Will Bimblebox Survive Clive Palmer's 'China First' Project?

Bimblebox - a review

Bimblebox is a compelling argument to protect the 8000ha Bimblebox Nature Refuge, located in central-western Queensland.  It is a very important Desert Uplands bioregion in an area that has very little protection.  Clive Palmer wants to start an open cut mine on the property.  The question is will Clive win the battle?  He won't if the passion for this majestic piece of land of Paula Cassoni's has anything do with it.   For more information on Bimblebox Nature Refuge go to http://bimblebox.org/  There is more to the documentary though.

Bimblebox explores the adverse impacts of open cut mining and coal seam gas on communities throughout Australia, while discussing solutions to the provision of energy.  The personal stories will move you to take action, for an example a farmer giving a plea for trucks not to enter a property and the town where the only resident left is unwilling to sell his house.  The queston to the wider public, as Australians do we want to disrespect people in the chase of quick cash, and no way of producing food in Australia in the years to come or become an important food bowl for the world where communities have a say on what occurs on the land?  I give the documentary a must see rating.  If you go to http://bimbleboxdocumentary.com/ you will find screenings of the movie.

This documentary was shown at the Nambour Civic Centre yesterday to a mix crowd of well informed people on the subject matter and to people wanting to know more what is occurring in our great country of ours.  Ellie Smith the Associate Producer at the end of the movie had a Q&A session.  The audience definitely wanted to aid the protection of Bimblebox. 

Dirty Fracking Business - a review.

Dirty Fracking Business is a must read book, especially if you don't know what CSG is and what is inherently wrong with it.  Author, Peter Ralph paints a very bleak picture for Australia's future in his book.  He foreshadows food shortages due to prime agricultural land being lost, water supplies in short supply and people's health put at risk due to the "Dirty Fracking Business" that is CSG. This is what awaits us if we don't become advocates for the environment, artisan water basins, fertile agricultural land and the way of life in rural communities.  The story he tells is not just of one town, it is a story that is taking place across numerous communities throughout Australia and the world.  The Coal Seam Gas Industry is in his line of sight.  The book will reinvigorate the already converted to stay the course.  It is though primarily directed at city folk to awaken them to the harsh reality of what CSG is doing to our country cousins and what is instore for them if they don't join the struggle.

If you want to know more about Coal Seam Gas, see Gasland or Bimblebox documentaries.  There are also numerous community groups that have been set up in order to save communities.  Lock the Gate in Australia is a National body, which Drew Hutton leads.  Drew Hutton provides the foreword to Peter Ralph's "Dirty Fracking Business".  The book is avaliable at all good book stores.

Mysterious happenings on rail network

Just imagine you get on a train and you are heading towards the capital city of a state.  You are enjoying your trip as you look out the window to see the scenic views along the way.  You pull out of a station to get going again.  All of a sudden the train stops and reverses back up the track.    You are wondering "what on earth is happening?"  No - someone hasn't hijacked the train.  The train is just going back to the previous station.  Why? To allow another train to pass of course.  That is what you get on the Sunshine Coast Rail Line between Beerburrum to Nambour.  That is just one of the bizarre things that occur on this stretch of train track.  If this occurred in Europe we would be a laughing stock, so you have to wonder what tourists say about us when they get home.
 
Mystery 2 - You turn up to the train station to catch a train.  You wait on the platform for the train, only to be told you missed the bus.  Yes, a bus.  Due to there being only one rail track, buses are used along the line.  This is because freight services are using the single train track.  44% of the train services are buses.  That amounts to 26 bus trips a day.  The Nambour to Caboolture stretch of track is just 54kms in length.  To take a bus and not the train adds at least 30 minutes to a commuters travel time. 

Travelling to Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast can be daunting.  Just think about those people that travel to Brisbane 5 days a week to work. They are squeezed in like sardines on the trains.  On occasions there is not even toilet facilities for the long haul trip.  I haven't travelled on the service for over 4 years now, but I understand the situation has not improved.  The situation is also likely to worsen as the population on the Sunshine Coast is set to boom.  The Sunshine Coast population in 2006 was around 297000 people, 2012 around 330000, by 2031 it is expected to reach half a million. 

Why is 2031 important, that is what the former Labor Government set as the target date to have the duplication completed by and what the new LNP Government has committed to do.  The LNP prior to their big win were giving the impression that they would be fast tracking the duplication.  There was the petition by John Connolly(contender for the Nicklin Seat) which was sponsored by Andrew Powell(Glass House Mountains MP and Environment Minister) calling for the duplication
to be resumed.  So, I hope they keep their promise.

The Bligh Government had planned on the duplication to be done earlier.  2009 saw the completion of the Caboolture to Beerburrum track duplication.  It also saw Labor lose the seat of Glass House Mountains in their re-election win.  24 days later the duplication project was shelved.  In 2012, there is a new LNP government.  Scott Emerson the Transport Minister announced an audit which will look at the duplication along with other public transport issues.   I asked Jeff Addison a Sunshine Coast Commuter Advocate, "what do you expect from the LNP's Rail Audit? Put it off til 2031 or is there hope?"  His reply, "There is hope. I'm certain of that."  The final report is out on June 30.  We will have to wait and see if these mysterious goings on will finally be resolved for Sunshine Coast Commuters.

A call for action on Nambour Hospital Car Parking

There is a lack of car parking in Nambour in general.  The car parking situation around the hospital though is a hot spot and the hospital staff and the local residents are just fed up.  This issue has been going on for far too long.
Staff should not have to walk to their car in the dark of night - Where is the duty of care?
If I visit a sick loved one, I am not going to leave their bedside just to move my car - Why should I be fined?  Recently, a friend of mine was fined $75 when he visited his mother at the hospital, who is fighting a battle against cancer.  Why cause people anguish when they have more important things to worry about like providing emotional support to those that they care for dearly? The LNP needs to keep their promise.
At the recent state election the LNP were saying that they are the only ones that can solve the parking problem in Nambour.  The LNPs John Connolly lost the battle for the seat of Nicklin though.  Despite this the LNP Government won't be getting a honeymoon period when they first sit in the new parliament later this week.  Indepedent MP Peter Wellington, will be doing everything he can to hold the LNP to their promise.  He has said that he will hold them to account and wants to see action within the first 100 days of the Newman Government. 
MP Peter Wellington has a lot of support in the Nicklin Electorate and outside of his electorate on this issue.  A number of people from across the Sunshine Coast have signed a petition calling for a multi-storey car park to be built.  Among the signatories include several of the former Mayoral candidates for the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, including Warren Blee, Debbie Blumel, Brett Winkler and Michael Bloyce.  At the first sitting of Parliament, Peter Wellington submitted the first of many to come petitions, I suspect.  The first batch had 178 signatures.  Plus on the first sitting day of the new parliuament an epetition wass launched.  The link is http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petitions  It will be over to the Health Minister, Lawrence Springborg to deliver.

Update - 30/5/12

Peter Wellington MP has submitted more signed petitions today(around 470).  The Sunshine Coast Daily is covering the story in the paper tomorrow.

Queenslanders to have their say on CSG

Queenslanders - Send an email to GasFieldscommission@qld.gov.au Subject: Submissions. These can be made prior to the 25th of May, 2012. I have come up with a tempplate to make it easier for everyone.

To: Gas Fields Commission

I, (insert name) want to see -

1. A 12 month moratorium on Coal Sam Gas Projects.

2. Protection of the Surat, Bowen and Galilee Basins to take precedence over any CSG operation.

3. Protection of our food bowl as electricity cannot provide food and water.

4. Farmers to be allowed to say no to access to mining companies.

5. Farmers are not to be held responsible if cattle or other animal stock damage mining company equipment.

6. Any CSG leaks must be reported within 2 hours to government authorities.

7. For every rogue well and leak, the company needs to pay hefty fines - note that retailers face hefty fines if they sell tobacco products to under age customers.

8. Farmers that lose their Organic status or their property values decline due to CSG extraction within the region to be compensated FAIRLY.

9. CEOs to face imprisonment if an environmental catastrophe occurs (Eg .The BP situation of the US coast) and if people become ill( Eg. Long term effects from Asbestos).

10. Extraction methods to be reported and detailed to the commission.

11. Trained Environment Protection Officers to inspect all wells on a regular basis and to ensure companies are compliant with up to date records.

12. A cost benefit analysis needs to be done before each project is permitted.
13. Protect the 8000 hectare Bimblebox Nature Refuge from 'China First'.

14. The Commission should consist of knowledgeable and experienced people. (Eg. Peter Ralph, Bob Irwin, Andrew Bartlett).

Kind Regards

(Insert Name)

PS Protect our food bowl and water supplies for future generations. There will be food shortages in the future as the world population heads towards 10 billion people. Don't let the Surat and Bowen Basins become infertile - our children and all future generations rely on us to make the right decisions today. The CSG will be there in 12 months time. Ensure the practices are safe first. Don't risk it, PLEASE!!!!