NSW Premier and Deputy Premier 23-1-2017

Dear Ms. Berejiklian and Mr. Barilaro

I write on behalf of the Northern Rivers Guardians, Inc whose membership of more than 600 are dedicated to responsible development in our area.

We congratulate you both on your recent elevation to high office. We hope that you will adhere to the highest standards of public service and remember that you are there to serve, not to rule.

We want to raise with you a few issues that are hot topics around here:

1. Local decision-making : The broken campaign promise when the Coalition first took office that planning decisions will devolve back to local Councils. We oppose the use of state power to impose developments on local populations against their will. The JRPP is unable to give fair consideration as their record of approving developments shows. We are happy that Mr. Barilaro has said that he will oppose forced Council amalgamations. If there is any good reason to take away the most direct access to democratic governance, we would like to hear it.

2. Fossil fuel mining does not deserve a place in this region, or any region which wants to be “Fit for the Future.” Please rescind mining licences that are detrimental to local industries and/or health. Remove heavy penalties for people who protect us through action to preserve our environment.

3. Marijuana: Legalising marijuana for medical use is a no-brainer. Get on with it. Talking about it while people suffer or get arrested at police discretion is not good enough. Many time people in the Northern Rivers have suffered major police paramilitary raids, which are totally inappropriate to this mainly peaceful area. We recommend decriminalising recreational use of marijuana as well to alleviate social discord and help reduce the problem of prison overcrowding in NSW.

4. Environment first : Please take all possible action to assist the planet to avoid the harmful effects of climate change. The proposed container deposit scheme needs to be expedited. All committees should consider the environment as a first priority. The economy cannot grow without a fully protected environment. We have no other planet to leave for future generations.

5. Rail transport : Please bring trains back for passengers in our area and connect to the Gold Coast. This should focus on commuter trains rather than distant connections. Electric trains will help reduce pollution and traffic congestion.

6. Land clearing/ wildlife corridors : The community expects government to regulate to preserve native flora and fauna. The recent legal changes could allow for self-assessment by landholders. Please ensure that well-credentialed officers are empowered to oversee land use and resourced to prosecute illegal land-clearing. We welcome recent announcements of funding to help connect habitat for wildlife corridors.

Please acknowledge receipt of this letter and provide responses to any anal issues raised.

Sincerely,

Scott Sledge
President
Northern Rivers Guardians
PO Box 309 Murwillumbah, NSW

Three Tweed Shire Councillors – Cherry, Cooper and Allsop – attended the public meeting at Uki Hall re water mining on Thursday 19th January . Mayor Katie Milne sent an apology from Melbourne. These Councillors seemed willing to listen and act on behalf of the people.

The gathering of about 180 people expressed a broad range of concerns about the DA . The proponent, former politician Jack Hallam, was not present . Many were worried about TSC getting sued if they do not accept the proposal to extract and sell groundwater, which is legal under current rules. Despite legal complications no one spoke in favour of granting the change from home use of the bore on Rowlands Creek Road to commercial extraction and sale to a Gold Coast bottling company. Many questioned the wisdom of allowing 43-tonne tankers use of narrow, winding country roads and the cost to Council from damage large tankers will cause. The risks to other road users is unacceptable and the costs of damage to roadways and bridges is beyond calculation, but surely more than legal costs to defend a Council decision to refuse water mining in Tweed Shire. The meeting applauded a statement by Scott Sledge, President of NRG, that the water is a public resource which should not be sold off for private gain. Direct action to stop aquifer drawdown is a distinct possibility should political processes fail the community which clearly – and loudly – oppose water mining.

Stella Wheeldon told the meeting that other possible legislation that may affect the decision on the Rowlands Creek Road development is Aboriginal Cross Border Legislation (Federal Legislation).

SUBMISSION POINTS GATHERED AT THE UKI HALL MEETING

PROPOSED BULK LOADING & DELIVERY OF EXTRACTED WATER AT

LOT 3 DP 815475 (NO. 350) ROWLANDS CREEK ROAD, ROWLANDS CREEK

1. Ref Number: DA16/0936

Application lodged: 21/12/2016

Description: Advertised development – water extraction facility

• The applicant proposes to take water from an existing bore by bulk containment to a commercial bottler & distributor.

• The site distance along Rowlands Creek Road for tanker trucks entering and exiting the site is insufficient and poses a danger to traffic.

• Tankers will take up two lanes to turn by the Uki school. This will pose safety risks for school children and motorists in Uki village. Problems with tankers negotiating school buses in Uki village.

• There needs to be an assessment undertaken in order to place a load limit for Rowlands Creek Road.

• High cost to rate payers as a result of repairs to damaged bitumen from tyres churning out and displacing hot soft bitumen in summer months where tankers turn, particularly in Uki village.

• Ratepayers will have to pay to repair damage to road infrastructure including bridges and verges caused by the tankers when they leave the bitumen when approached by oncoming traffic on narrow rural roads.

• Local amenity will suffer.

• The development will provide no economic or social benefits for the Tweed Shire Council or the people of the shire.

• Tankers on the roads and travelling through our villages and towns will adversely effect tourism in the area.

• Uki’s amenity, safety and tourism based businesses will be severely adversely effected by tanker traffic

• Tourists having to negotiate 2.5 metre wide and 19 metre long tankers on narrow winding roads will deter tourists from visiting the area. Tanker drivers having to negotiate slow-driving sightseeing tourists on narrow winding roads will cause frustration and tailgating that will place the driving public at risk and damage from the Tweed Valley tourism experience.

• Frustrated drivers overtaking slow trucks will make rural roads more dangerous.

• The bridges on Rowlands Creek Road would have to be upgraded to accommodate the tankers.

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• Property values of residents on Rowlands Creek Road will be devalued.

• There has been no base data provided on the bore.

• Sufficient information has not been provided in the Statement of Environmental Effects for the Council to make an informed decision.

• Tweed Shire Council doesn’t have the knowledge or expertise to evaluate the impacts of the development on the environment.

• There has been no account provided of the long or short term cumulative effects on the environment, local amenity or tourism in the area. Once this development is approved it will be too difficult to retract it. This is too important an issue which has the potential to set a precedent for other commercial water extraction development applications in the broader area.

• There has been no account provided of how much the development will effect the charge and discharge into Rowlands Creek or the ability of other nearby residents to access ground water.

• Climate change predictions have been underestimated. Weather events like drought are expected to become more severe. The precautionary principle should dictate that the development should not be approved in order to ensure that ground water levels are not adversely impacted.

• There is an existing bore within 400 metres of the proposed extraction site.

• There is no requirement for water meters on the bores to monitor the amount of extraction.

• Once an extraction allocation has been approved the developer can apply to increase the amount allowed to be drawn.

• Ground water should remain a public asset and not used for private commercial purposes.

Sebastien Sledge, Northern Rivers Guardians

On Tuesday 11^th August I went to the incredible launch in Lismore of a local renewable energy retailer named Enova!

This company will be owned by locals and designed to encourage local renewable growth and give people a better price for power.

This will keep tens of millions of dollars in our local economy and create many local jobs not to mention the growing of real green power locally.

Let’s literally take the power back!

Enova must be a minimum of 51% locally owned but can be much more, as locals will get first preference. This is the start of something really big and progressive! We must do this as it will not happen without us. WE NEED TO DO THIS as our government won’t and are not governing for us or our greater good.

As I understand it, Enova will have a number or different arms. A not-for-profit arm that will help support people in the community who can’t afford to go renewable.

A future finance arm that will help finance these and more local renewable project.

A retail arm that will sell equipment and advise customers on products that are best for them.

An electricity distribution arm that will buy locally-produced power and true Australian green power and sell power for a cheaper price.

No other energy retailer compares! As it is now, out of 130,000 local residential electricity consumers 91% of them are powered by fossil fuel generation (81% are Origin customers). All the energy providers to date use dirty fossil fuels.

Even Powershop has its pitfalls. Powershop is 51% owned by the New Zealand government and they have been involved with fracking for many years.

Just imagine that if we gained 20% of the local electricity market that would equal 60 million dollars a year staying in our local area. THIS IS A WIN / WIN for all locals and the environment…including employment opportunity for young people as many trades will be needed across the field. This is a game changer and once set up we can expand into other communities or help them set up similar projects. Others the world over have done this, now it’s our turn!
This is the alternative to CSG and fossil fuel generation.

Please help share info about Enova. They/we initially need investors to make this happen. The Prospectus is already available and can be downloaded online. Purchase shares to be part of this.

Find out when they are visiting your town.

Enova’s web page http://www.enovaenergy.com.au/

or on  Facebook

Tweed presentation will be at Canvas and Kettle in the Shire Council chambers in Mur’bah from 5:30 to 6:30 PM on Friday 14^th August.

The Enova team will be at Birth & Beyond in Nimbin on Wednesday 9^th September from 6:30 pm.