Recreational fishers praised by Saffin and Ludwig

Janelle sees a strong future for recreational fishing

FEDERAL Member for Page Janelle Saffin has welcomed the Australian Government’s comment of their continued commitment to work with the recreational fishing sector to ensure its sustainability and economic benefits into the future.

Ms Saffin said the National Recreational Fishing Conference on the Gold Coast at the weekend underlined the important role played by recreational fishing in strengthening the local economy, particularly in towns like Ballina, Evans Head, Iluka and Yamba.

“Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Joe Ludwig opened the conference and applauded rec fishers from across Australia who came to discuss issues such as keeping our fishing culture strong and protecting our marine environment,” she said.

“Minister Ludwig told delegates that the Australian Government’s network of marine reserves will have little or no impact on recreational fishing.

“His message was clear; these new reserves will not stop rec fishers from doing what they love doing -- fishing.

“These reserves are about protecting the sustainability and health of our oceans so that rec fishers and their families can continue to enjoy them for generations.”

Ms Saffin welcomed Minister Ludwig’s announcement that 10 recreational fishing projects had received a total of $1.74 million in Federal funding to support the National Recreational Fishing Industry Development Strategy.

“These projects will aim to support the sustainability of the sector by providing national education, identifying climate change issues and solutions, and monitoring fish stock,” she said.

Ms Saffin also praised the work of former Page MP, The Honourable Harry Woods, who chairs the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.

The FRDC has just released its latest report which shows that three eastern Australian game-fishing regions contributed more than $28 million to their local communities.

For more information visit the DAFF website www.daff.gov.au/fisheries/recreational

Monday, August 20, 2012

The Daily Examiner exposes weaknesses in Clarence Valley LGA election candidates

Beeby wouldn’t know a council budget if she fell over one, Baker’s only after the main chance, McKenna trod water rather than offering solutions, McIvor and Parkinson obviously didn’t realise that Clarence Valley councils have had 'buy local' policies in the past which were of limited bugetary value and Challacombe remains mum on protecting the Clarence River from a bloody great dam to water northwest NSW.

Read more here.

Anyone else beginning to feel an urge to run screaming into the night rather than face the polling booth?

Sales skewers Abbott - the interview video and the cartoon

First Dog on the Moon

refines the art of interview transcript

Click on cartoon to enlarge

The ABC 7.30 televised interview

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 31^st 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    

Shame, Mr Editor, shame!

Mangling the Queen's English: a case study
 

 In an opinion piece in this week's Coastal Views the editor, Graham Orams, has shown he prefers incorrect spoken English rather than correct written English.

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).

•  Week Two Candidate Scorecard
• Week One Candidate Scorecard