21 January 2008 - 2:36PM View all news | Send to a friend | Print
Council denies claim of public mockery
By Jacqui Knox
Council has denied claims it is making a mockery of public consultation by calling for tenders to build the $23 million leisure centre before the public finishes commenting on plans.
Eyebrows were raised after an advertisement calling for "expressions of interest" appeared in the Southern Highland News on Wednesday, even though submissions have not closed on the initial concept plan.
Councillor Larry Whipper quickly described the advertisement as "an insult" and said it "reeks of arrogance".
"What’s next - the sale of our public land before submissions end in the belief that we know what the community will say?" he asked.
However, council’s acting general manager Michael Brearley said council was not in fact calling for tenders; instead council was merely inviting builders to register interest.
"The selection of a builder is a two-stage process... the first stage is to invite expressions of interest from builders who may wish to be considered when tenders are invited," he said.
Full story SHN Monday, January 21
SHN.21.1.08
Monday, January 21, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Notice from our friends at CanWin.
A public forum sponsored by
CANWin, Southern Highlands NPA
and the Bowral Uniting Church Eco-Justice Ministry,
A Simpler Way to Survive
A David-and-Goliath battle is on. On his side, Goliath has globalisation, marked in China and India by 1,000+ new automobiles a day and in the West by mountains of electronic consumer goods from Asia. Both sides are facing the prospect of peak oil. Against these odds, who can prevail?
-- One man who believes all of us can prevail is Ted Trainer. Ted argues that our consumer society is so grossly unsustainable that only a transition to a simpler way can solve our planet’s alarming global problems. His simpler way means we must achieve huge and radical change toward local economies using local resources and under local control, not driven by market forces. It means cooperative and participatory value systems that reject competitive acquisitiveness. It means zero economic growth.
Ted will suggest how we can make the necessary changes to survive the serious petroleum shortages that will impact rural areas such as the Southern Highlands especially hard.
Ted Trainer is a Visiting Fellow in the School of Social Work, UNSW. His interests are global problems, sustainability, radical critiques of the economy, and the transition to alternative social forms. He has written numerous books and articles, including his most recent book, Renewable Energy Cannot Sustain a Consumer Society. He is also developing an alternative lifestyle education site, Pigface Point, near Sydney.
Hear Ted Trainer 8.00 p.m. Tuesday 5 February,
Bowral Uniting Centre, cnr Bendooley & Boolwey, Bowral. Refreshments. Gold coin donation.
For more information:
Sandra Menteith 0403 790 777
CANWin, Southern Highlands NPA
and the Bowral Uniting Church Eco-Justice Ministry,
A Simpler Way to Survive
A David-and-Goliath battle is on. On his side, Goliath has globalisation, marked in China and India by 1,000+ new automobiles a day and in the West by mountains of electronic consumer goods from Asia. Both sides are facing the prospect of peak oil. Against these odds, who can prevail?
-- One man who believes all of us can prevail is Ted Trainer. Ted argues that our consumer society is so grossly unsustainable that only a transition to a simpler way can solve our planet’s alarming global problems. His simpler way means we must achieve huge and radical change toward local economies using local resources and under local control, not driven by market forces. It means cooperative and participatory value systems that reject competitive acquisitiveness. It means zero economic growth.
Ted will suggest how we can make the necessary changes to survive the serious petroleum shortages that will impact rural areas such as the Southern Highlands especially hard.
Ted Trainer is a Visiting Fellow in the School of Social Work, UNSW. His interests are global problems, sustainability, radical critiques of the economy, and the transition to alternative social forms. He has written numerous books and articles, including his most recent book, Renewable Energy Cannot Sustain a Consumer Society. He is also developing an alternative lifestyle education site, Pigface Point, near Sydney.
Hear Ted Trainer 8.00 p.m. Tuesday 5 February,
Bowral Uniting Centre, cnr Bendooley & Boolwey, Bowral. Refreshments. Gold coin donation.
For more information:
Sandra Menteith 0403 790 777
Saturday, January 5, 2008
GUNS BLAZE AT HILLTOP
After receiving documentation from the Hilltop No Gun Club Group, Clr Larry Whipper has come out in public support of the groups concerns. He will ask his fellow Councils to agree to a request from the Hill Top Residents Action group Inc’s request for a meeting to brief Councillors in more details on the matter.
“This appears to be just another example of the State Governments arrogance flying in the face of Community concern and Local Government autonomy,” Clr Whipper said. After reading the documentation from HTRAGI, Clr Whipper commented on a number of points relating to the transparency and credibility of a process that appears to be changing the rules on the run for the sake of little more than convenience.
“Given that such a proposal clearly falls outside of the regulation of our LEP and is not supported by the residents of the area is something that we need to consider, Clr Whipper said.
According to Clr Whipper, “It is a travesty that a clause which was introduced into legislation in July 2007, which prevented the Minister from approving a Part 3A application which was not zoned appropriately, was again amended in November 2007 to include a “transitional” provisional which would allow the Ministers intervention and probable approval under Part 3A of the Act”.
There have been rumours that the closure of the Malabar Anzac Rifle Range now imminent, that the State Government is possibly under more pressure, to repay electoral favours that have been bestowed upon them by the Shooters Party. This may possibly be the reasoning behind the concerted efforts of the Government to rezone Environmentally sensitive land to permit the use of gun sport.
“The fact that there have already been 1000 hectares of conservation area annexed from the Bargo State Conservation Area, even though no application has been submitted, is disturbing”. According to Clr Whipper. “This would appear to give a clear indication that the approval is indeed imminent and that the public exhibition process will be little more than a sham”.
The social impacts and the potential impost on the rates of local residents associated with the increased costs of infrastructure demands that will flow from the approval of such a facility will be enormous. The real environmental impacts of noise, habitat destruction, and threats to wildlife and to water from pollution and leeching from spent cartridges are also a very real consideration it appears that the Government are prepared to ignore along with Councils rights to consider the feelings and wishes of the local community in terms of planning for the people.
Ends
After receiving documentation from the Hilltop No Gun Club Group, Clr Larry Whipper has come out in public support of the groups concerns. He will ask his fellow Councils to agree to a request from the Hill Top Residents Action group Inc’s request for a meeting to brief Councillors in more details on the matter.
“This appears to be just another example of the State Governments arrogance flying in the face of Community concern and Local Government autonomy,” Clr Whipper said. After reading the documentation from HTRAGI, Clr Whipper commented on a number of points relating to the transparency and credibility of a process that appears to be changing the rules on the run for the sake of little more than convenience.
“Given that such a proposal clearly falls outside of the regulation of our LEP and is not supported by the residents of the area is something that we need to consider, Clr Whipper said.
According to Clr Whipper, “It is a travesty that a clause which was introduced into legislation in July 2007, which prevented the Minister from approving a Part 3A application which was not zoned appropriately, was again amended in November 2007 to include a “transitional” provisional which would allow the Ministers intervention and probable approval under Part 3A of the Act”.
There have been rumours that the closure of the Malabar Anzac Rifle Range now imminent, that the State Government is possibly under more pressure, to repay electoral favours that have been bestowed upon them by the Shooters Party. This may possibly be the reasoning behind the concerted efforts of the Government to rezone Environmentally sensitive land to permit the use of gun sport.
“The fact that there have already been 1000 hectares of conservation area annexed from the Bargo State Conservation Area, even though no application has been submitted, is disturbing”. According to Clr Whipper. “This would appear to give a clear indication that the approval is indeed imminent and that the public exhibition process will be little more than a sham”.
The social impacts and the potential impost on the rates of local residents associated with the increased costs of infrastructure demands that will flow from the approval of such a facility will be enormous. The real environmental impacts of noise, habitat destruction, and threats to wildlife and to water from pollution and leeching from spent cartridges are also a very real consideration it appears that the Government are prepared to ignore along with Councils rights to consider the feelings and wishes of the local community in terms of planning for the people.
Ends
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Media Release
Camping it up at Berrima.
Unfortunately the closure and excessive regulation of the use of the Berrima reserve is making our New Year less than pleasant.
After hearing increasing concerns and claims of excessive regulation from residents of Berrima about Councils decision to close the Berrima Reserve to Campers, Clr Larry Whipper has responded by giving an undertaking to raise the matter at the first meeting in January 2008.
“It looks like we got this one wrong” Clr Whipper said. When this matter came to Council, there were minimal representations from the community. The only representations were in the form of support for the closure”. He said.
“Given the mounting support for the continuation of camping at the reserve, I feel we need to revisit this as a matter of urgency. In hindsight we should have communicated with bodies like the Berrima Residents Association and Berrima Business Houses before making our decision. I am particularly concerned that sop keepers are saying that our decision is beginning to have financial implications upon a number of business houses in the Village”.
Many locals also believe that signs and fences erected by Council are causing not only embarrassment but also offense. According to Mr. Rob Parker, who is a long time resident of Berrima, a young mother who has been using the camping area along wit her family for years was most upset after her family were harassed for camping in the reserve over night. There have also been reports of fences and logs restricting access to the reserve for local resident walkers.
“ If such claims are true, then we need to redress this matter as quickly as possible. It is not in any ones interest for Council to be seen in this light. It just doesn’t make sense to alienate, or offend people in this manner. The Wingecarribee Shire prides itself on the promotion of quality Tourist experiences. In this instance it appears we are failing.” Clr Whipper said.
Although there have been some abuses of camping privileges at the reserve, I truly believe with the support of the Berrima community and the Department of Lands, we can put some measures in place that will protect the natural environment and serve the best interests of all involved while still providing access to the reserve, so that Berrima and those who appreciate the beauty of the reserve can continue to do so.
Camping it up at Berrima.
Unfortunately the closure and excessive regulation of the use of the Berrima reserve is making our New Year less than pleasant.
After hearing increasing concerns and claims of excessive regulation from residents of Berrima about Councils decision to close the Berrima Reserve to Campers, Clr Larry Whipper has responded by giving an undertaking to raise the matter at the first meeting in January 2008.
“It looks like we got this one wrong” Clr Whipper said. When this matter came to Council, there were minimal representations from the community. The only representations were in the form of support for the closure”. He said.
“Given the mounting support for the continuation of camping at the reserve, I feel we need to revisit this as a matter of urgency. In hindsight we should have communicated with bodies like the Berrima Residents Association and Berrima Business Houses before making our decision. I am particularly concerned that sop keepers are saying that our decision is beginning to have financial implications upon a number of business houses in the Village”.
Many locals also believe that signs and fences erected by Council are causing not only embarrassment but also offense. According to Mr. Rob Parker, who is a long time resident of Berrima, a young mother who has been using the camping area along wit her family for years was most upset after her family were harassed for camping in the reserve over night. There have also been reports of fences and logs restricting access to the reserve for local resident walkers.
“ If such claims are true, then we need to redress this matter as quickly as possible. It is not in any ones interest for Council to be seen in this light. It just doesn’t make sense to alienate, or offend people in this manner. The Wingecarribee Shire prides itself on the promotion of quality Tourist experiences. In this instance it appears we are failing.” Clr Whipper said.
Although there have been some abuses of camping privileges at the reserve, I truly believe with the support of the Berrima community and the Department of Lands, we can put some measures in place that will protect the natural environment and serve the best interests of all involved while still providing access to the reserve, so that Berrima and those who appreciate the beauty of the reserve can continue to do so.
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