’’.....