Archive for the 'Environment & Sustainability' Category

Population – more or less?

April 8th, 2009

I received a well written email recently and think it worth posting. Makes a change from me rattling on….

Dear Cr Sue Brooks,
Do you think that the residents of Hervey Bay are looking forward to the doubling of their town’s population in 17 years’ time. The panic that ensued when Hamish threatened the town recently when it was realised that 10,000 people might have to be suddenly transported away from the danger of tidal surge, illustrates the limitations already imposed by the dual effects of ‘Mother Nature’ combined with the gross planning errors of the recent past. Imagine the chaos which would have ensued with just a couple of collisions on the Maryborough Road with 250 coach journeys each with 40 people and their baggage.

The pundits are telling us that sea levels are to rise by a metre by 2100 (A report in The Australian earlier this month). Even with current sea levels, maps published on the web show storm surge of a mere metre would inundate the whole of Eli Waters. (Some storm surges reach 5 metres.) Yet residential subdivisions and house construction continue to be approved in places which are just as vulnerable. Not only that amazes me but what puzzles me is where do such flood-prone residents now obtain flood insurance. Do they, like Victoria’s bush-fire victims, expect to be bailed out by charity?

Of course, most residents will not be aware of the DoHA population plans and projections, still less will they have signed the petition against the Draft South East Queensland Regional Plan and its aim to bring SE Queensland’s population to equal the sprawl of Sydney. Have you?  While the State and Federal Governments bang on about man-made climate change, they intend to create yet more heat sinks with more roofs and more black-top roads. Madness? No, apparently just the ‘normal’ planning procedures!

The demographers say we have to have continuous population increases to provide an enlarged tax base to support retirees. The logic escapes me. We all become retirees eventually; so what is so special today? Longer life span? In that case raise retirement age to 70. I worked and paid income tax till I was 70 and I’m nothing special. If I could get a part-time job even now at nearly 76, I’d take it. A start could be made to raise retirement age to 70 with public servants at all 3 levels of Government. Why not?

But with free trade and our wage costs legislated to be far above those of the rest of this part of the world, what jobs are going to replace those lost in the almost daily exit of industries to China, Indonesia, Thailand etc. Professor Ian Lowe talks about thousands of jobs to be created here by the new ‘Green Industries’. In his stunted economic philosophy, such jobs will not, apparently like others before them, be exported or need huge tax subsidies to be retained here. The only industry left free from Chinese competition is construction leaving Australia with the ridiculous scenario of having to build ever more houses and sub-divisions for ever increasing immigrants. This is Alice in Wonderland stuff!

I hope you are digging in your heels and refusing to go along with this madness, at least on the Fraser Coast.

Regards, Geoff

Water, water everywhere but….

February 18th, 2009

Andrew McNamara – Water Plan.

On reading the plan I must acknowledge firstly that it is good to see our Local Member, Andrew McNamara, raising the issue of our long term water supply. I would however hope that he pays equal attention to the need to discuss population size.

The plan focuses on removing the Barrage on the Mary River, piping water between existing and new storages and creating new off stream storages. The costings are in the order of $300million.

My initial reaction is that removing the barrage is an excellent win for the river but does not compensate for the building of the proposed Traveston Dam. Any wall built to block a river will have negative impacts on that river as does pumping water out of a fresh water supply or from ground water.

Building offstream storages is a good idea and better than building a dam or barrage but the size of the storages required is very large and I am interested in where exactly they would go. They have to be lined and they too will be subject to great evaporation losses. Would more but smaller sized storages be preferred?

Not taking water from Fraser Island is an excellent aspect of the plan but desalination is not an option for our Great Sandy Strait as our waters are already hyper saline. In other words we have a rising salt level in our ocean which is not a good thing.

There are neither references nor acknowledgements so the plan is at this stage a set of personal ideas and it is worthy of discussion. I commend Andrew for having a keen interest in our ongoing needs and sincerely hope that our community take the time to read the plan and provide comment. It is a discussion that we ‘have to have’. Recycling and piping water instead of open channels are excellent and ‘must have’ ideas.

But no matter how much storage is supplied and how many pumps we have pumping from rivers and from ground water, what do we do if it simply does not rain? If we are still planning to take as much or more water from the environment than we do now, we are still demanding a lot from a resource that may not have much more to give us. I cannot see the wisdom in piping water over very long distances. One kilolitre of water = 1 ton I am told. Lenthalls Dam cannot supply enough water to meet future population projections for Hervey Bay so I don’t agree with taking water from there and piping it far away.

Population growth is the key. We simply cannot keep growing our population especially in places with a limited water supply. The earth will sooner rather than later run out of resources for us all. Better to build good sized communities that can rely on a sustainable economy that provides job security for everyone forever and that has an adequate water supply close by to sustain it..  This would include everyone collecting water in water tanks also.

Creating sustainable cities (maybe with a pop of between 75-100 thousand) that assist and reward farmers to grow our food, supports innovative and creative business and cultural pursuits and  retail and commercial sectors that can service the needs of its peoples, is my vision for the future. Construction and infrastructure services will be focussed on replacing and renovating existing infrastructure and adapting our buildings where needed. Employment won’t be subject to unending cycles of boom and bust. Innovation will be rewarded and tourists will want to visit because we will have vibrant cities and towns full of  happy people who care for and value our beautiful natural environment. The tourism dollar is largely earned by utilising our natural resources ie Whale Watching etc.

Andrew is looking to the future but is he looking far enough into the future? We need to plan for 50 years for 100 years for 500 years. We do know, now more than any time in our past, what impact we are having on our planet and short term planning has to stop now. The thinking that says ‘let tomorrow look after itself’ is destructive and erroneous. We are amazingly lucky to be living in the manner in which we do, but I care about how my children’s children will think of me in the years to come. I don’t want to be part of an era that spoiled a planet so that my descendants can’t enjoy its riches like I can.

Snorkellers celebrate – coral in the spotlight.

February 4th, 2009

Wonderful news recently received and warmly welcomed by all of us concerned about the health of our local corals, is the granting of nearly nine thousand dollars to conduct coral bleaching monitoring in Hervey Bay. Our media release follows but a big personal thank you to everyone who helped put together the grant application. Let me know if you are interested in helping as there is always room for some more snorkellers.

SNORKELLERS CELEBRATE FUNDING SUCCESS – $8900 to study our local coral

The snorkellers of Hervey Bay are celebrating receiving a grant of $8900  from the federal Community Coastcare Program for a project of coral bleach monitoring. Not many cities can boast coral reefs only 100 metres from the shore – but at Hervey Bay there is 15km of coral reefs conveniently within walking or snorkelling distance from the shore. 

The Great Barrier Reef receives such overwhelming attention that the 600 hectares of coral reef in Hervey Bay is not well known.  Ardent snorkellers Sandy and Lloyd McKay are totally wrapt in the coral reefs of Hervey Bay.  Lloyd says “Our coral is just an underwater garden of paradise. Every time we snorkel there is something different to see”

While Hervey Bay doesn’t have the legions of brightly coloured fish seen on the Great Barrier Reef, you can see dozens of colourful hard corals including subtropical or rare species not normally seen on the GBR. Cr Sue Brooks was amazed the first time she donned her snorkel and flippers. “I have snorkelled in many, many places from the Cook Islands to North Queensland but simply didn’t realise what wonders lie beneath the waves within a short walk and paddle off our city beaches. Our coral must be preserved and I hope that we can make our coral a prominent tourist attraction”.

Carol Bussey from Wildlife says “The stress of city life can prove too much for a coral community already suffering from the increasingly hot waters produced by climate change. The result is bleaching, which has already happened in 1996″.

Fraser Coast Wildlife Preservation Society’s Coral Care project has been funded by the Australian Government to monitor coral bleaching and recovery along our coast. The project will also look at factors to increase the reef’s resilience to stress such as improving water quality. 

A free training workshop will be held at Bundaberg by GBRMPA in February to train snorkellers in Bleachwatch monitoring followed by practical training in monitoring coral and taking GPS readings at Torquay Beach on Feb 21. If you are interested in attending the training or joining our volunteer coral monitoring group please contact Carol Bussey 4129 5979 or email frasercoastwpsq@bigpond.com To be successful we need as many volunteers as possible.

local coral

local coral

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Mary River celebrations tonight and tomorrow.

December 7th, 2008

Steve Posselt speaking tour and Love, Mary book Launch

Hear the story of Steve’s three journeys along our Rivers. Includes wine and cheese (at Fraser Coast events), musical entertainment by Jon Vea Vea, comedy, campaign update and a free Love, Mary book to all adults. Entry $10 adults (includes copy of the book) , free for children.  Let’s show support for Steve by having a big turn out at these events.

Monday, 8 December – 6:30pm, Urangan Community Centre, Elizabeth St, 
Tuesday, 9 December – 6:30pm, Maryborough Town Hall
Wednesday, 10 December – 6:30pm Kandanga Hall

Sugar Gliders as pets in the UK!

September 14th, 2008

A concerned resident has sent me this information that I quote. I can’t believe that our native animals are being bred and sold as pets in the UK.

“I have just followed the latest news link to something that was on the front page of the Ninemsn home page this morning, and I am sickened by what I have just read re the sugar gliders”.
 
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/631077/sugar-gliders-flying-high-in-england
 
http://dailyecho.co.uk/news/3667995._Flying_squirrels__the_latest_popular_pets/
 
I didn’t think this would be allowed. It concerns me that these delicate animals are being kept as pets. I have them living in my backyard naturally and hope that we can preserve plenty of habitat so that gliders and other native animals can stay happily wild.

The climate torch anti Traveston Rally at Dayman Park

September 7th, 2008

The afternoon was very successful. We met the Get Up torch and I was lucky enough to carry it a little way. We made a huge sign on the beach to voice our opinion about the dam. I still think that Lindsays run was the best thing to happen though. What a brave effort from a man doing his utmost to protest against a stupid decision to dam the Mary river! Well done Lindsay.

John listening intently
John listening intentlyDayman Park hosts anti dam rally

Natural Capitalism

August 24th, 2008

Maybe we should all take the time to read this book? It is called Natural Capitalism.

http://www.natcap.org/

 I have been saying for quite some time now that we need to build a sustainable economy. Why? Because everything we do seems to revolve around the making of money and this has come at great cost to our natural environment. We need to stop and rest and take a long slow breath and realise that without our environment to sustain us the money we may make or earn is worthless. A strong economy based on zero waste and a sustainable clientele is my dream. This book seems to be going where I think we need to go. I haven’t read it yet but the reviews sound promising. What follows is a review from the web site.

 For decades, environmentalists have been warning that human economic activity is exceeding the planet’s limits. Of course we keep pushing those limits back with clever new technologies; yet living systems are undeniably in decline.

These trends need not be in conflict-in fact, there are fortunes to be made in reconciling them.

Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution, by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins, is the first book to explore the lucrative opportunities for businesses in an era of approaching environmental limits.

In this groundbreaking blueprint for a new economy, three leading business visionaries explain how the world is on the verge of a new industrial revolution-one that promises to transform our fundamental notions about commerce and its role in shaping our future. Natural Capitalism describes a future in which business and environmental interests increasingly overlap, and in which businesses can better satisfy their customers’ needs, increase profits, and help solve environmental problems all at the same time.

Natural capital refers to the natural resources and ecosystem services that make possible all economic activity, indeed all life. These services are of immense economic value; some are literally priceless, since they have no known substitutes. Yet current business practices typically fail to take into account the value of these assets-which is rising with their scarcity. As a result, natural capital is being degraded and liquidated by the wasteful use of such resources as energy, materials, water, fiber, and topsoil.

The first of natural capitalism’s four interlinked principles, therefore, is radically increased resource productivity. Implementing just this first principle can significantly improve a firm’s bottom line, and can also help finance the other three. They are: redesigning industry on biological models with closed loops and zero waste; shifting from the sale of goods (for example, light bulbs) to the provision of services (illumination); and reinvesting in the natural capital that is the basis of future prosperity.

Citing hundreds of compelling stories from a wide array of sectors, Natural Capitalism shows how these four changes will enable businesses to act as if natural capital were being properly valued, without waiting for consensus on what that value should be. Even today, when natural capital is hardly accounted for on corporate balance sheets, these four principles are so profitable that firms adopting them can gain striking competitive advantage-as early adopters are already doing. These innovators are also discovering that by downsizing their unproductive tons, gallons, and kilowatt-hours they can keep more people, who will foster the innovation that drives future improvement.

Natural Capitalism‘s preface states: “Although [this] is a book abounding in solutions, it is not about ‘fixes.’ Nor is it a how-to manual. It is a portrayal of opportunities that if captured will lead to no less than a transformation of commerce and of all societal institutions. Natural capitalism maps the general direction of a journey that requires overturning long-held assumptions, even questioning what we value and how we are to live.

The next Industrial Revolution has already started. Natural Capitalism will prepare you to be a part of it.

Dugong trails?

August 23rd, 2008

I saw these marks on the beach flats here at Dundowran Beach, early one morning last week. Can anyone confirm if they are dugong trails? “http://www.youtube.com/v/aU1u2KdiDcY“

Climate Change and that dirty little word ‘carbon.’

August 1st, 2008

In response to andrewbolt4eva who raises questions about climate change.

I think we all agree that our planet has experienced climate change over time. The Earth used to be both hotter and at other times colder than it is now. The question that we are still slightly unsure about is what makes the climate change. From my readings I have learned that the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is more than likely a big factor in changing our climate. During cycles or periods of time, different events have meant that there has been more or less CO2 in our atmosphere. Ages ago things that probably altered the CO2 levels were volcanic activity and possibly meteor strikes. When our planet had lots of CO2 in the atmosphere we had a greenhouse climate and there were no ice caps. We had dinosaurs etc also. All the plant matter that grew in those times in the huge tropical forests eventually decayed and settled and was compressed which locked in CO2 in the form of carbon. This rotten vegetation was compressed and over time became the oil that we are rapidly using today. Because we are burning up all this locked up carbon we are releasing it back into the atmosphere thereby increasing the amount of CO2 (carbon) in the air. From wikipedia re carbon “Carbon is one of the few elements known to man since antiquity.[8][9] The name “carbon” comes from Latin language carbo, coal, and, in some Romance languages, the word carbon can refer both to the element and to coal.”

So in my simplistic view we are burning carbon which is releasing gases into the air that used to be solids. This extra CO2 in the air results in global warming. We are probably now heading for another ‘greenhouse age.’ From other tests on ice cores etc it is now thought that sunspots don’t cause climate change. Water also plays an important part in this cycle when in its solid (frozen), gaseous (water vapor) and liquid (water) state.

Lastly I think we tend to take for granted how fragile our atmosphere is. It is only 12 kilometres deep I think. Within our atmosphere the height or depth of breathable oxygen is less than the height of our tallest mountains. In other words our breathable air doesn’t even cover the total surface of our planet. We are so used to travelling kilometres around our planet that I think we forget just how thin and vulnerable our atmosphere is. Move from the sun into the shade and we experience a change in temperature. We live balanced on a knife edge of distance from the sun and a balance of gases surrounding our planet which enable us to live here.

I believe we fiddle with our atmosphere at our own peril! But please read Tim Flannery “We are the Weather Makers’. This is an easy to read and eye opening account of climate change and I recommend it. Also here is the link from wikipedia that I think makes good reading especially when you click on the associated links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming

I am sure I have errors in my explanation so feel free to correct me. Lastly I believe that doing nothing about climate change is simply not worth the risk. If we are wrong at least we have made the planet a cleaner better place.

$10 Environment Levy for the Fraser Coast

July 20th, 2008

I am pleased that Council has adopted an Environment Levy. I would personally have preferred the Levy to be $15 but I understand that the cost of living is rising rapidly and that 3 out of the 4 newly amalgamated Councils didn’t previously have such a Levy.

Now I think it is time to focus on the implementation of our programmes and the building of necessary infrastructure to ensure we achieve the targets we have outlined within this budget. I believe we have challenges ahead and I appreciate comments and advice about how we can improve the way we do the things we do.

I will add some new categories to this blog to make it easier for people to post a comment on something other than current discussions.

I have included below my words to Council when speaking in favour of the motion to adopt our budget with the $10 Environment Levy.  

“I am personally very sad to see the Environment Levy reduced to $10. While I understand that this budget has been a great challenge and that we are all concerned about rising costs and the overall rising cost of living, $10 a year is a very, very small amount of money.

Our natural environment and our beautiful climate, I believe, are the main reason why many of us choose to live here and why we are the happiest region in Australia. I believe our Natural Environment is our biggest assest but our human activities often negatively impact on this most precious natural resource.

When I look to the detail within this budget we are raising over $65 million to spend on Capital Works. With a $10 Environment Levy we will raise just $454,390. Last year in Hervey Bay 56 hectares of land was purchased via funds raised by the Environment Levy there. This valuable land is now owned by the entire Fraser Coast community. An extremely positive outcome for our regional community I believe.

While I would personally much prefer that the Environment Levy could be levied at a higher amount I am very thankful that Council is retaining an Environment Levy within this complex budget.

 I am confident that the funds raised via this Environmental Levy will be put to excellent use and be of great benefit to our region”.

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