Comments on: The dam is sunk! YIPPEE

By: Sadman

Sadman — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:53:10 +0000

Pat,

Forget Traveston for a moment and just look at the concept of dams.

Mankind needs two things, food & drink. As a result arable land is just
as important as water. Dams by their very nature take up large tracts
of land, often, to date, arable land. If dams are built in the never, never
then extra cost is involved piping the water ti where it is required.

The biggest No No of all is that dams are reliant of the weather, no rain,
no river flow = no dam, just a big empty hole in the ground. Society
requires a controllable supply of water at a defined quality level. The
two obvious choices are recycling and desalination.

Two things about desalination not often mentioned; it does not have to
be sea water, virtually any water will do e.g. bore water, rain runoff, etc.
Cost can in my view, be kept down by useing sun light as the power source

In the case of recycling, MethanE gas produced from the sewerage treatment
could and should be the power source for the recycling process.

People must learn to accept ALL water is recycled, there is NO NEW WATER.

Sadman

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:59:09 +0000

Sorry to disagree with you Gary, but I remember quite clearly that I voted for the Labor Party this time around because it was made clear that they would govern for what was best for the majority of Queenslanders, not just for those few hundreds who didn’t want their houses lost to make way for an over-needed dam. I remember clearly a statement made that went something like, “The needs of the many far outweigh the needs of the few”. I can obviously understand your passion because you are directly effected, but now that the “vocal few” have won, the rest of Queensland will be paying for it forever. The latest estimate was an extra $50 a year on every Queenslander’s water bill. I’m betting it will be at least 4 times that amount. And one thing’s for sure, once the price goes up, it will NEVER come down – no matter how much rain we get.

By: Gary Jensen

Gary Jensen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:43:51 +0000

I agree, Sue. Congratulations to everyone who helped fight against the building of the dam at Traveston Crossing.

I am taking the opportunity to correct what Pat said in their post. Anna Bligh DID NOT go to the election seeking a mandate to build the Dam. In fact she put the spin out in the public that the Dam had been canned. Her words were that the decison to build the Dam have been put on hold until the Government had put in place the mitigation strategies necessary to overcome some of the environmental concerns.

Nor did she go to the people seeking a mandate to scrap the fuel subsidy, raise car registration or sell State assets.

The only good thing she has done recently is that the State Government is not going to fight the decision to scrap the proposed dam at Traveston Crossing.

Sue I know that you have assisted the Greater Mary Association and others involved greatly over the last couple of years. Thanks for that.

Gary

By: Sadman

Sadman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:14:02 +0000

A word of CAUTION.

This is only an “interim decision” the finel word is not until the 25th November.

Believe me, there will be a lot of frantic inter-departmental phone calls over the next few days. Many political heavytweights will be flexing their muscles.
$600million has been spent, that’s a lot of egg on someone’s face.

Don’t let your guards down, you may have won the battle, just make sure you win the war.

Sadman

By: Ben Collingwood

Ben Collingwood — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:14:07 +0000

Don’t celebrate just yet Sue, Anna will have the entire QWI team and her army of spin doctors burning the midnight oil for the next ten days.

Even if the decision does stand, Queenslanders still stand to lose as she’s forced to find even more expensive alternatives, sell back the land she acquired at a significant loss, and so on.

If only we’d had a viable alternative party at the last election!

By: Pat

Pat — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:28:24 +0000

Sadly, this is the the day that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Instead of the 11th of November being dedicated to the rememberace of those brave souls who gave their lives for us, it will be remembered for Gough Witlam’s sacking, and the end of democracy in this country (when a few thousand signatures on a piece of paper can change the decision of a government who went to an election on a promise). I believe the decision should have been made on ANY day but today.

By: Dingosimon

Dingosimon — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:49:11 +0000

I agree Sue, such wonderful news. Garrett has done the right thing for once. So many 1000’s of people will be relieved of this correct decision.

Now all we have to do while Peter is in a good mood, is to look at the Fraser island Dingo and do something positive about saving it.

Hooroo

Simon