THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 30 #11 Wednesday, August 26, 2015
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Online in netdaily ‘God parity’ will be the end of centralised power generation www.echo.net.au/god-parity-willend-centralised-power-generation
Injunction likely Blessings for a birthday Council’s rock wall project faces legal challenge while internal legal advice on liabilities ‘uncertain’ Legal options are now being explored by a local marine conservation group to ensure Council undertakes an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before building its planned Belongil rock wall. It comes as the project’s legal liabilities on neighbouring walls have been described as ‘uncertain’ by Council’s lawyers. Local environment group Positive Change for Marine Life (PCFML), in partnership with the NSW Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), has requested they be given 72 hours notice of construction, which Council has agreed to. The 100-odd meter rock wall will replace ageing geobags, which currently connect two stretches of rock walls, believed to be below engineering standards and built by residents in the 1990s. While the $1m project is expected to start shortly, it has not been subjected to the normal process of a development application (DA), which includes public submissions and an environmental assessment. Instead, the project has successfully avoided environmental scrutiny and is classed as an infrastructure state environmental planning policy (SEPP), which limits input from the NSW Coastal Panel, among others. And despite it being legal, the project has no mitigation plan in place for the expected loss of sand. The push for the controversial project is by the majority rightwing Crs Ibrahim, Hunter, Woods, Cubis and Greens turncoat Wanchap.
PCFML founder Karl Goodsell says, ‘In light of the evidence of environmental impacts created by walls such as these, as well as the findings of coastal management experts who we have consulted with on this issue, we have decided to explore legal options to ensure that an EIS is carried out before any construction commences.’ ‘This is a band-aid fix to a very complex problem, one that will only be exacerbated as climate-induced sea-level rise increases. ‘We are deeply concerned that this wall will have a negative impact on coastal geomorphology and contribute to further coastal erosion and environmental problems long into the future. Community groups, scientists, coastal experts, four of nine Byron Shire councillors – even the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and NSW Coastal Panel – have expressed serious concerns with the wall and, having exhausted all other avenues, we have decided to take this matter further.’
Gyuto Monk Sangye Tsering helps Nattai Carlyle with the Yellow Hat he made in the Crystal Castle workshop on Sunday. Ruby and Phoenix Rose (top and bottom) were also among the 15 or so children who made their own ceremonial hats. The workshop kicked off a week of celebrations and activities, which leads up to the Peace Stupa’s third birthday. Photo Jeff ‘No Obvious Stupor Jokes’ Dawson
Unknown outcomes
Shark tagging commences
And adding to the project’s unknown outcomes is recent legal advice by Council’s lawyers that the legal ramifications to neighbouring walls are uncertain. The comment is included in the upcoming Council agenda, and comes in response to Cr Duncan Dey’s question surrounding the hydraulic impact of the project on neighbouring walls, ‘which are continued on page 3
Shark tagging on the north coast is set to start this week, which will involve locating and tagging those frequenting waters close to shore, using a vessel with an externally mounted satellite tracking system. Acoustic tags are surgically inserted in sharks to monitor their movements. The research project is in response to a spate of recent shark attacks along the northern NSW coastline this year, including fatalities and several serious maulings. A NSW Primary Industries spokesperson says, ‘The aim of the tagging program is to target individual sharks which are frequenting waters close to shore on the north coast, starting at Ballina.’
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‘The work involves locating and tagging sharks from a vessel with externally mounted satellite tags and surgically inserted acoustic tags to monitor shark movements.’
$250k program Primary Industries minister Niall Blair last week announced $250,000 for the campaign, ahead of the spring/ summer holiday season. Mr Blair said, ‘Let’s not forget the ocean is the domain of the shark; however, this government is taking action to gain a better understanding of the local risks and how they can be reduced to help inform and protect the public’.
To your independence, to your safety and security, to your operation costs, and to a better way of life. Make a difference with the company that knows how. To evaluate your needs Contact us at 02 6689 1430 www.rpc.com.au The Renewable Energy Specialist