LAPEROUSE

Coastal planning principles released today by NSW Planning
Principle 1 – Assess and evaluate coastal risks taking into account the NSW sea level rise planning benchmarks.
Principle 2 – Advise the public of coastal risks to ensure that informed land use planning and development decision-making can occur.
Principle 3 – Avoid intensifying land use in coastal risk areas through appropriate strategic and land use planning.
Principle 4 – Consider options to reduce land use intensity in coastal risk areas where feasible.
Principle 5 – Minimise the exposure of development to coastal risks.
Principle 6 – Implement appropriate management responses and adaptation strategies, with consideration for the environmental, social and economic impacts of each option.

Full document: Adapting to Sea Level Rise NSW Planning Guidelines

Link to submission to developmental proposal to fill and cap Southlands.  This 18ha site in Banksmeadow is floodplain, orginally melaleuca swamp (see photograph at left)

 Link to 60Minutes Story on Orica’s toxic presence in Botany, Banksmeadow, Hillsdale, Matraville and Pagewood.  

This is a story about a giant chemical company and environmental vandalism on a monumental scale — blatant negligence.

A vital underground water supply poisoned and above ground, a huge stockpile of one of the world’s most dangerous chemicals. Just what you’d expect from a Third World country, right? Wrong.This is all happening in the centre of Sydney, on the shores of Botany Bay. The culprit is one of the world’s biggest and richest companies, serial polluters, who’ve got away with it for decades. And now it’s going to cost millions to clean up the mess.

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In a prospectus (see relevant pages above) to shareholders issued by Orica in the later part of 2008, Orica outlined its current risks which included the Hexachlorobenzene stockpile at Botany.  On page 57, under section 6.2.11 Disposal of Hexachlorobenzene(HCB) they state:  “Orica is in the process of seeking all necessary permits o export its HCB waste, stored at Botany, to Europe for disposal.  In the event that Orica cannot secure the necessary permits, Orica would need to seek alternative arrangements which may have an adverse impact on Orica’s earnings. “

The Hexachlorobenzene stockpile at Botany.

 Details of the Commonwealth Export Licence

Letter from Danish Society for Nature Conservation (peak Danish Environment organisation)

Letter to Peter Garrett from Pro-Herten

Link to ABC SCIENCE REVIEW “Clock ticking on growing Toxic Waste”  30 June 2010 …………………………. excerpt:

Professor Ian Rae of the University of Melbourne, who also advises governments on HCBs and other POPs says he is “disappointed” about the move to export.He says Australia had the opportunity in the 1990s to develop technologies that could be used to dispose of POPs.”I think it would have been good for us to have developed the technology on the scale that was needed and to have done it here,” says Rae.He says the reasons for Australia’s lack of capacity to destroy POPs are “mainly political not technical”, with a lack of trust in those attempting to build waste management facilities a major barrier to finding a solution. (more…)

Link to YouTube - item produced 6 August 2010

Link to Petition - posted 1 August 2010

The Eastern Suburbs Cemetery Trust are proposing resumption of 60% of the Gardens, major engineering works(this is a floodplain area) with special Aboriginal and Asian cemetery areas.Previous postings in 2008 at link 1 and link 2.   Notes of the meeting provided by Daphne Lowe Kelley President of the Chinese HeritageAssociation of Australia Inc. appear below. The ESCT comprise the following: John Morrison, Rod Neville, Jack Walker, Elizabeth Fitzsimmons, Ron Greenstein, Stelios Coudounaris, Russell McLay .    

The CEO is George Passas.

Two years ago CHAA led a campaign for the retentionof these 7 hectares of Heritage-listed Chinese Market Gardens.  There was media interest including letters to the Sydney Morning Herald (at left) and articles below from Herald and Southern Courier.

Dan Cross, a Senior Environmental Officer of the Department of Lands assessed the land and published his findings in May 2008 - see this link     His assessment was that it was unsuitable for cemetery use (page 35-36) (more…)

ABC guide on election at this link:  Anthony Green’s Blog - this also provides a comprehensive explanation of the voting system in the Legislative Assembly and Senate.

Kingsford  Smith is considered a very safe labour seat.  At the 2007 election 52.8% voted ALP, 33.9% voted Liberal, 10.4% voted Green and 2.9% went to other parties.  After distribution of preferences ALP had 63.3% and Liberal 36.7%  - around 90% of preferences went to Labour.  Candidates for 2010:

Peter Garrett - sitting member, ALP - link to website

Michael Feneley - Liberals, website - email address - mfeneley@stvincents.com.au -  link to details

Lindsay Shurey - Greens - link to website

Significant Environmental and Economic Issues unique to Kingsford Smith  

Sydney Airport - alongside Port Botany issues of congestion and pollution associated with growth.  Sydney Airport is Australia’s largest airport and accounts for over 50% of Australia’s trade value in airfreight.

Port Botany - National Ports Strategy and implications for environmental regulation in Botany Bay.  Port Botany is Australia’s second largest container port.  Current trade is around 2 milllion TEU (twenty foot equivalent units) per annum.  In 2005 the State Government set a cap of 3.2 million TEU but in a submission to the National Ports Strategy (May 2010) the NSW Ministry of Transport indicated that the projection for 2029/30 for Sydney would be 5.8million TEU.  Achieving a target of 40% on rail is problematic (more…)

To download the full Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan click here (8.4MB).

For the Synopsis of the plan click here (2.2MB)
“With our natural advantage Australia can and should be positioning itself as a global renewable super power for future prosperity. This report will help shift the climate debate to focus on energy; security; affordability; export and of course opportunity. Beyond Zero Emissions offers a new and invigorating message that is much needed” Professor Robin Batterham, President, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, formerly Chief Scientist of Australia

“For decades, those opposing the transition to clean energy have claimed that it is not technically feasible. This report puts that argument convincingly to bed. There is no longer an excuse for inaction. Starting the transition now is our responsibility to future generations.”Professor Ian Lowe,President of the Australian Conservation Foundation,Emeritus Professor Griffith University

“The Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan is a provocative and timely contribution to the climate change debate, and it deserves attention both here and abroad. The Plan demolishes a pile of conventional wisdom that Australian policymakers still seem unable to get past. The sorry history of Australian climate policy procrastination is littered with polluter-friendly analyses conducted by economic hired guns. (more…)

At the Prime Minister’s request, Michael Deegan, infrastructure coordinator, Infrastructure Australia, and chief executive officer of the National Transport Commission, Nick Dimopoulos, have released the draft National Ports Strategy for public consultation. The strategy calls for long-term coordinated planning of Australia’s major ports and their related transport corridors and shipping channels. After submissions have been considered the Strategy will be presented to COAG (Council of Australian Governments).Submissions close 28th May    click here for terms of reference and other details.

Michael Deegan at Port Kembla 14 July 2009  from the Illawarra Mercury
“Yesterday’s tour was part of his research to prepare a strategy to maximise the use of all national ports, which is due to be finished late next year.”Port Kembla plays a significant role in that strategy,” Mr Deegan said. “Infrastructure Australia is having a look at all the issues associated with ports and road and rail connections.”I’ll be looking at the connections back into Sydney, the main southern routes, the Hume Hwy and the main rail links.”  Full Article

Michael Deegan was formerly Director General of Transport Co-Ordinator General of Rail in NSW until sacked by Michael Costa in 2003.

extract from Tony Fitzgerald’s address to the Accountability Round Table, 11th March 2010, Monash University - full text

………….. I propose to say something more – for the last time – of my pessimism about the increasing domination of Australia’s public life by the small self-interested groups who control the major political parties, who increasing seem unconcerned that their political authority is held for the benefit of the Australian public & that their duty is to govern in the public interest, not for political advantage.

A harmonious civil society rests on essential pillars, including individual freedom, non-discriminatory equality, the rule of [just] law, the distribution of power & effective checks & balances. Moreover, as Chief Justice Warren of the United States Supreme Court pointed out many years ago “Law ….. presupposes the existence of a broad area of human conduct controlled only by ethical norms and not subject to Law at all.” That aphorism sits uneasily with the realities of 21st century Australian politics.

However, until official misconduct becomes sufficiently egregious & notorious to overcome community cynicism & generate public outrage, few Australians seem troubled by, or even interested in, structural & systemic flaws in our political process & public administration. Citizens who are not directly affected by a law or official action or decision are generally more concerned with day-to-day financial and other personal considerations than with the misuse of power or the impact of injustice on others.

This general apathy is not really surprising. (more…)

It was a record turnout of 105 at Congwong Bay for the 20th Anniversary of Cleanup Australia Day. The strongest representation this year came from the under 10s (24).  Males outnumbered females 64 to 41, and adults outnumbered children 56 to 49.  Woollahra Pathfinders were here again along with district scouts and cubs -  1st Little Bay, 1st Kingsford Smith and  Kensington 3rd/4th-  Streamwatch and  members from the La Perouse Precinct Committee.  41 bags of rubbish were collected in addition to an umbrella, three buckets, one bin and a surfboard.  The Fishcare  team at Brown’s Rock collected 6 bags  and dragged the smelly debris up the hill for collection by National Parks staff.

The early participants started on Little Congwong and moved around to Big Congwong.  By 9.30 the bulk of the work was complete and late starters moved off to collect around Frenchmans.  At 10.30 members of  Scouting groups conducted an award ceremony and enjoyed a swim and picnic.

A big thankyou to Lionel  from National Parks who  set up the marquee, table and chairs and collected bags from collection points,  and to  Randwick Council who collected the rubbish piled in Cann Park.

(Photos top - bottom: Little Congwong 9.30 and all finished.  Onto Big Congwong - the dunes,  the Lagoon and back up the stairs; a cross-section from the groups (Scouts, Pathfinders, Precinct) with some of the collection; the Scouts finishing the day with an award ceremony; and finally Lionel packing up the marquee).

On the previous Friday staff from Sydney Ports conducted their regular CleanUP Australia Day at Bicentennial Park, Yarra Bay.  Despite the rain there was a strong turnout with three La Perouse Precinct members adding support.

Yesterday’s choppy conditions produced an extensive amount of foam in Botany Bay with Algal Bloom like patches being observed around Congwong Bay, Bare Island and into Frenchman’s Bay. The patches of brown material seen in the photo above are concentrations of organic matter (likely broken up macroalgae) mixed with the foam and forming the scum lines.

Samples were collected by local resident Charles Abela and given to Tim Ingleton, Marine Biologist and phytoplankton expert with  the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, for analysis.  The Department confirmed that in this instance it was only foam not an algal bloom.  But Algal Blooms have occurred on other occasions. The Department gets about 10 to 15 calls a year to examine potential Algal Blooms.  Botany Bay has had its share of these species like Noctiluca scintillans and the particularly toxic Alexandrium catenella.

When there is a bloom of Noctiluca swimming should be avoided because it may cause skin irritations.  Noctiluca use ammonia for buoyancy which they accumulate more and more of as they get older, rising to the surface and then getting effected by winds and surface currents and thus are brought into beaches and embayments where the public swim or fish and become ‘visible’ accumulations or blooms.  In November 2004 Alexandrium was observed, resulting in the closure of some of the beaches in Botany Bay.  The Bay is particularly vulnerable to the introduction of new toxic species because of international shipping - see Invasives Species Council information on Ballast.

Historically, blooms of potentially harmful algal species (HABs) have been infrequent in NSW marine waters.  The greater threat has been the blue-green algae in freshwater systems.  Safe Foods NSW  conducts regular testing in conjunction with shellfish farmers to monitor for HAB for public health consumption. Otherwise there is no regular monitoring of phytoplankton and HABs for NSW estuaries and coasts.

For recorded information on algal alerts telephone the Algal Information Line on 1800 999 457To report (more…)