Beep beep beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

We are so stuffed ...

The right to clean air; it ought to be a thing

It’s time to press the panic button on the air we breathe in the Upper Hunter and there’s no time to waste.

At the Upper Hunter Health Forum (Tuesday 12th March ) presented by Dr Ben Ewald, Dr John Van Der Kallen and Dr Bob Vickers from Doctors of the Environment (DEA), we heard how air pollution is a major environmental risk to health and how it is killing us. 

We also heard that there is strong evidence that we can reduce illness and death from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases by significantly reducing air pollution levels but … and it’s a big ‘but’ … we need political will and leadership from those who represent us.

With the NSW election only 3 days away, we have an opportunity to make a difference in our health outcomes by voting for politicians who take climate change seriously and who are prepared to transition quickly to renewable energy. 

The DEA doctors told us that stopping emissions from coal-fired power stations would immediately improve our health with fewer deaths, fewer incidences of cardiovascular disease, fewer low birth weight babies, fewer premature babies and fewer new cases of diabetes.

In a nutshell, choosing a politician prepared to deal with climate change would provide us with an opportunity to improve our health. We need to vote for this sort of a politician.

In the Upper Hunter, air pollution routinely breaches Australian national standards and nothing is done about it. Yes, there are monitoring stations and we monitor that we are steadily being poisoned but nothing is actually done to stop the breaches re-occurring. It is air pollution ‘Groundhog Day’ over and over again.

So, what to do! 

Hit that panic button and vote for the candidate who takes our Upper Hunter predicament seriously and who recognises that we have a right to breathe clean air … 

… and PS don’t forget to number all the boxes to get the most out of your vote!!!

(this post has been cross-posted at Freedom Cyclist blog)

Trees and houses we need but Roundup we don't

We have another Ordinary Meeting for the Upper Hunter Shire Council coming up tomorrow night (30 July 2018), and I just want to mention that at the last Ordinary Council Meeting (25 June 2018), I moved three motions: two were carried, one was not even seconded so therefore lapsed.

1. Tree Presevation and Management Policy
In a moment of pragmatism I agreed to a suggested amendment to my original motion, and so moved:
That Council update Part 11a (Tree Preservation) of the Upper Hunter Development Control Plan 2015 having regard to the provisions of State Environmental Planning Policy (Vegetation in Non-Rural Area) 2017, and to require 'Council Approval'  for the removal and pruning of certain native and non-native vegetation within the Upper Hunter Shire LGA. The update shall consider the following matters:
a) best global ecological practice;
b) adherence to Australian Standards for amenity and rural tree planting;
c) consultation with council's qualified arborist or another qualified arborist on all occasions involving Upper Hunter Shire tree preservation and management;
d) appropriate tree planting and tree replacement action that takes into account Australia's growing dry and drought-like constratints and conditions.

Rationale
There is no excuse for the unsightly topping of our trees by electricity providers (and/or their commercial pruners) and others so common in the Upper Hunter Shire. The irony is that all too often this ignorant pruning results in faster re-growth with the costs being passed onto shire residents and ratepayers by loss of amenity, environmental services and earlier planting and replacement costs.

Tree preservation and tree managment need to be done by skilled workers directed with clear commitment by electricity providers (and/or their commercial pruners) to prune according to the Australina Standard 4373/2007 'pruning of amenity trees', and the Upper Hunter Shire community is disappointed that whilst we have a standard laying out exactly how pruning should be done, everywhere we look after distressing tree pruning events we see poorly pruned trees.

But this issue also goes beyond just inept pruning because there also seems to be a general loss of more complex pruning skills for all shurbs, fruit trees and other trees compounded by the lack of consideration for the right tree for the right space.

This ignorance which is translating into community 'vandalism'  has to stop.

As we have all discussed before both at Sutainability Advisory Services committee meetings and council meetings, it is time for the Upper Hunter Shire Council to adopt a proper comprehensive tree preservation and tree managment policy, and to remind tree workers and / or tree contractors, whether pruning for themselves or any entity in our shire, that they must demonstrate they have the skills to prune according to AS4373/2007. The Upper Hunter Shire Council needs a clear vision for the preservation and management of our trees for us all here today for future generations.

Moved, seconded, carried ✔

2. Affordable Housing Scheme
I then moved the following amended motion in two parts:
1. That Council, subject to available funding, prepare an affordable housing background report on housing needs and issues in the uppter Hunter Shire LGA including research and analysis of the housing market and housing affordability. The background report shall consider a range of strategies to address any recommendations for Council's consideration should it proceed to the develpment of an Affordable Housing Strategy.
2. That Council prepare a report on Passivhaus construction principles including recommendations on how this method of construction can be promoted across the Upper Hunter Shire LGA.

Rationale:
We have a shortage of affordable social housing yet a responsibility to ensure everyone who lives in the Upper Hunter Shire has a safe and long term housing option to call home so that everyone can get on with their lives without the pervasive worry of not having a permanent home. Many mental health experts both nationally and internationally propound the importance of social housing because without a safe long-term home it is impossible to combat the dire mental health issues that face Australian communities and in particular its rural ones.

Moved, seconded, carried ✔

3. Shire Ban of Monsanto's Roundup (Glyphosate Formulations)
I moved:
That Council ban Monsanto's widely-used Roundup from usage across the Upper Hunter Shire after the US' National Toxic Program's (NTP) recent uncovering of evidence that some popular weedkilling products such as Roundup are potentially more toxic to human cells than their active ingredient is by itself.

Unfortunately the motion was not seconded and so lapsed meaning that I didn't get a chance to to talk to the motion. 

If I had I would have said that given that a summary of the NTP stated that glyphosate formulations decreased human cell 'viability', disrupting cell membranes, it can only be condsidered to unconscionably irresponsible if we continue to use Roundup in our quest to combat weeds. I would have gone on to say that The Guardian states that:

"The NTP work informs a global debate over whether or not these glyposate-based weedkilling chemical combinations are endangering people who are exposed. More than 4,000 people are currently suing Monsanto alleging they developed cancer from using Roundup, and several European countries are moving to limit the use of these herbicides."

Then I would have mentioned that Jennifer Sass, a scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council said that "this testing is important, because the EPA has only been looking at the active ingredient. But it's the formuations that people are exposed to on their lawns and gardnes, where they play and in their food."

And I would have concluded that we have this information of Roundup, it comes from a reputable source, so the case for Roundup is demonstrably weak and so to continue using it in our weed minimisation regime can only be considered irresponsible.

Sigh

My Councillor Questions 25 June 2018

At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on June 25th 2018, I asked the following questions on the following topics:

1.     Animal Control

-         In light of the Murrurundi community’s concern regarding loose and dangerous dogs, does council believe that we are living up to the draft DPOP statement found on page 162 in the section “This is how we measure it” … and I quote “animal control functions provided to the community at levels that meet their expectations” are greater than 90%? Over at least the last 6 months Murrurundia residents have raised many instances of dog attacks resulting in deaths to pets and livestock, and I have been informed that many Murrurundi residents feel that council is doing nothing to remedy this alarming situation.

-         Please can I have a complete breakdown of monies from the years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, that were allocated and used for animal control … down to the last bag of kibble?

-         When are we going to insulate the cat section of the pound? And can we please not look at using fans as a summer solution for cooling the area. We all would agree that sitting in a tin shed in 40+ degrees is not optimum.

-         What is the purpose for the big empty shed which is situated at the dog pound area?

2.     Library

-         The technical services librarian whom we share with Muswellbrook Council, has resigned and the Upper Hunter Shire Council Library Services Advisory Committee requests that Muswellbrook Council (1) fills the position as soon as possible for the remainder of the maternity leave position, and (2) provide a report to the Upper Hunter Shire Council on the allocation of tasks and hours provided by the technical services librarian? The Upper Hunter Shire Council pays a significant sum of money for the services of the technical services librarian and we appreciate them, but we will not be happy to wait until next January 2019 for a new one to be appointed.

-         Are the Cassilis, Aberdeen, Merriwa and Murrurundi libraries deemed operational land or community land?

3.     Tomra Cleanaway and the EPA

-         Has council had any feedback from the EPA in relation to disability access to the Return and Earn machines? I have been in communication with TOMRA cleanaway and they inform me that their new machines being installed have disability access, and that they are working on a solution to provide like access to their old machines. Could council perhaps communicate with TOMRA cleanaway and suggest that they swap our 6 month old machines with their new ones as we are not happy that still not all residents in the Upper Hunter Shire can use their ‘old’ machines.’

4.     Code of conduct

-         How much did the 2017 code of conduct matter cost to the Upper Hunter Shire community? The community has a right to know.

5.     Bypass

-         In relation to the Scone Bypass, the Scone community is gravely concerned. Scone is not being bypassed; it is being cleaved into two. Many residents feel that there has been a lack of communication and information from both the Upper Hunter Shire Council and the RMS. Many residents of Scone are justifiably concerned about the irrevocable change that is on Scone’s horizon. There are many questions being asked by Scone residents, and they want answers before the bypass constructions works begin.

-         Residents of Aberdeen and Wingen Streets want to know what is the RMS going to do about the trucks crossing Liverpool and Aberdeen Streets as these trucks cart gravel to the golf course/bypass building-site? The residents had a meeting with the RMS this morning and they were informed that this issue is a council matter. So what is the UHSC going to do?

-         Residents of Aberdeen and Wingen Streets want to know what is the RMS going to do about the St Aubin’s Street intersection and the increase in traffic along this part of Scone? At the same meeting with the RMS this morning, the residents were told this issue is nothing to do with the RMS but again were informed that this issue is a council matter. So my question is what is the UHSC going to do about the increase in traffic on these quiet local roads as a result of flowing off and on the St Aubin’s Street intersection?

-         Many residents are concerned that sodic soils throughout the Scone floodplain will have an impact on the bypass infrastructure and its longevity. Is council concerned about the levels of high sodicity that may affect embankment stability and plasticity?

-         Is council concerned about the potential of low wet-bearing strengths?

-         Has the RMS conducted proper and thorough assessments of both current and future soil and landscape factors and processes in order to reassure the Scone community that the Scone Bypass is to be constructed and maintained appropriately?

-         Has the RMS considered the likelihood of gullying as a result of poor sodic soil management in the Scone bypass area which could also affect many hectares of adjoining property owners’ land?

-         What is the Scone Bypass’ design life?

-         What protections are in place for the stand of river red gums which are an endangered ecological community (EEC)?

-         Are the RMS engineers properly and expertly acquainted with soil science?

-         In light of these questions, can the Upper Hunter Shire Council seek an interim injunction to halt the building of the Scone Bypass until the Scone community has the answers to their questions? I, myself, feel very poorly briefed on this matter, and still wonder why Scone is getting a bypass when Muswellbrook and Singleton are not, notwithstanding that both Muswellbrook and Singleton wanted them so much more that we did. We wanted safe and efficient passage for emergency vehicles.

6.     Refugees

-         In light of recent distressing images of children being separated from their parents at US borders, it comes as a salutary reminder that our human rights record for asylum seekers and refugees is none too kind. Would council consider writing to our local member to suggest that he makes representations on our behalf to close down the Manus Island and Naru refugee processing centres, and to open up refugee processing centres here in Australia in order to administer refugee/asylum seeding claims. I understand that we need to have limits on immigration but to outsource this sensitive process overseas where matters are conducted behind closed doors is horrific and inhumane, and it does not sit well with me that it is done in my name, our name.

My Councillor Questions 28 May 2018

  

  At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 28 May 2018, I asked:

1. Has Muswellbrook Shire Council responded to our request to stop calling their libraries the “Upper Hunter Regional Library?”

Response: The General Manager replied that Council has contacted Muswellbrook Shire Council requesting that this be considered.

Update:

A letter has been sent to Muswellbrook Shire Council regarding their use of the name ‘Upper Hunter Regional Library’. A response is yet to be received.

2. When the Warbirds Attraction is built, what is the guarantee that the warbirds stay with the structure?

Response: The General Manager replied that this would be part of the contractual negotiations.

My Shire Notes from June 2018: People, planet ... and plastic pollution

Image credit: Tangaroa Blue Foundation, published in The Guardian

It is a salutary thought to think that every single bit of plastic ever made is still in existence today somewhere in the world … and that it will never go away.

And yet still our fruit and vegetables and many of our groceries come unnecessarily wrapped in single-use plastic which we then put in single-use plastic bags in order to cart everything home only to throw away all the single-use plastic involved once we have unpacked our shopping.

Sadly this plastic then ends up in our landfills, our soil and our waterways, and sadly this plastic universally pollutes and invariably harms our wildlife.

Did you know that eight million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in freshwater and marine environments each year? Eight million tonnes …

So congratulations are definitely in order for Woolworths and Coles on their decision to no longer provide single-use plastic bags to shoppers at checkouts anymore.

From June 20 2018 and July 1 2018 respectively, Woolworths and Coles will commence their ‘no-more-plastic-bags’ pledge across the nation whether state governments have committed to this action or not.

Well done indeed.

The Upper Hunter Shire Council wholeheartedly supports Woolworths’ and Coles’ commitment to eliminating single-use plastic bags, and understands that customers who don’t bring their own bags will have access to a range of alternative shopping bag options, including thicker reusable plastic bags at 15 cents a bag and of course the fabulous free Boomerang Bags made in the Upper Hunter Shire and regularly supplied to Woolworths and Coles.

As we all transition to a grocery shopping experience without plastic bags, the Upper Hunter Shire Council urges Upper Hunter Shire residents to also think about seeking out products that are made from materials packaged in recyclable, compostable and/or reusable materials in order to reduce our plastic ‘consumption’ as much as we possibly can.

As we set about removing plastic in our lives, we could think of it in terms of the five Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Re-use, Repurpose, Recycle, because these actions save landfill space, save money, and definitely help to reduce greenhouse emissions.

There's also a growing grassroots movement across the world to ban plastic straws, with nearly 100 venues Australia-wide already having phased out single-use straws - now I would love to see that happen in the Upper Hunter Shire, along with the banning of cotton buds.