Late Spring 2009 | Edition #105 | Circulation 6,000 copies

One Tree Bay contravenes Regional Strategy p.4 | Comberton Grange Quarry p.6 ShUT – A Tribute to People Power ShUT (Shoalhaven’s Unwanted Tip) was formed at a public meeting in on Saturday September 12th 2009. The meeting was attended by 150 residents who had gathered to express their concern about a development application before Shoalhaven City Council (SCC).

Ev Pettigrew Media team, Public Awareness team and Research team. They HE proposal is for a very have sought incorporation, large (100,000 tonne established a formal member- per annum) privately ship register, produced and operated, regional waste distributed hundreds of flyers, Tfacility to be established in the as well as banners and signs, shale quarry between Tomerong have participated in numerous and Road. radio and TV interviews, held Since the inaugural meeting, two rallies, held stalls at local ShUT members have worked markets and had T Shirts printed tirelessly to let the public know as a fundraiser. ShUT lobbying misconceived and has reper- disaster from toxic leachates Heights/Menai waste facility in about this proposal (SCC only has been successful in getting cussions for the whole South affecting St Georges Basin and Bondi! sent notifications to residents a three week extension of the Coast - The huge carbon foot- Jervis Bay and a proposal that For more information go to within 1.5 km). They set up closing date for submissions – print of trucks carting waste is completely at odds with our the Council DA tracking site and a steering committee and 4 now 16th October. over hundreds of kilometres, clean, green tourism image. ShUT’s website: www.shutip. working teams – EIS team, This proposal is completely the potential for environmental It is not unlike putting Lucas com.

EDITORIAL The Tomerong Tip Proposal THE proposal for a mega and unnecessarily long haul waste at source of manufac- an incentive to eliminate waste. community of the Shoalhaven tip to dump 100,000 tonnes trucking is unacceptable and ture would be an obvious step. Building waste should be recy- in receiving 100,000 tonnes of of building waste material at is an obligation of all levels of Leadership in regards to waste cled and waste that is unable building waste from the whole a quarry site near Tomerong government to reduce at every reduction is needed. Innovation to be recycled at a municipal length and breadth of the South has come as a shock and raises possible opportunity. and new methods of manufac- level should be returned to Coast to the centre of our city more questions than it answers. What is the point of having turing to reduce reliance on the manufacturer and dealt should be enough on its own to Is it a Nimby case of “not in my government policies, if when landfill will provide more bene- with at source. The cost to the reject this proposal out of hand. backyard” or are the over 1000 it is not convenient, they are fits through the creation of new submissions that outraged resi- simply ignored? jobs, compared to the current dents have lodged objecting to Development, particularly process of landfilling. the proposal justified? industrial development, in sensi- Building waste material is tive environmental areas must Conflict of Interest potentially toxic and should be be proven to be benign or bene- The State Government dealt with as close to source as ficial to the biodiversity, water appointed panel, headed by possible. Local councils should and air quality of that area. This a former Labor Government work with all levels of govern- is spelled out in detail in the Minister, Pam Allen, who will ment to minimise waste. Every government’s environmental determine the outcome of the community should deal with legislation and the South Coast proposal is not representa- its own waste. It makes envi- Regional Strategy. It is clearly tive of the local community. Of ronmental sense to keep waste impossible for this proposal to even greater concern is that up small and close to source. meet those criteria. to two-thirds of a $50 a tonne Reducing transport costs and Secondly, if councils want levy for the waste dumped goes associated impacts should be a to extend the lives of their tips straight to Treasury. How can priority in waste management. they need to enforce adequate the community accept this, as Additional freight on the inad- waste reduction measures on a fair way to determine what is equate south coast road network their communities and govern- such a contentious matter? is untenable with unacceptable ments need to encourage manu- If convenient holes in the X1 costs to amenity and to society facturers to reduce non-recy- ground are continually sought in a general sense. The issue of clable components in their to dispose of waste, as a source CO2 emissions from additional products. Taxing non-recyclable of revenue, there will never be 2 Late Spring 2009 #105 letters Tomerong Tip

FINE ART TERMINATED site of the current Bomaderry If the Council is going to act There’s a mega tip coming to Tomerong pool. This is admirable consid- like a petty dictator maybe citi- A scourge nobody here wants I am a student at the Nowra ering the population of the zens will have to wear privacy TAFE Campus. I was unable to Bomaderry area. masks to prevent their picture And the threat of this mega development enroll in Fine Arts – Certificate What I have trouble coming to from being taken. Don’t for one- Has triggered a mega response IV, as it was cancelled. Instead terms with is the lack of concern minute think that these cameras 4 by one-year courses were for the population of Nowra and will reduce crime, as some in offered; painting, drawing, the assumption that they can all Council seem to believe. At the Protest letters have swamped the council printmaking and sculpture. I travel to Bomaderry. One has very best all it will achieve is The campaign’s been strong and intense chose to continue in painting. I only to be in Nowra on a hot day to shift crime. It’s like alcohol could not enroll – it was full! I to see the numbers who walk to free zones. They don’t reduce United the residents have rallied have enrolled in Drawing. and from the Nowra pool. drinking; they shift it to other While most councilors sit on the fence Now four weeks into the What is wrong with rebuilding areas. second semester, students are the existing pool a metre or These petty attempts to ‘It’s out of our hands’, they cry being advised that the studios more higher- it isn’t rocket address serious issues like crime ‘A State panel the ultimate judge’ we use be demolished, and not science. Perhaps the expecta- and alcoholism are an example replaced. I would like to know tions of developers interested in of the remedy causing more So if these three people give the green light why, especially as the “talk” acquiring the site may well be strife. They tar everybody with We’ll be left with the rubble and sludge has been of improved facilities the real reason for closure- this the same brush. Why should for Fine Arts, since my original land was donated to the commu- citizens have their rights tram- enrolment in 2005. nity and should not be on-sold. pled because of the wrongdoing The trucks will roll in over hundreds of miles I also believe that our teaching Originally SCC planned a of a few! staff was not consulted about Leisure Centre for the land These cameras should imme- From the north and the south and the west these changes, as indeed we, the behind Stockland and collected diately be removed. If they aren’t Clogging the roads and spewing out carbon students were not. This, at best, Section 94 funds from devel- citizens must have the right to To deposit industrial mess is shabby treatment by the so- opers for some 10 years. Were protect their own privacy. Its called professional administra- these funds reimbursed when ironic isn’t it. The crims used to Pollution poses no threat, we’re told tors of education and training. these plans were abandoned? be the ones who wore masks. Property values will not decrease Not to consult the community . SCC now owns this site and Now anybody who wants to most likely to be effected by could well develop here. Are protect their privacy either stays And a truck passing every twelve minutes change seems to me, to border developers in currently away from the CBD or hides Can’t possibly disturb our peace on arrogance. paying section 94 fees for a pool their identity. And for what? So The Shoalhaven is a high in Bomaderry? crime can be shifted around like unemployment area and surely chairs on the titanic. The waste is non-putrescible an increase, not a decrease in Patricia Mason, subject provision, is warranted. Nowra Adam Bonner Supposedly clean and not stinking Many other questions arise: But to label all building waste as safe when was this decision made and by whom? Where will current SECRET CAMERAS Appeals only to the unthinking students complete courses? Sussex Inlet The safeguards so far put into place Having heard then last week Shoalhaven Council’s deci- of the plight of plumbing appren- sion to trample the privacy Country Garden Are fraught with imperfections tices, and now the Fine Arts of citizens by placing secret Shop 2/ 191 Jacobs Drive, How can we know what’s being dumped and Ceramics courses, my fear cameras around Nowra CBD is Sussex Inlet Without an outside inspection? is, which department might be another example of the “police Fruit & Vegetables, next or does it mark the begin- state” mentality that now exists Tobacconist, Nursery, ning of the end for the Nowra at all levels of government. Why Garden Care Products Will poisons leach out over time Campus? should any man or woman be  4441 2716 subjected to videotaping just To enter the waterways Open 7 days Alwyn Jordan, because they walk the streets of And threaten the pristine habitats Sussex Inlet their own suburb! Local Home Delivery Available Of the Basin and the Bay? Many tourist dollars could be lost NOWRA SWIMMING POOL SKIDSTEER BACKHOE/LOADER, To line the pockets of a few SCC seems to be hell-bent on CRUSHER & TIPPER for hire If the democratic process fails demolishing this pool. OK- the pool leaks, it’s outmoded and it Save $$ – Bobcat & Mini Excavator in one unit! To address our point of view will be submerged when the sea level rise occurs. SCC current Excavator, general earth moving, demolition & more. Crucial questions go unanswered strategy is to replace this pool Concrete breaking, crushing, recycling/removal services sometime in the future with a Safety measures still in doubt you beaut Leisure Centre on the Call Dave 0411572725 And the looming devastation e-mail [email protected] FREE QUOTES Has stirred anger hereabouts And if our voices are not heard By those who wield the power THE NEW BUSH TELEGRAPH The views expressed in this Our protest will keep ringing loud publication are not necessarily those Long past the eleventh hour of the Editor. Editor: Patrick Thompson [email protected] Bev Stewart 27/10/09 Tel: 0402 361 424 Layout Bungoona Technologies Pty Ltd, Grays Point NSW Printer: Weston Print, Kiama NSW Send your letters, comments, pictures or contributions to The Organic produce at affordable prices provided Editor, New Bush Telegraph, PO Box E\DQRQSUR¿WFRPPXQLW\JURXSUXQE\YROXQWHHUV 2205, TOMERONG NSW 2540 Supporting local growers V Bulk buying power V Sustainable & ethical BUSH TELEGRAPH ON THE WEB Available at Tomerong Village Markets, www.newbushtelegraph.net You can download past issues; use 3rd Saturday every month, our custom search engine; 7RPHURQJ6FKRRORI$UWV+DOO get additional background +DZNHQ5RDG7RPHURQJ for each issue. Call 4443 6607 or 4441 8626 Towardds an Eco-City W3

Late Spring 2009 #105 3 Toxic Legacy – No Thank You!

Rebecca Rudd will be held accountable for day this means a truck going by any pollution management every four minutes. This affects Y now most of you are issues. There is no indication the whole of the Shoalhaven aware that Shoalhaven of any provision for managing where we have several major City Council is leachate into our waterways in, traffic issues already. Trucks assessing a DA for a say, a hundred years time when will be travelling through our Bnon-putrescible waste facility in inevitably the liners will fail or villages such as Berry, Kangaroo the Tomerong–St Georges Basin we have a 100-year flood that Valley and Milton. There will area. the proposed dams and bridge be a significant impact on the This DA has been lodged will not be able to cope with. The –Island Point by Watkins and Apperley for community and the landowners Rd intersection, which is already Tomerong Waste Pty Ltd. have a toxic legacy to manage dangerous, and where there can Understandably this has and no resources to do it with. often be a build-up of traffic raised a high level of concern The company operating the between the roundabouts. It is across the Shoalhaven. This quarry has already been fined unacceptable to subject residents proposition, in terms of its for clearing Melaleuca biconvexa to this volume of traffic in a rural impact on the community and which is a state and nationally residential zone. As for Gumden environment, is on a par with listed species. Their EIS states Lane having the capacity to take the late-eighties attempt to that the impact on Melaleuca 30,000 trucks, this can only be relocate the armaments depot to biconvexa will be less than one described as ludicrous. Jervis Bay. percent and not significant. That Neither Island Point Rd nor The DA proposes to establish a Where this waste is coming responsibly applied, this DA is, less than one percent of what Gumden Lane has safe egress for landfill facility to receive 50,000 from is quite unclear. The DA could not be supported by either is left after the previous clearing. either pedestrians or bike riders tonnes of waste per year, growing proposes to divert waste from Shoalhaven City Council or the The EIS does not present who currently use this passage. to 100,000 tonnes per year. Council’s landfills within Southern Regional Planning any accurate or independent The proposed volume of trucks There will be serious impacts on the Southern Council Group, Panel. mapping of this species. Surely will make it unusable for local community amenity through , Shoalhaven and The hydrological study, by the only acceptable answer is residents. increased heavy vehicle traffic south east regions of NSW. As its own admission, is based on no further reduction in range of The volume of heavy vehicles as well as ground, water, air SCC currently processes about assumption. In fact it states biconvexa. will damage roads and increase and noise pollution. In addition, 4,000 tonnes of this waste a that they have no water flow They intend to create a hill maintenance costs throughout there will be a toxic legacy left to year it must be assumed that the data. Without real data the ‘feature’ to complement the the Shoalhaven. Who will pay the community for many years rest will come from miles away: study can only be speculative. ‘natural undulating topography’ for this? The ratepayers, of to come with potentially serious ‘waste miles’ in other words. Is this good enough when you of the site. Contemporary course. impacts on both the marine and This flies in the face of current consider the potential toxicity best practice in mining is to The noise data in the EIS is terrestrial environment. The energy efficiency policy. of the leachate, the proximity return the landscape to its flawed and the interpretation EIS and associated studies are The EIS submitted to Council of Tomerong and Duck Creeks original contour. How could it highly questionable. The inadequate and dubious. As a only raises questions. It is and the seepage through the be considered appropriate to figures have been conveniently community, we have to fight to often vague and difficult for a site? The closeness of the quarry construct a hill made of garbage interpreted to bring the noise stop this proposal going ahead. layperson to understand. It is to the landfill is also alarming in the catchment of significant impact below the level where The proposed site is the quarry largely based on assumptions when you consider that one coastal assets? any noise attenuation would be at the end of Gumden Lane, and conservative estimates. will be blasting while the other There is nothing in the required. Once again there is no Tomerong. While the quarry Without doubt it will impact is attempting to contain toxic DA to indicate that there is independence in the assessment is still in operation, a landfill on the wellbeing of Shoalhaven material. We are also told in the any economic benefit to the and it is the residents who will facility will be established to residents and the quality of our EIS that the bridge will cause community. This is a company pay the price of having their fill the quarry void. The facility environment: The site lies in the flooding in times of high flow. that intends to make a amenity compromised by a will receive waste classified catchment of both St Georges Leachates will be produced substantial amount of money by company that indicates it has no as ‘general solid waste (non- Basin and Jervis Bay and while the EIS does attempt collecting waste and holding it in responsibility to minimise the putrescible)’. A full list of what The EIS concludes that to address this issue it is likely the middle of a State significant noise. The air quality data is also this entails is on the Dept. of the cumulative negative that toxic chemicals will be tourist destination. The EIS similarly flawed. Environment’s website*. When environmental impact will leaching into ground water long states that it will create only 4 or It is a shame that this is the you consider this list it is difficult be relatively low. There is no after the plastic liners and clay 5 jobs. How many tourism based option proposed for the site to see how it can be described discussion about the long-term topping have disintegrated. This jobs will it jeopardise? considering the other options as non-putrescible. Among impact. There is brief mention will affect many generations The traffic generated by the available to it. As a solution to other things it includes garden of Ecologically Sustainable into the future. waste facility and quarry will waste management it is flawed waste, wood waste, treated pine, Development (ESD) and the Once the company has filled escalate to over 30,000 truck and relies on technological paper, cardboard and household Precautionary Principle. its hole and made its money it will movements per year. Given a wishful thinking. It is simply waste from municipal clean- Surely if these principles were walk away and the landowners six-day week and a ten-hour unsustainable. N up that does not contain food waste. On the less putrescible side it includes drained oil filters, containers previously $SSOLFDWLRQIRU0HPEHUVKLSRI containing dangerous goods, 6+2$/+$9(1¶681:$17('7,3 6K87 &DPSDLJQ building cavity dust, synthetic 7KHWRQQHSHUDQQXPZDVWHIDFLOLW\SURSRVHGEHWZHHQ7RPHURQJDQG-HUYLV%D\ZLOO fibre waste and plastics. The EIS states that ‘prohibited’ material LPSDFW RQ DOO RI WKH 6KRDOKDYHQ  6XSSRUW 6K87  %HFRPH D PHPEHU DQG UHFHLYH UHJXODU will not be received but on the XSGDWHV QRWLILFDWLRQ RI PHHWLQJV DQG RWKHU HYHQWV3OHDVHJRWRZZZVKXWLSFRPIRUPRUH other hand if it does enter the LQIRUPDWLRQ site it will be stored on site to  wait for appropriate disposal. Does that mean we store ,BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBRIBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB asbestos and whatever else until  IXOOQDPHRIDSSOLFDQW      DGGUHVV  somebody decides what to do  with it? A facility like this must 3KRQHBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB  (PDLOBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB have an independent assessment  of each load at point of arrival. In the Shoalhaven we have KHUHE\DSSO\WREHFRPHDPHPEHURIWKHDERYHQDPHG$VVRFLDWLRQ,QWKHHYHQWRIP\DGPLVVLRQDVDPHPEHU,DJUHHWR already had one waste facility EHERXQGE\WKHUXOHVRIWKH$VVRFLDWLRQIRUWKHWLPHEHLQJLQIRUFH temporarily closed because of  asbestos contamination from BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB building waste. It is obviously in the operator’s interest to  6LJQDWXUH  'DWH  accept everything that arrives.  They will be paid for it. The ,LQFOXGHDPHPEHUVKLSIHHRI'RQDWLRQBBBBBBBBBBBBB 7RWDOBBBBBBBBBBBBB community will just have to live with it.  3OHDVH PDNH FKHTXHV SD\DEOH WR 6K87 &DPSDLJQ DQG DGGUHVV WR7KH 7UHDVXUHU 6K87 &DPSDLJQ 32 %R[  * See www.environment.nsw.gov. 7RPHURQJ16:6K87LVFXUUHQWO\DSSO\LQJIRU,QFRUSRUDWLRQ au/waste/envguidlns. 4 Late Spring 2009 #105 How One Tree Bay contravenes and undermines the South Coast Regional Strategy

Alex O’Brien Protect high value envi- to hire other consultants to of constructing a new town of existing urban areas will be ronments, including pristine develop glossy submissions to 5,000 people on the hitherto considered for development. The HE South Coast Regional coastal lakes, estuaries, aqui- show how the OTB proposal undisturbed southern shore of first of these criteria relates to Strategy (SCRS), released fers, threatened species, vegeta- satisfies the SCRS “sustain- St George Basin, Miltonbrook infrastructure provision, with in February 2007 by tion communities and habitat ability criteria”, with the has relied on vague claims one of its stated benchmarks NSW Planning Minister corridors, by ensuring that no handover of land to National regarding “water sensitive that provision of infrastructure TSartor, sets out to provide the new urban development occurs Parks repeatedly cited as the urban design” (often referred (including utilities) is costed long term template and direc- in these important areas and “compelling reason” to justify to as WSUD), involving the and economically feasible. tion for planning and develop- their catchments. the development. This is exactly use of gross pollutant traps, On this basis alone, One Tree ment of the NSW South Coast These elements of the SCRS the same sort of approach that wetlands/detention basins, bio- Bay fails at the first hurdle of through to 2031. It is intended were clearly intended to fore- has recently been character- retention swales and contour the NSW government’s own to provide a clear and certain stall development proposals ised as a “land bribe” by Justice drains. However, Miltonbrook sustainability criteria, ignoring land use plan for the NSW such as One Tree Bay. The SCRS Lloyd of the NSW Land & has not publicly released any for the moment the many other South Coast, which balances does enable additional devel- Environment Court, in connec- detailed studies or costings, serious concerns with this the demand for future growth opment proposals to be consid- tion with proposed coastal being content to provide half proposal. with the need to protect and ered if they meet sustainability developments at Catherine Hill a page of soothing assurances 2) The SCRS indicates that enhance environmental values. criteria outlined Appendix 1 of Bay and Gwandalan. lacking any real substance. it would support developments The SCRS represents an agreed the SCRS. However, the SCRS However, the glossy submis- The rezoning documentation specified in local or area strat- NSW Government position on notes that “the isolated nature sions developed by consult- supplied to Council failed to egies, such as the Sussex Inlet the South Coast, and is the pre- of many settlements, as well as ants have not produced any include a preliminary plan for Settlement Strategy. eminent planning document for the extensive environmental substantive analyses of the WSUD, despite misleadingly The SCRS also indicated that the Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla values of numerous coastal proposed urban development indicating that such a plan the NSW government would and Bega Valley local govern- lakes and estuaries, will all be at One Tree Bay, with funda- was included at Attachment A only support urban areas which ment areas. significant factors in consid- mental servicing, drainage and (which was in fact a general were included within a desig- The SCRS is also intended to ering whether the sustainability water quality protection issues urban design plan). It is not nated list of local or area plans, inform infrastructure invest- criteria thresholds relating to remaining unresolved and known whether Council has one of which was the Sussex ment priorities on the south infrastructure provision, trans- uncosted. The project documen- ever requested that this glaring Inlet Settlement Strategy coast, with infrastructure plan- port accessibility and environ- tation lodged with Shoalhaven omission be rectified. (SISS). This created a problem ning being required to take into ment protection can be met”. Council and the Department Miltonbrook’s reluctance to for the proponents which they account the broad planning These factors are clearly rele- of Planning indicated that the supply the preliminary WSUD sought to resolve by having One framework identified in the vant to One Tree Bay. new settlement would be serv- plan to Council has turned Tree Bay included in the final strategy, to ensure that future The SCRS was obviously iced with sewerage and reticu- out to be well justified, since it SISS, despite the fact that it was population growth is supported of key strategic concern for lated water at the proponent’s attracted many comments and not included in the draft SISS by services and associated Miltonbrook, the One Tree Bay expense. Setting aside the requests for clarification from circulated for public comment, infrastructure. proponents, and the following burning question of whether the Departments of Lands, which therefore did not contain The proposed new town at sections outline how they have the proponent actually has Water & Energy and Primary any consideration of the popu- One Tree Bay on the shores of St dealt with key issues arising sufficient funds to make good Industries when it was circu- lation, servicing, social or envi- Georges Basin near Sussex Inlet from this planning document. this commitment still leaves the lated to NSW Government agen- ronmental implications of the is the antithesis of the sound 1) No new towns or villages technical feasibility unresolved. cies. Significant issues identified One Tree Bay proposal. planning principles embodied outside existing urban areas The One Tree Bay site is located include : To undertake a credible inte- in the SCRS, being an entire would be considered, unless on an untouched greenfields O some of the wetlands/deten- gration of the One Tree Bay new town of 5,000 people there were compelling reasons site several kilometres away tion basins are located within proposal into the SISS would sited away from existing urban and they could satisfy ‘sustain- from the existing Sussex Inlet the existing 30 metre dedi- have required a major revision development and lacking any ability criteria’ specified in sewerage system, making infra- cated public reserve/buffer to the strategy to address these existing servicing or infrastruc- Appendix 1 structure and servicing issues zone, thereby compromising its key issues, as One Tree Bay ture, which requires the razing This was seen as a signifi- of significant importance and effectiveness would more than double the of an entire headland of high cant threat to One Tree Bay cost. The proponent was advised O at least one section of the existing population of Sussex conservation value native vege- by Miltonbrook, so they at a May 2009 meeting with bio-retention swale is shown as Inlet, not counting the 50% tation located in the middle of initially hired a Victorian based Shoalhaven Water that there flowing uphill, and population increase already a fragile and scenic coastal lake consultant to write a submis- was no available capacity in the O at least 3 high flow discharge projected in the draft SISS via already under significant envi- sion on their behalf to the NSW Sussex Inlet sewerage system, points (which have the most other projected new develop- ronmental stress from existing government seeking to have with no immediate prospect potential to pollute St Georges ments for Sussex Inlet. urban development. Approval this provision removed from the of any being available - and a Basin with sediments and nutri- Rather than making the of the One Tree Bay proposal draft SCRS when it was circu- further 160 unsold lots on the ents) actually bypass detention effort to have additional would seriously undermine lated for comment. recently developed Taylors Rise basins and pollutant traps. detailed One Tree Bay-relevant the authority of the SCRS, and Following the failure to subdivision will also require It is evident that Shoalhaven analyses included in the SISS, thereby create a damaging prece- have this troublesome provi- servicing. ratepayers and the general which would have required dent encouraging “open slather” sion removed, Miltonbrook In view of the lack of public are being kept in the dark important servicing, social and development throughout the have had to reluctantly concede sewerage capacity, the idea of regarding critical infrastruc- environmental questions to be entire south coast region, to that One Tree Bay is indeed a One Tree Bay being serviced ture costings, effectiveness and publicly explored, the propo- the benefit of a few developers new town, with Miltonbrook by an on-site sewerage and re- viability for the One Tree Bay nents instead chose to lobby at enormous cost to NSW rate- CEO Neville Fredericks quoted use system has been canvassed. proposal. It is simply not accept- the previous Shoalhaven City payers/taxpayers, the broader in the South Coast Register This would require significant able to assert that such funda- Council (SCC) to simply amend community and the fragile of 6/3/09 as acknowledging design amendments, entailing mental servicing, drainage and a few words in sections 2.1.1 coastal environment. that One Tree Bay consti- additional dedicated land, engi- water quality protection issues and 3.1.2 of the SISS to the Any impartial application tutes a new town which can neering and ongoing mainte- can be resolved through as yet effect that Council supported of the SCRS should lead to the be justified by “sustainability nance costs, as well as raising unseen assessments carried the proposal. rejection of the One Tree Bay criteria”. However, in spite of significant issues, such as out after rezoning occurs – the These minimal amendments proposal. The SCRS clearly indi- Mr Fredericks acknowledge- groundwater infiltration, cost- local community, Shoalhaven were endorsed by the previous cates that “future urban devel- ment that One Tree Bay is effectiveness, public liability ratepayers and NSW taxpayers SCC, allowing the proponent to opment will be prioritised to indeed a new town, consultants and water quality protection, need to have these uncertainties tick the box for the SISS without support infill housing as well hired by Miltonbrook continue which have not been consid- resolved before any approval is having to undergo any type of as new residential subdivisions to “spin” the proposal in plan- ered in any public project docu- given, to gain a clear idea of the viability or servicing analysis located adjacent to existing well ning documents submitted to mentation prepared to date, costs, benefits and risks, and and scrutiny, or answer any serviced centres and towns and Shoalhaven City Council and and for which no costings have compliance with the SCRS. difficult or complex planning away from isolated and sensitive the Department of Planning as been provided. The SCRS sets out 8 broad and infrastructure questions. locations.” being “a new sub-centre within To try and allay well-founded sustainability criteria which 3) The SCRS prohibits new Furthermore, the first listed the Sussex Inlet suburb”. concerns over the significant must be fulfilled before any objective of the SCRS is to : Miltonbrook have proceeded negative water quality impacts new towns or villages outside X5 Late Spring 2009 #105 5

One Tree Bay W4 ENVIROSCENE urban development in high conservation value areas The SCRS posed further problems for the OTB proposal Landmines – murder & mutilation arising from its provisions to protect the natural environ- Bernie Clarke, that designed & made the ment. The Strategy indicates Sussex Inlet Claymore-type bomb that shoots that “Urban development, several hundred steel balls in an including further subdivision, FTER having been arc. And the inhumane needle will be directed away from shocked and saddened bomb, the explosion turning the areas known to be or likely to by a picture of a huge human body into a pin-cushion. be important for conservation. pile of shoes from Urban development will be Alimbs lost to landmines around THE HUMAN COST located on largely cleared land the world your correspondent Landmines impact on society or areas where only limited felt compelled to research sales & in a way never imagined, clearing of native vegetation distribution of these, the world’s threaten life & limb and impose with low conservation values is most cowardly weapons. an economic burden.. The urge required.” A United Nations report esti- to rush in and help a victim In addition the SCRS explic- mates there are more than 110 often results in further causali- itly states that “new urban million landmines still in the ties. It may take up two weeks to development is to be prohib- ground scattered in over 70 get injured to a hospital, which ited by local environmental countries. A further 100 million could be hundreds of kilome- plans on land assessed as being are stockpiled. It has been esti- tres away. For every person who of high conservation value”, mated that such mines kill reached hospital one person died and includes a map which 10,000 civilians & seriously out in the field. They succumb to threat to peace & reconciliation. some 3000 Iraqis were killed clearly designates the headland injure 30,000 each year. Over blood loss and infection & often every month, a warfare based on proposed for clearing to make 350 varieties of landmines have die in atrocious circumstances. MINE CLEARING – deception – a threat that wasn’t way for the One Tree Bay town- been documented, supplied by The blast can pick up gravel, DOUBLE DIPPING there. ship as being of high conser- more than 50 countries. fragments of the bone & other Money has no smell. A vation value. In addition, the Afghanistan is one of the most debris & force all of this into number of manufacturers of ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES Department of Environment mined countries in the world tissues adjacent to where the leg anti-personnel ordnance are Let’s be clear about the defi- and Climate Change has also with an estimated 10 million has been torn off or into other now in the business of tendering nition of “anti-personnel mines mapped the headland as being mines. Approximately, 90% of parts of the body. Surgeons are for multi-million dollar contracts mentioned several times in this largely composed of high conser- the 4,235 minefields identified faced with the tedious task of for the clearing of mines whilst synopsis. The weapons’ designers vation value (HCV) forest. have been found in agricultural removing dirt & debris and how continuing in the business of think only in terms of “kill prob- Miltonbrook has sought to and grazing land and near irri- much to remove and at which selling the same weaponry they abilities” & “effective casualty get round this clear-cut breach gation systems, impacting on the level to do the amputation. As contract remove. radius”. It is designed primarily of the SCRS by simply defining country in terms of economic & a child grows after an amputa- A French company won a to be exploded by the presence it away. It has hired a consultant agricultural development. tion the bone may start to stick $11million contract to clear of a person and will incapaci- to undertake a survey which Landmines not only kill & out of the skin requiring re- mines in Kuwait. The same tate, injure or kill one or more purportedly indicates that the maim, they terrorize entire amputation. Children also grow company was busily selling a persons. headland is not of high conser- communities, and they over- out of prostheses very quickly, range of lethal weapons across Of the 350 anti-personnel vation value. However, this burden medical systems. Cattle and then if not changed will the world. A British company mines, what depraved mind survey is misleading because and wildlife get blown up cause problems with the vertical won a $90 million contract to conjured up a landmine in much of the transects surveyed searching for food. One wrong column & hip joints. clear mines at the same time bright colour & weird shapes that are unrepresentative of the site step and an innocent life can It costs between $800 to $1500 as its subsidiary company was attract children to pick them up. as a whole, being either too be changed forever – blindness to remove each mine and $3000 selling anti-personnel ordi- Blinded and mutilated child in close to the shore (where larger & a lost limb from an exploding to $7000 to provide an artificial nance. There is a growing list of Cambodia & Afghanistan can trees tend not to occur) or near mine. limb and lifetime care to survi- companies in the double dipping attest to their folly. existing roads, where previous vors of mine accidents. An adult business after a previous incar- On the question of depravity clearing has been concentrated. THE SERIOUSNESS & must replace his or her pros- nation as a manufacturer of I feel compelled to repeat my Miltonbrook has also failed to TRAGIC REALITY OF thesis every three to five years anti-personnel weaponry. earlier description of the inhu- follow official procedures spec- LANDMINES and a child must obtain a new The grand slaughter of inno- mane needle bomb, the explo- ified where there is a differ- Laos, one of the poorest coun- prosthesis every six months. A cents known as the Gulf War was sion turning the human body ence of opinion as to whether tries in the world, received more child at the age of 10 will need the zenith for manufacturers of into a pin-cushion. The question high conservation value forest bombs than Germany & Japan about 25 artificial limbs during arms to see their products in one agonises over, the feelings of is present on private land. combined in World War II. The their lifetime. Average wage in action. Those same manufac- the design maker of these anti- This biassed survey there- US dropped more than two these poor countries is about $10 turers saw the chance to make personnel mines when they go fore fails to deal with the key million tonnes of bombs on this a month. money out of the clean-up of home and play with their chil- issue that One Tree Bay clearly small, impoverished South-East The International Committee landmines, the world’s most dren after a days work. breaches the SCRS prohibition of Asian nation in a “secret war” of the Red Cross estimates that cowardly weapons. In Cambodia & Angola all new urban development in high against communism between landmines are killing 10,000 parties to the conflict targeted conservation value areas. N 1964 & 1973 – 100 bombs every civilians & seriously injuring WEAPONS TO KILL civilians. Mines were used inten- 8 minutes for 9 years. Thirty 20,000 a year and that there are PEOPLE – BIG BUSINESS tionally to stop people producing, percent of them did not detonate more than 250,000 amputees The economy of many coun- to actually kill the population. & lie scattered across rice-paddy worldwide from unexploded tries is greatly assisted by the They either braved the mines or & mountains. ordnance. They fitted 70,000 sale of weaponry they manufac- suffered starvation. People bending over to plant amputees with artificial limbs ture to kill human beings. Egypt Does your superannuation rice shoots in the paddies in during a 15-year period & are and five other Middle Eastern fund invest in companies that Cambodia & Laos have hit land- now supplying 12,000 limbs states received $22 billion in make cluster bombs and nuclear mines with their hands. Rice a year to landmine victims. missiles, bombs, tanks & planes. arms including Boeing and farmers are forced to cease Sheer horror, an endless trail of The Bush Administration also Lockhead Martin? planting & harvesting because misery. sold $73 billion in military hard- The Howard Government of the mines. Its sheer horror, its ware to allies in the Middle East. suspended the use of landmines endless trail of misery. They will FEAR – ENDLESS FEAR It followed $31 billion in US in 1996 despite objections of the endure this problem for the rest Up to 1 million landmines arms sales each of the previous military top brass. The same of this century – the inhumanity remain of those buried along two years. The US is the largest military chiefs had persuaded of it. the border with Thailand after supplier of weapons to devel- the Keating Government to Six million landmines are invading Vietnamese left in 1989 oping nations. Their economy oppose a global ban because still buried in Cambodia. There & 400,000 are planted elsewhere is dependant in no small way to they believed landmines were a are 25,000 amputees among in the country. Somewhere their arms sales world wide. vital weapon. the nations 63,000 victims of someone sets off a mine every US and its allies bombed Iraq “He jests at scars, who never felt a landmines & blasts from unex- twenty minutes. Around 2000 hospitals, schools and houses and wound”; Romeo & Juliet ploded ordnance left after 30 people a month are injured by then rebuilt them at a cost to the Big military powers must stop years of war. An estimated 80 mines, around half of whom nation. Baghdad was forced to competing for customers and million orange cluster bombs will die. The innocent civilians, sell $2 billion worth of their oil start cooperating for peace. were dropped, of which, 25 to those who can’t plant their crops every 6 months to pay for emer- Having agonised over graphic 30 million remain unexploded. for fear of losing a limb, what did gency food and medical supplies, photos of torn bodies of innocent For decades to come they will they do to incur the wrath of the which did little to revive the children and adults, the thought turn up in schoolyards & under enemy. devastated country at the time of a human mind could conjure houses. From the perspective of peace, of an international sanction – such evilness, diminishes me as Consider the depraved mind landmines pose a continuous destroyed them. During 2006 a human being. 6 Late Spring 2009 #105

With reference to the catch- ment of Bid Bid Creek (condi- tion 28-a) the Strategies state: “The only drainage from the Comberton Grange Quarry Quarry to be overflow from the stormwater retention basin and In August the Shoalhaven City Council advised that the transfer of the Comberton Grange Quarry license to Service signature on copy of the shall be directed into Georges the Shaolin Temple Foundation is nearing completion. The quarry, which was once described in the Jervis Deed. I have been advised by Creek to ensure that no works Bay Settlement Strategy as “a regionally significant resource”, has been sold along with the rest of historic Council that “the Conservation or drainage will enter the catch- Comberton Grange to the Shaolin Temple Foundation for a sum of $5 million. Agreement does not appear to ment area of Bid Bid Creek”. have been finalised”. As maps show Georges Creek The controversial development proposes aside from a temple, a vast array of villas & town houses, hotel & Q) Why? flowing into SEPP 14 Wetlands convention centre, golf course & clubhouse, as well as the right to continuing quarrying, along with various and on into the Currambene other developments. CATCHMENT Creek Estuary: MANAGEMENT Q) Does the protection The Comberton Grange site is listed on the Register of the National Estate and is confirmed as habitat corridor, STRATEGIES of the Bid Bid Creek catch- the site of known and potential aboriginal heritage, as containing significant designated wetlands and with a Council’s proposed Catchment ment compromise environment major portion of the site recognized as land of Ecological Sensitivity and /or within a Sensitive Coastal Location. Management Strategies, copy of protection standards for Georges which accompanied the Deed to Creek and the Currambene Following Council’s advice that the sale of the quarry is nearing completion, Judy Gjedsted, a correspondent the National Parks and Wildlife Creek wetlands? to these pages, has written to Council, to establish how Council has dealt with and proposes to deal with the Service, stated that: Council’s Management licensing conditions for the quarry, as determined by the Land and Environment Court in 1990. “All Quarry operations will Strategies state “in accord- be in accordance with the ance with development consent At the time of us going to press Council has not as yet replied to Judy’s letter. The New Bush Telegraph Conditions of Development requirements” that “regular looks forward to reporting on what Council has to say. In the mean time we decided to publish Judy’s letter Consent and which provide water samples shall be taken to Council in full. We believe her letter is a good example of how ordinary citizens play a vital part in the in relation to catchment at the last discharge point into democratic process. management: Georges Creek to ensure compli- a) the vegetation communi- ance with water quality controls Dear Sir, ENVIRONMENTAL & with the National Parks and ties located on the fertile dolerite under the State Pollution Control RESTORATION FUND Wildlife Service in respect of: soils as outlined in respect of Dr Commission Act”. RE: Transfer of Condition 8 of the i) Red Gum communities K. Mills dated November, 1989 Q) In this context what Comberton Grange Development Conditions speci- on dolerite; shall not be removed or be the is meant by ‘regular’ water Quarry License by fies the creation of a contingency ii) The Bid Bid Creek subject of excavation”. sampling? How often is regular? Shoalahven City Council fund “to safeguard against poten- Catchment; (I presume the plant commu- Or, how often did Council take to Shaolin Temple tial environmental damage and iii) Eucalyptus Robusta” nities referred to in the Quarry water samples? Foundation, Aust for progressive rehabilitation and a further provision (28- Management Strategy are those Q) With Shaolin as license to be entitled the Comberton b) “that the applicant shall also referred to in Condition 28- holder, would the extent, the I have to hand a ‘detailed Grange Environmental and enter into negotiations with a. i.e. the Red Gum communities process, and the results of water resume’ of the Land Restoration Fund”. the National Parks and Wildlife and the Eucalyptus Robusta.)? sampling be monitored by an and Environment Court My enquiries to Council have Service in respect of other Q) Were the Management independent agency? Development Court Conditions established that this Fund was conservation values on the Strategies specific to the Red Q) If sampling results were pertaining to the Comberton never created and that “Council Comberton Grange property”. Gum and Eucalyptus Robusta not satisfactory, who would Grange Quarry (proceedings no. specifically accounts for restora- I have a copy of a Deed plant communities implemented know and who would have the 10367 of 1989) as submitted to tion in its accounting systems”. of Agreement between the by Council during Council’s power to intervene? Council’s Comberton Grange Given the changed circum- (then) NSW Minister for the establishment and operation of I would be most grateful Task Force in April, 1990. stances of the Quarry License Environment (and his successors the Quarry? for your response to these The NSW Department of transfer: in office) and Shoalhaven City Q) Are the plant commu- questions. Environment and Climate Q) Will Condition 8 be Council which was forwarded nities named in Condition 28-a In anticipation, Change have advised me that revisited and will Shaolin be by Council to the National Parks a still extant? Council is regarded as the required to create a contingency and Wildlife Service on the 27th Q) If still extant, will Yours faithfully, consent authority for these fund for the stated purposes? August, 1992 with a request for these plant communities remain Conditions. the National Parks and Wildlife protected? J.A. GJEDSTED INCOME EXPENDITURE BUFFER ZONE ACCOUNT I have noted that the The Conditions also directed Conybeare Morrison Part 3A that an “income expenditure Project Application, submitted account” was to be created to Techno Toxins on behalf of Shaolin, quotes cover matters including”: Council as stating that the • “Quarry rehabilita- Greig Nichols and Christine Clarke Quarry buffer zone is ‘discre- tion (charged at a rate per cubic tionary’ and that development metre quarried), and Since the end of WW2 our world has become full of Technological Toxins in the soil, in the air, in our may occur within the area. The • Royalty payment water, and we eat, breathe and drink these Techno Toxins every day. Our natural world is shrink- Development Conditions specify charged in to Council’s Cultural ing to the point that it is almost impossible to find anything that hasn’t been contaminated in some a 1000 metre buffer zone “so as Fund”. shape or form. Our bodies absorb these toxins and contrary to popular belief they are not eliminat- to avoid the introduction of non- Q) Were these charges ed but are stored in our bones, fat, tissues and organs and can stay with us for life. These toxins are compatible development within imposed on the Quarry in the the root cause of many ailments in the world today including asthma, dementia, parkinson’s, cancer 1000 metres of the Quarry”. past? If so, and affect every organ and tissue of our body. In fact these toxins can be passed onto the unborn The conditions describe the Q) How much is held for child. So what can we do about this? first 500 metres of the buffer Quarry rehabilitation? zone as relating to noise and the Q) How much was paid in Firstly each and everyone of us has to have a genuine respect for Mother Nature and at least encour- further 500 metres as applying to Council’s Cultural Fund? age and support individuals who are committed to creating an environmentally sustainable future the ‘appropriate’ provisions of Q) If not, why not? for the world. the Environment Planning and Assessment Act. REHABILITATION PLAN For the past couple of years I have had problems with my makeup especially eye makeup and I am The Conybeare Morrison A detailed rehabilitation plan sure many readers will be able to relate to this. Many cosmetic companies claim to be “natural” application claims that “most of was provided and approved or “organic” but there isn’t an authority that governs the use of the term organic on labels – the the proposed development is to by the Land and Environment chemistry definition of “organic” means a compound that contains a carbon atom. Unless a product be on land outside the buffer” Court to deal with the Quarry is CERTIFIED ORGANIC you need to check out all the ingredients. Luckily just before Christmas 2008 although maps provided in the site after completion of quar- we found an advertisement in a magazine offering CERTIFIED ORGANIC skin, body, hair, cosmetic, Application do not indicate the rying operations. oral and nutritional products. WOW! We couldn’t get on the computer fast enough to check out the nature or extent of any devel- Q) What provision has website. We were so impressed and so excited we contacted the Rep and asked her how, when, and opment within the 1000 metre been made to ensure that the where we could buy these fantastic products. buffer zone. Court’s rehabilitation plan will Could Council please advise: be implemented when required The expertise and knowledge of the people behind this business is second to none. They are an Q) To what extent does and that the Quarry’s rehabili- ethical, carbon neutral Australian company offering the Worlds first CERTIFIED ORGANIC to food Council regard the Quarry tation will not become a public standards products. If you are interested in providing a healthier lifestyle for yourself and your fam- buffer zone as ‘discretionary’? charge? ily check out our company, the products, buy on-line, and support a company that is supporting the Q) What kind of develop- planet http://www.mimollyorganics.mionegroup.com ment is proposed for within the CONSERVATION buffer zone? Or AGREEMENT We can also be found at the Tomerong Markets on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Q) What kind of devel- The Conditions include (in opment would be considered Condition 28-a) an instruction [Editor’s note: This article could be considered “advertorial”. We are a small newspaper dependant on our acceptable within the buffer that “the Applicant shall enter advertisers, who operate small businesses in the Shoalhaven. Our policy is to invite advertisers from time zone? into a Conservation Agreement to time to tell us something about what they are doing.] Late Spring 2009 #105 7

BOOK REVIEW Flood Study Overloading Australia Bungle Affects How governments and Thousands of media dither and deny on Shoalhaven population By Mark O’Connor and claims that technology will solve William Lines all problems - are statistically, Overloading factually and logically revealed Properties Review by Ian Rae as self-serving nonsense. Australia The latter is something of This is a brave book, because it an intellectual shock. The How governments and media By Alex O‘Brien increases in cyclone intensity, confronts and contradicts beliefs dither and deny on population statements of enlightened and as well as potential changes to most people hold unquestion- qualified people have always HOALHAV EN City antecedent moisture and other ingly. People hold those beliefs been out there, as has all the Council documents catchment conditions. because they have always been evidence. Why, then, do most reveal that Floodplain The two flawed flood studies, endorsed by both sides of poli- Australians see only one side Risk Management which run to hundreds of pages tics, and the media rarely air a of the picture? It is because SStudies and Plans for the in total, each devote scarcely contrary point of view. Most the many interests that make Lower and one page to climate change, of us have always known that money or political capital from St Georges Basin need urgent which both indicate will have increased population is vital for population growth conspire to revision because they fail to only “minor impacts”. It is diffi- Australia. perpetuate the myths in both Mark O’Connor adequately consider impacts cult to fathom how any cred- In February 1942 the Japanese N global and local contexts so that William J. Lines of climate change on flood ible 21st century flood study bombed Darwin, and invasion ITIO “people began to think of it as levels and associated plans for could have been so cursorily seemed imminent. Malaya and SED ED common sense”. We know that V•I•E•W•P•O•I•N•T•SI planning, development assess- dismissive of well documented Singapore were in Japanese REV Australian public perceptions ment, public safety and miti- impacts arising from climate hands, and less than a month Overloading Australia exam- are media-dominated; yet it is gation works. This means that change, especially since before the Australian garrison at ines all aspects of what should a sobering surprise to see how current emergency and devel- authoritative research by both Rabaul had been overwhelmed. be “the population debate”. comprehensively reality has opment planning activities the IPCC and Australia’s own It was clear that Australia did However, there are two central been suppressed, even when have been based on errone- CSIRO had produced a series of not have the numbers to defend themes that make this book that reality is already evident. ously low figures for poten- reports over the previous decade this vast land, and the wartime a “must-read” for thinking The great strength of this book tial flood heights. The studies outlining looming impacts of Curtin government even then Australians. One is the exposi- is that it gathers all the evidence currently indicate 1,342 build- climate change on tempera- started to develop strategies to tion of the effects of Australia’s and argument, evaluates it intel- ings around St Georges Basin ture and precipitation patterns increase our population. The job rapid population growth – ligently and fairly, and arrives and 1,141 buildings on the across Australia, including fell to Arthur Calwell, Minister largely through immigration at an inevitable conclusion that lower Shoalhaven would be one 2004 CSIRO report solely for Information, and negotia- - and the inevitable conse- Australia is already over-popu- inundated in an extreme flood focused on projected changes tions started with European quences if we do not reverse the lated, and must limit the growth event. The number of affected in climate extremes (including countries before the war ended. long-standing trend. The other or face certain disaster. One can buildings can be expected flooding) across NSW prepared From 1945 Calwell, then is the revelation of a conspiracy rarely say that there is no room to rise, possibly substan- for the NSW Government. Minister for Immigration under to muffle discussion of the for argument; but in this case, it tially, when the revisions are It is anomalous that the St Ben Chifley, told Australia that population problem. is clearly so. finalized. Georges Basin Flood Study immigrants would build and The former is dealt with Overloading Australia is avail- The affected flood strate- was released by the previous strengthen the country, and that through a meticulously detailed able for $19.95 (cheque or money gies were both released by Shoalhaven City Council in we must “populate or perish”. series of chapters that lay out the order), post free in Australia the previous Shoalhaven City December 2006, well after the Thus began another legend effects of uncontrolled popula- from Envirobook, 7 Close St, Council, which showed great ground breaking Stern Review such as we Australians are so tion growth on Australia’s envi- Canterbury, 2193. reluctance to come to terms of Climate Change had unam- very good at perpetuating and ronment, resources, society and with the real world implications biguously put the economic growing, despite all facts to the living conditions. The arguments Ian Rae is an author and a retired of climate change impacts. As impacts of climate change on contrary. of the “boosters” - including the university teacher. a result of these shortcomings, all governmental agendas, the present Council has had and during the widely publi- to seek funding of $50,000 to cised run-up to the April 2007 ments, entailing significant undertake additional modeling release of the Fourth IPCC planning, public safety and Sussex Inlet studies to “retrofit” the flawed Assessment Report on climate risk implications at odds with analyses. change, which unequivocally relevant NSW government Mechanical Services The Intergovernmental Panel put the broad scientific issues guidelines and current scien-  Comprehensive mechanical services on Climate Change (IPCC), the beyond doubt. tific knowledge, is difficult to  NRMA Road Service peak body providing advice The Lower Shoalhaven Flood fathom. on climate change science Study was released by the The present Shoalhaven  Suzuki outboard sales & service to governments around the previous Council even later, in City Council is to be congratu-  Marine servicing Shop 1 world, has concluded that the May 2008, more than 1 year lated in taking positive action 138 Junction observed increase in global after the release of the IPCC to address the significant defi- (02) 4441 1955 Court, Nowra average temperature since the Fourth Assessment Report. It ciencies in the St Georges (02) 4441 3055 mid-20th century is highly was also some 8 months after Basin and Lower Shoalhaven  likely due to human emis- the October 2007 release of a studies, but these clearly defi- Unit 2/4 Flood Avenue Sussex 4423 3281 sions of greenhouse gases. NSW Government Floodplain cient analyses should not have Furthermore, as a result of both Risk Management Guideline been released in the first place. previous and projected future Practical Considerations of A moratorium on making any LASER ApT greenhouse emissions, global Climate Change. This publica- new emergency management climate is expected to continue tion was specifically designed strategies or planning deci- to warm over the 21st century, to provide Councils with a sions, including spot rezon- potentially affecting all aspects guide on how to incorporate ings such as the proposed of the water cycle. The impli- climate change implications new town of 5,000 people at New Computers Sales & Service cations for food hydrology are into flood studies, risk manage- One Tree Bay on the shores Printers Multifunctions Scanners expected to be significant, with ment studies and plans, yet was of St Georges Basin, should Reconditioned Systems projections of increased rainfall totally neglected in the Lower be instigated by the present intensities, higher “tailwater” Shoalhaven Flood Study. Why Shoalhaven City Council until Modems + ADSL + Dial-up levels due to sea level rise and the previous Shoalhaven City amended studies have been Education + Repairs + Upgrades storm surge, possible southward Council would want to release prepared, vetted and released Shop 1, 74 Kinghorne Street, Nowra 2541 migration of cyclone tracks and such obviously impaired docu- for use. N TEL (02) 4423 3376 FAX: (02) 44233378 Email: [email protected] 8 Late Spring 2009 #105

TAFE FINE ARTS COURSES UNDER THREAT James Marius THE LIMITS OF GROWTH At the Nowra Campus of TAFE, Illawarra Institute, the existing build- ings currently used to deliver Arts and Media courses will be demol- Pat Thompson sity difficult as that might be to GDP per person has in fact been ished at the end of this year. Ceramics will not be delivered in the imagine, given our history of falling. future and the Block where ceramics, drawing, printmaking, sculpture HIS week while watching species extermination? A century ago Australia the 7.30 Report I saw We don’t know the answers had one of the highest stand- and theory are delivered is not to be replaced. Prime Minister Rudd to these questions, even though ards of living in the world. Our This means a 60 per cent overall reduction, (73 per cent in Arts & speak enthusiastically all of us would have opinions. population then was less than Media), in the existing spaces where Arts and Media Courses are Tabout Australia’s future popu- My own opinion on the last of a quarter of what it is today. presently run and can only presage a similar reduction in course offer- lation growth. In response to a these sets of issues and I must Today we rank no where near ings, student numbers and staff employment. question from presenter Kerry stress that it is a personal view, the top of the list for stand- O’Brien that Australia’s popula- not to be taken as a Treasury ards of living. Countries such In the proposed new building there will be no studio spaces only one tion growth is now predicted to view is pessimistic. In the last as Sweden, Finland, Ireland, room with a linoleum floor for the use of Visual Arts and one room for increase by 60 percent over the decade, permits have been Netherlands and Austria all teaching Aboriginal Arts. Course offerings will be drastically reduced next four decades, substantially issued to allow the commercial with small populations rank and no courses will be able to be completed at this Campus. as a result of boosted immi- slaughter of 49.6 million kanga- above Australia. In spite of strong local protests TAFE has not budged from its pro- gration, the Prime Minister roos in the last decade primarily Australians have never been posed planss. With the support of the Shoalhaven City Council, the said: “I actually believe in a big to give household pets a bit of comfortable with high levels of Australia. I make no apology variety in their diet. That is but immigration. The net inflow in community has looked to Local Member, Matt Brown, to negotiate for that. I actually think it’s one instance of a set of behav- the year to March was almost the changes that are needed to save the courses, enrolments and good news that our population iours that suggests that with a 280,000 – 20 per cent higher staff positions, but all to no avail. The Bush Tele hopes to interview Mr is growing”. population of 22 million people, than the previous record year. Brown in time for the next issue, and ask why he is proving to be an The interview came at a we haven’t managed to find What can be assumed from these ineffective local member on this and a range of other local issues. time when the opposition was accommodation with our envi- figures is that business well and Also, as a result of the proposed changes, Aboriginal students will be making merry weather out of ronment. Our record has been truly has the ear of government. denied the opportunity to advance to higher level mainstream Arts a boatload of Tamil refugees poor and in my view we are not It is big business that drives our that were making life difficult well placed to deal effectively immigration policy. They want and Media Courses. School leavers wanting to do TAFE Arts Courses for the Government by refusing with the environmental chal- a bigger market to increase will have to move from the Shoalhaven as the proposed facility will to be landed in Indonesia. lenges posed by a population of sales. Some employers are also not permit any pattern of course delivery that would attract AUSTUDY. Floundering around in a divided 35 million.” seeking cheaper labour, either The new accommodation that has been proposed is a long way short party, the opposition could Good on you Dr Henry; it skilled or unskilled. of the long awaited “state of the art” facility that had been expected. at last be united around the takes a brave public servant to But the other point, as In fact if built to the proposed plan, it would be completely inadequate spectre of a how a handful of say something so far from the Columnist Ross Gittins, recently to deliver the range of courses currently delivered, nor would it be ad- refugees were threatening the government line. Dr Henry is pointed out is “that when you security and future of Australia in fact closer to what average use immigration to force the equate for any delivery of any higher level courses in the future such – it had worked for Howard, Australians think, than what pace of economic growth, it so why not whip up hysteria the powers that be would care comes with a lot more costs I gather Moore explores with the international community is once more, by appealing to the to admit. Opinion polls show attached than usual”. He goes his usual humour and outrage at this stage likely to achieve. xenophobic. Not a word from that 70 per cent of Australians on to point out that immigrants the question of what price we Perhaps, it might be better, if the opposition however about want a reduction in immi- roughly double their green- all pay for our love affair with Kevin Rudd stops lecturing Australia’s population growth; gration, but growth-obsessed house emissions when they join modern Capitalism. Years ago, others, and returns home and on this the two major parties governments continue to main- our high carbon use society that love seemed so innocent. shows some real leadership by are in agreement. tain, and in the case of the as well as the cost of all the Today, however, the American attempting to address the diffi- The original comment about Rudd Government, increase the roads, hospitals, schools, police dream is looking more like cult issues that confront us all. concern on population growth numbers of immigrants. stations and untold other infra- a nightmare as families pay His government is failing had come from Dr Ken Henry, Advocates for increasing structure needed for them. All the price with their jobs, their badly on climate change, health, Secretary of Treasury speaking Australia’s population point to this is precisely what increasing homes and their savings. transport and the environment. in a “personal capacity”. Just so higher Gross Domestic Product, our GDP is all about. It is what Asked by the interviewer, If he continues to pander to it is clear what Dr Henry actu- but there is no evidence of high Big Business is looking for and does the film offer any solutions, big business, his government ally had said, I quote: “Are population increasing GDP it is called Capitalism. Moore replied that was not his will be an ultimate failure and Australia’s natural resource per head. In fact, the evidence And speaking of Capitalism job. He was right to declare that Australia will be the worse off. endowments, including water, points to the opposite. Take the other person I saw inter- it wasn’t his responsibility but If he is to succeed and show true capable of sustaining a popula- the past 15 months, while the viewed on Late Line Business rather it is up to the rest of us. leadership then, he will need to tion of 35 million? What are the Government has been crowing this week was the American Next month the world make a u-turn on many poli- implications for environmental about Australia having escaped film-maker Michael Moore, leaders meet in Copenhagen to cies, and a zero net immigra- amenity of this sort of popula- “technical” recession, we find who was talking about his new consider ways of dealing with tion i.e. immigration equal to tion growth? Must it mean an that if population increase is film “Capitalism: A love story”. I Climate Change. The outlook is emigration, is among the most even greater loss of biodiver- taken into account then the real haven’t scene the film yet but bleak both in reality and what important. N Burning Wood is for Caveman by Harriet Swift generator and have even handed as any trees that are “below Wood ‘waste’ continues A handful of turbines would out WWF brochures at local sawlog or pulplog quality.” to store greenhouse gases for generate the same amount of UST as Eden is home to conservation events. On the far south coast, this decades if left in the forest. As electricity for less money! Australia’s first native The fuel for the SEFE plant, means burning those species that woodchips/paper it has a likely forest woodchip mill, it is which would power woodchip- are too hard or too red to chip life of about 3 years. When Gnupa State Forests after recent now proposed to become ping operations and feed surplus (and are not suitable as sawlogs). burned for power it becomes logging and burning. Destructive as Jthe site of our first 100% wood- power into the grid, would be In other words: the redgums, instant carbon dioxide. this is, at least it returns nutrients to fired power station. This has the ‘waste’ of the ‘waste’: the ironbarks, woollybutts, grey Ironically, the Eden chip- the soil. Industry plans would leave been made possible by a new leftovers from the million tonnes boxes, bloodwoods and ango- mill is located in one of the best nothing in the forest after logging. Rudd Government law which of native forest woodchips that phoras that are currently consid- wind power sites in Australia. Image: H.Swift classifies burning native forest SEFE currently exports (71%) ered useless by the industry. wood ‘waste’ as renewable as well as some plantation pine It is hard to reconcile this energy. residues (29%). with industry claims that “not South East Fibre Exports The vote in the Senate in one single extra tree will be cut (SEFE) is currently seeking August to include some forms down” for burning. a Part 3A approval from the of native forest wood in the One preliminary estimate NSW Minister for Planning Mandatory Renewable Energy puts the greenhouse impacts of for a 5MW wood-fired power Target (MRET) signaled that native forest wood fired power station. Conservationists have conservationists have a big fight at 6.4 times those from coal fired little confidence that the State ahead of them to stop industrial power. When trees are felled and Government planning process scale burning of native forest the wood is burned, it takes 80 will be rigorous or even honest. wood for energy. years for the emissions from the Both the National Association In spite of its lobbying victory wood burning to be neutralized of Forest Industries (NAFI) with MRET, NAFI is not satis- by the regrowth forest. and SEFE have been misrepre- fied. The industry wants more. It is more than twice as long senting WWF Europe support It wants to be able to burn when all logging impacts, such for biomass burning there, as the 90%+ of the forest that is as, loss of soil carbon are taken implicit support for the Eden currently woodchipped as well into account.