President of the Casino Chamber of Commerce, Luke Bodley, lends his support to proposed environmental vandalism on a large scale

Des Euen and ‘friend’ on the Iluka side of the Clarence River mouth at an unspecified date

There is obviously one born every minute somewhere in the world and on 26 May 2016 it was the turn of the National Party's Luke Bodley of Realo Group Pty Ltd to step into the limelight and be recognised .

Here he is on Facebook promoting a proposal to destroy existing environmental, cultural, social and economic values in the Clarence River estuary:

And who is he doing this promotion for? Why for a $1 shelf company, with no apparent business address (instead using the address of the Minter Group), no listed business phone number and, most importantly,  no local, state or federal government support.

A phantom-like company which states it has had international development funding approved for five inter-related projects est. to cost $42.7 billion in total.

Projects which appear to still be mere sketches on the back of envelopes if this plan for a large industrial port is any indication:

Figure 1 shows a port precinct which covers an est. 27.2 % of the entire Clarence River estuary, 
www.aid-australia.com.au/project-1/

According to Mr. Euen the indicative timeline will see Stage 1 of this approx. 36 sq km super-port operational sometime in 2018 - even though not one of the required in-depth reports has been generated to date by AID Australia, no planning application has been submitted yet and no comprehensive surveying undertaken. He laughably states the entire proposed port infrastructure will be completed in around twelve years.

I wonder if Mr. Bodley has ever puzzled over the fact that there is no roar of support emanating from the Clarence Valley for these personal projects of former Queensland truck driver Desmond John Thomas Euen?

Has he thought about why an infrastructure 'plan' that has been hawked around the country for at least the last four to five years has been unable to gain official support in all that time from either local, state or federal governments?

Or wondered why Euen isn't holding his "summit" in the area covered by the lynch-pin in his grandiose plan, the Lower Clarence?

Perhaps this Google Earth snapshot of what the lowest section of the Clarence River estuary looks like today might give him a hint:

What this image shows is a river from the mouth to Harwood which has been held under Native Title since 2015 and an approach to the river partially blocked by a culturally & spiritually significant coffee rock reef which is the indigenous ancestor Dirrangun.

It shows the base for the largest commercial river & offshore fishery in NSW (generating in excess of an est. $92M output and $15.4M annual income) which supports a fleet moored on both the Iluka and Yamba sides of the river and as far up as Maclean.

There are also oyster leases and aquaculture ponds within the estuary.

This snapshot covers part of the range of one of only two river-dwelling dolphin pods on the east coast of Australia and one which successfully co-exists with the tourism-reliant small towns of Yamba, Iluka and Maclean, as well as with the many domestic and international yachts and other pleasure boats which use the lower river.

The green is this image predominately comprises cane farms, extensive national parks, dedicated foreshore nature reserves and one of this country’s few World Heritage areas, a 136 ha remnant of the ancient Gondwanna subtropical rainforests proclaimed by the United Nations in 1986.

In 2006-07 the people of the Clarence Valley successfully fought off a Howard Government proposal to dam and divert water from the Clarence River catchment for the benefit of mining, agricultural irrigation and land development interests in the Murray Darling Basin and southern Queensland.

That fight was part of the reason why Australia’s federal government changed in 2007.

As late as 30 May 2016 Nationals MP for Clarence and Parliamentary Secretary for the North Coast, Chris Gulapatis, has this to say in response to Euen's scheming:

While even Des Euen himself recently told The Daily Examiner that it is NSW Government policy to direct import-export sea freight to the major ports of Port Jackson, Port Botany, Port Kembla and the Port of Newcastle.

UPDATE

North Coast Voices received this email today:

North Coast Voices Blog - Correction of information required

From: redacted [mailto:redacted@gnfrealestate.com.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 8 June 2016 1:59 PM
To: northcoastvoices@gmail.com
Cc: Darren Perkins
Subject: North Coast Voices Blog - Correction of information required

Good afternoon,

With regard to the below blog link for North Coast Voices, Luke Bodley ceased employment with GNF Real Estate Pty Ltd on the 28^th April 2016. We request that the mention of George & Fuhrmann Real Estate be removed from the article.

http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/president-of-casino-chamber-of-commerce.html

Regards

Darren Perkins

Managing Director

George & Fuhrmann

However Luke Bodley was still listed as part of this real estate company's Casino staff as at 2.28PM on 8 June 2016:

When there is public evidence online that Mr. Bodley is no longer associated with this company the mention will be removed from the body of the post, but the correspondence and comment will remain.

Northern Rivers 'weed' needs to carry a health warning

Ballina Shire Advocate 27 July 2013:

Cannabis from the Northern Rivers is among the most potent in the world, sparking fears users could be at risk of developing mental health problems and dependency.

As Australia has one of the highest per-capita rates of cannabis use worldwide, a National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre study, the first of its kind in Australia, analysed levels of THC.

THC, the main psychoactive component of the drug that gets users "stoned", is linked to mental health problems and anxiety.

Researchers examined 232 samples of cannabis seized by NSW police from recreational users and in large outdoor and indoor cultivations.

Study leader Dr Wendy Swift said samples seized from users at Lismore, Byron Bay and Tweed Heads were found to have some of the highest levels of THC.

Cannabis tested also had extremely low levels of cannabidiol, which is thought to counteract some negative effects of THC…….

Australia's 2009 greenhouse gas emissions report card shows good intentions are never enough to drive meaningful change

Although government and the media are inclined to place a very positive spin on these figures from The Climate Group's Greenhouse Indicator Annual Report 2009:Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia and Australian Petroleum Use and Emissions Annual Report 2009, one has to wonder what Australia's total greenhouse gas emission levels are given that two states and one territory are missing from the electricity calculations (the Australian Capital Territory appears to be included with NSW).

What the national petroleum and electricity production and consumption profile suggests is that Australia spent 2009 merely marking time in relation to her total national greenhouse gas emissions, given that this year's figures come off the back of a national estimated increase of 553 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, or 1.1 per cent, in 2008 and an energy sector increase of 42 per cent from 1990 to 2007, and by another 1.5 per cent in 2008 according to the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water in June 2009 and the east coast's total 2008 greenhouse gas emissions were 19 per cent higher than in 2000.

Excerpts from the aforementioned The Climate Group documents:

2009 Results

Across Victoria, NSW, Queensland and South Australia annual emissions were 5.3 million tonnes lower in 2009 than in 2008.

This is a fall of 1.8 per cent for the year.

The decrease was not uniform across all states.

Annual emissions in Victoria and Queensland registered the smallest relative reduction, with falls of 0.5 per cent (543,500 tonnes) and 1.1 per cent (852,210 tonnes) respectively.

Emissions in NSW and South Australia declined more substantially, down by 3.1 per cent (3,201,360 tonnes) and 4.2 per cent (730,210 tonnes) respectively.....

Electricity

Across the four states the total electricity generated during 2009 was 1.9 per cent lower than 2008. Coal was responsible for 87.8 per cent of all scheduled electricity generation, down from 88.9 per cent the previous year.

The share of gas‐fired generation rose from 8.4 to 9.3 per cent and the share of renewable generation increased slightly from 2.7 to 2.8 per cent.

The overall greenhouse intensity of scheduled electricity generation remained virtually identical to 2008.

In 2009, greenhouse intensity of electricity generation was 0.9267 tonnes CO2e per MWh. In 2008, it was 0.9282 tonnes CO2e per MWh.

In Victoria, electricity demand fell by 2.0 per cent in 2009 compared with the previous year.

Generation from brown coal‐fired generators increased by 1.1 per cent, while 27 per cent less electricity was produced from gas.

A fall in demand combined with a smaller decline in generation meant that Victoria's net export of electricity to other States was 73 per cent higher in 2009 than in 2008.

About 4.6 per cent of electricity produced in Victoria was exported in 2009 compared with 2.6 per cent in 2008.

In NSW, electricity demand fell by 1.2 per cent in 2009.

Generation from black coal‐fired generators in NSW fell by 6.1 per cent with gas‐fired generation achieving a 191 per cent growth due to new power stations being commissioned.

However, this was coming off a very low base of 0.6 per cent of total generation in 2008, rising to 1.7 per cent of generation in 2009.

Net imports from other states grew by 61 per cent compared with 2008 levels representing 5.6 per cent of overall electricity demand in 2009, up from 3.4 per cent in 2008.

In Queensland, electricity demand grew by 1.5 per cent this year compared with 2008.

Generation from black coal‐fired generators fell by 3.0 per cent while gas‐fired generation increased by 16 per cent.

The net export of electricity to other states from Queensland was 24 per cent less than the amount exported in 2008. In 2009, Queensland exported 8.1 per cent of the electricity it generated, down from 10.5 per cent in 2008.

In South Australia, electricity demand increased by 0.1 per cent in 2009.

Generation from coal‐fired generators fell by 2.8 per cent while electricity produced from gas‐fired generation was 11.5 per cent lower, meaning that total generation fell by 4.3 per cent in 2009.

Subsequently, South Australia went from being a marginal net exporter of electricity in 2008 to a net importer in 2009.....

Petroleum

Total emissions from petroleum‐based fuels were 95.630 million tonnes across all four states.

In contrast to the previous year, 2009 has seen a decrease in sales of petroleum‐based fuels across all states, except in SA.

Victoria was the state that had the greatest fall in emissions from petroleum, with emissions falling by 2.1 per cent or 540,000 tonnes.

NSW and Queensland only recorded slight reductions of 0.2 and 0.3 per cent respectively.

South Australia was the only state to register and increase – a marginal rise of 3000 tonnes or 0.3 per cent.

These reductions in petroleum sales come despite positive population growth in each of the states, and growth in Gross State Product in each state.

Across the different types of petroleum‐based fuels, results were mixed. Diesel sales were up across all states except for in Victoria were they fell.

Petrol sales fell in Victoria and Queensland, remained the same in NSW and increased in South Australia.....

National Overview of Petroleum

During the 12 months from October 2008 to September 2009, the use of petroleum‐based fuels across Australia produced 120.7 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

This represents around 20 per cent of the Australia's total emissions.

This was a reduction of 1.6 million tonnes or 1.3 per cent on the previous 12 months and went some way to reversing a 2.9 per cent rise in emissions from petroleum based fuels between 2007 ‐ 08.

This decline in petroleum emissions occurred despite a rise in population of 2.1 per cent across the country.

The use of and resulting emissions from LPG, petrol, diesel and other fuels all fell this past year with the exception of aviation fuel, emissions from which saw a small growth of 0.1 per cent to 16.1 million tonnes .

It is likely that the fall in overall petroleum use and emissions is largely due to the global financial crisis, which has curtailed business and industrial growth, especially in heavy industry and resources sectors.

The GFC also affected consumer confidence....

New South Wales emissions for the week ending 14 Jan 2010*:
1.972 million tonnes CO2e
This year to date: 3.808 million tonnes CO2
Last year to date: 3.699 million tonnes CO2

* NSW’s emissions from energy grew by 13% or 136,000 tonnes due mainly to an increase in emissions from coal-fired generation. Emissions from coal-fired electricity, which accounted for 85% of electricity generation in NSW this week, grew by 11% or 118,000 tonnes with a number of generation units coming online to meet the higher demand. Electricity demand grew by 14%. NSW imported 6% of its electricity demand from other states, compared to 11% last week. Emissions from gas grew by 25% or 24,000 tonnes. Emissions from petroleum products fell by 0.8% or 5,000 tonnes. This week’s Indicator is 3.8% higher than the same week in 2009 and total emissions to this stage of 2010 are 3.0% higher than the similar stage last year. This week’s Indicator is 29% above the average equivalent 1990 weekly emissions and 11% above the equivalent 2000 weekly average.

Global financial crisis media coverage getting you down? Some of the best things in life are free

Coastal Emu and chicks beside the road in the Brooms Head area

Scott at picasaweb.google.com

We have known for some weeks that Australia is about to face an unwelcome patch of belt-tightening, but the bad news doesn't seem stop if one listens to those international financial gurus holding forth in the media.

So perhaps now is a good time to remember that some of the best things in every week are free for the taking.

So walk around the block and admire the neighbourhood gardens before dinner, sit in a local park and soak up the morning sun, wander through the nearest nature reserve and listen to the birds, and if you are lucky enough to live on the NSW North Coast simply revel in all that nature can offer on your doorstep.

Remember when palm oil and the patriarchal society went hand in hand?

Advertisement displayed at Duke University Library digital collections

Palm Oil is found in a wide variety of cosmetics, personal hygiene items, foods and other products.

On average it is an ingredient in 1 in every 10 items found on supermarket shelves.

Palm Oil production is responsible for massive land clearing in Borneo, Malaysia and Indonesia which has resulted in a dangerous decline in Orangutan habit and numbers.

You can do your bit to help by reducing the number of groceries you purchase which contain palm oil or palm oil derivatives.

Northern Rivers Tourism launches new website

Northern Rivers Tourism has revamped its website to showcase Australia's rivers of life.

Stretching from the mighty Clarence River up to Tweed Heads on the Queensland border and out to the foothills of the Great Divide, the Northern Rivers region of NSW is an intriguing blend of old- school and new-age. It’s where the world’s largest expanse of subtropical rainforest meets mountains forged from ancient volcanoes, overlooking more than 300 kilometres of spectacular coastline.
In this one compact region, you’ll discover the endless stretch of Pacific Coast beaches that gave rise to the Australian surfing legend; lush rolling countryside dotted with quaint and quirky townships; rugged cattle country; mystical rainforests; and deep river gorges disappearing up into the mountains..
Counter-culturalists, environmentalists, farmers, artists, academics, entertainers, entrepreneurs and more co-exist in a unique collection of communities. If nothing else, they have this in common; an appreciation that this region offers an unrivalled quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

Sure that we locals can vouch for the truth of this. Why don't you come and see for yourself?