"From memory, this is the biggest petition in this electorate" ...
In response to a comment posted on this blog here which queried the existence of the petition opposing the Mayor's controversial recycled sewage project, here it is.
This was the petition at the time it was presented to MP Macfarlane, MP Hunt (MP Turnbull's predecessor assisting with water), Prime Minister John Howard and the National Water Commission.
It has since grown to around 10,000 signatures.
The Chronicle - 27 January 2006:
A petition of 7,082 signatures, which now is nearing 10,000, opposing the water recycling for human consumption was sent to John Howard, Peter Beattie and Toowoomba City Council.
The Chronicle - 8 October 2005:
Thousands sign the line in giant petition
THE significance of 7082 signatures doesn't really hit home until you see the thickness of the bundle, scrawled over with name after name after name.
Significance which Federal Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane found impossible to ignore yesterday when presented with the petition by Citizens Against Drinking Sewage co-ordinator Rosemary Morley.
"From memory, this is the biggest petition in this electorate," Mr Macfarlane said.
"The biggest ones I can remember before had about 2000 signatories, and were on emotive issues such as after the September 11 attacks.
"More than 10% of Toowoomba's population has signed this; it’s evidence of a very significant issue in this society."
Mrs Morley said copies of the petition had also been sent to Prime Minister John Howard and Premier Peter Beattie and other key players.
"In five and a half weeks we've collected more than 7000 signatures – but it's not closed yet," she warned.
The petition won't close until TCC announces a public meeting on this issue.
"This is visual representation of the opposition to the recycled water project."
Mrs Morley is hopeful the petition will ultimately attract more than 10,000 signatures.
According to the blog comment, MP Macfarlane hasn't seen the petition. Why then is he saying: "From memory, this is the biggest petition in this electorate"?
posted by Concerned Ratepayer at 7:03 PM
4 Comments:
If PureGenius can figure out who to call (which doesn't require a genius) he/she can look at the CADS petition, the original 7000+ and the chokker brown envelopes with more pages that no-one has bothered to count yet. This offer is in the interests of transparency and honesty in this debate.
However I think this issue has moved on from petitions into the State Election ballot boxes.
11:27 PM, March 06, 2006
I think it's a "he" and it's not too hard to figure out who it is.
11:55 PM, March 06, 2006
PureGenius , ring the person who has the petition and I am sure she will show you the signitures!
6:14 AM, March 07, 2006
If no one has sighted this petition, then why was Mr MacFarlane office able to carry out an independent audit of it!
It has been publicily stated that the council will be presented with the petition when the TCC conducts a public meeting. The council doesn't want to do this, as they know full well that the majority of the public are against this project.
It is about time that people realised that the majority of the public are against this project when there is alternate water supplies.
For instance why is the Gold Coast still receiving Wivenhoe water when its dams are full? Toowoomba should now be allowed to have that allocation.
7:23 AM, March 07, 2006
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