Suzanne Pritchard, Greens candidate for Lake Macquarie wants climate change to be the number one issue when votes are cast on Saturday.
”Whilst the election has been a chance to highlight all the issues that a State government deals with the most pressing issue of our time, the Climate Change point has been underplayed, overlooked and avoided by the major parties who are committed to business as usual with their coal companions” Suzanne said
“Our future can only be assured if we start looking beyond coal, not just our immediate future in terms of jobs and regional security but we are in a critical time for implementing decisions for the future of the planet, and it starts where the coal is dug out of the ground, and the energy is produced”
The Greens support a just transitions package, funded through carbon taxes, that would mean coal industry communities will have access to renewable energy jobs of the future.
The Greens want to make NSW a leader in the manufacturing and export of renewable energy technologies.
“We can be at the forefront of this new age of renewable energy, it could be a very exciting future with real promise and action to address the most pressing issue humanity is facing.”
The Greens support a moratorium on any new coal infrastructure. A one kilometre exclusion zone around water sources must be applied to all long-wall coal mines. Protecting our catchments is crucial.
"In Lake Macquarie campaigning for fairer and more sustainable communities will be vital otherwise we may push our environmental gains to the point of no return. You can’t have development without infrastructure or services, a point that has been missed in the regional strategy.
“The Lower Hunter Regional (development) Strategy proposes massive increases in the population over the next few years. This will be nothing more than a developer’s land grab if there are not suitable processes in place to allow the community to respond. If the Minister has undisputed powers of approval the community will be exhausted and silenced by having to continually fight the same battles.”
The Greens have a credible record of keeping the government accountable to the community not the corporations with the fastest EFTPOS machines or fattest chequebooks.”
Donations to political parties from developers must end and the powers of the Planning Minister to approve development without due process repealed.
Voting in the State election is optional preferential. Every number that is placed on the ballot paper makes a statement about what the community wants. A Green primary vote can send a very strong message to the major parties that they need to raise their environmental credentials. The vote then gets counted again and again depending on how many numbers are marked. A Green vote is not a wasted vote it is reused, adding value to the election process
Showing posts with label Lower Hunter Regional Strategy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lower Hunter Regional Strategy. Show all posts
Monday, 19 March 2007
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
More forum fun...Hunter Business Chamber Forum
I have a business. I’m the major share holder, company director, and have been voted employee of the year for the last 10 years. It’s a small business, actually it’s a micro-business but even so I have all the reporting requirements of being in business, I understand what it takes in time and human resources to keep a business viable
At this forum a list of 9 issues were provided to address which the three Greens Candidates present shared in discussing. I covered Regional economic stability in light of environmental pressure on coal and Reliable public infrastructure.
It was interesting that not one other candidate even mentioned Regional Economic Stability in the light of environmental pressure on coal and yet our future depends upon considereing it.
If you had to identify the major point of difference between the Greens and the other parties it is we believe whole heartedly there is a future beyond coal, a viable, jobs rich, skilled manufacturing industry based around renewable energy technologies.
The Stern Review and the IPCC both made it clear that we must reduce emissions from coal now, not in ten years time. The renewable energy industry offers a larger and more resilient source of jobs. Each unit of energy generated by wind creates four times more jobs than coal. A planned transition to renewable energy would swamp the number of jobs lost in a phase out of the coal industry and would address high levels of youth unemployment.
Between the mid 1980s and 2004 the coal industry shed 18,000 jobs largely because of technological changes. Based on the experiences in other countries where governments have taken responsibility to ensure a planned transition from coal to renewables, a conservative estimate is that 25,000 additional jobs could be created over the next 10 years.
The Greens are about providing a future, not only for people but for the planet. The impacts of burning coal are changing our world and this region is making quite a contribution to that change. We need to accept some responsibility and provide leadership, the business community needs to be supported in this transition, if we don’t start now, in the next 4 years we’ll miss the boat and the opportunities that were on board it.
Reliable public infrastructure was a big issue. A viable interchange with a bridge to provide better access for all users and an integrated transport plan drew lots of questions.
Whether it’s hospitals, housing, buses or bike tracks, reliable public infrastructure can maintain quality employment, lead to reductions in energy and protect the public interest.
Public infrastructure is vital not only to pick up the pieces that for one reason or another don’t make the corporate cut but to provide services for all people so that everyone can continue to live comfortably and therefore contribute to and feel a part of society.
A strong public sector use to be the prime training ground for apprentices and trainees, with the decline in the public sector we have also seen an increase in the skills shortage. The role of government is to prepare for the future not plunder the good planning of the past.
It has become increasingly apparent the there is a conflict in allowing profit driven corporations to provide necessary public services for example ABC Learning, Child Care Corporation Last year received 44% ( $278 million) of its revenue from taxpayer funded subsidies for child care. The Australia Institute found corporate centres provided poorer quality care than community based centres. ABC Learning staff expressed concerns about low food budgets, onerous cleaning duties and paperwork. Only 15% of ABC staff said their centres hired more staff than the legal minimum, compared with 40% at non-profit centres.
The Greens support
At this forum a list of 9 issues were provided to address which the three Greens Candidates present shared in discussing. I covered Regional economic stability in light of environmental pressure on coal and Reliable public infrastructure.
It was interesting that not one other candidate even mentioned Regional Economic Stability in the light of environmental pressure on coal and yet our future depends upon considereing it.
If you had to identify the major point of difference between the Greens and the other parties it is we believe whole heartedly there is a future beyond coal, a viable, jobs rich, skilled manufacturing industry based around renewable energy technologies.
The Stern Review and the IPCC both made it clear that we must reduce emissions from coal now, not in ten years time. The renewable energy industry offers a larger and more resilient source of jobs. Each unit of energy generated by wind creates four times more jobs than coal. A planned transition to renewable energy would swamp the number of jobs lost in a phase out of the coal industry and would address high levels of youth unemployment.
Between the mid 1980s and 2004 the coal industry shed 18,000 jobs largely because of technological changes. Based on the experiences in other countries where governments have taken responsibility to ensure a planned transition from coal to renewables, a conservative estimate is that 25,000 additional jobs could be created over the next 10 years.
The Greens are about providing a future, not only for people but for the planet. The impacts of burning coal are changing our world and this region is making quite a contribution to that change. We need to accept some responsibility and provide leadership, the business community needs to be supported in this transition, if we don’t start now, in the next 4 years we’ll miss the boat and the opportunities that were on board it.
Reliable public infrastructure was a big issue. A viable interchange with a bridge to provide better access for all users and an integrated transport plan drew lots of questions.
Whether it’s hospitals, housing, buses or bike tracks, reliable public infrastructure can maintain quality employment, lead to reductions in energy and protect the public interest.
Public infrastructure is vital not only to pick up the pieces that for one reason or another don’t make the corporate cut but to provide services for all people so that everyone can continue to live comfortably and therefore contribute to and feel a part of society.
A strong public sector use to be the prime training ground for apprentices and trainees, with the decline in the public sector we have also seen an increase in the skills shortage. The role of government is to prepare for the future not plunder the good planning of the past.
It has become increasingly apparent the there is a conflict in allowing profit driven corporations to provide necessary public services for example ABC Learning, Child Care Corporation Last year received 44% ( $278 million) of its revenue from taxpayer funded subsidies for child care. The Australia Institute found corporate centres provided poorer quality care than community based centres. ABC Learning staff expressed concerns about low food budgets, onerous cleaning duties and paperwork. Only 15% of ABC staff said their centres hired more staff than the legal minimum, compared with 40% at non-profit centres.
The Greens support
- public funding, ownership and control of public schools, hospitals and transport;
- provision of core government services by government enterprises, not out-sourcing;
a complete ban on PPPs for essential infrastructure and services including school buildings, roads, transport and prisons; - public ownership of the NSW electricity industry and water utilities; and
- where possible, a return to public ownership of privatised public services, infrastructure (e.g. motorways) and enterprises.
A regional transport strategy was discussed and the Greens position was to implement the Five Point Plan to improve public transport in the Lower Hunter .
- Integrate the ticketing between the buses, trains and ferries for everyone, so commuters can buy a single ticket for their entire journey. Currently this is available to some pensioners, so it can be done and it can be expanded to include all commuters.
- Integrate the timetables between buses, trains and ferries, so commuters can catch the bus to the train station and know that they won’t have just missed the train. This is not rocket science but it does require good planning.
- Establish a locally-controlled Hunter Transport Authority to look after roads, rail, buses, taxis and ferries. Too often decisions about the transport in our region are made in Sydney. We need local control. If the budgets of the Roads and Traffic Authority, State Rail and the Buses and Ferries were combined into a single authority then we could truly get integrated decision-making.
- Develop an Integrated Transport Plan for the Future developed by local expertise, encompassing the whole of the Hunter, with the Newcastle rail line as the spine of the system. With a population of 500,000, the Hunter is a genuinely self-contained regional area. The Plan needs to include public transport to the airport from Newcastle and Port Stephens.
- Set a public transport patronage target of 20% by 2020. The current level is about 5%. The new Hunter Transport Authority would need to develop cost-effective strategies to increase the patronage level by 2020. Especially with the climate crisis we need to make transport more efficient and that means getting more cars off the road. There’s a big benefit in having less cars on the road. It not only saves the individual in petrol, parking and other costs, but also saves the community in lives, health impacts and environmental benefits.
Wednesday, 21 February 2007
Over the top development
Lake Macquarie Greens candidate, Suzanne Pritchard has been supporting the Toronto Brighton-Excelsior Action group to oppose a 56 unit development spanning the Toronto ridgeline that is setting a frightening precedent for the local community.
“This development is laying the foundations for the future of this community and it’s a future that is not wanted,” Suzanne said.
The Greens believe that the urban and regional built environments will continue to be degraded unless there is a complete overhaul of the current laws, codes and practices. This will not be possible until there is a complete ban on developer donations to political parties. The public interest must become the dominant consideration in all planning and development decisions.
“The Lower Hunter Regional Strategy which will be guiding development in our region for the foreseeable future is a flawed document with a flawed process. It overrides the Local Environment Planning and it gives the Planning Minister Frank Sartor indisputable control over all development. He can rezone and approve development with a sweep of his pen and in the blink of an eye,” Suzanne said.
The Greens are working towards restricting the Planning Minister’s ability to ‘call in’ and approve developments.
“The situation at Toronto is set to be replayed constantly throughout the city unless planning laws are changed. It’s an enormous ask to expect the local community to have to keep fighting the same battles over and over again,” Suzanne said.
The Greens are working for placing the onus of proof on the developer, to establish that the development does not damage local amenity, heritage, environment, transport and infrastructure facilities.
“The final version of the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy bore little resemblance to that which was put out for community consultation. The development lobby had access to comment and Frank Sartor long after the community were shut out of further input. The original intent of the document as a planning instrument became nothing more than a land use plan. The Greens are calling for a re-exhibition to allow genuine comment on the proposed document.
“This development is laying the foundations for the future of this community and it’s a future that is not wanted,” Suzanne said.
The Greens believe that the urban and regional built environments will continue to be degraded unless there is a complete overhaul of the current laws, codes and practices. This will not be possible until there is a complete ban on developer donations to political parties. The public interest must become the dominant consideration in all planning and development decisions.
“The Lower Hunter Regional Strategy which will be guiding development in our region for the foreseeable future is a flawed document with a flawed process. It overrides the Local Environment Planning and it gives the Planning Minister Frank Sartor indisputable control over all development. He can rezone and approve development with a sweep of his pen and in the blink of an eye,” Suzanne said.
The Greens are working towards restricting the Planning Minister’s ability to ‘call in’ and approve developments.
“The situation at Toronto is set to be replayed constantly throughout the city unless planning laws are changed. It’s an enormous ask to expect the local community to have to keep fighting the same battles over and over again,” Suzanne said.
The Greens are working for placing the onus of proof on the developer, to establish that the development does not damage local amenity, heritage, environment, transport and infrastructure facilities.
“The final version of the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy bore little resemblance to that which was put out for community consultation. The development lobby had access to comment and Frank Sartor long after the community were shut out of further input. The original intent of the document as a planning instrument became nothing more than a land use plan. The Greens are calling for a re-exhibition to allow genuine comment on the proposed document.
Friday, 16 February 2007
56 units…Get used to it!
Members of a residents group opposing a 56 unit development straddling Brighton Avenue to Excelsior Parade were told they “better get use to it (medium density zoning)” in a recent meeting they had with the developers and real estate agents.
The Toronto Brighton-Excelsior Action Group has reformed and are opposing a six and four storey high density application on the grounds that it is not in keeping with the existing character of the area, goes against the intent of LMCC’s Lifestyle 2020 and sets a disastrous precedent for future development.
“The developers told us that they were within the Council’s development guidelines but we have identified numerous breaches of the development Control Plans and associated guidelines,” Greg Tate residents’ spokesperson said.
“The medium density zoning is aimed at encouraging people to walk to town and yet there is nowhere to walk safely, the footpaths are unformed, the road is so narrow that if there are parked cars the traffic is forced over the centre lines, and if you’ve got a pram or ride a bike it’s a major risk going over the hills.”
“ This development is in an area which Council has classified as a Scenic Management zone where buildings should not extend above the physical ridge line and are limited to three storeys. This application would be highly visible from across the Lake and as far away as Warners Bay and once and for all break the ridgeline corridor,” Greg said.
“The developers told us that this is the first of this ‘new’ style of development allowed under the LEP and they couldn’t see why we were upset. The ridge from Toronto to Carey Bay has now become a developer’s goldmine and if this application is approved it will be the start of high density, high rise buildings stretching from Toronto to Carey Bay.”
“This is not why we have chosen to live in this area. Over 60 people attended our community meeting and over a hundred objections have been lodged at Council, which is not bad considering we only found out about the application the week after Christmas and had three weeks to comment. It wasn’t a very good way to start the year.”
“The State Government’s Lower Hunter Regional Strategy is planning for 117,000 new dwellings in the region in the next 25 years, a lot of them in Lake Macquarie yet the infrastructure isn’t here or even in the plan. This is well and truly putting the cart before the horse”
“We’re not opposed to development, but we are against inappropriate development and we’re fighting for everyone in the area to keep the values and character of the area intact.”
“It looks like we are going to have to fight the same battle over and over again unless LMCC can make it clear that developers must respect the rules and guidelines which were formulated in consultation with the community,” Greg said.
The Toronto Brighton-Excelsior Action Group has reformed and are opposing a six and four storey high density application on the grounds that it is not in keeping with the existing character of the area, goes against the intent of LMCC’s Lifestyle 2020 and sets a disastrous precedent for future development.
“The developers told us that they were within the Council’s development guidelines but we have identified numerous breaches of the development Control Plans and associated guidelines,” Greg Tate residents’ spokesperson said.
“The medium density zoning is aimed at encouraging people to walk to town and yet there is nowhere to walk safely, the footpaths are unformed, the road is so narrow that if there are parked cars the traffic is forced over the centre lines, and if you’ve got a pram or ride a bike it’s a major risk going over the hills.”
“ This development is in an area which Council has classified as a Scenic Management zone where buildings should not extend above the physical ridge line and are limited to three storeys. This application would be highly visible from across the Lake and as far away as Warners Bay and once and for all break the ridgeline corridor,” Greg said.
“The developers told us that this is the first of this ‘new’ style of development allowed under the LEP and they couldn’t see why we were upset. The ridge from Toronto to Carey Bay has now become a developer’s goldmine and if this application is approved it will be the start of high density, high rise buildings stretching from Toronto to Carey Bay.”
“This is not why we have chosen to live in this area. Over 60 people attended our community meeting and over a hundred objections have been lodged at Council, which is not bad considering we only found out about the application the week after Christmas and had three weeks to comment. It wasn’t a very good way to start the year.”
“The State Government’s Lower Hunter Regional Strategy is planning for 117,000 new dwellings in the region in the next 25 years, a lot of them in Lake Macquarie yet the infrastructure isn’t here or even in the plan. This is well and truly putting the cart before the horse”
“We’re not opposed to development, but we are against inappropriate development and we’re fighting for everyone in the area to keep the values and character of the area intact.”
“It looks like we are going to have to fight the same battle over and over again unless LMCC can make it clear that developers must respect the rules and guidelines which were formulated in consultation with the community,” Greg said.
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