Tweet of the Week

 

Her lies follow you around the room... pic.twitter.com/uRhHsgDu5s

— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) August 30, 2024

 

Cartoon of the Week

When Summer comes before Spring begins.......

Matt Golding

Meme of the Week

Found on X/Twitter

The battle continues to save Wallum Wetlands from further encroachment by developers

 

Clarence Property Corporation Limited - issuer of the PDS for Clarence Property Diversified Investment Trust (formerly Westlawn Property Trust) & Epig Lennox Property Trust - through its subsidiaries Clare Property Corporation Limited and Bayside Brunswick Pty Ltd continues to insist it has a right to swing its wrecking ball through what remains of natural landscapes in coastal areas of the NSW Northern Rivers region.

Currently it has eight largescale development projects in northern New South Wales listed on its website.

The Wallum development at Brunswick Heads is one of these sites and Lot 13 DP 1251383 and environs on Torakina Road, Brunswick Heads NSW, has been a bone of contention for years as the local community continues to resist this 'zombieDA'.

Wallum Land
IMAGE: Mac Maderski at savewallum.com

Vegetation mapping of Lot 13 DP 1251383 and environs

Echo, 29 August 2024:

Both opposing parties regarding the 126-housing Wallum development in Bayside, Brunswick Heads, are claiming a victory after the latest court decision, handed down on August 23 by Justice Bromwich.

In a statement, Save Wallum Inc, say the Federal Court upheld the stop-work injunction.

Spokesperson Svea Pitman said, ‘The main contest before the court at the further hearing of Save Wallum Inc’s interlocutory injunction application was the controversial construction of nine artificial frog ponds, which are proposed as part of the early development works’.

‘Justice Bromwich accepted that the construction of these ponds may pose a risk to the site’s Wallum sedge frog population, and has blocked any construction of the proposed ponds until a final determination of the matter.

‘The orders otherwise permit very limited works, including installation of bunting, regeneration of the seed bank along sandy tracks and weed maintenance – strictly without the use of weedicides’.

The trial is scheduled to begin October 14, Ms Pitman said.

Meanwhile, developer Clarence Property says it is ‘looking forward to progressing with its approved housing estate in the Byron Shire after the Federal Court injunction was amended to permit key works to continue’.

CEO Simon Kennedy repeated his comments around the ‘critical need for new housing in the shire that had been identified by Byron Shire Council’.

He said, ‘We believe the court’s ruling affirms our commitment to responsible development and environmental stewardship and we will continue to respect the legal process as we work towards the final determination of this matter in October’.

‘Our focus now is on ensuring safe access for our contractors and progressing with this essential project.’

Ms Pitman added, ‘This is another major win for our community and for the race to save this unique wallum ecosystem’.

High ecological value

Save Wallum advocates say they celebrated Friday’s outcome, ‘viewing it as a critical step toward protecting one of the last intact wallum heathland ecosystems in the Byron Shire’.

Ms Pitman added, ‘This is another major win for our community and for the race to save this unique wallum ecosystem’.

‘The high ecological value of this area is undeniable, with its floristic diversity, absence of invasive weeds, and the presence of so many threatened species’.

She continued, ‘Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinction globally, and in the Northern Rivers, we are on the frontline of the climate crisis.

‘It’s heartening to see the court’s decision ensuring that no destructive works can proceed at this stage.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Save Wallum Incorporated v Clarence Property Corporation Limited [2024] FCA 967 interim injunction ruling can be found at:

https://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCA/2024/967.html

Did you know that the majority of residents in and around Tarong & Callide (Qld), Liddell & Mount Piper (NSW), Port Augusta (SA) and Low Yang (Vic) are supportive of having nuclear power plants built in their midst? No, neither did I.

 

In June 2024 Leader of the Opposition & Liberal MP for Dickson Peter Dutton - the politician with 30 nicknames implying he is either a fascist dictator or a root vegetable (or both) - flanked by both the Leader of the Nationals & the Morrison lookalike spokesperson on Climate Change and Energy, announced that if he won federal government in 2025 he would establish a nuclear power industry in Australia.

The initial seven nuclear power plants would be sited at retiring coal-fired power stations in:

Tarong in Queensland, north-west of Brisbane

Callide in Queensland, west of Gladstone

Liddell in NSW, in the Hunter Valley

Mount Piper in NSW, near Lithgow

Port Augusta in SA

Loy Yang in Victoria, in the Latrobe Valley (rarer than a dodo bird, SMR reactor only)

Muja in WA, near Collie (ditto another dodo).

Then, in the months that followed, when hard questions began to be repeatedly asked Dutton went quiet on the subject. Leaving most of heifer's dust shovelling to be done by fellow Queenslander, the Nationals Leader & MP for Maranoa David Littleproud.

A task he is obviously not performing well......

The Noisy Elephant

@TheNoisyTrunk

#DavidLittleproud said, on #ABC 2/09/2024 Afternoon Briefing*, these exact words:

"Well, on all seven locations, the majority of people living in these locations that we're proposing for 'nuclear' power plants to take over from transition from coal-fired power stations support this"

We have a question, @D_LittleproudMP YES, THIS IS A QUESTION TO YOU David and it WILL be followed up.

WHERE is it documented that a MAJORITY of people in the 7 locations SUPPORT "this" (The transition to nuclear power).

1/. WHO polled this

2/. WHEN was it polled

and

3/. WHERE can we view the polling methodology.

We ask because #GregJennett didn't ask, and he SHOULD have, and secondly it needs to be verified given it is such a big claim and goes against the official polls.

Please reply to this post so that all can see rather than us having to go down a more formal approach and then republish stating such.

#NuclearPower

*https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NU2422C156S00

#DavidLittleproud said, on #ABC 2/09/2024 Afternoon Briefing*, these exact words:

"Well, on all seven locations, the majority of people living in these locations that we're proposing for 'nuclear' power plants to take over from transition from coal-fired power stations support… pic.twitter.com/AFbZRAquzO

— The Noisy Elephant (@TheNoisyTrunk) September 2, 2024

Rising Tide is organising a peaceful people's blockade of Newcastle coal port this coming November 2024 and has issued an invitation to participate

 

According to mainstream media Rising Tide protest organisers have submitted a Form 1 or notice of intention to hold a public assembly from the 19th to the 26th of November, with part of the peaceful protest involving a three-day blockade of the port via an armada of canoes and small vessels.

It is said that NSW Police have yet to make a decision on whether the protest will be allowed to go ahead.

Readers might recall that at last year's November blockade 109 people were arrested after staying on harbour waters after the 4pm time limited on the three day protest permit had expired. However, only 99 were charged and of these no convictions were recorded for at least 70 protestors.

The People's Blockade 

The People’s Blockade 2024 will be groundbreaking - 10,000 people over 10 days, coming together for a family-friendly Protestival and flotilla blockade in one of the most significant climate uprisings on the planet, stopping coal exports from the world’s largest coal port at Muloobinba (Newcastle) on Awabakal and Worimi land and water for an unprecedented 50 hours!

Come for an hour, come for 10 days!

Last year's Blockade was incredible; with a 3,000 people-powered peaceful flotilla, we stopped the coal ships for 32 hours. And when 109 people chose to take further action and get arrested, they made global headlines demanding an end to new fossil fuels and transition funding for workers and communities. With over 1,000 media hits – it was the largest civil disobedience for climate justice in Australia’s history.

Strap yourself in - this year will be three times the scale - and you don’t want to miss it!

The 10 Day Plan

The People’s Blockade in Newcastle (Tues Nov 19 - Tues Nov 26)

> Tuesday 19 - Setup, Welcome

>Wednesday 20 - Prepare, Skill up + Build our Movement

>Thursday 21 - Prepare, Skill up + Build our Movement

> Friday 22 - Protestival: Flotilla + Beach Fun

> Saturday 23 - Protestival: Flotilla + Beach Fun

> Sunday 24 - Protestival ends; Debrief + Build our Movement

> Monday 25- Celebrate + 2025 Planning

> Tuesday 26 - Pack Up, Wrap Up + Canberra Wave departs . . .

For full details on how to register go to:

https://www.risingtide.org.au/blockade-guide

Second day of a most unnatural start to Spring 2024 and the bush & grass fire count begins its climb towards Summer in the NSW Northern Rivers region

NSW Rural Fire Service map of Northern NSW showing recorded bush & grass fires as of 6pm Monday 2 September 2024.

Click on image to enlarge

Fires mapped in the the Northern Rivers region

All fifteen fires were listed at the "Advice" level (no immediate danger) as night fell.

Clarence Valley

PECKHAMS RD, EWINGAR

FLORDA PRINCE DR, WELLS CROSSING

FLAGGY CREEK RD, RAMORNIE

CLARENCE WAY, EIGHTEEN MILE

WINWOOD LANE, SOUTH GRAFTON

GREBERTS RD, WHITEMAN CREEK

MELOMYS RD, NYMBOIDA

Kyogle

BAIRDS RD, LOWER DUCK CREEK

IRON POT CREEK RD, IRON POT CREEK

UPPER EDEN CREEK RD, UPPER EDEN CREEK

PEACOCK CREEK RD, PEACOCK CREEK

Richmond Valley

UPPER MONGOGARIE RD, UPPER MONGOGARIE

OLD WYAN RD, RAPPVILLE

Lismore

UNARA RD, BEXHILL

Tweed

GLENCOE RD, NORTH ARM

For updates go to:

https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me