Weekend Edition

Just as the party balloons have deflated on Kevin ‘07, the honeymoon is well and truly over for the Fraser Coast Regional Council.  We’ve just had a read of the latest council meeting minutes and to say we’re disappointed would be an understatement.

We refer to Article 10.8 “Hervey Bay Water Education Park”

There was a motion made by Cr Brooks. seconded by Cr Harris that “Council undertake a community consultation process in relation to the Water Education Park based on the preliminary proposal provided by Wide Bay WaterCorparation” and “Council advise WBWC of the financial parameters and request that WBWC provide final design details and financial feasibility report to Council for approval”

This motion was lost 5/6 with Crs Brooks, Dalgleish, MucKan, Harris & Hawes voting for with the remainder against.  The following resolution shows the steam roller mentality that still exists - instead of community consultation and an examination of the feasibility study by council, it seems that the project will go ahead regardless.

Further to this, there was some indication council has sought for the project to be “cost neutral without impacting on any short or long term dividends to the council”.  What this means is anyones guess but the only way we can see this happening is if WBWC either starts making huge profits from selling their services elsewhere or they sting ratepayers significantly more for their water.  There is no way even the most highly paid accountants in the country could make the $7 million cost to Wide Bay Water disappear.

We commend Cr Brooks for her opposition to the process being taken by council on this project and express our disappointment in the rest of them for failing to ensure the project will not become another White Elephant - lets see if the feasibility study stacks up before we rush about building it please!

Indecent Haste

We’re not too pleased with the latest news on the Water Park, there are too many unanswered questions and we’d like some answers.

Firstly, it has been a few years since we were at school but last time we checked 12 minus 5 equals seven are we not correct?  So where is the remaining $7 million coming from?  WBW Profits?  We doubt it.  Perhaps there is a new accounting technique that can make the extra vanish? 

Or.. our water rates are going to go right through the roof this year?  Yep, thats the most plausible answer. 

But we digress.. how about we ask why the sudden rush to get the facility built?  There was no rush to decide a site and certainly no public consultation in that process.  Why do they need to have “something” completed by June next year?  What about what the public thinks of the concept?  Will we even be shown their ideas before they start construction?  So far we are unaware of any real public consultation - pretty poor considering they are hoping we are going to patronise it!

There is plenty more we could ask.. and we will!

Democracy?

Much has been said about Democracy on this site, culminating in
“I thought we did pretty good as a Democracy” just recently. So
what is Democracy? To start with, it’s the most abused word in
the English language.Then we all claim to live in one, but do we?
How do people define it?
 
One of the most common definitions, is as follows;”Government
of the people, by the people, for the people”. This implies the
people govern themselves! But do we? What input do most of
us have in decision making?
 
True Democracy can only work in small tribes/clans/groups,
logistics prevents True Democracy where there are large
numbers scattered over a large area. So here in Australia we
went for the next step down, Representative Democracy. We
broke Australia up into smaller groupings, each with an elected
representative. So far, so good. But here is where Democracy
starts to falter. Any adult who is not in jail should be able to
nominate to be our representative. After all, whether we elect
them or not is up to us. That’s Democracy. But no, political
parties have placed restrictions on who can stand. In fact they
are making it harder and harder for people to nominate. There
is also a restriction on how we vote. For many years women
couldn’t vote.
 
We are moving slowly but surely further and further away from
Democracy. Once elected, what control do the people have
over their representatives? What input do the people have
during a period of government? How do we stop what we know
is wrong?
 
John A Neve
 
Ps. I could take this further if readers are interested.

Fee Simple and Common Law abolished?

We’re steering back towards local issues tomorrow but for those who are interested in learning more about this subject, a contributor has informed us there is a meeting at Beerwah Community Hall on Saturday 31st May at 1pm where a group of speakers who have researched the issue thoroughly will make a presentation.  We encourage all those who can make it to attend as this is something that will affect us all.

Simple Says

Just for something different today we’ll run with this article from the web.. its something we should all give some thought to and ask our local member why this is so:

BRIGALOW CORPORATION and FEE SIMPLE LAND RIGHTS - BRIGALOW CORPORATION NOW OWNS THE STATE OF QUEENSLAND & SOON NSW

BRIGALOW and FEE SIMPLE LAND RIGHTS

“On Thursday 3rd October 2007, the High Court of Australia made rulings over residential and rural land that effectively removes all land ownership from the people of Queensland and puts it squarely into the hands of our State Government.

The court ruling that ‘fee simple’ and the ‘common law’ are now no longer recognised in Queensland means we no longer are part of the Commonwealth and no longer have ownership or say in our land, that Queensland is a separate entity that can make its own laws. ” (all other states are to follow )

BRIGALOW is A CORPORATION OWNED BY QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT WHICH HOLDS ALL LANDRIGHTS IN QLD INCLUDING YOUR LAND AS THE HIGH COURT HAS REMOVED YOUR RIGHT TO OWN LAND IN FEE SIMPLE

If you want further info look up Google and type in Brigalow Corporation - apparently they in NSW are going to / if they have not already - implement same absolute bastardy into NSW. None dare call it treason!

Google for Brigalow Corporation:

www.google.com.au : http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=Brigalow+Corporation+&btnG=Googl…

www.google.com : http://www.google.com/search?q=Brigalow+Corporation+&sourceid=ie7&rls=co…

Lots of information in relation to Land Rights - Fee Simple - Brigalow Corporation etc

Weekend Edition

We’re getting a little tired of the neverending news articles on skyrocketing fuel prices.  Maybe we have as some commentators will point out enjoyed cheap fuel for too long.  Lets stop talking about the problem and start looking for solutions.  A few start at home such as walking or riding to the shops, work or your friend’s house or downsizing to a smaller more efficient vehicle.  Improved driving techniques can save as much as 10% on fuel consumption also.  Then there is mechanical improvements that can be made to allow your vehicle to burn the fuel more efficiently.  All these measures will make a difference. 

A few questions do still need to be answered:

Do we in fact export crude oil at a tenth of the price we pay for imported fuel and is it true that the amount exported is not much more than what we import for local use?  And also, we keep hearing of all the natural gas reserves Australia controls so why aren’t we using them for our transportation and heating needs?

Its all very well for us to whine about rising costs due to fuel increases but if we don’t pressure our governments to ensure we’re getting the best value by perhaps utilising local resources, improving public transport and even taxing foreign companies on their incomes, the price of living will continue to rise indefinitely.

John Neve adds the following thoughts:

 Peak or Trough (part 2).
 
The questions and comments posed by Bringbackstrewth (BBS),
allows us to delve a little deeper into the impacts of Peak Oil.
 
First, let’s address BBS’s questions:
Regarding diesel, my understanding is refineries get more litres
of diesel per barrel of crude, than petrol. Diesel gives more
kilometres per litre than petrol in a comparable engine. Diesel
engines will operate on all types of oil, while petrol engines are
very fussy about the fuels they will run on.
 
As to motorsports “embracing green technologies”, switching to
Ethanol does nothing for the fuel problem. If we produced
enough Ethanol to replace oil, we’d all starve to death. Added
to which the energy used to produce Ethanol is greater than
the energy value created, plus we will have denuded the planet.
While it is true motorsport has helped refine the internal
combustion engine, it has passed it’s use by date.
 
Motorsport cost us dearly, Melbourne Grand Prix $35 million of
ratepayers money, Gold Coast Indy about the same. As a
sport it does little for societies health and wellbeing, unless you
are a couch potato. As to growing popularity!! I don’t believe
so.
 
As to motorsport in the future, without knowing what type of
propulsion the vehicles will have, it’s hard to comment.
However, batteries are very heavy, Hydrogen is highly
explosive, nuclear very risky, sola very slow on a cloudy day.
Face it, motorsport is dying.
 
Conspiracy theory, We have all heard of the inventions the oil
companies have bought up and buried. Pills in tanks of water,
oil wells capped, fermented rats p*ss etc. Don’t you think by
now something would have leaked out? But no just wishful
thinking and rumours.
 
John A Neve

 

Ben Collingwood writes: John, Ethanol is not the most likely or viable solution to the world’s transportation needs.  As you point out there are problems with ethanol reducing the amount of crop lands available for food.  However, you underestimate the value of the motorsports industry in developing technologies for tomorrow.  Yes the motorsports you mentioned are a huge drain on local economies as are the V8 Supercar races.  What the motorpark guys are trying to do is bring the most sustainable forms of motorsport within reach of locals so they do not have to travel far to enjoy them or participate.  There are many technologies and fuel sources that will become available in coming months and years and I for one am pushing to see the proposed facility embrace these.  Further to this I have already suggested that there is a need for a research facility to investigate, develop and test potential alternatives and this proposed facility would be an excellent place to house such a facility.

As others have already said, it is time we stopped listening to the nay sayers and scaremongers in the community and take a proactive approach to the energy crisis of ‘08.  If we don’t do it now it will be too late

To have or not to have?

Hervey Bay is to have a Water Park! It is to go “near the
Seafront Oval”. Projected cost $12 million, if I remember
correctly “the quite achiever” told us this some weeks ago. But
what impute have the public had?
 
As I have stated on this site before, I have an open mind on the
matter. The concept explained to me by WBW’s CEO of an
educational and fun park, I support. The questions that need
answering, are what is the most profitable location for it and
where does the money come from? Also will the “park” be
self sustaining or will it have to be propped up like the Brolga
Theatre?
 
I am supportive of any idea/enterprise that enhances our region,
provided it benefits 51% of our residents and is self supporting.
Ratepayers should not be subsidising the tourist industry or
southern entrepreneurs.
 
Our council has discussed the matter behind closed doors, with
little if any real information coming before the public. At the last
minute councillor McNeven moved it should be debated in open
council!!!!! But without any hard facts how could the public
comment?
 
Your “open and transparent” council has shafted us once again.
God, I love democracy.
 
John A Neve

Strewthisback writes:  It is an interesting concept and the way council kept it under wraps right up until the final announcement absolutely stinks.  We hoped the new council would be transparent but who were we kidding?  Will it be another white elephant like the Brolga or Maryborough Park were for many years?  Both those sites are slowly turning around and must be close to drawing a profit.  There is room for improvement and lessons could be learnt from mistakes made with those community assets and applied to the waterpark concept.

Smoke and Mirrors

Well Wednesday proved to be an exciting day for some on the Fraser Coast.  The opening of the crest gates at Lenthalls Dam was clearly overshaddowed by the announcement of Seymour Group and Watpac being the sucessful tenderers for the Urangan Harbour redevelopment.

Another big announcement was council finally coming clean on the water park.  It was no surprise to hear it will be constructed on the Esplanade beside Seafront Oval.  It was good to see Belinda McNeven push the discussion on the Water Park out into the public forum at the council meeting on Tuesday rather than continue to discuss the matter in confidential.   We can only hope they get on with the business of building it as it is long overdue.

On a not so happy note, it is disappointing to learn that the government is working to push more responsibility for promoting tourism onto local governments - we will try to follow these developments closely.

Wednesday Edition

A big reminder to anyone who has time this morning to head out to Lenthalls dam with your Save the Mary / No Dam posters.  They might have closed the dam to the public for the day but that would not stop protestors lining up at the entrance and sending a solid message to the invited guests.  We don’t want or need their damn dam!

In response to our comments on the so called Peak Oil theory John Neve asks the following:

Peak or Trough?
 
Based on everything I’ve read, watched and listened to, I agree
with the concept of Peak Oil. I don’t believe oil replenishes itself,
so, sooner or later, it will run out. The question is when? The
majority view on this seems to be we are over the “peak” and on
the downhill slide. Even if we have another 100 years of oil (and
I don’t believe we have), the time to address the problem is now.
To leave it until tomorrow won’t do, remember, tomorrow never
comes.
 
What we need is a government prepared to bite the bullet, and
implement some strategies. To eke out what oil we have, we
could; phase out petrol engines and replace them with diesel,
limit the size of engines for private use, switch from aeroplanes
to airships (this would allow the size of engines to be reduced by
at least half), sorry about this, but we should phase out the use
of petrol and oil for joyriding (speedboats, racing, both bikes
and cars), and let’s not forget the infamous burnouts by F111’s
to excite our jaded minds.
 
We have to ask ourselves, do we think oil will last forever?
What are we prepared to give up? Is government doing enough?
Most importantly, do we really care?
 
Bringbackstrewth writes: John, we’re not sure what swapping from regular fuel to diesel will achieve.. unless you were referring to bio-diesel.  As for motor racing coming to an end, as sky rocketing fuel prices force us to be less reliant on cars for everyday use, motorsports will in fact gain in popularity.  As other contributors have pointed out, the motorsports industry is already leading the way in embracing green technologies and fuel sources.  It is the motorsports industry that has the biggest potential to help govenments and manufacturers move away from our dependance on fossil fuels for transportation.

Contrary to what some might think, it is entirely feasible that the motorcar will in fact be around 100 or more years from now.  Yes the propulsion methods will change but the mode will not.  Furthermore, technologies exist now that oil companies don’t want us to know about or governments believe we are not ready for. 

As “global warming” hysteria heats up, society will demand these technologies and indeed new ones will be found to allow us to continue to enjoy the lifestyles we currently have.  As a nation we must start embracing the need for change and our governments need to take the bold steps in promoting greener transport infrastructure, equipment and practises.  Do we care enough John might ask?  We think not.

Peak Panic

Here he goes again, last week Andy Pandy enthralled parliament with his latest ravings on oil supply.  We don’t doubt that all things must come to an end but we can still recall his predictions of $2 a litre fuel by Christmas.. which Christmas Andrew?  We might also point out that a quick google of the term Peak Oil will not only give you the version AP reads from but also the flip side which clearly indicates there is sufficient oil in diverse locations and forms to supply the planet for many years to come.

If Mr McNamara so passionately believes we will reach the point where fuel is rationed and we are forced to drastically change our lifestyles for the worse to suit, why doesn’t he start giving us some answers? 

Here’s a suggestion - instead of wasting millions on dams that won’t fill, lets open a world leading research centre into alternate transportation technologies. water production & processing technology and other planet-friendly technologies right here on the Fraser Coast.

–o–

    Nancy Says Vol: 20

 

Nancy Says “A change in direction is needed now” and how right

she is. I am pleased to admit Nancy’s 99% correct, Australia’s

history and social/political system should be a mandatory part of

our education curriculum.

 

The only part of Nancy’s editorial I disagree with, is learning

Butchulla, as a child forced to learn Latin, I see no point in

learning a dead language. Chinese, Japanese, Russian etc

yes, yes, yes, any language that helps our trade and political

aspirations. But Butchulla and Latin, no way.

 

On the down side, yes there is a down side. If only Nancy felt

this way at a local government level. After all, for the electorate

to make good, sound, political decisions, they need the facts,

warts and all.  (Author: John Neve)

Strewthisback writes:

John we had a chuckle also when the learn Butchella idea was first floated however, the history of the region extends back before white fella ever set foot on the banks of the Mary.  The concept is novel and yes it does not have any real life application as such but our region’s history is important too. 

–o–

Also today we’ve had correspondence from Cy d’Oliveira - the following is a letter he presented to council this week - we’ll remind readers that these views are that of Mr d’Oliveira and we would be very happy to present the response of Council to provide you with a balanced view should they choose to do so.

Dear Mayor & Councillors, 

It has come to my attention that in the recent past, Biosolids [********** ***** ********] harvested from sewerage, has been used by local farmers as fertilizer. This material has apparently been supplied to them free of any charge! More importantly the users were not informed of the materials nature and the potential for it to be toxic!

 Will council investigate this matter? If found to be correct, will council stop the use of such material being put on local farmland?

 I wish to draw council’s attention to Biotech Laboratories (NATA approved), report No. 652214 dated 27^th November 2007. This report clearly shows the presence of

Arsenic, Cyanide, Lead and Mercury amongst other chemicals in the biosolid being used as fertilizer.

 As this material is being made, supplied and used within the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s area of control. I believe the onus is on you, to put the public’s mind at rest.

 Yours sincerely,

Cy d’Oliveira

Strewthisback writes: previous advertising by WBW claimed biosolids were safe for use on crops and further reports indicating that they have full EPA Approvals to use said biosolids in this manner.  Mr d’Oliveira’s claims are very serious and we welcome anyone involved who can provide factual data proving his claims or otherwise to get in touch.