Australia to create wildlife corridor for animals and plants fleeing global warming ...

... because plants can run.

Excerpt from an amusing piece from the Daily Telegraph on climate change missionaries who say "do as I say, not as I do":

Year of the wealthy hypocrite

29 September 2007

Next Friday is Walk to Work Day, which, if I observe it, will deprive a taxi driver of my usual fare.

Being susceptible to enviro-tokenism, quite a few journalists should be joining in. It'll be a sad morning at the wheel for Tran and Nkomo. One wonders if cabbies might call for a No Press Day in response, shutting down Australia's electronic and print media to cut carbon emissions. The reduction would be substantially larger than anything achieved by walking to work.

Perhaps cabbies will turf us out of their Falcons as part of a taxi-based environmental initiative.

It'd only be fair. I'm no commie - well, not since the mid-80s - but I'm still made uneasy by rich folk bossing around their economic inferiors, or demanding others reduce their quality of life while stomping around like emperors themselves. Nobody likes a rich hypocrite. If this year has a theme (besides "Kevin 07") it must be "sanctimonious wealthy people telling others how to live" - which is pretty much the long-hand version of "Kevin 07" anyway.

Let's rock through the year thus far in cashed-up enviro-piety:

JANUARY: Canadian enviromonk David Suzuki sets out on a journey across his great white nation - staining it black with diesel fumes from his gigantic rock star-style tour bus. "It's kind of too fancy for our needs," admits Suzuki's press agent. "But it does the job."

FEBRUARY: Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth wins an Oscar, but the next morning a genuinely inconvenient truth is reported by the Tennessee Centre for Policy Research. "Gore's mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year," the Centre reveals.

"In his documentary, the former vice-president calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home . . . Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore's energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400kWh per month in 2006."

MARCH: Venezuelan dictator-in-training and leftist cuddle toy Hugo Chavez announces joint plans with China to ship oil, build refineries and expand crude production - reversing his previous views, expressed during a 2005 address to the UN, when Chavez railed against "an unstoppable increase of energy" and warned that "more carbon dioxide will inevitably be increased, thus warming our planet even more". The fat, pock-marked Kyoto ratifier also said he regretted causing pollution and asked developed nations to look more favourably on solar power.

APRIL: Four US Democrats vying for the presidency fly from Washington DC to South Carolina for a debate. Each candidate - Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Chris Dodd and Joe Biden - will happily talk your leg off about the crucial vitalness of addressing global warming. And each one of them flew in their own chartered jet. Also in April, climate scaredy cat Kevin Rudd flies to the US so he can be photographed with Rupert Murdoch.

MAY: Australian of the Year and national alarmist-in-chief Tim Flannery is photographed by The Age newspaper enjoying lunch with dizzy old Margaret Fulton. On the table before them is clearly shown a bottle of San Pellegrino mineral water - imported from Italy. This is a bad thing, as an environmental justice conference once admonished: "Buy locally grown, organic food, rather than buying conventionally grown or imported food." Those rules don't apply when you're the sort of high-roller who charges up to $50,000 per speech.

JUNE: Australian country singer and scary actress husband Keith Urban joins the "blockbuster line-up of performers" who'll play at Al Gore's Live Earth concert in New Jersey next month. "Global warming is something that will ultimately affect all of us on this planet," Urban says, "and if there is one thing that music can do, it is to bring people together despite their politics or differences."

One difference between most people and Urban: most people don't have a 12-cylinder, 300km/h, Gaia-torturing Bentley Continental GTC in their Sydney garage. Another difference between Urban and most people: Keith keeps a second Bentley at his US home. Way to save the planet, yodel boy.

JULY: This doesn't exactly fall under the category of hypocrisy, but it's worth noting that on July 9 Reuters reported: "Australia will create a wildlife corridor spanning the continent to allow animals and plants to flee the effects of global warming, scientists said on Monday."

We have plants that can run?

Also in July, Al Gore's Live Earth concerts starred Joss Stone - who asked staff to keep her car engine running while she gave interviews at Live Earth Johannesburg - and Madonna, who owns a fleet of cars including a Maybach, two Range Rovers, two Audi A8s and a Mini Cooper S. A concert highlights show broadcast in the US is out-rated by a soccer match between Peru and Argentina shown on a Spanish-language network.

AUGUST: Sydney Morning Herald environment writer Wendy Frew condemns wealth as a cause of global warming - "over-consumption is, literally, costing the Earth . . . Every $100 spent on clothing generates 70kg of greenhouse pollution" - then three days later wins the 2007 Australian Government Peter Hunt Eureka Prize for Environmental Journalism. The award is described as "Australia's most significant cash award for environmental journalism."

SEPTEMBER: Radio and TV science babbler Dr Karl Kruszelnicki announces he will run for the NSW Senate as a candidate with the Climate Change Coalition - but, as The Daily Telegraph reports today, Dr Karl isn't so frightened by climate change that he is giving up his beloved fuel-chomping V8 Monaro ("it's got lovely, lovely performance").

Anyway, enjoy Walk to Work Day, and look forward to future events that are Walk to Work Day's logical extensions - including No More Work Day, That Dog Has Stolen My Blanket Day, and Forage for Beetles and Nuts Day.

See - Year of the wealthy hypocrite.

SA - secret recycled water plan dumped ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

Secret water recycling plan: opposition

25 September 2007

The Opposition has accused the South Australian Government of secretly developing plans to pump recycled sewage into Adelaide's drinking water.

Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith says an internal memo, leaked from ETSA Utilities, shows that SA Water developed a plan to pump recycled effluent into metropolitan reservoirs as an alternative to desalination, despite the Government ruling out such a plan.

"Can you trust a Premier that tells you one thing on water then does something differently?" he asked.

Mr Hamilton-Smith says the Government has since abandoned the idea.

SA Water has declined to comment.

The Premier has been working on another plan to bolster Adelaide's drinking water supplies.

Mike Rann has written to his Victorian counterpart, John Brumby, urging him to agree to a national plan to set aside River Murray water for an emergency reserve.

"I'm calling on Victoria to put the national interest first," Mr Rann said.

See - Secret recycled water plan.

PM Howard contradicts top cop - terrorism is greater threat ...

Excerpt from news.com.au:

Terrorism greater threat than climate: Howard

28 September 2007

Prime Minister John Howard says terrorism is a far more immediate threat to national security than climate change.

In a speech to a criminology conference on Monday, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said climate change was the greatest national security risk because of the threat of water and food shortages and an influx of refugees.

Mr Howard today rejected the claims and said terrorism and Islamic extremism were greater national security risks.

"Terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism are far more immediate threats to Australia than the mass movement of people from China as a result of water shortage,'' Mr Howard told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

However, Mr Howard said climate change also was an important national security issue.

"Terrorism is a far more immediate threat but unless countries like China solve their climate change and water problems there could be significant movements of populations.''

"But I don't think it's a question of an either, or. They are both big challenges and they are both things that we should worry about.''

See- Howard contradicts top cop's views on climate change.

Drought is 'no worse than others' ...

Excerpt from the Australian:

- 'No link' between drought and climate change
- More regional modelling needed
- Global warming may be normal variability.

See - the Australian - Dought is no worse than others.

Millmerran also gets a salty bore - but for only $560,000 ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Second Downs bore strikes salt

28 September 2007

A second Darling Downs bore into the Great Artesian Basin has struck salt.

Millmerran Mayor Paul Antonio said drillers went down 810 metres into the Hudson's Sandstone only to be disappointed.

The Millmerran council spent $560,000 on the project.

But all is not lost.

"It is not what we had hoped, but we can use the water.

"Because the water is not of a high quality, the best we can do for Cecil Plains is in fact shandy the weir water and bore water to provide a better mix for the town," Cr Antonio said.

In August, Toowoomba City Council were aghast when it's $2.4 million bore into the Great Artesian Basin at Wetalla went down 657 metres and met the expected volume of 2000 megalitres, but drew high levels of salt.
...

See - Milmerran gets salty bore - for $560,000.

Toowoomba City Council bore bungle hits YouTube ...

KRudd - redfaced ministerial backflip ...

A backfip former Premier Beattie would be proud of.

See - Sydney Morning Herald - KRudd backflips on who'll sit on his front bench.

2007 Carnival of Flowers - a review ...

Soon ...

2007 Carnival - THAT sculpture from Queen's Park ...

SA rules out recycled water for drinking ...

On Tuesday, Mr Rann ruled out using recycled effluent as drinking water in Adelaide.

See - Sydney Morning Herald - no recycled water for drinking.

Public afraid of recycled water ...

Excerpt from Science Alert:

Public afraid of recycled water

24 September 2007

A fourth-year psychology student at Southern Cross University, Peta Callaghan, has found that overwhelmingly people are not prepared to use recycled water for drinking, showering, bathing, cooking or washing clothes.

“What I found was that people have really strong images of sewerage and chemicals,” Peta said.

Her study included surveys distributed to university students, general members of the community and members of an environmental group.

“There were no differences in the responses from the different groups. The environmental cause is a big one, but it’s not enough to make people want to drink recycled water,” she said.

“In order for the introduction of recycled water to be successful there will need to be a turn-around in public support.

If there is going to be an implementation strategy it will need to focus on promoting recycled water as a ‘safe’ option.”

Ms Callaghan's research was presented at Southern Cross University's psychology student's annual conference on 21 September 2007.

See - Public afraid of recycled water.

Toowoomba Regional Council interim CEO chosen ...

... and it is ... Toowoomba City Council CEO Phil Spencer.

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Spencer takes on CEO role

25 September 2007

Named interim chief executive officer for the Toowoomba Regional Council Local Transition Committee, Phil Spencer has a job on his hands turning eight councils into one.

Mr Spencer, who has been the CEO at Toowoomba City Council since May 2006, was yesterday named the interim CEO at a committee meeting at Highfields Cultural Centre.
...

Mr Spencer is now finalising issues with Toowoomba City Council and is setting up in an office next week for the new position.
...


Who will run the Toowoomba City Council for the next 6 months with CEO Spencer off running the amalgamation ...

Police chief says climate 'to be bigger threat than terror' ...

Climate change must be a fact - even policemen think it is true.

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Climate 'to be bigger threat than terror'

25 September 2007

Climate change, not terrorism, will be the main security issue of the century, with potential to cause death and destruction on an unprecedented scale, Australia's top policeman believes.

In a surprise foray into the politics of global warming, Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty described how climate refugees "in their millions" could create a national security emergency for Australia.

His provocative comments, made in a speech in Adelaide last night, are likely to be diplomatically sensitive after he described a scenario in which China was unable to feed its vast population.

Law enforcement agencies would struggle to cope with global warming's "potential to wreak havoc, cause more deaths and pose national security issues like we've never seen before", Mr Keelty said.
...

See - Police say climate change is bad.

Is the religious fervour of climate change getting a little out of hand ...

Cocky Federal Labor jostles for jobs ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Cocky Labor jostles for jobs

25 September 2007

Confident Labor MPs have begun carving up the spoils of office, even before John Howard has fired the election starter's gun.

As the Prime Minister yesterday moved to shore up support in his own at-risk electorate by campaigning via a town hall-style public meeting, some in Kevin Rudd's Labor caucus have apparently declared the election result a fait accompli.

Two of Mr Rudd's closest supporters on Labor's backbench – Roger Price and Gavin Marshall – are being talked up for two of the Parliament's most prestigious, and highly-paid, jobs – Speaker of the House and Senate President.

The casualties from the push would be Harry Jenkins and Right-aligned Queensland senator John Hogg.

The pre-election push has angered senior figures from within Labor ranks, who warn voters will crucify the party if it becomes cocky. "There is a lot of triumphalism from Rudd supporters," one said.
...

See - Cocky Labor jostling for jobs.

NEWater sells for industrial use - because it's cheap ...

Business loves to save money.

The Singaporean government sells NEWater cheaply so business will buy it for non-potable use and save potable water for human consumption.

Excerpt from Today Online:

Huge thirst for NEWater

5 September 2007
...

Yesterday, the national water agency called for a public tender for Singapore's fifth and largest Newater plant at Changi, to be completed by 2010 — a year ahead of schedule — to meet heightened domestic demand.

At the same time, 87km of pipelines will be laid from the new plant to supply Newater to industrial areas in the west and the city centre. Twenty tenders will be called.

To date, more than 220 companies are using Newater for industrial processes — almost three times the number just six months ago — with another 100 or so slated to come on board in the coming years.

Indeed, growing supply has seen the cost of Newater drop from $1.30 to $1 per cubic metre — about two-third the cost of potable water.

See - Cheap NEWater sells to industry.

Sydney - where money buys water for your garden ...

Excerpt from Sunday Telegraph:

Drinking water used on gardens

23 September 2007

Drinking water from Sydney's dams is being sold off to wealthy residents, who are allowed to use it to water their gardens under a loophole in the city's water laws.

Sydney Water has confirmed that Level 3 water restrictions do not apply to water sold to water carriers, even though it is sourced from Sydney's drinking supplies.

At least 150 water carriers have been licensed, allowing them to obtain water from metered pipes connected to Sydney drinking supplies.

The carriers pay the same amount regular customers are charged for the water.

A Sydney Water spokesman said water was often sold to customers to top up tankwater supplies.

But a Bellevue Hill resident last week saw a water carrier topping up garden tanks in the Packer family compound.

He watched the driver drive down Kambala Rd, before pulling up next to a Sydney Water fire hydrant to refill.
...

See - Sunday Telegraph - money buys water.

Toowoomba's Carnival of Flowers Grand Champion garden ...

See - Chronicle - Carnival Grand Champion named.

This is a stunning garden and all visitors to the Carnival over the next week should take a look ...

Add your comments to - 2007 Carnival of Flowers - fun or foolish ...

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers - 2006 highlights ...

What will happen this year?

Add your comments here - 2007 Carnival of Flowers - fun or foolish?

Paying dearly to hear Gore's climate story ...

See - the Age - Paying dearly to hear Gore's climate story.

Treasurer Costello - capital cities should have desalination plants ...

On ABC News this morning, Treasurer Costello supported the construction of desalination plants for each capital city.

Brisbane lags the other capitals on desal technology - with Perth's already running and plans for Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide progressing well ...

Toowoomba has plenty of water ...

... so says the Toowoomba City Council.

Page 33 of todays' Carnival of Flowers Souvenir Guide states:

"Toowoomba's bore water supplies are drawn from the Great Artesian Basin, which contains around 64,900 million megalitres of water."

Enough said ...

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers - should it proceed ...

An interesting exchange of views in the past day or so from 'anonymous' contributors.

See - 4350water blog - Carnival of Flowers discussion.

Comments on this post will be closed. Add your comments to the original post.

Health effects of recycled water - largest Australian study commences ...

The Hawkesbury-Hills Division of General Practice has just begun collecting data for what will be the largest Australian study on the health effects of recycled water (in the Rouse Hill recycled water region).

See - Rouse Hill recycled water region study.

Also see - Rouse Hill recycled water scheme.

Note the Rouse Hill recycled water scheme is for non-potable use only. Should make for an interesting health study.

Meanwhile Premier Anna Bligh is preparing for what will actually be Australia's largest recycled water for potable use experiment.

Perhaps the health effects in SEQ should be studied instead ...

Cr Englart's thoughts on that flagpole and public money ...

Today's Chronicle quotes Cr Englart as saying in relation to the $250,000 funding for the 150th anniversary flagpole:

"The money is not funded by public money. It was funding money given by the State Government."

Of course, everyone knows that the State government grows money on trees outside Dalby and uses this for funding flag projects.

What has Cr Englart been smoking?

"The money is not funded by public money. It was funding money given by the State Government."

Should a Councillor who doesn't know that State government money is public money raised from taxpayers be re-elected at the next Council election or just sent out to pasture ...

Deputy Premier Lucas knocks Anna's ethical standards for six ...

It was only last week that Anna and Paul were installed in the top jobs.

It was only a couple of days ago that Anna said that Cabinet ministers needed to be ethical.

And now what happens?

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas has to admit that he was caught speeding but let his driver take the rap.

See - Courier Mail - Leadfoot MP Paul Lucas snapped speeding.

Just what sort of behaviour is that for Anna's Deputy?

Anna now faces a test - will she actually hold her Ministers to some form of ethical standard?

Or is she just Beattie with a new hairdo ...

Recycled water - better to ski on it ...

See - Flushed with success at Mt Buller.

Toowoomba Water Futures 2006 referendum - the result ...

A large number of viewers have been searching for the results of the 2006 referendum - the results are repeated below.

A breakdown of the 29 July 2006 referendum result:

Total votes - 52,524
No votes – 32,330 (61.55%)
Yes votes – 19,983 (38.05%)
Informal – 211 (0.40%)

Excluding the informal votes:
No votes – 32,330 (61.8%)
Yes votes – 19,983 (38.2%)

A breakdown of the various polling booths (and voting method options):

1. Centenary Heights State High School
No votes – 1,828 (61.36%)
Yes votes – 1,139 (38.23%)
Informal – 12 (0.40%)

2. Darling Heights State School
No votes – 1,960 (61.65%)
Yes votes – 1,204 (37.87%)
Informal – 15 (0.47%)

3. Drayton State Pre-school
No votes – 629 (64.71%)
Yes votes – 339 (34.88)
Informal – 4 (0.41%)

4. East State School
No votes – 1,108 (48.17%)
Yes votes – 1,181 (51.35%)
Informal – 11 (0.48%)

5. Fairholme College
No votes – 408 (41.01%)
Yes votes – 586 (58.89%)
Informal – 1 (0.10%)

6. Fairview Heights State School
No votes – 697 (71.56%)
Yes votes – 273 (28.03%)
Informal – 4 (0.41%)

7. Gabbinbar State School
No votes – 906 (56.27%)
Yes votes – 702 (43.60%)
Informal – 2 (0.12%)

8. Glenvale State School
No votes – 776 (71.52%)
Yes votes – 308 (28.39%)
Informal – 1 (0.09%)

9. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Hall
No votes – 876 (72.34%)
Yes votes – 329 (27.17%)
Informal – 6 (0.50%)

10. Harlaxton Hall
No votes – 178 (67.94%)
Yes votes – 83 (31.68%)
Informal – 1 (0.38%)

11. Harlaxton State School
No votes – 724 (61.62%)
Yes votes – 444 (37.79%)
Informal – 7 (0.60%)

12. Harristown State High School Assembly Hall
No votes – 1,862 (66.62%)
Yes votes – 919 (32.88%)
Informal – 14 (0.50%)

13. Holy Name School
No votes – 542 (64.29%)
Yes votes – 300 (35.59%)
Informal – 1 (0.12%)

14. Middle Ridge State School
No votes – 2,086 (60.25%)
Yes votes – 1,370 (39.57%)
Informal – 6 (0.17%)

15. Newtown State School
No votes – 1,801 (65.63%)
Yes votes – 928 (33.82%)
Informal – 15 (0.55%)

16. North State School
No votes – 594 (57.89%)
Yes votes – 426 (41.52%)
Informal – 6 (0.58%)

17. Rangeville State School
No votes – 1,763 (56.56%)
Yes votes – 1,340 (42.99%)
Informal – 14 (0.45%)

18. Rockville State Pre-school
No votes – 764 (70.09%)
Yes votes – 321 (29.45%)
Informal – 5 (0.46%)

19. Sacred Heart School
No votes – 1,618 (69.32%)
Yes votes – 706 (30.25%)
Informal – 10 (0.43%)

20. St John’s Lutheran Church Hall
No votes – 1,495 (73.28%)
Yes votes – 540 (26.47%)
Informal – 5 (0.25%)

21. St Joseph’s College
No votes – 490 (54.57%)
Yes votes – 406 (45.21%)
Informal – 2 (0.22%)

22. St Luke’s Anglican Church Hall
No votes – 768 (54.90%)
Yes votes – 627 (44.82%)
Informal – 4 (0.29%)

23. St Thomas’ Anglican Church Hall
No votes – 726 (60.60%)
Yes votes – 466 (38.90%)
Informal – 6 (0.50%)

24. Trinity Lutheran Church Hall
No votes – 1,028 (60.01%)
Yes votes – 678 (39.58%)
Informal – 7 (0.41%)

25. Westside Christian Church Hall
No votes – 627 (62.89%)
Yes votes – 366 (36.71%)
Informal – 4 (0.40%)

26. Declaration (Postal) Voting
No votes – 1,682 (58.48%)
Yes votes – 1,187 (41.27%)
Informal – 7 (0.24%)

27. Declaration Votes – Section 344 (not on electoral roll)
No votes – 14 (60.87%)
Yes votes – 9 (39.13%)
Informal – 0 (0%)

28. Electoral Visitor Service
No votes – 239 (62.08%)
Yes votes – 144 (37.40%)
Informal – 2 (0.52%)

29. Mobile Polling Booth
No votes – 307 (55.02%)
Yes votes – 236 (42.29%)
Informal – 15 (2.69%)

30. Pre-poll Polling Booth
No votes – 3,711 (61.17%)
Yes votes – 2,332 (38.44%)
Informal – 24 (0.40%)

31. Suppressed Silent Voters
No votes – 123 (56.68%)
Yes votes – 94 (43.32%)
Informal – 0 (0%)

Source - Toowoomba City Council - Referendum Result.

There has been some commentary on the polling booths which returned a majority Yes vote:

East State School
No votes – 1,108 (48.17%)
Yes votes – 1,181 (51.35%)
Informal – 11 (0.48%)

Fairholme College
No votes – 408 (41.01%)
Yes votes – 586 (58.89%)
Informal – 1 (0.10%)

Out of 31 polling booths (or voting method options), only two booths returned a majority Yes vote - with total votes for these two booths (3,295) representing only 6.27% of total votes cast for the referendum.

29 out of 31 of the polling booths (or voting method options) returned a majority No vote.

PM Howard sends a message to KRudd ...

See - Courier Mail - poll surge.

Toowoomba - towards 2050 ...

Does it make any sense to finalise the draft Toowoomba 2050 plan by February 2008 when the following month the Toowoomba City Council disappears forever to be replaced with the regional council?

Perhaps it should be the Toowoomba region 2050 plan.

See - Toowoomba 2050 timeline.

Just a thought ...

Toowoomba City Council plans $250,000 flagpole ...

... at Picnic Point to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Qld.

See - Toowoomba City Council Committee Meeting agenda - 18 and 19 September 2007 - Agenda Item 8.

Funds will apparently come from the State government - part of the State government's '150th Legacy Infrastructure Program'.

There was no mention of this at the time Council staff were off inspecting flag poles in Adelaide - see - Adelaide flag pole junket.

Just another example of the secretive approach to governing by the Toowoomba City Council.

Seems everything is 'secret Council business'.

Anyway, wouldn't it be better to build some actual infrastructure to celebrate Qld's 150th year ...

Groom candidate Meibusch supports drinking recycled water ...

Labor's candidate for Groom wanted people in Toowoomba to drink recycled water but didn't want to give them the opportunity to vote on the issue.

Excerpt from ABC News:

ALP candidate attacks Govt over water crisis

9 May 2006

The Labor Party's new candidate for the federal seat of Groom has already taken a swipe at the Federal Government's handling of Toowoomba's water shortage.

Chris Meibusch has won preselection over the previous ALP candidate and union organiser Paul King.

The Toowoomba lawyer says he supports the Toowoomba City Council's proposal to recycle sewage for drinking water.

But he says the Federal Government should have already funded the project and not left it to residents to decide.

"Our major position in relation to the issue is that we think there's been a total lack of leadership by the minister for water, Malcolm Turnbull, in referring it to a referendum," he said.

"The local council here, who represent the community, have shown leadership and we shouldn't have a referendum on this issue."

See - Meibusch - Toowoomba gets no vote and has to drink recycled water.

Canberra's Floriade - competition for the Carnival of Flowers ...

Canberra - 15 Sept - 14 Oct 2007.

Floriade is Australia’s premier spring festival and a world-class floral spectacular!

Over one million blooms create a stunning backdrop to a month long festival filled with music, cultural celebrations, artistic displays, entertainment and recreational activities.

Floriade runs for one exciting month from mid September to mid October and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. This vibrant festival presents an amazing and ever changing visual display that makes a single visit never enough.

Visitors who want the full experience of Floriade should take the time to visit a number of times to see the different flowers in bloom, enjoy the fabulous entertainment program and attend some of the great information seminars and workshops.

See - Floriade photos.

Climate change - the money machine ...

With Al Gore due in Australia this week to discuss climate change, it's worth taking a look at his latest corporate venture:

Generation Investment Management LLP

Generation is an independent, private, owner-managed partnership established in 2004 and with offices in London and Washington, D.C.

We invest in long-only, global, public equities with a concentrated portfolio of 30-50 companies. We aim to buy high quality companies at attractive prices that will deliver superior long-term investment returns.

Sustainability research plays an important role in forming our views on the quality of the business, the quality of management and valuation.

"Integrating issues such as climate change into investment analysis is simply common sense" - Al Gore, Chairman.

You can invest with Al Gore via the Colonial First State Generation Global Sustainability Fund:

Colonial First State recently formed an alliance with Generation Investment Management LLP - a London and Washington based global equities investment company, co-founded by Al Gore, former US Vice President, and David Blood, former global CEO of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

This alliance brings Generation Investment Management’s unique sustainable investment approach to Australian investors with the new Generation Global Sustainability Fund.

This new fund will be available exclusively in Australia through Colonial First State’s FirstChoice platform from 3 September 2007.

See - CFS - invest with Al.

What use is climate change if you can't make some money from it ...

Water Futures - reliving the propaganda ...

Some of the Toowoomba City Council press releases during the Water Futures campaign are quite interesting given recent events:

Mayor Thorley quashes unfounded rumours

As the date looms for the Water Poll, Mayor Dianne Thorley decides it is time to put to bed the many rumours about her that are being spread by the opposition, causing worry in the community.
...

Our Mayor has also been accused of owning a motel somewhere, hotels in Stanthorpe and a number of hotels in Tasmania, where she would be moving after the poll.

“I don’t own a hotel anywhere in Australia,” Cr Thorley said. “The only property I own is right here in this city!”
...

“All these accusations are totally untrue,” Cr Thorley said. “I’m here for the long haul. Win or lose this poll, I’ll still be here come Monday morning.

“And I have every intention of running for Mayor again in the 2008 election. Cr Thorley is calling for an end to these scurrilous rumours.
...

See - Water Futures Toowoomba - a reminder of how much they lied.

Scurrilous rumours - moving to Tasmania to run a pub, not running for Mayor again, dumping all her Toowomba properties ...

NSW's Long-term Water Saving Rules ...

Excerpt from the Sydney Morning Herald:

Permanent water restrictions for NSW

16 September 2007

Permanent water restrictions for Sydney have been announced by the NSW government in a bid to combat climate change.

Called Long-term Water Saving Rules, they will remain in effect regardless of dam levels or downgrades of the current water restrictions scheme.

The rules include restrictions on watering between 10am and 4pm (AEST), the fitting of trigger nozzles on hoses and no hosing of hard surfaces.
...

See - NSW - permanent water restrictions.

CIA bans recycled water as a form of torture ...

Interesting ...

CIA bans recycled water as a form of torture

15 September 2007

The CIA has banned the controversial interrogation technique known as "recycled water," which forces suspects to drink recycled water to persuade them to talk, a report says.

ABC News said it had been told by former and current CIA officials that CIA director Michael Hayden banned the practice sometime last year at the recommendation of his deputy, Steve Kappes, and with the approval of the White House.

CIA spokesman Mark Mansfield it was the agency's policy not to comment on interrogation techniques other than to emphasise that they have been, and continue to be, lawful.

But a US official, speaking on condition he not be identified, told Reuters: "It would be wrong to assume programs of the past moved into the future unchanged."

President George W Bush signed an executive order in July requiring the CIA interrogators to comply with the Geneva Conventions against torture - five years after he exempted al Qaeda and Taliban members from the Geneva provisions.

Many human rights groups consider recycled water - which involves pouring recycled water into a suspect's mouth or nose to stimulate a yuk factor reflex - to be torture.

Bush, who insists the United States does not use torture, has faced pressure at home and abroad over interrogation techniques used on suspected militants held at secret CIA prisons and other locations, including the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Last year, Vice President Dick Cheney drew fire when it appeared to many people that he endorsed the use of recycled water as an interrogation technique.

The vice president was asked by a conservative radio host from Fargo, North Dakota: "Would you agree a dunk in recycled water is a no-brainer if it can save lives?"

"Well, it's a no-brainer for me," Cheney replied, but later said he wasn't referring to any specific interrogation technique.

The US military banned recycled water and seven other abusive interrogation techniques, such as forced amalgamations, 30 year old Treasurers and smug Premiers, one year ago this month.

However, CIA interrogations are governed by a different set of rules.

Mayor opposes 'toilet-to-tap' water supply proposal ...

Excerpt from 10 News:

Mayor Opposes 'Toilet-To-Tap' Water Supply Proposal

13 September 2007

San Diego - Mayor Jerry Sanders Thursday restated his opposition to using treated sewage to supplement San Diego's drinking water supply, dubbed "toilet-to-tap" by detractors.

"I'll oppose any effort to bring about toilet-to-tap," Sanders said. "There is neither the money nor the public will to support such a program."

See - No toilet-to-tap for my city.

Brisbane City Council taps into 'massive underground bore' ....

Excerpt from Brisbane Times:

Council taps into massive underground water bore

14 September 2007

Another plank in one of Brisbane's key drought projects will be laid today with the tapping of a massive underground water bore in the city's south.

The Runcorn aquifer site will supply up to 10 million litres (megalitres) of filtered and disinfected groundwater a day to the area's drinking water supply.

It is the second and most significant part of Brisbane City Council's $75 million aquifer project, which is tapping the underground water source for the first time in more than 175 years.
...

See - Brisbane taps into massive bore.

Not too salty ...

Toowoomba Regional Council - nominees for interim CEO ...

They are:

1. Jondaryan Shire Council CEO - Noel Cass.

2. Toowoomba City Council CEO - Philip Spencer.

3. Rosalie Shire Council CEO - Clinton Weber.

A recommendation will be made on 24 September ...

Qld water, health, ambulances, roads - not my problem ...

See - Courier Mail - Beattie says goodbye.

Qld politics - it's serious business ...

See - Courier Mail - Fresh faces.

Outgoing Mayor 'hangs up her secateurs' ...

Excerpt from the 2007 Carnival of Flowers brochure:

Welcome from the Mayor of Toowoomba
...

The 2007 Carnival of Flowers is my last as Mayor of Toowoomba. It is with bittersweet sentiment that I will hang up my secateurs but with intense pride I will remember the Carnival of Flowers and the joy it brings to our city.
...

See - 2007 Carnival of Flowers brochure - she's going.

Farewell ...

Premier Anna Bligh ditches the SEQ water grid ...

Not in the top job until tomorrow but Premier Anna can't wait to ditch responsibility for infrastructure including the SEQ water grid.

Excerpt from ABC News:

12 September 2007

Ms Bligh has been endorsed by the Labor Caucus this morning and will be officially sworn in as Premier tomorrow.

She says she wants the building of infrastructure; including roads, hospitals and the water grid to be one of the hallmarks of her time in office.

She says a strong economy will be her first priority but her Deputy Paul Lucas will not take on the treasury portfolio, he will instead be handed infrastructure and planning.

Toowoomba bores - DNRW takes over ...

Excerpt from WIN News:

DNRW Observation Bores

12 September 2007

The State Government will spend the next three months drilling bores around Toowoomba to see just how much water the city has underground.

The Department of Natural Resources is keen to see the sustainability of the water that might be the only available supply this time next year.

See - TCC fails - DNRW takes over.

KRudd - the stairway to Kevin ...

The Chaser's War on Kevin07 - listen to an excerpt - Chaser's Stairway to Kevin.

Premier Bligh - your time starts now ...

With the clock almost running on the Bligh premiership, it will be interesting to see how she performs.

The outgoing Beattie government PR team (which Anna will take over tomorrow) has planted a story in today's Courier Mail indicating that the Bligh team needs to perform in four key areas:

Incoming premier Anna Bligh has been told to deliver in four key areas as she fronts up this morning to be endorsed for the state's top job.

Ms Bligh, who will be elected unopposed by Labor's caucus, has been told her government must finally deliver in the areas of water, health, transport and the ambulance service if she is to regain the confidence of the Queensland people.

See - Courier Mail - Anna takes over.

It's obvious stuff - fix all the things your government hasn't managed to fix so far.

It's just not clear who told her this ...

Tarong says no to New Acland Coal ...

Tarong Energy has declined the offer of coal from New Acland Coal's mines and will instead mine the Meandu and Kunioon coal deposits near its power stations at Kingaroy.

Excerpt from New Hope Corporation ASX release:

Company Announcement

10 September 2007

The Directors of New Hope Corporation Limited (New Hope) advise that Tarong Energy Corporation Limited (Tarong) has notified the Company that it will not exercise its option to purchase coal from the New Acland mine commencing in 2011 despite New Hope meeting all the conditions precedent for the Coal Supply Agreement option.

Coal supply to Tarong was one of a number of alternative growth opportunities New Hope has been actively evaluating for the New Acland mine.
...

See - ASX - NHC press release.

Beattie goes - is Howard next ...

See - Howard - speculation mounts.

Beattie - resignation one day - Trade Commissioner the next ...

It's been the main rumour for months - that Premier Beattie would resign and be given a government job in London.

Excerpt from Brisbane Times:

Is Beattie going to London?

10 September 2007

Retiring premier Peter Beattie says he is only thinking of a long holiday amid rumours he is considering taking a job in London.

Mr Beattie yesterday gave some idea of what his future career would not include.

He said he would not become a business or government lobbyist, but it remains unclear whether he would consider a position in London as Queensland's next Trade Commissioner and Agent General.

Several attempts to contact the current Trade Commissioner, John Dawson, in London last night were unsuccessful.

However, brisbanetimes.com.au understands Mr Dawson was to have retired on June 30 this year, but was persuaded to stay on for another three months.

If he finishes in the post on September 30, it would allow a virtually seamless transition for Mr Beattie into the job - a perfect fit for the former Premier, whose previous responsibilities also included Queensland's Trade portfolio.
...

"But you know I have very strong ethical standards. And it would be very difficult for me to take most jobs because frankly I would never use the knowledge that I have as Premier for personal gain," he said.

"I couldn't do it morally. I couldn't pick up the phone and call Anna Bligh or Robert Schwarten or Paul Lucas or Judy Spence or Desley Boyle.

"I just couldn't do it."

See - Beattie heads to London.

Sounds like 'I couldn't take advantage of my former position as Premier' is Beattiespeak for you'll have to keep me on the public purse and give me some plush job with long lunches ...

Premier Beattie - out of time ...

Breaking News - Rudd forces Beattie to quit ...

Beattie to stand down on Thursday.

Discussions with Rudd force resignation.

Federal Labor desperate for Qld seats.

See - Courier Mail - Beattie quits.

Also see - Sydney Morning Herald - Rudd discussions.

'He said he had spent an hour talking with federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd last night.'

Outgoing Mayor's plea to Bligh falls on deaf ears ...

Read an extract from the Toowoomba City Council Committee meeting minutes of 4 and 5 September 2007:

30.1

REPORT TITLE

Discussion with Deputy Premier on Future Water Supplies for Toowoomba and Region

In response to a question from Councillor Manners, Her Worship the Mayor advised that, in accordance with a decision of Council, she, the Deputy Mayor, the Chief Executive Officer and the Manager Laboratory Services met with the Deputy Premier, the Hon. Anna Bligh MP, on Friday, 31 August 2007.

Brief discussions were held in regard to all options on the need to source water for 135,000 people following the unsuccessful attempt to source water from the Wetalla Helidon Sandstone (GAB) aquifer bore project and the loss of 2,000mgl from underground bores.

The Mayor further advised that the outcome from the meeting is that the Deputy Premier has requested the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water to work with Council's Director of Engineering Services to source an emergency supply for Toowoomba and Region from the GAB.

See - Council Committee meeting minutes - 4-5 September 2007.

Sounds like the outgoing Mayor's plea to Anna Bligh for funding for her precious ill-fated recycled water plant was falling on deaf ears ...

Toowoomba - international confusion following outgoing Mayor's sewage campaign ...

Excerpt from the Jakarta Post:

7 September 2007
...

In Australia's Toowoomba and Goulburn, wastewater has been recycled for decades, usually for recreational facilities such as ponds in parks and golf courses. The two cities plan to use recycled sewage for drinking water.
...

See - Jakarta Post gets it wrong on Toowoomba.

Also see the original post position which changes daily - Jakarta Post gets it wrong on Toowoomba.

(The ad for UNSW is an interesting piece of positioning - except they still refer to the ill-fated Singapore campus.)

Wrong on both counts about Toowoomba though ...

Memo to the Sewer Six Pack ...

You gotta go
It's time for you to leave
You've worn out your welcome
It's time for you to go ...

Toowoomba City Council Wetalla bore backflip ...

One day the Toowoomba City Council is suing the contractors on the Wetalla bore fiasco.

The next day they're not.

See - Water Futures - WIN News - Friday.

On Thursday, Deputy Mayor Ramia whose job it is to oversee water issues said:

"I think this could very well have some legal proceedings coming up and if the driller has done the wrong thing by the Toowoomba City Council he will be held accountable".

See - Water Futures - WIN News - Thursday.

But on Friday, CEO Spencer was singing a different tune:

Council's chief executive officer Phil Spencer yesterday refuted claims of legal action against contractors and consultants involved in the project claiming the works had been to a high standard.
...

"Any reports of legal action are unfounded," he said.

See - Chronicle - Council bore backflip.

You'd think they could make up their minds and put out a consistent view.

More and more it just looks like the keystone cops.

How much are ratepayers paying for this incompetence ...

Beattie's $900k history book becomes Beattie biographical propaganda ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Peter Beattie makes history in controversial book

8 September 2007

Premier Peter Beattie could be the starting point for the writing of the official history of Queensland, sparking concerns among the state's historians.

Sources told The Courier-Mail academic Ross Fitzgerald would tackle Queensland's immediate past first in his lucrative taxpayer-funded history, before writing his way backwards to the state's early years.

Dr Fitzgerald, a professor of history at Griffith University, scored a contract worth $900,000 over three years to write a history of Queensland to celebrate the state's sesquicentenary in 2009.

The deal sparked a furore when it was revealed it was not put out to tender.

Sources have also revealed Dr Fitzgerald has been meeting regularly with Mr Beattie to discuss the book, adding fuel to the controversy.
...

See - Beattie pays $900k of taxpayer's money for biography.

Beattie to quit soon ...

Excerpt from Nine News:

Beattie to decide on his future 'soon'

7 September 2007

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says he will decide on his political future soon.

Mr Beattie told the state Australian Labor Party conference earlier this year he would decide on his political future over the next 12 months.

Speaking to ABC radio ahead of the one-year anniversary of the re-election of his government, Mr Beattie said he still had work to do, including bedding down council reforms and dealing with the drought.

"Any decent premier would need to make sure those things were both done before he or she could consider their future," Mr Beattie said.

But asked if he was any closer to a decision on his future, Mr Beattie replied: "Yes, I am and, of course, inevitably, I assess the political position".

See - Beattie will never drink recycled water.

Beattie Minister bungles Chinese-made toy recall ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

EKKA showbag toy alert

7 September 2007

Children at this year's EKKA have been exposed to potentially dangerous levels of lead in showbag toys not tested by Queensland's Office of Fair Trading.

The bungle was only highlighted after showbag toys destined for Perth's Royal Show were found to contain high levels of lead, cadmium and barium.

It comes just one month after Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech said "for the first time ever, OFT inspectors found no safety issues with toys or novelties contained in any showbags for sale this year".

Yesterday the Minister's spokeswoman contradicted the statement and said some items with high lead levels had been pulled – they just had not notified the public.

The Courier-Mail was able to track down several parents yesterday whose children were still using and playing with the potentially dangerous toys pulled from Perth-destined showbags.

See - Beattie Minister bungle.

You can't find safety issues if you don't inspect the toys.

Another Beattie Minister who can't get her story straight ...

San Diego - recycled water connected to drinking water supply ...

Another case of human error - recycled water treated to irrigation standard misconnected to drinking water supply.

Excerpt from San Diego Union Tribune:

Store owners with tainted water await health-risk report results

6 September 2007

Spring Valley – Store owners at an Eastlake business park said yesterday that the Otay Water District has not backed up promises to help them determine the health risks of drinking treated sewage water for two years.

“We don't want a battle. We just want to know what's going on,” Amy Wise, co-owner of a gift store, told district board members during a board meeting in Spring Valley yesterday.

Employees of the Fenton Business Center's 17 stores learned on Aug. 17 that tests from a private lab showed they'd been drinking recycled water – treated sewage used for irrigation.

Otay officials said a recycled-water pipe was mistakenly connected to a drinking-water meter two years ago.

The water district's general manager, Mark Watton, had promised to give store owners test results showing exactly what was in the recycled water.

Owners said they fear they consumed traces of heavy metals or flushed drugs, and that they need the test results to ensure they receive proper medical care.
...

A report by Otay officials said the misconnection occurred because district inspectors failed to follow regulations governing oversight of construction projects. They were also hampered by inaccurate and confusing construction plans that changed in the middle of the project without notice to the water district, the report said.

Otay officials said they will more clearly mark pipe connections with purple to indicate they are for recycled water. The water will also be tested at the meter and at a new customer's tap.

Jorge Perez, who owns a graphics store at the center, said medical tests given to him and relatives who drank the water showed suspicious bacteria. Perez said his mother, 67, suffered severe abdominal pains last month, and he has suffered diarrhea.

See - Recycled water connected to drinking water supply in error.

Toowoomba Regional Council - 2008 election ...

Cr Englart - we're not rowing the boat ...

Unhappy faces in Council chambers yesterday as a number of Councillors watched their re-election chances go up in smoke (as if they hadn't disappeared long ago!)

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

In what Cr Sue Englart likened to an episode of Perry Mason, she led a chorus of councillors that reaffirmed their faith in the staff.

"It's a matter of trust. We are elected to steer the boat, not row it," she said.

See - Englart dumps responsibility on Flanagan.

Would anyone in their right mind re-elect this battery of buffoons for another 4 years ...

Would you trust these Toowoomba Councillors for 4 more years ...

$1 million plus on the Water Futures fiasco.

$2.4 million on the Wetalla bore fiasco.

All on their watch.

Remember faces 2-6 at the 2008 election (the outgoing Mayor of course doing a runner to Tasmania before the voters can cast judgement on her) ...

Toowoomba City Council's Great Artesian Fiasco ...

Toowoomba City Council has a laboratory which it uses for testing water.

Did no-one on the entire Council staff think it was worthwhile to test the bore water for salt levels once the test bore hole was completed?

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Great Artesian Basin bore works at Wetalla not completed to design

6 September 2007

Toowoomba City Council is considering legal action against the driller of the failed $2.4 million Great Artesian Basin (GAB) bore at Wetalla after it was revealed works were not completed to design.

It has been alleged Queensland Drilling Services Pty Ltd, the lone tenderer for the works, did not set one section of the casing correctly.

Councils Works Committee yesterday heard the discovery was made accidentally when CCTV scanning equipment was brought in to view inside the bore hole.

The action was supplementary to the painstaking explanation by council staff, spanning more than two hours, and culminating in a grilling by Cr Snow Manners over the bore debacle.

News the bore water was too salty to drink fuelled an avalanche of speculation, which Cr Michele Alroe labelled, "a smattering of misinformation", to undermine council.

Also rife, according to councils director of Engineering Kevin Flanagan, was an ignorance of protocols when drilling, in this case 657 metres, into the GAB which was not like "any backyard bore".

Project manager Greg Dinsey revealed all, including emails to and from consultants and all reports, yesterday. While councillors queued to praise the extensive report, Cr Manners unleashed 20 questions - many already answered in the paperwork.

Tempers flared with Cr Manners indignantly claiming: "I would have thought as councillors trying to represent the interests of the ratepayers you would join with me, I seem to always run into the situation when I raise an issue you all become so defensive and want to attack me."

Mr Flanagan and Cr Manners went head to head disputing the need for water quality testing.

"There is not a driller on this planet that, when you put a bore down, wouldn't get it tested," Cr Manners said.

Mr Flanagan retorted: "Drillers of sub-artesian, not talking about artesian practice."

Consultants were guided by the bore's proximity to the Geham bore, which has acceptable water quality.

Water portfolio chair Joe Ramia proffered the Oakey abattoir only first knew about its expensive salty bore when it started pumping.

Cr Manners cited tender forms stating council had expected to find some salt.

In what Cr Sue Englart likened to an episode of Perry Mason, she led a chorus of councillors that reaffirmed their faith in the staff.

"It' a matter of trust. We are elected to steer the boat, not row it," she said.

Cr Keith Beer said he'd spent $10,000 on a failed sub-artesian bore and walked away.

He and Cr Graham Barron agreed they weren't happy with the outcome, but urged their colleagues to move on.

See - Toowoomba City Council bore fiasco.

Toowoomba City Council Wetalla bore coverup scandal ...

Watch Council proceedings as the outgoing Mayor and friends try to cover up an outrageous waste of ratepayers' funds on the Wetalla bore fiasco.

See - Water Futures blog - WIN News excerpt.

Remember to replay this video just before you go to vote at next year's Council election ...

Toowoomba City Council looks for Wetalla bore scapegoat ...

Under pressure to justify its bungled Wetalla bore, Toowoomba City Council considers suing its consultants.

Excerpt from WIN News:

Wetalla Bore - Council

5 September 2007

Council will consider taking legal action against drillers and consultants over Wetalla bore.

The Toowoomba City Council will consider taking legal action against drillers and consultants over the bungled $2.4 million Wetalla bore.

They insist it was impossible to test for water quality until only recently, and have rejected suggestions for a desalination plant to treat the borewater on the basis it would be too expensive.

See - Council looks for scapegoat.

When they announced the results of the bore drilling and the need to abandon the Wetalla bore, there was no word of needing to sue the consultants.

Why the sudden change of mind ...

Would you buy a used jet from this Premier ...

Excerpt from Courier Mail:

Queensland Government jet sold for $1.5m less than asking price

6 September 2007

Clearly the hawker wasn't so good at hawking the Hawker.

Nine months after talking up his salesmanship, Premier Peter Beattie says the spare Hawker 800XP government jet has been sold to a Dubai company for $8.5 million – $1.5 million less than what he originally wanted.

"We did very well out of the sale," Mr Beattie told State Parliament.

The Premier had previously boasted about his selling credentials, declaring he wanted no less than $10 million when the jet was put up for sale late last year.

"We are not going to be giving it away at a discount," Mr Beattie told The Courier-Mail on December 29.

See - Used aircraft salesman Beattie.

The more he says, the less you can believe ...

Toowoomba City Council - the easy way or the hard way ...

Word on the street is that Wednesday's Council meeting will be interesting ...

Beattie's $900k historian cops a bollocking ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

War of the words

5 September 2007
...

Dr Saunders, a former professor of history at the University of Queensland and now executive director of the Brisbane Institute, launched a bitter attack yesterday on Dr Fitzgerald, the Griffith University professor recently awarded a controversial $900,000 deal to write a history of Queensland.

The plum taxpayer-funded deal, which was awarded without a tendering process, raised eyebrows last month and sparked allegations of cronyism. Publishers expressed shock at the book's pricetag at the time.

The feud between Dr Fitzgerald and Dr Saunders risks casting a pall over a book that is meant to celebrate Queensland's sesquicentenary in 2009.

"Fitzgerald's already done a two-volume history of Queensland – what new insight is he going to provide?" Dr Saunders said yesterday.

"This is someone who's not exactly 'Mr-skilled-around-the-archives'.

"I have never seen Ross once at the archives. I don't think he's the top historian."

The criticism will be acutely embarrassing for the Government as it recently appointed Dr Saunders to the board of Q150, the body in charge of sesquicentenary celebrations.

She believes Dr Fitzgerald's new book will play second fiddle to Ray Evans' History of Queensland, published earlier this year.

"Ray Evans has just written a history of Queensland and Raymond is the top historian in this state who writes on the state," she said.

"Raymond's work did not cost the taxpayer one cent. Why do you need another volume when you've already got his history, which is the definitive work?"

Dr Saunders did point out that she had co-authored several works with Mr Evans.

The second volume of Dr Fitzgerald's earlier History of Queensland was pulped after a prominent Queenslander threatened legal action for alleged defamation.
...

See - Beattie's $900k historian.

Beattie suffers court rebuff on amalgamations ...

Excerpt from Sydney Morning Herald:

Judge won't adjourn Qld council case

4 September 2007

Queensland's Chief Justice has refused to adjourn a civil case between the state government and the Local Government Association fearing such a move would politicise the justice system.

Lawyers for the State of Queensland made an application in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday to have the case - which revolves around a controversial amendment to the Local Government Act - adjourned for several weeks.

They argued Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser already has promised to revoke the amendment, which prohibits councils from conducting polls on forced amalgamations, and that the adjournment would give the government time to do so.

The Local Government Association (LGA) argued there was no proof that it would be revoked.

The unpopular amendment was rushed through parliament early last month and earned Premier Peter Beattie the label of "the great dictator".
...

See - Judge won't adjourn Qld council case.

4350water blog - top search request of the day ...

"Toowoomba city council the things they talk about"

Well might you ask ...

Qld government announces privatisation preparations ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Bligh announces water takeover

4 September 2007

Deputy premier Anna Bligh has told State Parliament today how the government will take over control of the south-east's water resources.

Ms Bligh said dams and weirs would by owned by a single state-run bulk supply entity by July 1, 2008.

In principal agreement from Brisbane City Council meant the first assets would be transferred to state ownership by January.

A separate entity would take ownership of "manufactured" water, such as the Gold Coast desalination plant and Western Corridor Water Recycling Scheme, when they were completed.

Major water transport infrastructure would come under another entity, and a "water grid manager" would be established to take care of the state's water flow.

By July 2010 or earlier, retail activities will be split from distribution.

There are now 23 bulk water supply and treatment entities, and 17 retail bodies owned by 25 separate entities in the state.
...

See - Step 1 of privatisation is corporatisation.

Now dams are bad for us ...

Excerpt from Brisbane Times:

Dams make global warming worse

4 September 2007

The world's dams are contributing millions of tonnes of harmful greenhouse gases and spurring on global warming, according to a US environmental agency.

International Rivers Network executive director Patrick McCully today told Brisbane's Riversymposium rotting vegetation and fish found in dams produced surprising amounts of methane - 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide.

"Often it's accepted that hydropower is a climate friendly technology but in fact probably all reservoirs around the world emit greenhouse gases and some of them, especially some of the ones in the tropics, emit very high quantities of greenhouse gases even comparable to, in some cases even much worse than, fossil fuels like coal and gas," Mr McCully said.
...

See - Dams are bad for us.

Don't forget the outgoing Mayor's dead bodies in Cooby Dam - see - outgoing Mayor speaks ...

Beattie Bitter - the taste for tomorrow ...

Adapted from the Singaporean version:

Beattie Bitter - the taste for tomorrow

We have refreshment for tomorrow
It's our pee, it's our pee
Straight from the bowls of you and me
Drink your pee, drink your pee

Drink your pee, Southeast Qld
Have a glass or more
Drink your pee, Southeast Qld
Pete's sure there's plenty more

You and me, we'll do our part
We'll try to pee, without a fart
Pete knows we'd rather save money
And drink our pee, drink our pee!

Drink your pee, Southeast Qld
Have a glass or more
Drink your pee, Southeast Qld
Pete's sure there's plenty more

Why flush something so tasty
Eco-friendly, straight from your kidney
There's a toilet over there
Let's make a drink that we can share
But call it something far more catchy
Instead of pee, instead of pee

Drink your pee, Southeast Qld
Have a glass or more
Drink your pee, Southeast Qld
Pete's sure there's plenty more

Count on us to help the state
It's patriotic to urinate
Let's help achieve Pete's dream
Drink from our stream, drink from our stream

Drink your pee, Southeast Qld
Have a glass or more
Drink your pee, Southeast Qld
Pete's sure there's plenty more

Beattie taste test stunt - tastes like champagne ...

... shows how much he knows.

Anyone who has tasted NEWater - the 100% stuff given out at the Singapore NEWater centre - knows that it tastes odd. Not odd in a 'it will kill you in 5 minutes odd' but just in a 'it has a nothing taste odd'.

Having stripped out most of the minerals, it does taste odd and most people try to follow it up with a drink of something else. That's if you can convince them to drink NEWater in the first place.

A surprising number of Singaporean visitors to the NEWater Centre (remember it's compulsory for school students) refuse to drink it.

So comments that it tastes like champagne are silly - a poor attempt to grab headlines.

See - Beattie Bitter - it's like champagne.

What he's not telling you is - what's left in the recycled water, that there has been no significant testing of the recycled water and there will be no testing for several years (as advocated by the CSIRO) before Premier Beattie opts to force SEQ residents to drink it.

Simple conclusion - buy bottled water company shares ...

4350water blog turns 2 ...

Read the first blog post here - Recycled water - a balance debate?

If there was transparency and accountability in the Toowoomba City Council, there would be no need for the 4350water blog ...

Toowoomba City Council bore war - lawsuits threatened ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle (annotated):

It's a question of Manners

1 September 2007

A councillor who requested information on the salt-laden Wetalla bore which cost $2.4 million alleges he was threatened with litigation.

Toowoomba City councillor Snow Manners said council's chief executive officer Philip Spencer warned him he risked being sued if a request for costs on the Great Artesian Basin bore at Wetalla led to the local government's reputation being damaged.

[So, given the reputation of the Toowoomba City Council has been trashed by the behaviour of the outgoing Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, the Engineering Head and now the CEO, seems like there should be law suits all round.]

"I asked the CEO if I could have some more information because I wanted to be fully informed and I was told, if you use this information to damage the council you'll be sued under Section 250 of the Local Government Act'," Cr Manners said.

He said he was "taken aback" by Mr Spencer's comments and sought legal advice on whether he could face litigation if he publicly released the details of the bore which included drillers' logs, costings and tenders.

The advice he received suggested this was not the case.

While Cr Manners' request was met, the councillor is yet to divulge the information to which he was privy.

Mr Spencer has disputed the allegations.

"I never said he'd be sued.

"I warned him, or refreshed his memory, that since his induction as a councillor he has obligations."

The section of the Local Government Act in question details the "improper use of information by councillors" and states one must not use it "to harm the local government".

[It is not the actions of one Councillor which would harm the local government. It is the actions of the outgoing Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, the Engineering Head and the CEO and the subsequent cover up which does far more damage to the Toowoomba City Council in the eyes of the public.]

Mr Spencer said the details sought by Cr Manners were not potentially damaging to council but he was concerned about the chance of a misunderstanding if sections were taken out of context.

The information will be put on the public record during a council meeting on Wednesday.

See - CEO threatens Councillor to maintain cover up.

Toowoomba City Council's secret bore consultants revealed ...

... but told not to talk.

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Consultants told to keep quiet on bore

1 September 2007

The consultants who advised Toowoomba City Council it was not necessary to check the salinity of the $2.4 million Wetalla bore have been slapped with a gag order.

When contacted by The Chronicle yesterday, Australasian Groundwater & Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd based in Brisbane said they had been directed hours earlier by council not to make any comments about their role in the bore which is drawing water that contains three times the acceptable level of salt.

Council maintains the $300,000 test bore sunk in October last year was designed to assess the geology of the site, not the water quality.

Council’s manager of Laboratory Services, Alan Kleinschmidt yesterday said advice had been received from the Department of Natural Resources and Water as well as the consultancy firm that recommended the reliability of bores sunk into the Great Artesian Basin meant it was not necessary to check the water quality before millions of dollars were spent completing the bore.

But the department denied this, saying its “only role in the ... project was to approve council’s authority to take water from the Great Artesian Basin and provide bore data to council’s consultant”.

The department said it was surprised with the water quality from the bore “given all evidence from other nearby bores that tap this underground aquifer” such as the nearby successful Geham bore.
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If the Toowoomba City Council has nothing to hide, why slap a 'gag order' on the consultants ...

Anna Bligh rebuffs outgoing Mayor - no recycled water plant for Toowoomba ..

See - Water Futures - What did Anna say.