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 given impediments to double stacking, the nature of distribution in Sydney, and the population densities along rail corridors. Even if 40% could be achieved that still means a substantial growth in heavy vehicles.
Orica - Export of Hexacholorobenzene to Denmark
Climate Change - long term issues for Port and Airport located on reclaimed land adjoining wetlands - area identified in CSIRO report as top hotspot. Also recently released report which demonstrates that Australia can make the transition to Zero Emissions - see link
Peak Oil - economic impacts for Port Botany and Sydney Airport and allied industries/distribution
Botany Bay - loss of biodiversity, seagrasses (essential fish breeding habitat), threatened by plans for more dredging to accommodate larger ships. Recent dredging - over 8 million cubic metres for the Port Botany expansion (2008 onwards); the desalination pipeline (2008 onwards); Energy Australia cable (2009). Not one of these developments was subject to Federal Department of Environment controls even though threatened species like Little Terns, Pipefishes, Seahorses and Seadragons were affected. Contrast this with the Botanic Gardens which is overpopulated by Flying Fox to the point where significant trees in their prime are being destroyed. The Gardens seeks to disturb the Flying Fox with noise so they move away. For the benefit of the Flying Fox this can only be done from May-June. The Gardens’ submission to the Department of Environment to do this was made in 2008. They finally received permission in May 2010 and because the decision came so late the program will now commence in 2011.
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