Showing posts with label regional economies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label regional economies. Show all posts
Monday 29 May 2017
The Ladies Who Bake (and organize, lobby, raise funds & volunteer) come out against coal seam gas exploration, mining and production
The Country Women’s Association (CWA) of New South Wales came together for its annual conference on 22-25th May 2017 for the 95th time and debated policy.
Photograph: The Land, 25 May 2017
At this conference the CWA passed the following motion:
Maules Creek Branch (Namoi Group):
Preamble: The results of hosting unconventional gas on farms are properties devalued, mortgages refused, insurance covers rejected, destroys families, divides communities, drains aquifers and turns land into dead zones, sick children, suicide and mental breakdowns.
“That the policy of CWA of NSW shall be to support a ban on unconventional gas exploration, extraction and production”.
With the largest women’s organisation in Australia now having this policy endorsed by one of its founding chapters, NSW Nationals leader and MP for Monaro John Barilaro’s statement that he saw no reason why the coal seam gas industry should not be supported in areas of the state where it would not affect prime agricultural land is not looking as robust a proposition as he perhaps thought two weeks ago.
Labels:
Coal Seam Gas Mining,
CWA,
environment,
farming,
health,
regional economies,
safety,
water wars
Friday 24 February 2017
Will cuts to Sunday penalty rates become a textbook example of unintended consequences?
ABC News, 23 February 2017:
Let's start by calling a spade a spade. Sunday penalty rates have been cut by the Fair Work Commission. Not "equalised" or "brought in line" with Saturday rates. Cut.
Business, big and small, has been seeking this cut for years, saying Sunday penalties are a legacy of a bygone era where families went to church — one that's costing them a tidy sum.
They also argue it's a legacy that's been costing jobs, with many employers choosing not to open on Sundays, or to maintain just a skeleton staff (although ask yourself, just how many retailers, restaurants, cafes and bars are actually shut on Sunday?).
But the cuts to Sunday penalty rates could become a textbook example of unintended consequences, where a move supposed to increase employment instead hurts the economy and increases business failures and job losses.
Why? Because the hundreds of thousands of retail and hospitality workers affected by this decision are also customers.
What do you think happens when you cut someone's pay packet by as much as 25 per cent for their Sunday shifts?
(For a typical permanent retail worker on the award who always works Sunday shifts this will cut their annual pay by about $3,500).
They either have to work more, or they have to cut their spending to match their new, lower wage.
Given that unemployment is stubbornly high at 5.7 per cent, and underemployment is near record levels, it seems unlikely they'll actually be able to get more work to make up the lost pay — and, remember, these staff already work Sundays, so it's not like they'll benefit from any increase in jobs on that day.
According to the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) an est. 850,300 people were employed in the accommodation and food industry sector in November 2016 as their main job and another est. 1.25 million people have their main job in the retail sector [ABS 6291.0.55.003 - Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, Nov 2016].
An est. 54.7 percent of female employees in the accommodation/food industry work part-time and an est. 45.3 per cent males do likewise. While in retail an est. 54.6 per cent of females and 45.3 per cent of males work part-time.
In accommodation/food businesses part time employees work for an average of 16.1 hours while in the retail trade part-time employees work for an average of 16.7 hours.
Underemployment appears to be highest in the food and hospitality sector, third highest in the retail sector and females highest in both sectors. [Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Gender composition of the workforce: by industry, April 2016]
Females with only one job were more likely to work on weekends - 73% compared to 68% for males.
These statistics tend to confirm that “hundreds of thousands” of single person and family households will be hit by cuts to Sunday penalty rates as set out in the Fair Work Commission’s 4 yearly review of modern awards – Penalty Rates Decision covering Hospitality, Fast Food, Retail and Pharmacy Awards and, I have no doubt that their loss of income will affect local economies to a significant degree.
Award Sunday Penalty Rate
Hospitality Award full-time and part-time employees: (no change for casuals) 175 per cent -> 150 per cent
Fast Food Award (Level 1 employees only)
Full-time and part-time employees: 150 per cent ->125 per cent
Casual employees: 175 per cent ->150 per cent
Retail Award Full-time and part-time employees: 200 per cent ->150 per cent
Casual employees: 200 per cent ->175 per cent
Pharmacy Award
(7.00 am – 9.00 pm only)
Full-time and part-time employees: 200 per cent ->150 per cent
Casual employees: 200 per cent ->175 per cent
Local and regional economies on the NSW North Coast - where often low levels of employment opportunity combined with the fact that few hospitality/food outlets in tourism-orientated towns and none of the big retail stores currently close on a Sunday anyway - suggest that this wages cut will be nothing more than a straight forward cost saving for local businesses, with no or very little additional full-time, part-time or casual employment eventuating.
That a backlash to the Fair Work Commission decision appears inevitable is indicated by this online poll active on the day the decision was published:
Friday 10 February 2017
Baird may be gone but mining versus farming land conflicts remain
On 1 December 2016, the Mining
and Petroleum Legislation Amendment (Land Access Arbitration) Act 2015 was
commenced to reform the land access arbitration framework. It introduced a
range of improvements in line with recommendations of the 2014 Walker Report.
Read more about the Walker
Report.....
In line with the
recommendations of the Walker Report, the Act requires the holder of the
prospecting title to pay the reasonable costs of a landholder’s participation
in negotiating the access arrangement (section 142).
To ensure these costs do
not become uncontrollable at the stage of negotiation, they have been capped at
$1,500 for exempt prospecting operations and $2,500 for assessable prospecting
operations (both exclusive of GST). The explorer must pay the GST amount in
addition to the landholder’s capped costs. Caps are set out in a Ministerial
Order published in the NSW Gazette.
No cap has been set on
the reasonable costs payable by an explorer at mediation and arbitration as
these processes can vary substantially depending on the circumstances. The explorer
must still cover the landholder’s costs in making the access arrangement during
these stages of the process.
The particulars of each
case at mediation and arbitration are to be considered in the determination of
reasonable costs at these stages. Nothing in the legislation prevents a
titleholder from paying an amount above these caps. If parties cannot come to
an agreement on reasonable costs, the arbitrator or the courts will make this
determination.
The Land, 9 December 2016:
NEW regulations to balance mining and gas development against private property rights threatens to cause perverse outcomes, pushing landholders to lock the gate and head straight to court.
An alliance of Cotton Australia and NSW Farmers, Irrigators and Country Women’s Association (CWA) hit out at the caps on costs to be borne by mining and gas explorers, saying they fall short, leaving landholders potentially thousands of dollars out of pocket.
The group issued a statement “calling out the NSW government” and putting it on notice ahead of a compulsory review of the new regulations, set to kick off in six months.
“The caps announced by the NSW government are a far cry from the actual costs likely to be incurred,” said NSW Farmers president Derek Schoen.
NSW CWA president Annette Turner said “unfortunately, (the regulation) fails to live up to the promise of a balance between landholders and resource companies”.
To be continued.....
Labels:
costs,
environment,
farming,
mining,
NSW,
regional economies
Tuesday 13 December 2016
SGS Australian Cities Accounts 2014-15 and regional New South Wales
SGS Economics and Planning’s Australian Cities Accounts 2014-15 makes some interesting observations about regional New South Wales.
When looking at GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT - VOLUME MEASURE 2014-15: Regional NSW it finds this economic profile:
GDP ($ millions) $128,944 - that is $128.9 billion
Annual GDP Growth 2014-15 0.6%
Average Annual Growth (04-05 to 14-15) 0.8%
Share of NSW GDP (2014-15) 8.0%
Contribution to GDP Growth Whole Period (1989-90 to 2014- 15) 4.3%
“Growth of 0.6 per cent in Regional New South Wales was in the face of weakness across a range of industries”.
“…worst performing regions in per capita terms were Regional New South Wales, Brisbane and Queensland”.
Economy.id estimates that the Gross Regional Product for 2015 in Northern Rivers local government areas was worth:
Clarence Valley - $1.73 billion
Ballina Shire - $1.77 billion
Byron Shire - $1.47 billion
Lismore City - $2.05 billion
Kyogle Council supplied its own data which did not go beyond 2012, stating that its GRP was $330.8 million in 2011/12.
Total Estimated Northern Rivers GRP – in excess of $7.02 billion.
Labels:
Northern Rivers,
NSW,
regional economies,
statistics
Monday 12 December 2016
Editor asks are "Councils being set up to fail?"
The Daily Examiner, editorial, 6 December 2016, p. 12:
These are interesting times inside the walls of Clarence Valley Council, with Wednesday's meeting regarding the Fit for the Future response exposing the fault lines.
There are differences between the elected councillors and also between some of those councillors and the council staff.
As a result, the proposed plan of action to become fit for the future was torn up and a new set of guidelines put forward.
Questions will be asked as to whether the councillors and staff can join forces to make the new approach work, but the real people who should be questioned regarding problems in local government throughout the state are Premier Mike Baird and his ruling Coalition.
Their attitude towards councils is nothing short of antagonistic.
There has been the series of forced amalgamations that have produced plenty of angst. Part of the amalgamation push was the Fit for the Future process, and to require councils like Clarence Valley's to submit their Fit for the Future response just a couple of days after the announcement of a miserly rate-pegging rise is harsh. Such decisions are being made by councils elected less than three months ago.
It begs the question: are councils being set up to fail to make further amalgamations easier?
Thursday 8 December 2016
How the Clarence Valley council rates and charges fight played out at the end of 2016
It would be foolish to think that the issue of Clarence Valley Council rates and charges has been permanently settled since the local government election in September this year.
The constant pressure of cost-shifting by state and federal governments means that regional councils in particular are prone to financial stress.
The fact that during previous elected terms Council in the Chamber appears to have agreed to expenditure which exacerbated this situation is regrettable but remains something that has to be faced.
I await the beginning of the 2017 local government year with interest.
The current state of play……
The Daily Examiner, 19 October 2016:
NEW Clarence Valley Mayor Jim Simmons has used his casting vote twice to ensure his council applied for a special rate variation.
At Tuesday's council meeting a Mayoral Minute calling for an organisation review of the council and a general manager's report outlining a Fit for the Future Improvement Plan and Special Rate Variation were fiercely debated.
The Mayoral minute ostensibly called for the appointment of a consultant to review the council's organisation, but quickly moved to debate on the SRV.
In his minute the mayor said the council needed make an application for an SRV in case it becomes necessary once the review was completed.
In debate he repeatedly stressed this was not an application for an SRV. He said this could only happen at budget time in June next year.
But for some councillors the SRV was totally off limits.
Councillors Peter Ellem and Greg Clancy said they would not vote in favour of any motion in favour of an SRV.
And Cr Andrew Baker said an SRV was an admission the council was not prepared to do the hard work in balancing the budget.
The voting was Crs Jason Kingsley, Richie Williamson, Arthur Lysaught and Jim Simmons in favour.
Against: Crs Baker, Ellem, Clancy and Debrah Novak.
The Daily Examiner, 1 December 2016:
CLARENCE Valley Council has missed its State Government-imposed deadline to submit a plan to show it will become Fit for the Future.
At an extraordinary meeting in Maclean yesterday, councillors voted down a staff-prepared proposal which included an application for a 9% special rates variation.
The deadline for the council to submit its proposal to the Office of Local Government was midnight last night, which the council general manager Scott Greensill said could not be met.
The gallery was filled with council staff, who came to see the outcome, which according to information in the report to the meeting could result in the loss of 63 jobs at the council over the next nine years.
Mayor Jim Simmons, who spoke in favour of the plan, used his casting vote to defeat the proposal.
His reasoning was that a councillor missing from the meeting, Cr Greg Clancy, was a strong opponent of the SRV proposal.
"This proposal would only be voted down at the next meeting in December, so I will vote against it now," he said.
Cr Andrew Baker foreshadowed a lengthy nine-point motion during question time. An amendment from Cr Karen Toms reduced this to eight points when he agreed to remove a section relating to council's tourism services.
This became the motion on the defeat of the officer's recommendation……
Cr Peter Ellem supported Cr Baker's motion.
He said the opposition to it was coming from a rump of the former council and council staff who had failed to listen adequately to the new members of council and the public.
He said the job losses and figures in the report were designed to scare councillors into voting in favour of an SRV, which he said the community could not afford.
That final Council resolution set out below is one that was amended by Williamson/Lysaught during the preceding motion vote which occurred sometime between 3.10pm and 4.06pm.
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 4.06 pm and resumed at 4.13 pm.
COUNCIL RESOLUTION – 13.063/16
Baker/Novak
That Council:
1. Adopt a Fit for the Future Continual Compliance Policy for immediate implementation and a Nil-Deficit General Fund Budget Policy for 2017/18 and subsequent years with each General Fund Budget to encompass at least:
a. Operating Performance Ratio at or better than breakeven to satisfy Benchmark 1.
b. Building and Infrastructure Renewal at or better than 100% to meet or exceed Benchmark 3.
c. Infrastructure Backlog Ratio of 2% or less to satisfy Benchmark 5, after an initial utilization of
$17.7 million of own Capital Reserves is applied to infrastructure backlog reduction by the
actions required at 3 and 4 below.
d. Asset Maintenance Ratio of 100% or more to meet or exceed Benchmark 5.
e. Already-adopted efficiency measures, revenue increases, expenditure reductions and other
measures adopted for financial sustainability purposes.
2. Commence Fit for the Future Continuing Compliance immediately by:
a. Adjusting the 2016/17 adopted budget deficit by any amounts realised from the adoption of
this resolution and,
b. Adjusting current budget projections to include the results of a Business Case review of the
Depot Rationalisation Project that is to include current known costs and projections together
with the items at 7a, 7b and 7c below and with this revised business case to be reported to
Council February 2017 and,
c. Implementing the actions required in following Sections 3 to 8 inclusive.
3. Adopt a Fleet Financing Policy that requires all fleet renewals and acquisitions to be financed by external commercial financing where item cost is prorated monthly over the planned economic life of the asset.
4. Create an Infrastructure Backlog Accelerated Reduction Reserve of $17.7 million by the transfer of all of the Fleet Reserve Fund of $10 million or such other final amount when calculated and by additional capital to emerge from the adoption of the Fleet Financing Policy and:
a. Apply Internal Fleet Hire funds emerging from this Fleet Financing Policy estimated: $3.53m
remaining 6 months 2016/17, $3.33m 2017/18, $1.1 million 2018/19, $0.41 million 2019/20,
$0.14 million 2020/21 for an estimated total $8.6 million over 54 months and subject to final
calculation amount to be inserted here to firstly reach the $17.7 million required for the
Infrastructure Backlog Accelerated Reduction Reserve amount and then to apply to other
Benchmark shortfalls and,
b. Apply fleet disposal income funds emerging at end of economic life disposal of fleet items
estimated at $8 million over 48 to 60 months and subject to final calculation amount to be
inserted here to firstly reach the $17.7 million required for the Infrastructure Backlog
Accelerated Reduction Reserve amount and then to apply to other Benchmark shortfalls.
5. After accounting for the adopted forecast reductions that will result from depot rationalisation natural attrition and other adopted efficiency savings measures, develop a workforce model that results in no nett reduction of adjusted workforce numbers with such model to be developed by inclusion of selected reductions to consultant and contract engagements in favour of maintaining at least current Council FTE workforce numbers.
6. Receive a report to the February 2017 Ordinary meeting and to subsequent meetings as necessary with such report to include:
a. Options and variations available for delivery of this resolution and,
b. Effects of implementation on subsequent budget forecasts and,
c. The capability and constraints of this resolution being implemented by existing Council
management expertise alone and,
d. The likely cost and benefit of further resolving the implementation of this resolution by the
engagement of external administration services.
7. Adopt a Business Case Reporting to Council Policy for pre-acquisition reporting on all proposed capital acquisitions of $100,000 or above to show all financial costs and benefits and alternatives if any with each report to include:
a. The Cost of Funds using best commercial borrowing rates available to Council at the time
and,
b. The Cost of Funds using best commercial investment rates available to Council at the time
and
c. Any depreciation amounts attributable to the expected life of the acquisition.
8. Make a Fit for The Future Submission to the Office of Local Government showing the amended budget results and forecasts resulting from adoption of this resolution Sections 1 to 7 inclusive together with any other already-adopted future savings and revenue-increase measures to be implemented by Council to achieve financial sustainability.
Cr Williamson and Cr Lysaught left the meeting at 4.41 pm prior to the voting taking place. [my red bolding]
Voting recorded as follows
For: Simmons, Ellem, Novak, Toms, Baker
Against: Kingsley
Labels:
Clarence Valley Council,
Finance,
jobs,
regional economies
Sunday 3 July 2016
The type of Clarence River experience that Yamba, Iluka, Maclean and other estuary towns wish to preserve for their families, visitors and holiday makers alike
This is the sort of river experience that the Lower Clarence delights in.....
Thursday 30 June 2016
Australian Federal Election 2016: 666 apprenticeships gone under Nationals in Page
Labor Candidate for Page Janelle Saffin, media release, 30 June 2016:
666 Apprenticeships gone in Page under the Nationals
New figures released by the Department of Education show
that apprenticeship numbers in Page have fallen by 31.5 per cent in two years,
with a loss of 666 apprenticeships in the Page electorate.
Janelle Saffin, Federal Labor Candidate for Page said disappointingly
Mr Hogan and the rest of the Nationals have allowed this to happen, with these
figures replicated across Australia, with 130,000 apprenticeships gone
nationally.
The number of apprenticeships in Page dropped from 2,117
at 31 December 2013, to just 1,451 at 31 December 2015.
“The retreat from supporting apprentices and the
vocational education and training sector started with Mr Abbott and Mr Truss,
and it continues with Mr Turnbull and Mr Joyce,” Ms Saffin said.
“I am serious about investing in apprentices, skills and
training in Page.
“The Nationals have cut $2.75 billion from the skills
portfolio, including $1 billion in cuts to apprentices by scrapping the Tools
for Your Trade program and access and mentoring programs.
“How can they talk ‘jobs and growth’ and then decimate apprenticeships
and the VET sector?
“It’s vital that we train and retrain our workforce to
improve participation, productivity, and innovation. This is what will drive
growth in our region.
“Kevin Hogan and the Nationals have been missing in
action on apprenticeships and jobs.”
Ms Saffin said Labor had a comprehensive set of policies
to help apprentices, skills and training, including among other policy
measures:
• A TAFE Funding Guarantee.
• $8,000 cap on VET FEE-HELP loans per year and a VET
sector ombudsman.
• A sector-wide national review to ensure vocational
education is able to meet the
training needs of the nation.
• Establishing Commonwealth Institutes of Higher
Education to deliver new technical
and education opportunities to areas where access remains
difficult and participation is too low.
• Boosting apprenticeships across the country by:
- creating
new apprenticeship opportunities through setting a quota of
apprentices
on major
federally-funded projects.
- reintroducing
the Tools for Your Trade program at $3,000 per apprentice to
support
them from commencement to completion.
- restoring
support for Group Training organisations.
- creating
pathways into apprenticeships for 10,000 young people unemployed
people
through the Apprentice Ready program.
- piloting
a National Skills Recognition Entitlement program with 5,000
places to
help
mature-aged, retrenched workers turn their extensive work experience into
formal
qualifications.
- connecting
potential apprentices with jobs and training through an
Apprenticeships
Connect search
portal.
- appointing
a dedicated Apprentice Advocate.
“Only a Shorten Labor Government will deliver the support
for apprentices and TAFE that local residents expect and a vocational education
system that delivers a skilled workforce for the future,” Ms Saffin said.
Labels:
ALP,
Federal Election 2016,
funding,
jobs,
Nationals,
Northern Rivers,
regional economies
Friday 24 June 2016
Des Euen warned off Yamba by an online supporter
Not that Des Euen needed any hint that many Yamba and Iluka residents would be against the industrialisation of the Clarence River estuary…..
Facebook, 23 June 2016
Mr. Euen is rather sensitive about the few comments on the Australian Infrastructure Developments Pty Ltd Facebook page.
He recently removed comments from two Clarence Valley residents (at least one of whom attended the “summit” he organised at Casino on 2 June 2016) but left his accusations of selfishness against individuals living in the region which would be most affected by this highhanded attempt to make his fortune at the expense of so many ordinary people.
Wednesday 22 June 2016
Fish n Chips not Mega Ships!
"All
the major economic sectors in the lower Clarence Valley are dependent to a
considerable extent on understanding and protecting the estuary’s and
floodplain’s natural processes and values." [DLWC, Umwelt
(Australia Pty Ltd, 2003, Clarence
Estuary Management Plan: The Clarence Estuary - A Valued Asset]
The economic value of tourism is worth an est. $239.4 million per annum to the Clarence Valley with recreational fishing forming a significant part of the region's income and, in 2010 the commercial fishing industry was worth an est. $92 million annually to the valley.
The economies of the three main towns in the Clarence River estuary are heavily based on commercial and recreational fishing and water-based tourism, with Yamba and Iluka being principal holiday destinations.
Boating is a major
recreational activity, with 90% of recreational boating related to fishing and
61% involving retired people. [Clarence Valley Council, 2003]
Fresh seafood caught locally forms part of the staple diet for many Lower Clarence households.
These are the faces of some of the people who threw a line in the last two months:
Bluff Beach, 10 June 2016
Catch at Moriaty’s Wall, 8 June 2016
31 May 2016
[Images from Iluka Bait & Tackle]
However, Australia Infrastructure Developments Pty Ltd and Deakin Capital Pty Ltd - along with Messrs. Des Euen, Thomas Chui, Lee and Nigel Purves - want to destroy this great year-round and holiday lifestyle by lobbying government to allow the
construction of a large industrial port covering over 27 per cent of the Clarence River estuary.
Thereby severely compromising lower river commercial and recreational fishing grounds with the constant movement in and out of the river of mega ships such as these:
construction of a large industrial port covering over 27 per cent of the Clarence River estuary.
Thereby severely compromising lower river commercial and recreational fishing grounds with the constant movement in and out of the river of mega ships such as these:
[North Coast Voices, February 2016]
With their bow wave and propeller wash sucking at known seagrass beds as well as riverbanks along the main estuary channels as they pass.
Many of us who live on the river are firmly of the belief that we would rather have
“Fish n Chips not Mega Ships!”
Brief Background
Long before the arrival of Europeans in the area, local Bundjalung people were fishing the waters of the 'big river' for oysters and fish, as evidenced by the large middens found along the river banks and coastline. The first settlers to the area found a bountiful river surrounded by dense subtropical forests and swamps flowing out to the coastline. Fish were easy to come by and made up an important food source for the early settlers who set about developing forestry and farming in the area. Grafton was established in the 1850’s with the river being a principal source of transport. The introduction of sheep grazing to the area occurred in the late 1850’s and sugar cane farming was carried out as early as 1868 (Anon, 1980a). A small commercial fishery had its beginnings in 1862 when fish were caught to supply workers and their families employed in the construction of the river entrance works. This major project was designed to provide safe navigation for the coastal steamers that traded upriver. Commercial fishermen were supplying fish to the local market by the 1870’s, particularly seasonal fishing for mullet, which was an important local industry supplying the Grafton market (Anon, 1880). The fishing industry began in earnest in 1884 when shipments of fish were sent to Sydney twice a week, weather permitting. The fish, mainly whiting, bream, flat tailed mullet and flathead were packed in ice in large insulated boxes. The boxes were then reused to bring ice on the return trip (Anon, 1994). [Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, A socio—economic evaluation of the commercial fishing industry in the Ballina, Clarence and Coffs Harbour regions, 2009]
o The commercial industry in Northern NSW provides about one-third of the product (fish) landed in the whole of NSW.
o An assessment of fish stocks in NSW indicated most fisheries are probably sustainable but that there should be no expansion of catches.
o The economic modelling results demonstrated that the industry provides quantifiable economic benefits to the Northern NSW region in the form of output, income, employment and value added (gross regional product).
o The combined harvesting and processing sectors of the industry in Northern NSW provided total flow-on effects of $216 million derived from output, $36.1 million in income, 933 employment positions and $75.5 million in value added.
o Two-thirds of the money generated by the operation of the industry is spent in the local and regional economies.
o Commercial fishing activity in the Clarence River occurs in the Estuary General and Estuary Trawl Fisheries.
o The ocean fleet has home port facilities in both Yamba and Iluka.
o The Clarence River Fishermen's Co-op operates two depots with Maclean primarily processing catch from the river fishery and Iluka processing catch from the offshore fishery.
o Ocean Hauling was one of the earliest fisheries to be utilised on the beaches in the Clarence district and continues to be an important fishery in the area.
[Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, 2009 & Clarence Valley Council, 2016]
o In 2010 Clarence Valley Council estimates that the commercial fishing industry is now worth over $92 million and generates over 430 jobs, while the recreational fishing industry which forms a large part of the $280 million tourism industry in the Valley generates much of the economic base of Yamba, Iluka and Maclean.
o Due to tourism Yamba and Iluka regularly double their population during major holiday periods and many retired and family holiday makers are thought to be drawn to the area by fishing and other recreational opportunities on the river.
o Commercial ocean fish and crustacean species both breed and feed in the Clarence River estuary system.
[J.M. Melville, Submission to the Inquiry into the impact of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on Regional Australia, No. 177, December 2010]
All the
major economic sectors in the lower Clarence Valley are dependent to a
considerable extent on understanding and protecting the estuary’s and
floodplain’s natural processes and values…..
The
outstanding threat nominated by the Maclean group was population growth and
urban development, particularly where this is located close to the estuary.
This is an interesting result, given that the Clarence overall is not an
urbanised waterway. It may reflect the rapid changes that are occurring in
Yamba, and the view in the community that further growth in this area will
require major sustainability issues to be addressed. The appropriate growth
rate and style of development in Yamba has been a major source of discussion
for residents in the lower Clarence, especially in response to Council’s
interpretation of the results of its community survey on the future of Yamba.
Several other frequently nominated threats were examples of the types of
threats that are associated with poorly managed urban growth that exceeds the
capability of the natural system. Declining health of the estuary (from any
cause) was perceived as a major threat by the lower Clarence community,
acknowledging the high economic dependence on estuary health in this area.
[DLWC,
Umwelt (Australia Pty Ltd, 2003, Clarence
Estuary Management Plan: The Clarence Estuary - A Valued Asset]
Wednesday 25 May 2016
Queensland infrastructure fantasist to hold "summit" on turning the Clarence River estuary into a coal & bauxite loading port
On 2 June 2016 Desmond John Thomas Euen will be holding a “summit” at the Returned Servicemen's Memorial Club in Casino NSW.
This A “Key” Nation Building Infrastructure Plan Summit holds the promise of containing more spin than the federal election campaign.
Readers may
recall Mr. Euen (seen left) as that almost compulsive creator of shelf companies - Australian
Infrastructure Developments Pty Ltd (created 31.08.12), Y.P.R (AUST) Pty
Ltd (created 13.03.14), A.I.D (HK) LTD (possibly created in 2015), and
N.S.W. Export Logistics Pty Ltd (created 17.03.16) – and the
man who wants to turn NSW Far North Coast fishing port and popular holiday
destination, Yamba, into a coal port.
Euen appears
to have sent out many invitations to attend and has listed the following invitees
on various websites:
Local Yagel & Bundjalung Land Council Representatives
Supply Nation
(Indigenous Business Development)
Mr Lester
Rogers (General Manager of Moree Shire Plains Council)
Tamworth Mayor
Mr Col Murray
Mayor Richie
Williamson (Clarence Valley Council)
Regional
Development Australia RDANI
Regional
Development Australia (Mid North Coast NSW)
Liverpool
Council South Western Sydney
Australian
Rail Association
Australian
Industry Group
Riverina
Inland Rail Alliance Group.
He has also
listed a changing kaleidoscope of presenters/keynote speakers.
Starting
with:
[https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:pihba-eW1hwJ:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/announcement-create-new-policy-government-des-euen+&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au,
accessed 21 May 2016]
Which changed
to this:
[http://www.aid-australia.com.au/?s=summit,
accessed 21 May 2016]
Des Euen’s
grand plans get little media coverage in the Northern Rivers and what it does
must give this Queensland fantasist little comfort.
This is an
example of the Clarence Valley’s enthusiasm for a coal loading facility in the
Clarence River estuary, published on the front page of The Daily Examiner on 27 May 2014:
The
idea of establishing the Port of Yamba as the centre of a massive
transport hub on the northern NSW coast has surfaced again.
The
proposal, labelled the YPR Project, is the brainchild of Desmond John Thomas Euen,
the managing director of the $1, one share company Australian Infrastructure
Developments.
It
aims to create a transport network linking the coalfields in the north-west of
the state to an international port in Yamba, all funded by private equity.
The
YPR website claims it will be ready to make a big announcement next month.
"YPR
(AUST) Pty Ltd is currently in dialog with the relevant departments of both the
NSW and Federal Government."
"THE
company expects to be in position to submit development plans and financial
endorsements by June 2014," it read.
The
news has sparked alarm in the conservation movement, with Lock the Gate
activists promising to fight any attempts to set up infrastructure for a
massive port in the Clarence River estuary.
But
an expert in the field believes the "common sense test" rules it out.
Harwood
Marine managing director Ross Roberts said he had been following Mr Euen's
plans but had spotted some major flaws.
"Anyone
can come up with big ideas and put them forward," he said. "But when
they do, they have to pass the common sense test.
"The
first thing you ask is: who is going to pay for it and then why would you want
to do it?"
Mr
Roberts said the current economy was contracting, so finding people willing to
stump up the amount of money required would be hard.
"The
other question is why?" he said. "In 1990 there were 22 ships
operating out of the port, now there are none. That has to tell you something."
Mr
Roberts, who does marine industry business around the world, said the Clarence
estuary contained 100 islands and nowhere on the planet had he seen an attempt
to create a huge port in such an area.
"Dealing
with floods would be the first worry," he said. "Do they build up all
the islands by a metre? Then where does that water go in flood?"
Mr Euen claims
to be in talks with Federal and NSW government departments, but these claims
seem exaggerated.
Last
year Mr Euen met with a senior policy adviser from the office of
Duncan Gay, the NSW Minister for Roads and Ports.
The
minister's office said a senior staff member met with Mr Euen, who
signalled an intention to submit a proposal, but did not receive the ministry's
in-principal support.
The
Daily Examiner contacted Mr Euen, who said he would be happy to outline
the plans at "a mutually convenient time".
A sample of unfavourable
comments left under the online article:
Fedup - Junction
Hill
NO,NO,NO. In my opinion
if this was to go ahead Yamba would be ruined. Maybe Mr Euen should look at why
vessels have left the port. It would not have anything to do with siltation
would it? Just take a look at what has happened in QLD with their coal loader
and the subsequent pollution of the Great Barrier Reef. Who has the money to
build this or is he in discussions with the Chinese who are after the CSG and
anything else they can get their hands on.
yambaman - Yamba
Hmm, fantasy indeed, the
day this is approved is the day I blow up Oyster Channel bridge!
BigUglyWaz - Waterview
Heights
Does anyone really think
this is something more than a dream?
Have a look at the YPR website, google a few things and tell me you can see any of this happening, forget the cost involved, and the environmental destruction.
Port of Yamba Depths. "Shipping channel depths are maintained at 4.0 metres"
"..... the deepening of the Suez Canal from 18 m (60ft) to 20 m (66ft) in 2009 permits most capesize vessels to pass through it."
Capesize bulk carriers. "Due to their large dimensions and deep draughts, capesize ships are suitable to serve only large ports with deep water terminals in the world. As a result, they can serve a comparatively small number of ports in the world."
Probably going to need a little dredging to get those to carriers into the Clarence.
Maybe Clive can get onto this, something to spend his billions on after he finishes the Titanic II?
Have a look at the YPR website, google a few things and tell me you can see any of this happening, forget the cost involved, and the environmental destruction.
Port of Yamba Depths. "Shipping channel depths are maintained at 4.0 metres"
"..... the deepening of the Suez Canal from 18 m (60ft) to 20 m (66ft) in 2009 permits most capesize vessels to pass through it."
Capesize bulk carriers. "Due to their large dimensions and deep draughts, capesize ships are suitable to serve only large ports with deep water terminals in the world. As a result, they can serve a comparatively small number of ports in the world."
Probably going to need a little dredging to get those to carriers into the Clarence.
Maybe Clive can get onto this, something to spend his billions on after he finishes the Titanic II?
EmmaB – Yamba
Has anyone looked closer
at this crazy plan? It can be found at http://www.ypraust.com.au/project-1-p....
Mr. Euen is expecting that ships of Post-Panamax and Capesize will come into his proposed port.
Post-Panamax ships are larger than 294,13 m (965 ft) long, 32,31 m (106 ft) wide and have draughts in excess of 12,04 m (39.5 ft).
Capesize ships are very large and ultra large cargo vessels with a capacity over 150,000 DWT. They are categorised under VLCC,ULCC, VLOC and ULOC and can be as large as 400,000 DWT or even more. They serve regions with largest deepwater terminals in the world and are primarily used for transporting coal and iron ore. Because of their giant size, they are suitable to serve only a small number of ports with deepwater terminals.
See: http://maritime-connector.com/wiki/sh...
grippy - Yamba
Mr. Euen is expecting that ships of Post-Panamax and Capesize will come into his proposed port.
Post-Panamax ships are larger than 294,13 m (965 ft) long, 32,31 m (106 ft) wide and have draughts in excess of 12,04 m (39.5 ft).
Capesize ships are very large and ultra large cargo vessels with a capacity over 150,000 DWT. They are categorised under VLCC,ULCC, VLOC and ULOC and can be as large as 400,000 DWT or even more. They serve regions with largest deepwater terminals in the world and are primarily used for transporting coal and iron ore. Because of their giant size, they are suitable to serve only a small number of ports with deepwater terminals.
See: http://maritime-connector.com/wiki/sh...
grippy - Yamba
Just remembered you have
the sacred Aboriginal reef at Yambas mouth.
Who will blow that up?
Who will blow that up?
JohnHancocks – Maclean
I won't be parting with
any of my savings for such a scheme - nor would I advise anyone else to
contribute a cent toward anything connected to it.
Not that Mr.
Euen doesn’t have a gift for convincing the gullible, as this excerpt from a Queensland
Bauxite Limited 4 March 2016 announcement
demonstrates:
[http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20160304/pdf/435lqnp45v0yyd.pdf]
I wonder if Queensland Bauxite can hear the laughter coming from south of the QLD-NSW border?
For readers who have never sighted Des Euan's unrealistic and ever expanding grand plan for Goodwood, Chatsworth and Palmers islands, as well as for lands on the Iluka side of the Clarence River estuary and the Mororo district, here it is all neatly laid out:
For readers who have never sighted Des Euan's unrealistic and ever expanding grand plan for Goodwood, Chatsworth and Palmers islands, as well as for lands on the Iluka side of the Clarence River estuary and the Mororo district, here it is all neatly laid out:
http://www.aid-australia.com.au/project-1/
UPDATE
Facebook Clarence Forum:
John
Hagger
I am
told that the plan includes:
The removal of the existing breakwater to open up the river and
Incorporating Chatsworth, Harwood and Gilbert Islands into the Port complex
The apparent goal is to become the biggest Port in Australia.
The claims include:
25% Australian Infrastructure Development shareholding by 1st Nations groups.
Current guarantee of 51.2 Billion Dollars funding.
The support of Clarence Valley Council and other Councils.
That Clarence Valley Council was represented at a recent joint Council meeting
in Namoi and voted in favour of the proposal.
Three (3) letters of support from Mayor Richard on CVC letterhead.
Des Euen has promised to send copies of the above claims.
He has also promised that the Port would not be used for Coal or Gas.
To date none of the promised papers have arrived.
Letter from Clarence
Valley Council Mayor Richie Williamson to John Hagger posted on Clarence
Forum 24 May 2016:
“Dear
Mr. Hagger,
Thank you for your email regarding the Australian Infrastructure Development
(AID) letter of support and whether it was signed by me.
It
seems the letter (which was signed by me in 2011) is being used to grossly
misrepresent the truth as the letter is about a different proposal all
together. I also draw your attention to the top of the letter, dated 11/2/2011,
which thanks Mr Euen for presenting his proposal, which was “The Trans Seaport
Eastern Integrated Land Proposal” my recall was that this proposal was about
transporting containers via the road network to and from the Port of Yamba from
Port Kembla and Brisbane, hence the reference to the Pacific Highway upgrade
and other road transport businesses that council had worked with in the past.
The letter does not support this proposal, but the larger “transport hub” idea
that I know you have also supported in the past.
The
letter is in no way supporting the current AID proposal around rail from inland
NSW to the Port of Yamba. Any claim by AID of my support is strongly rejected
by me; in fact, I have been completely opposed to the rail proposal from the
first time I heard of it.
Please
see the links below as an example;
I
stress Council has given no written letter of support to the present AID
proposal and would be, in my view, highly unlikely to provide such a letter.
I also
note the claim that; “I and/or a council officer attended a meeting recently in
the Namoi district regarding the current AID proposal” is completely untrue and
false.
I hope
this clarifies this matter.
Richie"
The original
list of invitees to the Euen “summit” posted at Linked in,
courtesy of Google
Cache on 11 May 2016:
Deputy
Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce MP
The Hon
Darren Chester MP the Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development
Leader
of the Opposition Bill Shorten MP
The Hon
Anthony Albanese MP Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
[
this would be an opportune time for both parties to show bipartisan support for
private enterprise funded regional and nation building infrastructure
development]
Premier
of NSW The Hon Mike Baird MP and/or NSW Deputy Premier
NSW
Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure Andrew Constance MP
NSW
Trade and Investment
Transport
for NSW
INNSW
IA
(Infrastructure Australia)
ACTU
President Ged Kearney
National
Farmers Federation
NSW
Farmers Association
Qld
Farmers Association
Victorian
Farmers Association
Riverina
Inland Rail Alliance Group
Namoi
Cotton Farmers and other Regional Industry peak bodies as they come to hand.
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