Tony Kelly & West Yamba: none so blind as those who will not see

Yamba in flood in May 2009
West Yamba shown in the top half of the photograph from The Daily Examiner

Planning Minister Tony Kelly claims he has reviewed all the evidence before approving the development of West Yamba. Did he consider the Yamba Floodplain Risk Management Study (Webb, McKeown and Associates Pty Ltd July 2008) commissioned by Clarence Valley Council? If he did, he is ignoring the following:

 The height of land in West Yamba "generally lies between 1.0m and 1.5m AHD" (p.36) and the 1:100 ARI (once in a hundred years) flood level is 2.34m. The study goes on to say that 'an average of 0.8m of fill across the site is required to meet current Council guidelines'. (That figure itself is conservative, as it implies that the average height of land is 1.54m AHD, somewhat more than the stated 1.0m - 1.5m AHD.)
 1.3 million cubic metres of fill will be required to bring the land to 2.34m AHD (page 37).
 The study acknowledges that it is unlikely that dredging for such a large volume of fill would be approved. Therefore the fill would have to be brought by truck.
 This equates to a 20 tonne truck trip every six minutes (including return) for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year for 9.5 years (page 37).
 The Clarence Valley Draft Local Environmental Plan 2010 recommends a floor level of 1:100 ARI plus 0.5 metre freeboard.
 The additional 0.5m freeboard would bring the floor levels for buildings in West Yamba to 2.84m AHD. Even if the whole area is not filled to that level, it is clear that something of the order of 1.8 million cubic metres of fill will be required. It follows that bringing 1.8 million cubic metres will take something in excess of 13 years.

The impact of 270,400 (give or take a few) 20 tonne truck trips on local roads, traffic and the community has also been ignored by the Minister. So has the obvious point that the water which inundates the West Yamba area in times of flood will have to go somewhere – but where? (It should be noted that sea level rise associated with climate change has NOT been included in the consultant’s calculations. CSIRO estimates a rise of up to 0.91 metres by the end of the century – that is, in old terms, another 3 feet!)

Truly there are none so blind as those who will not see.

Gary Whale
Yamba

* 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 live.com.au for consideration.

Concrete matters in the Clarence Valley

Questions many in the Clarence Valley and elsewhere on the NSW North Coast ask themselves as unsteady legs or failing eyesight make negotiating those sloped grass strips, laughingly called footpaths, more of an obstacle course than an easy stroll:

Walking in Grafton can be dangerous

I WAS recently visiting a family member in Riverdale Court, Grafton, when I could not believe my eyes?

In this completely brand new homes-built area, I had to wait to park my car. Why?

Because there was an elderly lady walking herself (and her dog) with the use of her 'walking frame' for assistance, that's right, a walker come chair on wheels, on the road because some idiot forgot to include footpaths in this new development area.

Is this now common practice for the new-age CVC (Clarence Valley Council) members?

The grassed 'home fronts' are not 'walker' friendly, and how long will it be before someone sues the CVC for such a bungling oversight?

In this 'new century', the CVC has neglected to include 'pavements' for pedestrians on which to walk.

One can understand older parts of Grafton that do not have 'pavements' for pedestrians, but brand new subdivisions without pavements, it's very hard to believe in 'today's day and age'.

What exactly are those in the CVC responsible for when it comes to OH&S with regards the safety of pedestrians, and why does the CVC spend ever-increasing income from rates on 'superficial' gardens and street gardens that are 'not essential' to the care and well-being of Grafton citizens/folk?

JOSEPH GOLDEN, Summerland Way

[Letter to the Editor, The Daily Examiner, 20 April 2010]

Is this your river island dream house? Mapping predicted sea level rise (7)

Google Earth mapping showing the effects of a 1 metre sea level rise in a river delta area on the New South Wales coast, which would possibly see water encroaching on the idllyic river island property pictured above.
The 2009 Federal Government report Climate Change Risks to Australia's Coasts contains a 'worst case' scenario involving a 1.1 metre sea level rise along the NSW coast sometime within the next 90 years.

Revenge of the Sons of Gwalia

Despite the rather colourful name of the now defunct mining company and associated court case, Sons of Gwalia v Margaretic, the Rudd Government's legislation has the rather dun-colured title of Corporations Amendment (No.2) Bill 2010.

Anyone wanting to have their say on the exposure draft of this bill can do it here.

Sons of Gwalia Limited has a rather fascinating early history and a very complicated one since. There is apparently some $1.2 billion in claims admitted by Sons of Gwalia administrators. About a third of these claims were lodged by shareholders and this legislation may cause them some angst if it muddies the legal waters.

Exposure Draft - Corporations Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2010

Tony Abbott continues his love affair with his own image

Oz Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has posted 26 pics of himself on Flickr (mostly decked out in lycra) and then tweeted the world about it.

Maud up the Street reckons his camera pose is getting a bit of a pelvic thrust to it.

Lest We Forget

ANZAC DAY 2010

THE MOUSE THAT ROARED: est. 80% of Yamba says no to McDonald's Australia

Yamba chamber vice-president Tania Williams, Janet Purcell and others present petitions to council general manager Stuart McPherson. "Eighty per cent of Yamba's population and a majority of the chamber of commerce members are saying no to McDonald's," Ms Williams said.

Yamba residents have posted on Facebook, blogged, written letters to editor, taken out newspaper ads, worn their opposition on T-shirts, signed petitions in their thousands and made submissions to Clarence Valley Council by the 23 April 2010 deadline, in order to oppose the McDonald's Australia development application for a 24 hour eat-in and drive-through fast food outlet in Treelands Drive, Yamba.

There is at least one site inspection, planning committee meeting and a monthly council meeting to go and, as yet it is still not clear that those shire councillors who have been quietly supporting McDonald's (and its politically connected backers) have even paused to think what around 80 per cent community resistance means for the future of local government in the Lower Clarence.

With only eight of the nine shire councillors eligible to consider this application, Mayor Richie Williamson will also be risking his reputation and possibly any political future he may hope for if the ballot is so tight that he must use his casting vote.

As more than one former shire councillor would be able to recall - Yamba never forgets.

Photograph from The Daily Examiner

Abbott's warmongering ways show he's just another pollie willing to advance his own interests on the backs of the fallen

It's almost obscene the way Opposition Leader Tony Abbott seeks every thoughtless opportunity to get his phizog on the screen or his name in print.

Nicely timed in the lead-up to Anzac Day, Phony Tony had this to say to a Lowy Institute audience:
"It's no secret that the Americans would like additional Australian forces in Afghanistan and have refrained from making a formal request only because they have been told that it would be unwelcome. The Government should explain why it's apparently right that NATO countries should commit more troops but not Australia. Putting more troops at risk is not a decision that any Australian government should lightly make but the near certainty of higher casualties has to be weighed against the consequences of failing to shoulder extra responsibilities and the ramifications of any collective loss of nerve by Western powers. How fair is it to leave Australia's security so much in the hands of other countries' soldiers or to expect America and Britain to do nearly all the free world's heavy lifting? If satisfied that the role made strategic sense and was compatible with our other military commitments, a Coalition government would be prepared to consider doing more.
Should it be made, a commitment to do more in Afghanistan would be one sign that Australia is entirely serious about its overseas responsibilities. It would build on the reputation Australia established during the Howard years as a power that well and truly "punched to its weight". "

Yeah, not content with his War on Wimmin, Dole Bludgers and Boat People, Tony lusts to spill some more real blood if he gets into The Lodge and like most pollies the blood he wants to let will not be his own.
Not content that 90,000 international defence personnel from 46 countries are currently deployed in Afghanistan, this poor excuse for a pollie even slips in a suss question about why NATO's supposedly bearing the burden of increased troop commitment in Afghanistan.
NATO of course is quite clear as to why it's in Afghanistan. It took command of the very un-UN International Security Assistance Force in 2003 after the Coalition of the Willing had finished with its invasion of that country and its member countries were expected to increase troop numbers on the ground in order to impose political and social order.
The same day that Abbott posted his p#ss horn speech on the Liberal Party website, the NATO foreign ministers were announcing their intention to hand back more power to the Afghan Government and its own military.

Oh and by the way, cobber. Australia has been punching above its weight in war and peace keeping missions and doing a great deal of heavy lifting ever since we first sent military contingents overseas to assist Britain and her allies.
Just go ask those marching in remembrance today.

McDonald's? Spare us!

McDonald's Australia has a development application before Clarence Valley Council for a 24 hour a day eat-in and drive-through store in the small coastal town of Yamba which has a permanent population of around 6,000 residents and no 24/7 food outlets.

McDonald's recently announced that its Ballina licensee Scott Campbell will also be the licensee for its proposed Yamba fast food store.

Needless to say the ambient temperature in Yamba has risen considerably as a result of McDonald's move on the town and many are not looking forward to increased traffic, more litter and a focal point for anti-social behaviour after the pubs close.

Apparently Mr. Campbell is aware of the general drift of public opinion and is said to be avoiding Yamba at the moment as he fears being "crucified".

A letter to the editor in The Daily Examiner on 19 April 2010:

McDonald's? Spare us

BOTH Jim Agnew and Chris Pontifex in letters both gave stirring and loving platitudes to McDonald's.

However, they seem a little 'selfish' themselves. Firstly, McDonald's is not building McDonald's House in Yamba, they are building a 'restaurant', a 24/7 operation at Treelands Drive.

A multi-million dollar company giving to charity - so they should but it is my experience that the humble wage earner in Australia (and elsewhere) are the people who give more collectively than any big corporation, ie, Boxing Day Tsunami and Haiti.

Jim, you will not be affected by the increased traffic (already a growing problems over the years and petitioned by residents) on Osprey, Treelands, Gumnut/Halyard roads.

The increasing traffic on these roads already is a problem for residents and has still yet to be addressed and solved.

Nor are you a resident who is virtually opposite the proposed structure or living just doors away or backing onto it.

Chris Pontifex claims it is 'just Treelands Drive and not the centre of town' and asks how it could affect the aesthetic value of the town.

It can and will and Treelands and adjoining streets have homes along them still.

It will affect the aesthetic value of these homes, the street and living conditions along that area.

As far as small business is concerned and the claims they are being selfish - many who claim this are not small business owners in the area or if they are, they are not food-related services.

Small businesses operate on small margins and any invasion to this margin by a large multi-million dollar company like McDonald's will ruin them. (Oh Maccas will employ many youth and many small businesses whose owners have mortgages and families and who employ people in this area can no longer operate and have to close because McDonald's takes their custom, ie, the plight that may face Smoko's in the industrial centre).

But wait! You tell me it is a franchise owner and not the multi-million dollar McDonald's who will benefit?

Exactly how many franchises can be operated by one franchisee?

I've spoken to people who have dealt with McDonald's on a sponsoring sporting groups basis - they all tell me the same. The only sponsorship they received was footballs and vouchers.

So much for 'putting so much into the sports groups' in the community.

Small business here does that already and much more than token gestures.

Why can't they just have a small section of a shopping centre - one small shop like other franchise businesses here?

Why can't they be on the highway?

How can you justify a 24/7 store in Yamba when we are not as big as Ballina and Grafton?

We don't need such excess for such a small town.

CELESTE WARREN, Yamba.

A Facebook NO to McDonalds in Yamba entry:

Michelle Smith It's not about the food for us, it's simply that we love Yamba as a quaint and peaceful holiday place free from chain-store fast food and commercialism. We have raved about the fact that the town is full of small local businesses, cafes and coffee shops and that we really feel like we've "escaped the city" when we are there. I'd like to say "no" simply so Yamba can keep this identity for us and many many more travellers and visitors who go for the same reason. Yes McDonald's plays a huge role in our Australian way of life, but surely they don't need to [be] quite everywhere?

Meanwhile elsewhere in Australia..........

The Northern Star on 7 January 2010:

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an assault on a 50-year-old Byron Bay man and a 43-year-old man from Alstonville at McDonald's in Ballina. The incident happened at 4pm on Tuesday when a group of three males were asked to leave the restaurant, and then the grounds, after consuming alcohol and abusing staff and customers. A staff member who asked the group to leave was punched in the face and knocked unconscious momentarily. Another male customer came to his aid and tried to stop the group from leaving the scene, but was punched repeatedly in the face. Both victims were taken to Ballina Hospital, where one of the men was admitted. He was later released.

The Gympie Times on 6 January 2010:

"DISGUSTING", is how Magistrate Dennis Beutel described the behaviour of a drunken teenager at Gympie's McDonalds recently.

The Canberra Times on 5 February 2010:

The court heard......had consumed up to five beers between 5.30pm and 1.30am and had not eaten anything, which it was said contributed to his high breath test reading.

Police noticed the vehicle that evening and saw it pull over into the McDonalds car park.

The Canberra Times on 26 February 2010:

.... pleaded guilty to low- range drink driving and operating a vehicle so the wheels lose traction after he was caught with a blood alcohol reading of .060 in Queanbeyan McDonalds car park at 11.45pm.

The Queensland Times on 22 December 2009:

AN IPSWICH man drove just 200 metres to a fast food restaurant while more than three times the limit because he was hungry, a court heard.

Ipswich Magistrates Court was told 22-year-old Kyron Lee Griffiths had driven to McDonalds and home again on December 3.

He was fined $900 and disqualified from driving for nine months.

The Chronicle on 25 November 2009:

.....yesterday faced court after he assaulted a teenage girl working at McDonald's by grabbing her hair and slamming her head on the counter.

........was a passenger in a vehicle going through the McDonald's drive-through at College View at 12.20am on November 1.

He was drunk and angry because a McDonald's worker could not understand what they were trying to order.