CairnsBlog.net

A blot of the landscape

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:09:00 +0000

Here's what rouge developer Phil Hartwig has done to a huge chunk of hillslope, 18 kms north of Cairns, looking towards Palm Cove.

The massive amount of vegetation that has been stripped, was documented on CairnsBlog video and woke the Council up to some serious environmental breaches.

This photo was snapped just a few days ago, approaching the shoreline.

Council's compliance letter

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:21:00 +0000

Here's Cairns Regional Council's development compliance letter that have been sent to all developers...

Power of the people

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:39:00 +0000

Following my report a couple of days ago, there's been a great deal of discussion around the region about Cairns Regional Council's new initiative to curb poor development controls, where damaging sediment is being allowed to run off in substantial volume, through waterways and tributaries, and out to the Great Barrier Reef.

Council hopes to strengthen its environmental enforcement by policing development sites, in particular soil and erosion control. The new enforcement team will be 'out in force' and issuing on-the-spot fines, we're told.

Following the release of Terry Spackman's revealing video on CairnsBlog two days ago, Division 4 Councillor Kirsten Lesina said that action will now occur in relation to the sediment problems at Kanimbla Heights.

"Additional measures will be implemented at Kanimbla, Stage 7 over the next few days," Kirsten said today. "[This will] include doubling of the hydraulic capacity of the sediment retention basin."

However, Kirsten Lesina says that the Kanimbila Heights development site will remain problematic. This is due to the extent of exposed works that has been undertaken, with out protection to the sediment.

"[Kanimbila engineers] Projex North have advised they will prioritise works to maximise cover of exposed works prior to Xmas, revised
erosion and sediment control plan due this week," Councillor Lesina said today.

"I love the power of a video camera and CairnsBlog," says Terry Spackman. "We've shaken them up and frightened them. This is very good."

However, Keith Martin, of the Mansfield Street campaign, apposing CEC's Roy Lavis' sub-division application, hopes that this latest 'environmental policing initiative' is due to Council’s commitment to clean up dodgy development sites. "I believe it may also have a lot to do with recent changes to the Environmental Protection Regulations that were passed by the Queensland Government in November 2008," Keith Martin says.

These new regulation changes, that come into effect on the 1st January next year, are complex. You can find them here. A more readable summary interpretation of the changes is available from a legal firm website here.

"Basically, the new changes devolve enforcement of those sections of the Environmental Protection Act relating to environmental nuisance and contamination from State Government to local Councils," Keith Martin says.

To quote from the summary...

“The new Regulation gives local governments responsibility for all environmental nuisance except where the unlawful emission is generated from a state or local government activity or regulated under another law.

Local governments will be given flexibility to vary and regulate environmental nuisance through their local laws to reflect the community’s preferences for emission standards. The standards in a local law will override those in the new Regulation”.

And also...

“The responsibility for enforcement of minor water pollution matters, including the offences for the release of certain things or build up of sediment in a roadside gutter, stormwater drain or water, will also be devolved to local government under the new Regulation”.

An interpretation of these changes is that Council is now wholly responsible for enforcing environmental nuisance and water pollution laws. Furthermore, Council can set local laws on these matters that override State legislation.

Keith Martin believes that under these new changes, the community will no longer be able to complain to EPA about sediment discharges, noise and air pollution from development sites, because these enforcement powers will now be entirely Council’s responsibility.

"There are new State Planning Policies for noise, air and water, and that 'local governments will be required to have regard to the new SPPs when assessing development'," he says. "This has always been the case but up till now, Council has rarely given them much weight when assessing development applications."

Meanwhile, Member for Cairns Desley Boyle is claiming some kudos for this latest change of environmental heart at Council. In a letter in today's Cairns Post she applauds 'Val's good initiative'...

"Credit goes to Val Schier and the new Cairns Regional Council for tackling an issue that the previous Council refused to deal with. For years development sites on Cairns hillslopes have been poorly controlled especially during the wet season. Unnecessary environmental damage has occurred through poor sediment and erosion control. Nearby residents have borne the brunt.

Some years ago when I was Environment and Local Government Minister I took up this issue with the Cairns Council. They said that their hands were tied in enforcing controls over builders/developers by state government requirements that limited council’s ability to act and instead involving them in slow and difficult court processes.

I took that on board and changed the system to give councils the ability to impose on the spot fines on non-compliant builders/developers.

Then I again asked the then Cairns Council to get tough on the issue but still they were reluctant to act.

The EPA also offered assistance to the Council with best practice development site plans for erosion and sediment control which the Council could require before development work started. Site control plans such as these would have protected the environment as well as saved developers from accidental or otherwise compliance failures and the consequent fines.

This all fell on deaf ears. How good it is to hear that the new Council has raised the penalties and formed a new specialised squad in the Environmental Protection Unit of Council to monitor and police controls on building sites. Great timing too with a heavy wet predicted. Good on you Val and Councillors.

"I will support Val but what more do you want her/the Council to do now that she has an implementation group up and functioning?" Desley says.

Along with Terry Spackman, I've been relentless in exposing serious sediment run-offs, so Council is forced to take action. Two months ago, I publicised Palm Cove's Foley Road, and Council then acted. A development at Sugarword Glenn on the southside is in serious problems as well, and have been forced to install sediment run-off controls. Developments in Redlynch and Bluewater are also coming under Council's eye.

Meanwhile, the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre CAFNEC, is asking locals to become 'sediment busters' and attend a meeting on Wednesday December 17th. "You will learn how you can take effective action in looking after our creeks, rivers and reef," says campaign director Steve Ryan.

"The meeting will address the roles and responsibilities of the Council’s [new] Environmental Protection unit and how the community can be report environmental incidents," Steve Ryan says. "This is for the whole community and environmental groups."

If you're tired of seeing our rainforest creeks and waterways running red with soil that should have stayed on someone's construction site, then it's time you stood up. Along with Steve Ryan, Brynn Mathews, an environmental regulation expert with EPA experience will address the meeting. Terry Spackman and also Toni Johnston, the Environmental Protection team leader at Council, will address the audience.

The public workshop is on at 5.30pm, Wednesday 17th December at the Civic Reception room at Council's Spence Street.

Meanwhile, Councillor Robert Pyne facilitated a meeting between community environmental activist Terry Spackman and head of Council's new sediment control team, Luke Nicholson.

Local councils have had some state environmental laws for a long time, but the old Kevin Byrne-led Council refused to use them when it came to sediment run-off from development sites.

"When I reported problems to EPA, they would say, it's a Council responsibility," Terry says. "Although EPA did act in two bad cases, Red Peak estate, and I think Kewarra Beach. My concern with these changes is, what happens when we get another Byrne-type Council that refuses to fine developers again?"

"However, I came away from the meeting with Luke Nicholson feeling cautiously optimistic that there will be a change for the better," Terry said. "Time will tell how willing he will be to use the big sticks available in the new year."

Applying to work at Cairns Regional Council

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:11:00 +0000

Believe it or not, a faithful Blog buddy emailed this "true story" in to me today. I'm duty-bound, under strict conditions of my publishing agreement with Council, to post this for all to read.

This bloke I know went into Cairns Regional Council last week to apply for a job.
The interviewer asks him, 'Are you allergic to anything?'
'Yes - caffeine', he said.
'Have you ever been in the services?'
'Yes,' he says. 'I was in Iraq for a year.'
The interviewer says, 'That will give you 5 extra points toward employment.'
He then asks, 'Are you disabled in any way?
My friend says, 'Yes 100%...an bomb exploded near me and blew my testicles off.'
The interviewer tells my mate... 'OK, in that case, I can hire you right now.. Normal hours are from 8am to 2 pm'
'You can start tomorrow at 10am - and plan on starting at 10 every day.'
The guy is puzzled and says, 'If the hours are from 8 to 2, why don't you want me to be here before 10?'
'This is a council job,' the interviewer says. 'For the first two hours we just stand around drinking coffee and scratching our balls. No point in you coming in for that.'

True story.

New Zealand results finalised

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:25:00 +0000

David at Kiwiblog has done a final analysis of the recent New Zealand election, where Helen Clark's Labour was defeated.

Cairns Port Authorty security guard 'counselled'

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:31:00 +0000

Kerry Egerton Cairns Port Authority Employee and PR manager, has admitted that there was dangerous and unsafe behaviour carried out by a Cairns Port Authority security guard.

In responding to the formal compliant I laid last month, following community protests to save the historic Cairns Yacht Club, Egerton said the Port Authority undertook a Workplace Health and Safety investigation. They spoke with a number of independent witnesses.

"The investigation considered the causes and consequences of the incident and a series of unsafe issues have been identified," Kerry Egerton admitted. "A number of these relate to the protesters and these have been referred to Division of Workplace Health and Safety."

The Port Authority has also admitted that the security guard at the centre of the complaint, pictured above, has now been reprimanded for his dangerous actions that morning. "The guard involved has been counselled in regards to his actions and required responsibilities in the future," Egerton said.

Conroy’s ‘Clean Feed’ support evaporating

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:16:00 +0000

Syd Walker loves the internet. It's the only peace and quiet he gets, hidden in the rainforest of outer Kuranda hugging trees.

Syd supports free speech as defined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that says: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

It's why he's so damm angry about Labor's proposal to check everything that we look at on the internet.

It’s been a good week for the campaign against Senator Conroy’s disgraceful mandatory Internet filtering proposal - the so called ‘Clean Feed’.

The Australia Greens have formally announced that they oppose this type of Internet censorship. According to AAP “We’re very, very concerned that there’s going to be a unnecessary clamp down on the internet and it has to be watched,” Greens leader Bob Brown told ABC Television on Tuesday.

His colleague Scott Ludlam has been lobbying against the changes.

“He’s working very hard with community groups in Australia to oppose the current proposals by the Government,” Senator Brown said.

The Federal Coalition has done the same. Here’s the conclusion of a press release issued by Shadow Communications Minister, Senator Minchin:

“The Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has further fuelled concerns with his talk of filtering not only illegal content, but also unwanted and inappropriate content. This policy proposal is also causing Australia embarrassment internationally, with comparisons to the world’s most repressive regimes,” Senator Minchin said.

The Government is planning a ‘real world’ trial of mandatory filtering before the end of this year and needs the cooperation of sceptical ISPs and their customers.
“If adequate numbers of Internet users cannot be roped into this trial on a voluntary basis, Senator Conroy needs to clarify whether the trial itself will become mandatory, or will this policy be implemented regardless?” Senator Minchin asked.

The Opposition continues to consult widely with stakeholders and will monitor this trial very closely. In the mean-time, it also urges the Government to re-think its plan to stop providing Australians with free pc-based Internet content filters at the end of 2008.

Now, the Government may not need legislation to implement its scheme. If not, its lack of a Senate majority may not matter. As of now, Conroy seems determined to continue pushing ahead with ‘trials’. It’s way to early to throw hats in the air.

But deep cracks are appearing in the Government’s case. It’s indicative that Senator Conroy continues to avoid scrutiny and won’t risk critical interviews. Last week he ducked an opportunity to explain his policy on the ABC 7.30 Report.

The chief proponent of the ‘filtering’ scheme – Dr Clive Hamilton - soaks up every opportunity to preach the Gospel According to Clive. He DID appear on the 7.30 report. But Clive has started to come under sustained attack from critics with a variety of perspectives. I sought to expose his key analogy as a fallacy in my recent article Why the Web is NOT Like TV. Dr Hamilton has yet to respond.

With the probable exception of would be ‘filter vendors’, the entire IT industry is aghast, from Telstra to home-based web designers. The bush is in revolt. Demonstrations are coming up in several major cities on December 13th. Even Glen Milne has joined the chorus of dissent (in fairness to News Corp, it has given coverage to the anti-censorship case).

Now for the punch line…

“Children’s welfare groups slam net filters”, according to a remarkable report by Asher Moses in the Fairfax Digital Brisbane Times:

Support for the Government’s plan to censor the internet has hit rock bottom, with even children’s welfare groups now saying that that the mandatory filters, aimed squarely at protecting kids, are ineffective and a waste of money.

Live trials of the filters, which will block “illegal” content for all Australian internet users and “inappropriate” adult content on an opt-in basis, are slated to begin by Christmas, despite harsh opposition from the Greens, Opposition, the internet industry, consumers and online rights groups.

Holly Doel-Mackaway, adviser with Save the Children, the largest independent children’s rights agency in the world, said educating kids and parents was the way to empower young people to be safe internet users.

She said the filter scheme was “fundamentally flawed” because it failed to tackle the problem at the source and would inadvertently block legitimate resources.

Furthermore there was no evidence to suggest that children were stumbling across child pornography when browsing the web. Doel-Mackaway believes the millions of dollars earmarked to implement the filters would be far better spent on teaching children how to use the internet safely and on law enforcement.

Given the circumstances, the amusing ‘Hitler’ video produced by opponents of the ‘Clean Feed’ proposal is misleading. Hitler in the bunker had more support than Conroy.

In an earlier article I posed the question whether Kevin Rudd made a Faustian pact, before the last election, to deliver mandatory Internet censorship in Australia?

That scenario might help explain why the government’s proposal, by its own admission, would at best serve as a ‘leaky’ filter for extreme porn - yet it would work like a treat for political censorship.

Is that why the government is ordering a tractor to do the job of a car? If so, Rudd had better undo the deal ASAP. It’s political suicide.

If there is no such deal and this whole issue is truly a case of the Australian Labor Party gripped by moral panic over child porn - like mass hysteria over witchcraft in times past - can the Government please come to its senses at once?

There’s real work to do.

Joel's right of reply

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:58:00 +0000

Joel Harrop is barely old enough to ride a bike, yet he's running against Desley (at least we think Desley is running) with the LNP for the State seat of Cairns in next year's election.

Joel is keen to debate, listen and learn about what everyone's been missing in their elected representative. He wants to regain the lost respect that the community has in politicians. It's a big job, and at 3 foot six, is he up to it?

Joel joins our regular stable of irregular writers here at CairnsBlog. He's not being paid to say this. Nor are we. Damm.

In response to my Youtube video published CairnsBlog, Barry Daniels wrote...

“Well Joel, the only thing that I noticed was the wind gusts from behind, maybe you should have mckenzie standing behind you, he is a good plug for your misguided political beliefs or wear some undies so as the gusts don't interfere with your crap. Lillian, joel can't give you his CV, as he stated on the plug's talkback, IT IS TOP SECRET, go away you five minute wonders.”

He then went on to write in a following comment:

“C'mon Joel, Let us all know what your top secret of life is, and while you are at it tell us how you will control the beauro's whenever you think you will be a minister.”

When I read these comments, my initial thought was surprise. This was a person who I hadn’t even met who seems to have a deeply seeded grudge against me. I considered that perhaps this was the Labor party assigning a blogger to try and embarrass me. However, as I thought about it further, I settled on the belief that this is someone who has no faith in the political system and does not trust me because I claim to want to make things better.

I gave him a ring this morning and we had a quick chat. He explained that he is “tired of all the political crap” and has a lot of problems with the former National Party. I accept that. The LNP is a newly formed party, and while it does have a history, we are looking to the future. Key issues we are addressing include Health Care, Law and Order, Education and the Environment.

All of these areas have be blatantly ignored by the current government. Don’t believe me... Health Care: over the past 5 years, we have gone from 20% of people waiting more than 8 hours for a hospital bed to over half and it gets worse every year, Law and Order: the LNP put up a bill to have vandals clean up their mess and Labor blocked it.

Last year 26 juveniles were convicted of rape and only 9 of the convicted people were given a jail sentence, Education: Years 3 & 5 have the lowest levels reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy in Australia, Years 7 & 9 are below national averages for each of these categories as well, Environment: Their track record on the environment is so poor that the Greens Party has released a statement encouraging Green Branches not to give the Labor party preference votes.

Mr Daniels went on to say that he didn’t really want to speak to me about his views, or make any suggestions. So that said, following is my response to Mr Daniels comments.

Hi Barry,

I don't have a top secret life, but I know what you are referring to. For the benefit of those who don't, the day after I was Pre-Selected as the Cairns Candidate for the LNP, I was interviewed by several media outlets, including the Mackenzie show.

Mackenzie asked about my background, which is a mix of banking and the military (I discuss this in more detail in my first video blog, which is on Youtube.) He was curious about my time as an Army Officer and the topic of overseas service was raised.

I discussed my overseas service in broad terms, but was unable to provide some details. When he asked why I couldn’t disclose this information, I responded that the information was subject to Defence classification and that I couldn’t discuss it. Information is not released by the Australian Government if it would place Australian Service Personnel’s lives at risk or compromise the operation. Examples of this information can include locations, times, numbers of people...

To your second question... The biggest issue with government in FNQ is that the pollies don’t represent their electorates. I have been discussing this issue at length with Lawrence Springborg and several Shadow Ministers, all of whom are in full support of my commitment to put the electorate first. Cairns, as well as the other seats in the region, need strong representation. The LNP leadership recognise the importance of electoral representation and fully support my position.

With respect to the different departments, each needs a different approach. For example, the LNP won’t address Law and Order in the same way we address Health Care, Education or the Environment. Each individual portfolio will have its own tailored plan to address the substantive issues.

To help explain how we will address these portfolio issues, I am putting a series of video blogs together. Furthermore, I’m responding to people who are asking me tough questions. I believe in having this interaction with the public, and if I’m successful in my campaign to be the next Member of Cairns, I will continue this open dialogue.

Thanks for the questions,
Joel Harrop

FOOTNOTE: Joel is old enough to ride a bike. He's also taller than 3 foot six. Just.

Oh, the irony

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:16:00 +0000

Kassandra Zandt doesn't need a publicity agent with friends like Gavin and Mark at the Cairns Post.

You see 18-year-old Ms Zandt loves to strip down to her swimmers at any given opportunity. It's what she does. Then her pix get plastered all over the print media. It's what the Cairns Post does. Then the tradies - or at least some of them, along with some lonely mum's in Manunda, dribble all over a nearly life-sized print of her perky breasts and D-sized cups on the cover of today's Post. And they wonder why people call it the Compost?

Oh, the irony. You see the cover story is all about a trashy magazine, Zoo Weekly, printing Kassandra's boobies against her wishes and to her horror. So what does the Cairns Post do? Exactly the same! However, it seems that Mrs Zandt "gave The Cairns Post permission to run the least revealing of the photos," the story says. The 'least' revealing? Please. Did she give permission to grace the entire front cover of the newspaper, three times the size of any photo in Zoo Weekly? Maybe she should sue the Post as well?

I wonder if Post writer Bronwyn Cummings knew that Chief of Stiff Gavin King would run a full-page cover spread on this girl?

The Post has published a number of photos of this young lass over the last few months. Seems like they are rather fixated on her, and other young barely-clad females. If there's a pedophilia award in the Murdoch empire, the Cairns Post would be a breast ahead of the rest.

One of the all-time horrid photos was of 16-year-old Kendal Schuler, who looked like her mum banned her from McDonald's when she was five. I thought she'd make a good subject for a caption contest at the time, but I didn't want to give Kendal anymore exposure. The photo looked like someone was jamming a broom where the sun don't shine, and not in a nice way. Maybe she was saying something to the photographer like "If I put my hand here, my head won't fall off. He he he."

The reason why the Cairns Post continues to exploit this type of so-called journalism, and give it such promernence is because it's dramatic and cheap porn at the least, and means they only have to put around thirty words on the cover of their tablewd.

It seems that any excuse for some full page barley-of-age titillating titty. Oh Cairns Post, you're sometimes right up there with the News of the World, National Enquirer, and even The Sun. At least they do this stuff on page three.

Stolen from the Cairns Post

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:25:00 +0000

Here's a caption contest you won't be able to resist from participating in.... it's Santa Val.. with politically-correct Mrs Santa.

Is Val trying to tell us something? Should she be wearing lavender and some comfortable shoes?

Cairns Post photographer Veronica Sagredo snapped this wee gem for us all to chuckle over.

Whilst I'm all for giving some festive cheer to those less fortunate (people living in Townsville, former Mayors, right-wing Bloggers, closet gays, George Bush supports, sediment control police, Dubai call centre operators, employees of Cairns Port Authority and Desley Boyle, Belinda Neal MP, Bryan Law's alter ego: Bryan Outlaw), I just wish Val had presented some pressies to those that supported her get into office. That's all we wanted. A little more love. Some TLC for all the letterbox drops and campaigning we did to over-throw the big bad giant of Cairns, KB.

Oh, and the environment. Val could have given the environment a better pressie in her first few months in office. She's voted in direct contradiction to many pre-election statements. Check this vid out.

Maybe we'll have to put the first 9 months in office down to Labor pains? Maybe her voting and support for the people who supported her will change in 2009. Maybe.

Anyway, back to the serious business of Val-foolery. As always, I'll start the ball rolling. Keep your comments funny and reasonably on the clean side. Nah, anything goes!

"Val, you look dashing in pink, I mean red. How about you slip into something nice later and we go for a drink?"
"Ms Claus, this is the best fun I've had at a hospital since Desley fooled Cairns saying they'd be getting a new one!"
"You mean it's nearly Christmas? I'm not even a Christian. I just like the over-eating at this time of year!"
"That's some nice buns you have their Ms Mayor!"
"I asked Peter Tabulo. Then I asked Noel Briggs. I'd have a better chance of getting Councillor Pyne to dance with me."
"...........your turn............"

Phew, it's coming down!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:02:00 +0000

And not a moment to soon.

Fuel is on it way, way down. Just a couple of months ago, it was costing up to around $95 to fill the tank.

This evening at the BP Mulgrave Road servo, regular fuel has dropped to $1.04 a litre. If you fill up at least once a week, as I do, it cost only $64, that's over a $1,600 p.a. saving.

The word on the street is that we'll see it below the one buck mark prior to Santa's arrival.

Personally you have to question how this commodity can vary so dramatically in such a short space of time.

The video Cairns Council don't want you to see

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:31:00 +0000

The rains are a coming

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:30:00 +0000

No Council or regional town could have a better public advocate for the environment than Terry Spackman.

Terry has a wealth of environmental management and community activism under his kaki belt.

In a scathing email to Val Schier, Terry reminds the Mayor the support he offered her, so long as she acted in the interests of the environment. However, like thousands of locals that supported Val Schier and a change of local Government in Cairns, they have yet to see much evidence of a 'greener' mayor leading this city.

"The last time we met was at a meeting of the Greens, Terry Spackman writes to the Mayor. "When we spoke, I gave you an undertaking that I would not publicly criticise Cairns Regional Council officers for failing to enforce development approval conditions."

Terry's public environmental scrutiny is well-respected and acknowledged around the region for many years. The 70-year-old campaigner has always been at the forefront of public debate and activism to expose poor development controls on building and excavation sites.

Spackman said to Schier that when he gives his word, he intends to keep it. However, he now questions the wisdom of giving the mayor the undertaking to not publicly criticise Council staff under her watch. Spackman believes Val Schier has had enough time to get her hands dirty at the job.

"Yesterday afternoon I saw Moody Creek carrying a heavy sediment load," Terry said. "Today, I found that the source of that sediment, was a development at Kanimbla Heights."

Photos show what a large area of soil is exposed to erosion. The sediment control devices are of a type that experience has shown to be totally useless. There are no erosion controls to be seen, nor a Storm Water Management Plan.

"This development would not comply with the most basic erosion and sediment control principles, Spackman told the Mayor. "I challenge anyone to show me otherwise."

This photo was taken at Kanimbla Heights three years ago. Nothing has changed as we face the next wet season head on.

"I, along with many others, supported you and your team because there was a promise of change," Terry Spackman said to Val Schier in the email. "Many of us are now thinking, there is too much 'business as usual' and not enough 'change'."

"Why shouldn't the public know that Cairns Regional Council officers are allowing developers to pollute the waterways, and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park? Why shouldn't people know their rates are paying people not do their job properly?"

Spackman suggest that is Council officer Larry Maloy had done his job, we would not have to spend ratepayers money to fix the massive problems at False Cape. "There would be no problems at False Cape," Terry says. "I warned [former Councillor] Fran Lindsey and Larry of these problems long before I exposed them to the public."

"Until you can show me that Council officers are enforcing development approval conditions, I withdraw the undertaking I gave you," Spackman told the Mayor.

Three days after Terry sent the email to Mayor Val Schier, late on Sunday, she replied.

"I am just catching up with emails after a very busy week," Val wrote in haste. "I hope that you logged this in the Residents Response system at the time so that officers would have been aware."

This appears to be the regular reply from Councillors, and certainly Val, to address complaints about poor environmental management by the Council which she now heads. She told Terry in another email some months ago, to 'ensure he reports issues' to Council. This is a simple way to avoid the question at hand. Sure this is a big subject and one that can't be solved in five minutes, however it should be one of the top five issues pinned to her $160,000 mayoral office.

"I will pass on the information and ask for it to be investigated," Val said. "It is not possible for council officers to monitor all developments all the time so it is vital that people like you bring breaches to the attention of officers," The Mayor wrote.

"I am sorry if I am not able to implement the change that you want. As I said previously, I am one person who is doing my best to deal with a myriad of problems and issues."

And that was that. Implementing this change was not possible? What on earth does Val take us for? She campaigned for 8 months on the environmental ticket, this would have been one change that she could have made, hung her hat on and claimed a victory over her predecessor.

We've seen Val Schier vote against some the the very things she stood for in running for office. She endorsed and voted for GlenCorp's 500-apartment complex on the site of the old Woree movie drive-in site, although Councillors Pyne and Cooper voted against, citing among other concerns, the current roading infrastructure was totally inadequate. Val said at the time she voted in support because it was within the existing requirements of the CairnsPlan. She later recounted to the Cairns Post, that it was one decision that she didn't like the most in her first 100 days in office.

I recall Val saying that more sustainable and better building for our community was something high on her agenda if elected, yet her voting pattern is telling a different story.

Just last week, when approving a development near Palm Cove, where Hedley is ripping apart the Paradise Palms golf course - the 9th green actually - Val voted in support of this highly controversial development. She'd already had two meetings with the Combined Beaches Community Association, and been provided with substantial background material why this was a bad development. There were even compromises where some of the sensitive vegetation could have been retained.

Councillors Leu, Cochrane, Forsyth, Lesina and Pyne voting against the motion. If Schier, the only other 'environmental' Councillor on the Council, voted with them and supported the northern beaches community that largely got her elected, the motion would have been squarely defected.

Many are becoming increasing angry that the Mayor is far from green in her voting. Many commentors on CairnsBlog have voiced out-rage.

"Oh what a blunder. Our Mayor has just shot herself in the foot big time, and killed off all that hard won support on the Northern Beaches," said one.

"Her [Paradise Palms] decision, I hope she will learn to regret big time. Her position as Mayor is now untenable and no doubt short lived. We have a Mayor who did not support the Cairns Plan in a major rezoning approval that involves the destruction of part of one of the most premier golf courses in Australia and reduced protection for the significant conservation areas on the surrounding land. Instead, she rolled over, in favour of a developer whose proposal is worth $500 million dollars, that's right, $500 million," the Blog commenter said.

"To be honest, I'm gobsmacked," Terry Spackman said of Val Schier's response. In another anti-envirnoment move, the Mayor who loudly raised the discussion the joys in pre-election times of saving and protecting heritage, decided to not utter a single word about the historic Cairns Yacht Club.

However, what happened next is rather interesting. 48 hours after Val emailed this reply to Terry Spackman, a press release was issued. Now Val Schier made no reference to this at all in her email. It appears she was simply not across what was planned or this was a five minute 'pr reaction' stunt.

Council issued a statement saying that they would launch a new erosion and sediment control team, and they would issue on–the-spot-fines. Stunning. You'd have to argue that Schier was not informed of this, or it simply was not a strategic plan to launch such a team. If this new team was a serious attempt by Council, then it certainly could not of been planned overnight.

"A new team dedicated to enforcing erosion and sediment controls are out in force this week assessing individual building sites, new subdivisions and major development sites," the Council statement read. "The sub-unit of Cairns Regional Council’s Environmental Protection Unit has been established in response to an increasing number of complaints from the community related to erosion and sediment runoff from development sites."

If a breach of the Environmental Protection Act or the Integrated Planning Act is found, they would issue instant fines. Now, if this Council are serious, this process needs to be open and transparent. These breaches should be publicly identified. However, I doubt this grand new action team will be effective nor do what it claims, as much as we need such policing.

It's odd that Val Schier claimed this couldn't be done, and just hours later a whole new team is announced and dispatched on the streets!

Schier is also quoted in the midnight press release. "The State Government has recently announced increased regulation of the farming sectors to protect the Barrier Reef, so it is important that Council ensures erosion risks from building sites are minimised."

The highly-criticised chief town planner and acting CEO Peter Tabulo says that breaching the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy could cost builders between $300 - $600. "Fines for non-compliance with the Integrated Planning Act range from $750 for an individual and $3750 for a corporation," he says.

In January penalties will 'increase dramatically' they tell us. Up from $75 to $100. “In addition to the increases in penalties, the new Regulation will further define what is considered to be contaminates to waterways, with an increase in the types of substance prohibited from entering Council's stormwater system,” Tabulo said.

The Erosion and Sediment Control Team will erect signs reminding builders and contractors to ensure sediment erosion controls, waste management and armoured entrances are applied on each building site. Whoopie. We'll need more than a few signs that will be washed downstream in the next rain Peter.

Two public meeting will be held at Council's reception room. One at 9am on the 15 December. This is for statutory compliance on subdivisions and aimed at builders, contractors and earth moving companies. The other will be at 5:30pm on 17 December to discuss roles and responsibilities of Council’s Environmental Protection unit. It will also talk about how the community can be report environmental incidents.

Like Terry, I'm cynical that this new policing will either be vigilant, effective or transparent. I hope they prove us wrong.

World AIDS Day

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:25:00 +0000

CairnsBlog cartoon by Circusmouse

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:40:00 +0000

Paradise Palms steam rolling ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:15:00 +0000

The Combined Beaches Community Association is extremely concerned over the preliminary approval for the next stage of development at Paradise Palms.

They asked the Council to reject the latest application on the following grounds:

83 submissions against this publicly notified DA were received by Council. The lack of submissions was probably caused by the confusion that existed over what was advertised, then re-advertised, the misleading pamphlet information that was distributed locally and the large and complex 500 odd page DA documentation that had erroneous and misleading information contained therein.

The Preliminary approval if granted overrides the planning scheme (2005 CairnsPlan), and removes the future right of public submissions for the Conservation Areas contained within this precinct should the developer wish to develop there. A CRC letter dated 31/10/2007, stated “that the likely development outcomes of this preliminary approval are inconsistent with the CairnsPlan and there must be strong town planning grounds to support the application because of its inconsistencies with the planning scheme, not simply ensure the financial success of a private recreation facility.”

Council planners have failed to take the advice of the Referral Agencies (EPA and DNR) in relation to environmental conditions which is of great concern to the CBCA and condemns these natural and significant areas to an uncertain future.

Failure to Justify Residential Need
In a letter from Council dated 31/10/2007, it states that “significant justification needs to be given for establishing new residential areas of higher densities which are not in proximity to community services, centres and public infrastructure.” We, the CBCA believe that the developer has failed to do this, and to justify their claims they have over-exaggerated the catchment area. They have combined the Statistical Local Areas of Northern Suburbs and Barron which is an area that extends from Ellis Beach to Crystal Cascades and called the “The Northern Beaches Area. ” The resultant statistics are false and misleading. If they (the Consultants had only used the Northern Suburbs SLA which is more appropriate which extends from Ellis Beach to Smithfield, then have their case would have shown much less need.

Existence of 18 hole Golf Course tied to Preliminary Approval

It concerns the CBCA and the community that on page 366, the following statement is made….

“The modified Paradise Palms Golf Course illustrated in the development application must be retained as an 18 hole course for the full duration and effect of the Preliminary Approval. If further development occurs, diminishing the ability to provide 18 holes, the Preliminary Approval ceases to have effect.

According to the IPA, Preliminary Approvals are valid for 4 years, so in effect the RAS Vison Group are only guaranteeing the Golf Course for a further 4 years.

Amendment to CairnsPlan which was not part of the Draft Submission for Public Comment which has been perceived as primarily benefiting a developer

The current DA (#1886984, page 374) states “the development is reflective of the amendment occurring to the description of the Cairns Beaches Planning District which identifies that these forms of development can occur in proximity to the Paradise Palms Golf Course.”

This so-called amendment has been the subject of a complaint by the Combined Beaches Community Association back in January 2008, which the then Cairns City Council ignored completely.

The complaint was one of seven complaints relating to conflicts of interests, Councillor misconduct and lack of transparency in Council decision-making. The Council maintain that this amendment was a minor amendment, however, the modifications do make the proposed amendments significantly different to the proposed amendments as publicly notified in the draft CairnsPlan.

The two submitters for the amendment to be included into the Cairns Plan were by the RAS Vison and Hedley Group. They say that this demonstrated that Council have allowed these changes to specifically benefit a developer.

The public were never given a chance to reject this change and by law, they should have been under the IPA.

The Combined Beaches Community Association points out that the original Development Approval (some 500 pages!) submitted in September 2007, the developers talked about their “H” development. Essentially they only wanted to change the zonings for a designated area which included part of the golf course - the 9th fairway 'The Dunes', the driving range 'Savannah' and 'Kingslciff Peak.' They wanted to build about 650 units and townhouses in this area. Goodbye golf course!

Cairns Council planners sent out a series of letters in December 2007, requesting the developer to change their application which the developer signed off on. This change was talked about at the second Paradise Palms meeting at Kewarra Beach and they asked why the “H” area could not be singled out and only these zonings changed?

In a letter late last year, the developer says that the details of the change are at request of Council. The applicant then states:

”specifically the Council seeks inclusion of the whole of the Paradise Palms Country Club development as land subject to application.

Council’s rationale is that by including all the golf course and other aspects of the of the Paradise Palms Country Club development, it will ensure that there is a clear relationship between the golf course, other development areas and the approvals being granted.

As such the application will now include all of Lot 4 on RP800876 and Lot 5 on CP891005 and an additional parcel being Lot 359 on RP105747”.

The area under consideration is similar to the original development approval: the “H area”.

Council Planners have done a real back flip here and essentially are not converting the entire area as they wanted the developer to do back in January.

Somehow, they expect the ordinary public to understand all this, imagine how our Councillor have consumed all this. They are clever clogs to move their development ahead in such a covert way.

It's not over till the thin lady sings

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:51:00 +0000

In an embarrassing decision for the reform-focused Mayor Val Schier, yesterday Council agreed to retain the existing event organisers of Festival Cairns.

Val has made her opinion loud and clear that the community and the Cairns Regional Council were getting short-changed over the annual festival.

Yesterday Council meeting approved $295,000 for next year's shin-dig, to be managed by O'Brien's, of O'Brien's Toyota fame, the same mob that have been running it since it started six years ago under former Mayor Kevin Byne's leadership.

There has been a great deal of criticism from arty locals, including Arty Val about the Festival. Bar a couple of activities, the Festival is largely a bunch of events already occurring at the same time, wrapped into a colourful programme booklet.

However Mayor Schier has tried to tell us that the Festival is 'in a transitional year'. “The contract is for the 2009 year only, with a plan to develop and grow the program to a festival of national or international significance in the coming years," Schier says.

Arts and culture is one of Val's favourite subjects. She loves nothing more than a front row seat at the theatre or a city that's engaging in cultural interactive fun. It is certainly the nice glue that holds a city together and gives it some soul. However, with so much live music entertainment venues stripped from our city over the last 5 years, Val has a massive task ahead of her it she wants to reform this. It will take a great deal more than kicking out the O'Briens from running Festival Cairns and putting is a few gay boys from Tasmania with events diploma's under their hot pants.

Val has made no secret that she believes the Festival can be run a whole lot better. I agree with her. However Council has recently conducted 'extensive community consultation' that confirmed people want to see the local annual Festival change. Like some Year 5's from Redlynch Primary could have told you that while waiting for the bus.

I say, scrap the lot and start over. Fresh approach. Fresh ideas. And a real festival for and by the people.

Dying for a change

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:45:00 +0000

You have to have a giggle, when you see a statement from the Council saying that that a cemetery will be the focus of energy efficiency.

It's media spin at it best.

"The Mossman Cemetery will receive an $80,000 facelift with a new storage and facilities block," Cairns Regional Council announced.

Evidently the 48 year old old storage shed is in need of a scrub up. This building keeps the lawn mower.

So the story was all about how cool the new building would be, with the addition of a 'wide veranda'. "This will maintain cooler interior temperatures for maximum energy efficiency," Council announced.

I don't think the current residents will be hanging out for the new renovations.

Why the web is not like TV

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:35:00 +0000

CairnsBlog regular opinion-maker, Syd Walker takes issue with the proposed Labor Government's censoring of the Internet, and the Clean Feed that Communications Minister Senator Conroy is planning to roll out. Be warned.

Yesterday I published an article called Clive Hamilton & I: Getting Personal about Sex, Lies, Hate & Censorship

My main purpose was to rebut what I call the ‘Clive Hamilton Fallacy’, named in honour of its most prominent exponent. This is the argument “we already censor TV, radio, movies, books, magazines and newspapers. Why should the Internet be exempt?”

My article delved into related topics. I suggested why defending children against porn may be a smokescreen for eventual, much more alarming, political censorship. The end result was a long article.

In this shorter version, I’ll focus only on the ‘Clive Hamilton Fallacy’.

Why do I call it a fallacy? After all, it sounds reasonable on the surface… “We already censor TV, radio, movies… why not the Internet?”

It’s odd that the word ‘Internet’ (as opposed to World Wide Web) is usually the concluding word in this seemingly plausible appeal. After all, the Internet and the Web are not the same thing. The actual proposal that Dr Hamilton and Senator Conroy are promoting is a proposal to censor the Web – not the Internet in entirety (not yet, at any rate…). Even if censorship proponents get muddled. we need to be clear about key distinctions like this.

The World Wide Web, while not easy to define in a few words, is a suite of user-friendly interface technologies that provide easy access to the Internet (some of them may be used without an Internet connection). Along with email, the Web has been a phenomenally successful interface/technology. The invention of the Web led to an explosion of Internet use from the early 1990s onwards. ‘The Internet’, a term that refers to the worldwide interconnected matrix of communicating computers, predates the Web.

Opponents of the proposed mandatory web ‘filter’ often point out that Web filtering is not feasible. The filter is bound to be ‘leaky’. We may also assert that the Web filtering proposal is only partial and futile for that reason also. What about proxy servers? VPNs (virtual private network? I’ve used that argument myself, but I think it’s risky - because it could embolden would-be censors to extend prohibition to other Internet technologies too.

But why not censor the Web? After all, we already censor TV, radio, films…

Here’s why.

It comes down to the difference between (public) broadcast media and (essentially private) narrowcast media. They are very, very different. The same rules should not apply to both.

Whereas TV, movies, books, magazines etc are mainstream public media, the Web is a medium that enables a different kind of communication. It’s typically not a case of a few ‘one-to-many’ communications. It’s a case of many ‘one-to-one’ communications. That’s more akin to the mail than TV.

Whereas public broadcast media deliver shared experience to vast numbers of people, day after day, the Web does not.

True, some specific websites are very popular. But in total there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of websites. Each user decides which websites to access. Given the vast choice, each individual has essentially a private experience when surfing the Web.

If I turn on my TV, I know what I see will be viewed by many others. It’s the same if I flick on the radio or visit a movie. But if I visit an obscure website, I may well be the ONLY Australian on that day to do so. Or there may be thousands. It’s impossible to predict. When we use the Web, we make use of a narrowcast medium to go where we choose to go. There’s no telling where our neighbour goes. We both use the same basic technology, but our choices may well be worlds apart.

Proponents of the ‘Clive Hamilton Fallacy’ (principally Clive Hamilton himself) skip over the notion that there may be any problems associated with the current, rather tight censorship regime that pertains to mainstream media in Australia. I beg to differ. There ARE problems with this. Powerful political elites can and do use their power to restrict public access – within the ‘public’ media space – to information and analysis that doesn’t suit them. That’s to the detriment of the truth and contrary to the general public interest.

However, since the advent of the World Wide Web, those of us who dislike having our information sources rigorously ‘managed’ have had the alternative of using the Internet. The Web makes using the Internet easy. Now the ‘mandatory filtering’ proposal aims to take this crucial freedom away.

Whereas filtering works rather poorly for most photos and other graphical objects on the web, it works exceedingly well for searchable text. Rather too well, in fact. This has led critics to point out the problem of overkill. An example: any page with the word ‘Socialist’ could get inadvertently banned because it contains ‘Cialis’. That type of overkill is certainly a problem with robotic filters. Of course, in some circumstances (eg. on a home computer accessed by small children) the downside is worth it. But under the mandatory filtering proposal, individuals won’t get to choose. We won’t be able to turn the filter on and off at will. The choice would be made for us by a central censorship system.

Even though the proposed ‘filter’ will be ridiculously infective as an anti-pornography measure, it would work very effectively if the government ever chose to ban specific texts and impede public access to them.

Such bans could be automated, so any website repeating the offensive text could also be blocked – more or less immediately. Indeed, any site LINKING to a site containing the ‘offensive material’ could be easily blocked. In this way, bloggers and other websites could be intimidated into not reporting dissent (or even hyper-linking to other reports) – lest they be added to the banned list.

I repeat, censoring’ the Web is not like censoring the mainstream media. It’s much more like censoring the mail service. The Government’s plans for ISP-level filtering, whether innocent in intent or not, are pre-adapted for eventual political censorship.

In a recent TV interview, Clive Hamilton scoffed at claims that censoring for porn may be the thin end of the wedge. He said that’s just a ‘red herring’.

It will take more than a one-liner to convince your critics on that crucial point, Clive.

Large numbers of the most aware Australians treasure the freedom we now have to explore an uncensored Internet. It helps keep us sane in a world gone crazy. It helps us correct for mass media bias.

Above all, it helps us to make up our own minds. What’s so scary about that?

Truck loses load on Lavis road

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:20:00 +0000

Earlier this week a truck lost part of its timber load as it negotiated the narrow access road into Roy Lavis' property, that has been put under the spotlight for his sub-division application.

It is such events like this that the local residents behind the objection are concerned about.

"The access road is a single lane, winding road with some steep gradients and cross slopes," says Mansfield Street resident, John Martin. "It close to the creek and there is a steep slope running down from the road into the creek."

"There has already been a number of spills of loads and washes of dirt and debris down into Mansfield Street," John says.

"When previous heavy trucks have had to deliver big loads they have actually had to reverse up the first 400 metres to allow for a tighter turning circle at the first hairpin bend above the creek. This bend is just 45 metres from the creek above a steep slope. Imagine what toxic contaminants could get into the creek if a truck carrying liquids or other materials has a similar spill at this bend."

The access road from Mansfield Street gets as close as 35 metres from the creek at a lower section.

If this development application is approved, trucks and earth moving equipment will have to get in to clear and level the house block. Then during building cement trucks, vehicles carrying paint, solvents and building materials and chemicals will have to traverse the road. This is when the creek will be most at risk.

Under the Cairns Plan this road is supposed to be accessible by firetrucks. It is hard to believe it could be reasonable to expect firetrucks to reverse up the road to gain access in an emergency.

Are you going to Australia?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:44:00 +0000

Bryan Law

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:19:00 +0000

Veteran Cairns community campaigner, political activist, and CairnsBlog columnist, Bryan Law, underwent open heart surgery in Brisbane early on Friday morning.

He was down there to see a specialist and to schedule his operation in March next year. However it was deemed necessary to go ahead immediately.

He had three Coronary Arterial bypass grafts, in a process that took over four hours. A team of nine specialists looked after Bryan.

"I'm still here," he told CairnsBlog this evening. "They've given me a 90% chance of surviving 10 years, so that's good I suppose."

Bryan said how he still felt sore and still weak after Friday's mammoth surgery.

Since the late 1980's, Bryan Law has been at the forefront of local political debate, on numerous issues that often don't get the attention they deserve in mainstream media. He campaigned over the building of SkyRail, the Daintree and many anti-war demonstrations.

In 2004, he ran for Mayor of Cairns as an independent against Kevin Byrne and Val Schier. He took 6% of the vote, proving an important vote splitter.

In late 2005, along with three others, Bryan Law breached a perimeter fence to conduct a citizen's inspection of the US spy base Pine Gap in the Northern Territory. The four were acquitted of charges under the Special Defence Undertakings Act 1952 earlier this year.

During the last six months, Bryan led a civil disobedience direct action campaign. He master-minded several protests to draw public attention at the Labor State Government's decision to demolish the historic Cairns Yacht Club building on the Cairns waterfront. He was arrested three times during the campaign. "We achieved some significant mileage and exposed the government's inaction and inability to listen to the people," Bryan says.

Bryan is hoping to return to Cairns at the end of the week, where he has been advised to take it slowly to recover.

"For the next few weeks, all I want Margaret to say is 'yes dear, of course dear, I'll do that'," Bryan said, joking about his partner.

You can send your wishes to Bryan via email.

This little froggy goes to market

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:42:00 +0000

The Kuranda Tree Frog was only recently discovered and is restricted to the Myola Valley.

On Monday you'll have a unique hoportunity to meet Dr Conrad Hoskin who identified the new species that evolved in the Kuranda area. There'll be time for a talk and questions followed by a supper of frog leg sandwiches (only joking).

Dr Hoskin will have his recently-published Fieldguide to the Rainforest Frogs of the Wet Tropics available, with new info, photos of all species and a detailed key for only $15!

The event is organised by Kuranda Envirocare and supported by FoE Kuranda.

WHEN Monday 24th November
TIME 7pm
WHERE Kuranda Recreation Centre, Fallon Road

All that shines isn't glitter

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:16:00 +0000

UK's notorious gossip source Popbitch, reports that paedophile websites are being used to pass information between terrorists.

Apparently secret coded messages are being embedded into child pornographic images so terrorists can keep abreast of the latest fiendish plots. Yes, this is true, evidently from a police report. They say that 'religious fundamentalists', who so far have managed to communicate with each other quite nicely so far, are resorting to hanging out on paedo internet forums.

As Popbitch says, "when in doubt, blame Gary Glitter."

CairnsBlog cartoon by Circusmouse

noreply@blogger.com (Michael P Moore) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:44:00 +0000