Couldn't believe what I was seeing on the ABC nsw news tonight, and I thought Australia had become environmentally responsible after all the habitat and wildlife loss we have suffered over the centuries. Planed mining under pristine swamp habitat in the Blue Mountains area that would cause the swamps to go dry and the soil to sink, how catastrophic would that be, we've lost so much already around Sydney, do we need to be so completely wreckless. Why are the politicians allowing this destruction to continue.
the article is here - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-14/concerns-over-springvale-mine-expansion-swamps-near-lithgow/7165106?section=nsw
Peter
The NSW Nature Conservation Society is working hard to prevent this desecration of the environment. I understand they go to court very soon to stop this monstrous outrage. Hopefully, they will be totally successful in their efforts to prevent this extension to the Springvale mine.
On another story I heard this morning that South Australia is planning to become a nuclear waste dumping ground for the rest of the world for just a few new jobs, it seems these current bunch of politicians are taking us from bad to worse.
For Australian birds, natives=life, exotics=death, so do them a favour and go plant some natives and save their lives.
Well, so far I've heard the Commission into things nuclear for SA has recommended a nuclear dump industry as a way of producing a thousand or so jobs. The Commission believes SA can overcome any of the environmental & social issues that might (ha! ha!) arise but believes a nuclear dump industry would need bi-partisan political support. So it seems there are a few hurdles to overcome before yet another travesty is foisted upon us.
On the bright side, the Commission thought a nuclear power industry in SA isn't viable at present. This lack of viability seems to be based on short term economic grounds rather than environmental & long term economic grounds.
The establishment of the Commission, in my opinion, was driven by the huge SA budget deficit rather than any environmental, health or other considerations. Of course, the SA government can adopt or ignore any of the Commission's recommendations.
I haven't heard yet of any reactions from environmentally responsible groups or the public at large but I'm confident that those responsible for the creation of nuclear waste won't have the dump built within a bull's roar of their backyards.
Watch this space.
"Huge South Australian budget deficit", aren't these politicians costing us too much, we need to dump them instead, in that case I would be all for a dump, but would anyone want them near them.
For Australian birds, natives=life, exotics=death, so do them a favour and go plant some natives and save their lives.
The reasons for the SA budget deficit are complex & deeply embedded in the way we like to live. The problem with dumping the politicians is that another lot quickly take their place with egos just as big as the lot they replaced. Meanwhile, the very thing our economy rests on, the environment, receives only token support in some cases & ridicule & extreme harrassment in many others.
The argument for a nuclear dump, or "scientific processing facility" as I think the chief commissioner insisted on describing it, rests largely on economic grounds. However, these are short term economic grounds & take no account of the long term costs to the environment & therefore to the economy.
There is also the argument that Australia is a great place for a nuclear dump because it is geologically secure. The Commission clearly shows little understanding of plate tectonics & ignores the fact that the Earth's crust is constantly on the move. Australia's might not be moving as fast as other places on the planet at the moment but it is on the move. Yet again, advocates of a nuclear dump in SA are unable to think long term. Little wonder, perhaps, when their heads are stuck in the immediacy of their dumb phones & tablets.
I feel an email to the Premier coming on.
not all nuclear waste is generated from the nuclear energy industry
there is a thing called nuclear medicine, next time you visit a large hospital look for their medical imaging or radiology department, if you find a nuclear medicine sign you should know that there will be a bunker on that site
I would have a preference for a large well positioned well managed waste dump than for the myriad of small bunkers that are currently used or we as a country should cease this health investigation
Peter
Would it seem reasonable if a counrty wants to go down the nucler path they are responsible for the waste in their counrty Pehraps the politicians who want Aus to be a dump can offer up their families and future failies to work the facility incase there is a mishap.
These grubs we vote in take this country and it's people totally for granted. They see it for nothing more than a stomping ground to make personal family wealth for the most part. We vote people in, parties change who we vote because their lust for power and greed have them swapping who they feel will next best smooth the path for their woful actions. These men and women of greed, ego, and power then turn vandictive when shafted by their parties. They distract from any hope of running the country, and give the media edless fodder to sell negativity. If any good comes from it, is that it exposes their corrupt colleges ripping us all off. Time will tell is Turnbull put women and young pople in the ministry for populatity or genuine interest. Time has dealt with Labout and their circus.
It is spin chilling what the Libs think of the environment, I know because I an exposed to a sitting member in the thick of above. I can tell you the environment is useless a dollar can be made. Utterly useless in their eyes, it has no value. If they say different than they are being a typicall poltician and "bleeping" in your pocket. I'd imagine if Labour didn't get into bed with the Green they would have the same view.
doublebar, now my rant is over, you are wright. Our lust for jobs and mining blinds us to what we have done to this country in just 227 years. Imagine if we make it to a 1000. I plan to send NSW Nature Conservation Society $100 when I get paid.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
Most politicians are the product of an elitist private education system, they are brain washed from an early age into believing that money gives you the right to power and control and therefore you must do whatever it takes to make more money and if that's at the expense of the entire planet, well that's ok to them, that's why they keep denying climate change. They see themselves as above everything including the environment, to them it's just something that is there to be dominated, used and abused, take from it has much as you can and then turn it into a dump. They don't care.
The best thing to do is, if you love the environment, to save it yourself. Don't rely on politicians. Next time you're invited to vote for them show you're disapproval of them by folding that worthless piece of paper and leaving it blank. They know they don't need your vote anyway to do whatever they want, but at least they don't have your approval. People addicted to power hate being ignored, it drives them crazy.
For Australian birds, natives=life, exotics=death, so do them a favour and go plant some natives and save their lives.
Sadly from what I have seen they are to arrogant to be offended by invalid voting. Rather its seen as a wasted opportunity by a stupid and ill-informed person. No way its seen as a protest against their responsibility, position, and poor performance.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
jason & doublebar
please refer to my post #8, did you know that there is nuclear medicine, given your stated opinions are you advocating that medicine cease?
or are yu being hypocritical by ignoring someone who does not have the same opinion as you?
Peter
well, if if makes you happy pacman, and to be polically correct I am sorry as a public poster I did not address your opinion directly with my other posts. However I agree with you. One central dump for medical nuclear waste instead of hundreds around the country is a sensible idea. But sadly, getting 6 States and 2 Territories to work it out will take plenty of will, and plenty of politics I'd imagine. As I have said, if it's our waste than we need to deal with it.
That however is a little different than some sort of global nuclear waste dump. Personally I don't feel comfortable with Australia being a global dump, regardless of jobs, and regardless of investment. If you don't like my opinion of politicians and political parties playing games with this counrty than so be it. It's just my view, why not chuck yours out there.
But just consider this, if Julia Gillard, Australias first PM to come to power however was not publically elected, and then removed but not by the people; had got Australia signed off for a nuclear dump, then what have we become. The Liberals who said they wouldn't, have played the same game. And Abbott is doing what Rudd did, being vandictive and disruptive because thay have virtually no power anymore. Something needs to change with our politics in this country, as this two party preferd system is like a rich kids circus.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
I know a few people on here support this mob, and I have not posted looking for donations, rather to highlight if nature is given a chance, it can come back and do very well for itself. Perhaps mining sites could become similar centuaries after they are finished, just food for thought.
Now there are mines that are ok and mines that are not. And locations like wetlands I'm not so sure any activity in them is any good. And companies from two bit to the biggest would need to comply to their responsibilities. They should also have some big cash deposit up front for the back end work.
I have a friend in sand mining, just an employee who heads a maintenance gang. The company is not huge, but does all right for itself and I don't think anyone is complaining. It supports a local community with public infracture and a few jobs if anyone is interested. Before they till a grain of sand they grid out a sizable area. Count flora and fauna numbers, collect seeds, identify fragile or too hard areas, and make a decision as to make a start or not. After they have finished works, they plant the same species to the numbers counted in a square meter in the past, then monitor growth and animal return for 10 years. Thay even count the ants. Now this is a responsible company, and sadly I beleive this type of behaviour is well deleted from public media as it kind of makes some mining sound OK. The government is closing down this mine in 2 years because it is popular with the people, perhaps the minority, and the Greens must have them over a barrel well and proper. It will be turned into a National Park afterwards which is good, but my use of NP is increasing becomming humans bollarded or locked out, feral animals welcome. If a company has to go to this amount of work to comply currently; then adding a fence, some sort of access point to elimiate ferals returning, then evict all ferals and monitor for 10 years maybe not impossible to achieve.
Historic translocation establishes new
population of endangered Numbats
18 February, 2016
Dear Jason
The future looks brighter for one of Australia’s most endangered mammals with the establishment of a new population of Numbats at AWC’s Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, on the edge of the wheatbelt in southwestern Australia.
In a cross-continental operation carried out with military-style precision, AWC’s dedicated field staff have successfully translocated nine Numbats from the largest feral cat-free area in Australia (AWC’s Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary in western NSW) to the second largest cat-free area in Australia at Mt Gibson.
After months of careful planning and preparation, the operation began on a hot night in mid-January with the AWC team at Scotia working overnight to trap the Numbats, preparing them for take off at first light in a specially equipped light plane. After flying for 12 hours across the Nullabor, the Numbats landed safely at Mt Gibson and were released late in the afternoon into carefully selected logs within the sanctuary’s diverse eucalypt woodlands.
AWC ecologists are radio-tracking each Numbat daily to monitor the success of the translocation. A month after their arrival at Mt Gibson, all of the Numbats are alive and settling in to their new home.
The Mt Gibson Project is expected to increase the global Numbat population by almost 25%
The Numbat was once widespread across southern Australia (including Mt Gibson) but has disappeared from 99% of its range, primarily as a result of cat and fox predation. The Numbat now has an estimated population of less than 1,000 mature individuals, highlighting the need for urgent action such as the establishment of new, secure populations within their former range.
With additional translocations to ensure a genetically diverse founder group, the Numbat population at Mt Gibson is expected to grow to around 240 animals – an increase in the global Numbat population of nearly 25%. AWC already protects over 250 Numbats at Scotia and Yookamurra.
As AWC supporters will be aware, Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world. Sadly, the decline in our mammal fauna is continuing, with almost 30% of surviving terrestrial mammals (excluding bats) threatened with extinction. Feral cats are the single greatest threat to our mammals.
A critical step in halting and reversing the decline in our unique mammals, such as the Numbat, is the establishment of a network of feral predator-free areas across Australia. With your support, AWC is leading the way in efforts to protect Australia’s mammals from feral predators such as cats and foxes.
Thank you to our partners such as the Western Australian Government, Lotterywest and Perth Zoo (who we work with at Mt Gibson), as well as our supporters around Australia. Watch out for an update on our Mt Gibson project in the next edition of Wildlife Matters.
Yours sincerely
Atticus Fleming
Chief Executive
PS. Read about our Newhaven project, involving the largest feral cat eradication project (by area) in the world, by clicking here.
Images by B. Warchomij
Please help AWC protect Australia’s threatened wildlife from feral cats
Mt Gibson is one of a network of large feral-free areas being established across Australia by AWC. For many species, these feral cat-free areas will be the difference between survival and extinction: feral predator-free areas have already prevented at least 6 mammal extinctions.
Your support for the Mt Gibson Project will help protect endangered mammals such as Numbats, Woylies and Bilbies and continue the quest for a long-term solution to the feral cat crisis.
Phone: +61 8 9380 9633
Email: info@australianwildlife.org
Visit us at: www.australianwildlife.org
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
How wonderful that Australian Wildlife Conservancy is a leader in establishing a cat free culture in Australia.
On the nuclear dump issue: What a shame that when the nuclear medicine industry was being established those responsible for its establishment apparently didn't put the effort into effective nuclear waste disposal at the same time. To establish one without the other is quite irresponsible I would have thought.
Met an engineer on the weekend who desings coal mines for a job. He was saying that part of a getting a lease granted is they have to do 3 environmental studies over various seasons and years. If they find a particular honey eater for example, the ratio was 12 to 1 acres of land. So they had to buy, set a side, and give to the government 12 acres of untouched land up front as compensation for the one acre the bird lived on. Don't get me wrong I am not an advocate for mines. But hearing how it is from someone in the industry puts a little faith that something is done for nature, and not all twisted for the mnines profits. Not knowing my birds very well I can not say if the honey eater may well be almost extinct so the chances of finding it are slim, but he didn't seem anti environment. Just mentioned its a long and very complicated process to get a mine going and times were tuff.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
Lets not forget the share holders, they want a share of the profits before the needs of any bird or tree are satisfied, like for a new bmw or porsche, maybe even that 5 star resort holiday. In regards to laws, they're only words on worthless bits of paper that can be changed to suit with a wink and a smile, behind those boardroom doors where secret meetings are held and under the table wheeling and dealing takes place. If you believe what those sly businessmen and politicians tell you, you'll believe anything.
For Australian birds, natives=life, exotics=death, so do them a favour and go plant some natives and save their lives.
I can sympathise with your sarcasim doublebar. I wonder if some of what you say happened on a developement site that went ahead over the road from where I did live. The environmental study identified a rare tree that only seeded every second year. But it was not enough to have the driveway for the estate moved the 3 meters required to save the tree. The site's environmental officer reckond they were not rare. But that all depends if you are talking Brisbane's western suburbs or Northern NSW. And even sader when it was seeding no access was granted to collect any.
A dozen heavy earth moving machines at $800 to $1000 a day there for years, but could not afford the estimated 400K to move and monitor the tree. Quite disturbing to see 100 years felled and mulched in 10 minutes. All funded by a Superannuation company I was told. Truth be known we are all probably guilty of such events if you own shares.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
I'm unconvinced that miners have the environment close to their hearts, regardless of the law. Collapsed tailings dams, toxic spills, contaminated groundwater & dumping of radioactive waste in a national park certainly don't inspire my confidence in the mining industry. And I'm not sure that the penalties handed out are an accurate reflection of the seriousness of these sorts of events. Rather, I'm more confident that any penalties handed down are seen as part of the cost of doing business.
Agreed woko. However still took the oportunity to broadcast seed into the grass and suggested as a way to improve their public image, they could follow AWC lead when a mine is expired. The mines won't stop their businesses, and the government will do what it does, so other ideas need to come into play.
Ol Turnbull wants ingenuity, so I'll let him know. Sadly I think suggesting ingenuity for something that can't speak for itself is on the other side of the spectrum to what he is looking for.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks