Letters to the Editor, SMH 3 September 2010

There is a delicious irony in the fact that on the same day Tonette Kelly was adjudged as corruptly using the resources of NSW Maritime to run a lucrative private conveyancing business, the minister with responsibility for that agency was forced to resign for the improper use of parliamentary resources to access gambling and porn sites (”The State of Shame: can it really get any worse?”, September 2).

Corrupt and improper conduct in public agencies nearly always flourishes because of the protection and patronage afforded it by unethical or uninterested management. The Independent Commission Against Corruption report found Ms Kelly was “able to create a space in which she was free to operate without an accountability framework and outside appropriate boundaries”. This euphemism means she was able to act as she liked.

Those with knowledge of the dysfunctional NSW Maritime legal services branch know her corrupt conduct had been tolerated for years (I was one of those who tried to expose it). Ms Kelly gave evidence to the commission that “no one could operate a conveyancing business at work without everyone knowing”.

Indeed. Evidence to the commission confirmed that some managers assisted by clearing documents from fax machines for Ms Kelly, and others were fee-paying clients.

Yet the NSW Maritime management team that allowed Ms Kelly to build her $120,000-a-year private conveyancing business and to accumulate six houses as private assets remains solidly intact. And what happened to the whistleblowers who reported this matter to the commission? I was dismissed, a colleague was suspended and a third constructively dismissed.

Tim Lloyd Kingsford

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.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

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…)

History Week 2010: September 4th at 2pm - Bowen Library, Level Three Auditorium at 669 Anzac Pde Maroubra. Faces in the Street: Many Faces of Macquarie Watchtower, La Perouse. Randwick & District Historical Society’s project team which has been working the history of Macquarie Watchtower will present the results of their research followed by afternoon tea. Gold coin donation.  Link to Randwick and District Historical Society emailrdhs@operamail.com

(Photos - Watchtower as it was in June.  As it has been since July - compliments of National Parks)

Join Randwick City Council’s bushland staff for a FREE bush walk and a spot of botanising in Botany Bay National Park.  The route traverses Botany Bay National Park, through areas of the endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub taking in stunning bay and ocean views. You will see colourful wildflowers in full bloom and learn about the local fauna and flora. The walk will be easy grade and provide lots of opportunities to stop along the way. Participants should bring water and morning tea to enjoy at Henry Head lighthouse. Wear a hat, closed walking shoes and comfortable clothes. Places are limited, so please book early.
Meeting point: Entrance to Botany Bay National Park, Anzac Parade car park; just south of the intersection with Grose Street, La Perouse   Bookings: Call Cian on 9399 0708 or email cian.sarkis@randwick.nsw.gov.au

CLIMATE ACTION SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS (CASES) E-BULLETIN AUGUST 2010

Next CASES meeting, Wednesday 25^th August

At the last CASES meeting, we heard from Erland Howden of Greenpeace about a new Greenpeace campaign that will be launched after the election looking at the financing of fossil fuels.  The idea is to stop new coal-fired power stations by targeting the banks that finance them, through a variety of strategies such as awareness raising, customer engagement with their banks, actions at bank branches, and shareholder activism.  This is a complementary campaign to the grass roots “100% renewable energy” and “no new coal” campaigns that we already support.  CASES agreed on in-principle support for the campaign.  At the next meeting we will be firming up our involvement in the Randwick Eco-Living Fair, and developing our campaign activities.  The meeting will be on Wednesday 25^th August, 7pm – 9pm.  Location TBA – we will send out a separate email soon advising of the location.   All are welcome.  If you have any questions about the meeting, please contact Miriam on m_d_pepper@yahoo.com.au.

 Go Solar and Save!

Save up to $700 on your energy bill with solar hot water or earn more than $1,000 each year from generating solar power through Go Solar!  Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra Councils are working together and have found you the best deals for switching to solar and help accessing NSW and Australian Government rebates and credits.  The councils have done the research for you and teamed up with local solar hot water and solar power suppliers that offer reliable products and services with special discounted prices for our residents and businesses.  To find out about solar power and how to take advantage of rebates and exclusive discounts:

·         Attend the FREE Go Solar workshop, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Thursday 26 August, Waverley Council Library, 32-48 Denison St, Bondi Junction. Workshop bookings essential via www.reduceyourfootprint.com.au/gosolar or call the Go Solar Project Officer on (02) 9399 0865

·         Register for an information pack or your FREE site inspection and quote for reliable, discounted solar hot water and solar power systems, visit www.reduceyourfootprint.com.au/gosolar  or call 1300 88 22 71 (solar power) or 02 8507 2207 (solar hot water)

At the conclusion of the Media Release is the statement - The plan is for the entire Malabar Headland site to eventually become public space.

Other users currently at Malabar Headland include Sydney Water - Link to Booklet on Malabar Plant    (Malabar is the largest sewerage treatment plant in NSW), Malabar Riding School and Anzac Rifle Range.

In last Spring’s Issue of Environmentally Speaking the feature article was about the future management of Malabar Headland in the context of the how National Parks “manages” the park estate at La Perouse - here is a link to that issue.

This is a link to a 2007 pre-election issue of the Southern Courier where Malabar Headland featured - it makes for an interesting comparison.

(more…)

The plant has passed all of its performance tests and is operating at full capacity, six months after being first switched on.

The plant’s power needs are reportedly offset by wind energy, from a new wind farm with 67 turbines at Bungendore.

It is one of the largest plants of its type in the world, and has been undergoing rigorous testing while gradually ramping up to its full capacity of 250 million litres a day.

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…)

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…)