Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - rumours swirl ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Accusations 'baseless'

29 February 2008

Toowoomba Regional Council mayoral candidate Peter Taylor wants an end to "baseless" accusations that his councillors or staff profited from land deals linked to the Charlton-Wellcamp industrial estate, Toowoomba bypass and inland rail routes.

The irate Jondaryan Shire mayor put the claims to his colleagues and staff at this week's council meeting.

"I asked my fellow councillors and CEO and not one of them, nor I, nor the council, owns any land or holds any interest in any land in the Charlton-Wellcamp area.

"Even if they did, councillors and employees have legal obligations to exclude themselves from decisions where conflicts of interest that could materially affect themselves occur.

"These laws are scrupulously adhered to in all council decisions and dealings."
Council had been planning and preparing for the expansion for more than 10 years, in consultation with neighbouring councils and the Queensland and federal governments.

"These are baseless and derogatory rumours," Cr Taylor said.

"I'd like to know where it's come from.

"I realise we are in a politically-charged atmosphere at the moment, but I will not stand back and allow my colleagues to be maligned in this way.

"They have served the Jondaryan Shire community very well for many years and this service is what they should be remembered for, not tarnished by these baseless rumours."

Cr Taylor concedes some development applications were rushed because of a developers' perception of uncertainty and instability with the amalgamation into Toowoomba Regional Council.

The council recently approved three industrial subdivisions, granted preliminary approval for a major rail transport depot and fielded enquiries about the development of a significant service centre and truck stop.

The area is expected to employ between 16,000 and 18,000 people if the Charlton-Wellcamp Regional Industry Zone is developed to its full potential.

Cr Taylor said there may some confusion given council was in negotiation to buy land, at full market price, for the sewerage treatment works to service the industry zone and residential areas to the west of Toowoomba.

And the Department of Main Roads bought land for the Toowoomba bypass route several years ago.

The Department of State Development owns land in the area, including land on Nass Road in the industry zone to "kick-start" the transport and warehousing concept for the area.

To fully develop the industry zone, significant funding is required for roadworks, railway infrastructure, water supply and sewerage. Some will be repaid by developer contributions over time, and some is required from government departments.

The Queensland Government has granted a Water and Sewerage Program subsidy of $3.8 million and promised an interest-free loan of $5 million for the initial development of water and sewerage infrastructure, on the basis of plans developed and submitted by the council.

See - Rumours swirl.

4350water blog - odd search term ...

Out of Africa (maybe) ...

write a letter to the president
of the local council to complain
about the waste of water in
your city, town, or village

Odd ...

Toowoomba City Council's reign is over ...

With the last Council meeting over, it is the end of the line for the Toowoomba City Council.

For Crs Ramia, Alroe, Englart and Schneider as well as Crs Beer, Barron and Manners, 15 March is judgment day ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - it's Manners for Mayor on YouTube ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - is candidate age a factor ...

None of the Mayoral candidates are too forthcoming about their age.

Plenty of bio information on their websites but not their age.

See - Mayoral candidates (in ballot order):

1. Snow MANNERS

2. Ian JONES

3. Peter TAYLOR

Is age a factor?

In the US Primaries, much is made of the fact that Obama is considered too young by some and McCain is considered too old.

Is turning 70 while you're in office too old?

Can you guess who's the eldest of the three contenders for Mayor ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Mayoral candidates 'too chicken' to debate ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle (annotated):

Debate in doubt

27 February 2008

Toowoomba town crier Ralph Cockle will be the independent arbiter at what was to be a mayoral debate from 7pm at Hume Ridge Hall next Tuesday.

But it looks like Snow Manners will be the only mayoral candidate there.

Cr Snow 'full disclosure' Manners booked the venue without speaking with his rivals, but both Crs Ian 'Di' Jones and Peter 'reprint' Taylor maintain they won't be there.

Cr Manners said the event had been welcomed by many of the 36 councillor candidates contesting the 10 places on the Toowoomba Regional Council.


Sounds like a good chance to meet and speak with the candidates for Council.

And it looks like voters will get to talk with most candidates, except Jones and Taylor.

Can they really afford to turn their noses up at this event and fail to meet the people whom they want to elect them on 15 March?

Sounds pretty short-sighted ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Jones and the rumour mill ...

Toowoomba Mayoral candidate Ian Jones has taken a leaf right out of the outgoing Mayor's election playbook.

And with her campaign manager running his campaign, it's hardly a surprise.

If you're floundering (and many would be forgiven for thinking that he is no longer even running given the absence of policies and appearances), create a wiff of 'poor fellow me, there's a smear campaign against me' and try for the sympathy vote.

See - Jones - they're out to get me.

Seems unlikely to work, even for the spry Jones.

Many out Clifton way would find it highly amusing that Jones would claim a smear campaign against him and hint that it is *bleep* behind it.

Word on the street is that the last thing *bleep* wants to do is mention the word '*bleep*' and '*bleep*' in the same sentence.

Those who live in *bleep* *bleep* ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Mayoral candidate Jones claims smear campaign ...

Excerpt from WIN News:

JONES SMEAR CAMPAIGN

War of words

26 February 2008

An alleged smear campaign in the Toowoomba mayoral race concerning candidate Ian Jones has resulted in a war of words between all three mayoral hopefuls today.

WIN News spoke exclusively with the candidates about their campaign funding, with some surprising responses.

See - WIN News - Jones smear campaign.

Smear campaign?

His campaign has pretty much fallen off the radar screen ...

Something still smells within Toowoomba City Council ...

The outgoing Mayor has convened a special meeting of the Council to approve the upgrade of Wetalla to provide recycled water to New Acland Coal mine.

See - Outgoing Mayor convenes special meeting to approve recycled water project.

Less than three weeks before the election.

Less than three weeks before she leaves Toowoomba forever.

Remember this was the urgent project that needed quick approval because of such unforeseen events as Christmas and the 2008 election.

Now there's a mad rush to lock up an approval before the election.

Part of some desperate legacy search by the outgoing Mayor.

It will be interesting to see how Crs Ramia, Alroe, Englart and Schneider vote on Tuesday ...

4350water blog gets the qlddecides.com invite ...

On Line Opinion, QUT and the LGAQ are running an internet site and forum on the 15 March Qld local government elections.

4350water blog has an invite:

I see you’re writing about the queensland local council elections - just wondering if you’d like to get involved over at our site qlddecides.com

It’s an initiative run by On Line Opinion, QUT and the Local Government Association of Queensland. We’re running a citizen journalism service to cover every council election in the state.

It would be great to have you on board - we could either cross-post your stuff or you could send stuff directly to me via email. Either way, we’re hoping for a diverse range of stuff on these elections, and we expect the site to get a fair bit of attention.

You can read the news and views on qlddecides.com here - Qld Decides.

The greater the online content, the harder it is for candidates to hide behind elections signs and spin ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - candidate Barry Sharp makes his YouTube pitch ...

See - Barry Sharp - why I want to be on the Toowoomba Regional Council.

There seems to be a rash of candidates who think that if they make their pitch in front of some a variety of machinery (although he does own a machinery business), they'll somehow pick up votes.

Candidate Sharp has now amended his website to remove the Toowoomba Regional Council logo - a result of fallout over Mayoral candidate Taylor's distribution of election material featuring the logo which was in direct conflict with the Transitional Committee's resolution signed off on by candidate Taylor as head of the Committee.

A level playing field ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Mayoral candidate Snow Manners when he wasn't so 'snowy' ...

Video footage of a younger Mayoral candidate Snow Manners and his views on the future demise of local government.

See - Cr Manners on Local Government.

Stay tuned for Part 2 when it will be revealed just what was the chink in the Constititution spelled out by Alfred Deakin in 1903 ...

Letter to the Editor - "I'm sorry, but city councillors to win" ...

Letter to the Editor, the Chronicle

I'm sorry but city councillors to win

25 February 2008

I would like to apologise in advance to all those voters in smaller towns and shires whose votes will not count in the forthcoming local government election.

Because the people of Toowoomba do not know the calibre of the candidates from outer shires, and because of the sheer numbers of voters from Toowoomba City, this is going to be a lopsided poll.

People from Toowoomba will probably vote for the names they know.

Therefore you will be able to look forward to the same sort of leadership we have had from a council that: wasted millions on a "dud" bore without so much as an apology; told lies and half-truths about water recycling and the Water Futures project; with great fanfare announced a multi-million dollar contract signed to supply water to Acland, only to let slip a few days later that, "Oh, by the way, we can't supply the water, but will be able to if we build a multi-million dollar plant. Furthermore, because of the rush, we can't go through the tender process, so will have to give the job to the only company who can do the job," - it is only a coincidence that this is the same company who missed out on building the sewerage (sic) recycling plant; and has no policy to revitalise the CBD by providing adequate, convenient parking.

For all of this I apologise, but would like to point out, that it is a system instituted by that paragon of democracy, Peter Beattie. Also we had no say in this farcical amalgamation scheme.

FD
Toowoomba

The question to be answered on election day is how many other voters think the same way about the current Council ...

Prof Collignon on SEQ's recycled water plans ...

Excerpt from Stateline:

Water Woes

22 February 2008
...

JOHN TAYLOR: If Brisbane and its surrounds have dodged a bullet for now, it's because of people like the Turpins. And from October, another element being added to the mix is water recycled from sewage. From later this year it'll be flowing into the drinking supply.

DALLAS TURPIN, BRISBANE RESIDENT: I think it will be quite okay to use because they’re not going to give us something that hasn’t been proved to be quite good quality.

JOHN TAYLOR: But not everyone else is so sure.

PROFESSOR PETER COLLIGNON, MICROBIOLOGIST: I think you do need to be careful. One of the fundamental huge benefits that we had with Public Health worldwide, but particularly in Australia was keeping human waste and sewage material out of our water supply.

JOHN TAYLOR: Professor Peter Collginon is an infectious disease expert at the Australian National University. He says connecting recycled water to the drinking supply is one thing but when there's enough water, the pipe should be turned off.

PROFESSOR PETER COLLIGNON: We're adding an extra level of risk to our population. That if you don't have to do it you are better avoiding. There may be certain circumstances or certain times. I mean if you do actually have no water, you may have no option but to do this. But my view is you should do this only as almost a last resort.

JOHN TAYLOR: But a lot of money has gone into recycled water and the Water Commission says it's a safe and reliable supplement to supply. And when it's in, it's in with only some tweaking of how much is to be added.

JOHN BRADLEY: Now what we will be doing if we were getting dams that were increasing in their volume would be looking at opportunities to supply water to other users so there might be some opportunity for rural users to make greater use of water supplies at that time or alternatively we might be able to back off a bit the production of those purified recycled water or desalination plants.

See - SEQ recycled water plans.

Whatever happened to a testing period for the recycled water?

In Toowoomba's case, the recycled water was to be quarantined in Cooby Dam and tested by the CSIRO for 3-5 Years.

Seems Brisbane gets no testing period at all.

It really is a one-shot deal - if the Qld government gets it wrong, they're going to be in all sorts of trouble ...

Colleagues spill beans on sex scandal town planner ...

A number of developers are fed up with the Toowoomba City Council and its planning approval process.

See - Developers give Toowoomba the flick.

The shenanigans within Toowoomba City Council is slight compared to the revelations about Wollongong City Council and NSW Labor.

See - Colleagues spill beans on sex scandal town planner.

The stink of waste transformed for a sweeter future ...

See - Sydney Morning Herald - The stink of waste transformed for a sweeter future.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - candidate Barry Sharp breaches rules ...

... uses Toowoomba Regional Council logo on campaign website.

See - Barry Sharp campaign website.

If Mayoral candidate Taylor has to pull down the TRC logo, so should other candidates ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - candidate Englart's pulling our leg ...

Surely!

"Sue Englart was first elected to council in 1997, and soon gained the enviable reputation as an independent voice for the rights of ALL residents."

See - Cr Englart looks for comedy writing role.

That's ALL residents provided you weren't part of the 62% of residents who ended up on her blacklist for voting No in 2006.

It's a funny thing about election campaigns - you can rewrite history and pretty much say anything about yourself and what you've done for the community.

However, on election day, the voters may just tell you that what you've been saying is pretty much all horse **** ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Candidate poster clusters ...

Lots of chatter at present about the clusters of candidate signs appearing in Toowoomba indicating the possible formation of alliances among candidates.

Given where some candidates are allowing their signs to be shown (and with whom), it makes people wonder whether some candidates are on some form of election suicide mission rather than hoping to get elected to Council ...

4350water blog clarification ...

The 4350water blog has been receiving an increasing number of visitors using search terms which indicate people are searching for the blog of Mayoral candidate Snow Manners.

His election blog is here - Manners for Mayor.

The 4350water blog provides commentary on a variety of issues, including the continued attempts by the Toowoomba City Council to introduce potable reuse to Toowoomba and the upcoming Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election.

It is not affiliated with any candidate. How the various blog contributors vote on election day is up to them ...

4350water blog survey ...

For a poll that has only generated 50 responses so far, there seems to be plenty of interest (and probably some desperate attempts at multiple voting).

The survey:

Will Ramia, Albion (no longer running), Alroe, Englart and Schneider be re-elected in 2008?

A. Yes - everyone loves them - 12%
B. No - the stink of their recycled water campaign remains - 68%
C. Maybe - one might slip through but most will go - 20%

Current clicks - 4,131.

That's quite a lot of interest (or multiple interest) ...

Purcell's ghost will haunt Anna Bligh ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Purcell's ghost will haunt Anna Bligh

22 February 2008

Unfortunately for Anna Bligh, former minister Pat Purcell sits on the back benches of the Queensland Parliament like Banquo's Ghost.

The plot reversal is that, unlike the apparition from Macbeth, all the guests can see Purcell while Premier Anna Bligh would like to pretend he is invisible.

She could never have sacked him as a politician but a bit more forceful leadership might have rid us of his malevolent presence.

He will go now at a time of his choosing which, I guess, will be at a time when he can max out his superannuation entitlements.

Bligh's slowness to recognise the ongoing problem of Purcell can at best be attributed to misplaced political loyalty and at worst to political obstinacy. But why she descended to unplumbed depths of political hair-splitting with her initial coyness over the curious case of Purcell confounds me. She declined to define as a lie Purcell's initial version of events that led to him being charged with assaulting a couple of his Department of Emergency Services minions.

Purcell first described his contretemps with State Emergency Services director Eddie Bennet and Energy Management Queensland deputy executive director Stephen Young as a "verbal bollocking". Then last week he admitted: "I struck both men in a manner which was both unprovoked and inappropriate."

"You can describe it in whatever language you see fit," Bligh said.

I found fit to describe it as a lie. In fact, I found difficulty in describing it as anything but a lie.

And I'd describe as an insult to the public intelligence Purcell's oblique suggestion that comments made to the media were misconstrued.

It is not illegal to lie to the media, however, it is at least disturbing that a politician should use the media as an intermediary to lie to the people who elect him and pay his salary.

While the semantics of Purcell's affection for the truth cause me little problem, much else puzzles me.

While his behaviour was clearly inappropriate (Management 101: Bosses shall not bop workers), it probably caused more injury to the victims' pride than to their skulls.

However, whatever the murky (if relatively trivial events) that led to an inquiry by the Crime and Misconduct Commission, the fact remains that Purcell was charged with the criminal offence of common assault, which can attract a jail term of up to three years.

A conviction would have had catastrophic results for his career and all his dreams of a comfortable retirement. Purcell appeared in court charged with assault and the legal clock began to tick.

Then last Wednesday, the Magistrates' Court was told there was a "significant prospect" the case might resolve itself. Come Thursday, Purcell issued his apology and minutes later the court was told the charges had been dropped because the parties had settled out of court.

Remember this was a criminal charge, not a civil action launched by aggrieved parties and hungry lawyers.

Normally, when a criminal case reaches this stage it is not the prerogative of the victims, complainants or witnesses to decide whether it should proceed. The time for mediation, shaking hands and making up is all over.

But not in this case. At the 11th hour, Purcell admitted his sins (although his not guilty plea is a matter of record) and the charges were dropped. Many cases are dropped before trial, but normally not because of a kiss-and-cuddle deal.

And not normally when they involve high-profile people and high principles.

Can we now expect a spate of dropped charges after last-minute contrition from thugs, or is this reserved for politicians?

It would be interesting to see how a court would rule on proportionate blame between Purcell, Bennet and Young for this appalling waste of public time and money. Bennet and Young may have started off as victims, but they appear to have become party to what is little more than a tawdry exercise in plea bargaining.

The three may have made up, but our faith in the legal system is badly bruised.

And the longer Purcell sits in our Parliament and taunts our sense of fairness, the more uncomfortable his presence will become for Bligh.

See - Purcell's ghost will haunt Anna Bligh.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Taylor camp in disarray over failure to read documents ...

Seems Mayoral hopeful Taylor doesn't read documents too closely.

If he had, he'd know that you don't give your opponents a free kick 21 days out from an election.

Taylor was caught on the back foot on WIN News trying to explain his failure to comply with the rules set down by the Transitional Committee he heads.

He then tried to blame his printer for the error, which implies he hasn't looked at his election ads.

Then he tried to say that the offending election ad was for information purposes only, not for political purposes.

But the ad states: Peter Taylor has the experience and vision to lead etc etc.

If it looks and reads like a candidate's election ad, it probably is one.

So he's not being too truthful there.

Sounds like an awful lot of duck and cover over the issue.

Toowoomba and the surrounding region needs leaders who will take responsibility for their actions - not people who will look to blame anyone and anything before accepting blame themselves.

There are already enough people like that in government.

The region needs a Mayor who will actually read Council documents ...

Toowoomba's outgoing Mayor's farewell scrapped ...

It's the Water Futures meetings revisited.

Not enough interest so called off.

This time, it's the outgoing Mayor's $5.00 'watch the tears flow' farewell at Rumours.

Lack of interest seems to have resulted in the venue being shifted to Picnic Point and the price reduced to zero.

No doubt those walking their dog and out of town visitors taking in the view will all be counted as attendees to this fine event.

Maybe they should offer free pizza and movie passes - that at least encouraged a few people last time around ...

Candidate denies affair ...

See - ABC News - Candidate denies affair.

NSW Labor implodes amid sex scandal ...

See - ICAC sex scandal reaches Iemma's office.

Also see - Five sex claims surface against ALP heavyweight.

Remember where Anna Bligh's new Chief of Staff was until very recently?

Expect some duck and cover from Qld Labor to distance themselves and Anna's new Chief of Staff from the fallout ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - candidate Antonio sends mixed messages ...

Councillor candidate and current Millmerran Mayor Paul Antonio hasn't been doing his homework.

As a result, he's sending mixed messages to the voters.

He states that he see "waste water as a tremendous community asset. We need to be looking at ways of preserving what we have, for example, through capturing more of our storm water, and grey water, and recycling it for non-drinking purposes."

See - Antonio won't force you to drink recycled water.

So, he's not in favour of using recycled water for drinking.

But then he says:

"Premier Anna Bligh’s announcement of the pipeline to Toowoomba is a welcome first step in ending the city’s water supply crisis."

See - But he seems happy if Anna Bligh does.

Anna's plan involves pumping recycled water (if she can find some) into Wivenhoe and pumping the mix to Toowoomba.

So which is it - is he in favour of people drinking recycled water or not?

At least he's clear on his own interest:

"Through a family trust, Paul owns a 10% share in a waste management company, GBG Management Pty Ltd, which uses technology developed by CQU to treat waste water, with fully organic processes. The company has grown rapidly and is currently expanding internationally."

Clear as mud - or sewage ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - candidate Chris Yeates hits YouTube ...

A sideswipe at the existing Council and their lack of consultation.

See - Candidate Chris Yeates on consultation.

A rather odd approach though - comparing voters to animals in distress.

Plus it's a real snooze fest - see if you're still awake at the end - was it really only 105 seconds ...

Opposition research - playing dirty ...

Interesting article from 2004 on US politics and opposition research.

Excerpt from the Atlantic Monthly:

Playing Dirty

June 2004

This year's presidential campaign is already shaping up to be even more negative than the last. That's no accident. Our correspondent looks at the cloak-and-dagger world of opposition research—the updated version of "dirty tricks"

by Joshua Green

As voters turn their attention toward the coming presidential election, an abiding question from the previous one frustrates Democrats: How is it, they wonder, that Al Gore told small fibs and was branded a liar while George W. Bush told big ones and was elected President? Gore's many exaggerations may have been foolish—that he had somehow invented the Internet, that he grew up on a Tennessee farm, and so on. But surely, this line of thinking goes, they paled alongside Bush's audacious claim that he could cut taxes by $1.3 trillion, effortlessly privatize Social Security, and still balance the budget.

A large part of the answer can be found in a BBC documentary titled Digging the Dirt, which was filmed during the 2000 campaign and never aired in the United States. The film centers on a team of Republican opposition researchers —a species that has existed in politics for eons but had recently undergone an evolutionary leap. From deep within the Republican National Committee headquarters the BBC tracked the efforts of this team, whose job it was to discredit and destroy Al Gore.

Political campaigns always attempt to diminish their opponents, of course. What was remarkable about the 2000 effort was the degree to which the process advanced beyond what Barbara Comstock, who headed the RNC research team, calls "votes and quotes"—the standard campaign practice of leaving the job of scouting the target to very junior staff members, who tend to dig up little more than a rival's legislative record and public statements. Comstock's taking over the research team marked a significant change. She was a lawyer and a ten-year veteran of Capitol Hill who had been one of Representative Dan Burton's top congressional investigators during the Clinton scandals that dominated the 1990s: Filegate, Travelgate, assorted campaign-finance imbroglios, and Whitewater. Rather than amass the usual bunch of college kids, Comstock put together a group of seasoned attorneys and former colleagues from the Burton Committee, including her deputy, Tim Griffin. "The team we had from 2000," she told me recently, to show the degree of ratcheted-up professionalism, "were veteran investigators from the Clinton years. We had a core group of people, and that core was attorneys."

cont ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Mayoral hopeful Taylor's airport plan scratched by Toowoomba City Council ...

Plans for using Oakey as a regional airport ditched in favour of short-term extensions and long-term plan for new airport.

See - Airport upgrade scheme takes off.

4350water blog - the day the unions came calling ...

Blog visitor clusters around a particular topic are always interesting.

In this example, the topic was the criticism by a union head of candidate Morley in the recent Letter to the Editor, the Chronicle.

Multiple site visits by visitors from Ergon Energy, USQ and Queensland Teachers Union of Employees over a short period usually indicate much offsite chatter. Plus the usual suspects from the Qld government and Toowoomba City Council.

Interesting ...

K Rudd flips on computer promise ...

Seems every school child won't get a new computer after all ...

See - Rudd's school computer promise comes unplugged.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - full list of candidates ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Council nominations

20 February 2008

Mayoral contenders (in ballot order):

1. Snow Manners, Toowoomba councillor

2. Ian Jones, Clifton Shire Mayor

3. Peter Taylor, Jondaryan shire mayor

Councillor candidates (in ballot order)

1. Mike Williams

2. Rosemary Morley

3. Rob Berry

4. Carol Taylor

5. Barry Sharp

6. Annette Frizzell

7. Joe Ramia

8. Denise Statham

9. Mark Schuster

10. Bruce Elvery

11. Tony Bourke

12. Terry Ledbury

13. Peter Marks

14. Debbie Huxley

15. Paul Antonio

16. Mick Smith

17. Anne Glasheen

18. Megan Sullivan

19. Sue Englart

20. Lynne Dean

21. Darby McCarthy

22. Keith Beer

23. Michele Alroe

24. Julie Michael

25. Michelle Schneider

26. Ian Graham

27. Tim Fitzgerald

28. Graham Barron

29. Ven Sorensen

30. Ros Scotney

31. Chris Yeates

32. Bill Cahill

33. Noel Strohfeld

34. Terry Dhann

35. Crystal Stark

36. Ian Orford

NSW Labor's sex and corruption scandal in local government ...

See - Labor ministers drawn into deepening scandal.

Caboolture Shire Council cancels $52,000 farewell party ...

Excerpt from Courier Mail:

Caboolture Shire Council cancels $52,000 farewell party

20 February 2008

A Queensland council has dumped its plan to spend $52,000 on a farewell party ahead of its demise at next month's local government elections.

Caboolture Shire Council was planning throw a bash for 900 staff - spending $1600 on clowns and magicians alone - at the Caboolture Showgrounds on March 12, three days before the poll.

The party was supposed to mourn the end of the 128-year-old council, which will merge with Pine Rivers Shire and Redcliffe under the state government's sweeping council reforms.

However Caboolture mayor Joy Leishman today pulled the pin on the party following negative media coverage.
...

See - Council cancels party.

Makes the Toowoomba City Council look respectable.

Then again, no need to book clowns, there's enough rattling the halls already ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - survey update ...

Will Ramia, Alroe, Englart and Schneider be re-elected in 2008?

Yes - everyone loves them - 12%

No - the stink of their recycled water campaign remains - 69%

Maybe - one might slip through but most will go - 19%

Total: 42 responses

Vote now ...

Mayors, councillors dominate nominations for new councils ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

Mayors, councillors dominate nominations for new councils

20 February 2008

Current mayors and councillors make up most of the nominations for election to the new super councils in southern Queensland.

Nominations for the March poll closed yesterday afternoon.

Five people are running for mayor of the South Burnett Regional Council, including current Wondai Mayor David Carter and there are 21 nominations across six divisions for councillor positions.

Inglewood Mayor Joan White is one of three candidates for Goondiwindi regional mayor - 11 have nominated for council.

In the southern inland, Bungil Mayor Rob Loughnan and town Mayor Bruce Garvie are among four contesting the Roma regional mayor's position, with 24 running for council.

Thirty-six people are running for the Toowoomba Regional Council, with city councillor Snow Manners, Jondaryan Mayor Peter Taylor and Clifton Mayor Ian Jones vying for mayor.

Five people are running for the Southern Downs mayor's position, including current mayors Ron Bellingham and Glen Rogers - 27 are contesting councillor positions.

The contest for the Lockyer Valley mayoralty is being fought between three Gatton councillors and David Leatherbarrow. There are 21 nominations for council.

See - Mayors, councillors dominate nominations for new councils.

Beattie backbenchers seek council spots ...

Excerpt from Brisbane Times:

Beattie backbenchers seek council spots

20 February 2008

Former Beattie governmment backbenchers Cate Molloy (Noosa) and Chris Cummins (Kawana) are seeking to become councillors in the new Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

The new Sunshine Coast mega-council is formed by the merger of Caloundra City, Maroochy and Noosa shire councils from March 15.

Fighting it out to become mayor of the new council - one of the most controversial in the State Government's planned review of local governmments in Queensland - are Noosa mayor Bob Abbot and Maroochy Shire Mayor Joe Natoli.

Cr Natoli was due to launch his mayoral campaign last night, while Cate Molloy, a vigorous and outspoken anti-Traveston Dam campaigner will run as a councillor in the new division 9.

In the other councils in South-East Queensland, former mayor John Freeman will contest the Logan mayoralty against another former Beattie Governmment minister Tom Barton and current councillor Pam Parker, while local business figures Lesley Noah, Andy Rimmington and Steve Shoard are also standing.

In Ipswich, Mayor Paul Pisasale is being challenged by Greens candidate Peter Luxton and Samoan businessman Philip Luafutu.

In the new Moreton Bay Regional Council - to be formed when Redcliffe City Council merges with Pine Rivers and Caboolture shires - Redcliffe mayor Allan Sutherland and Pine Rivers mayor Joy Leishman will go head to head.

Also standing for mayor is Bryan Galvin, the former deputy mayor at Pine Rivers Shire Council, Labor Party member Peter Houston who is standing as an independent and Caboolture councillor John McNaught.

See - Beattie backbenchers seek the council life.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - candidate Schneider pleads her case on YouTube ...

Watch the video and see if you can spot her saying she supported the outgoing Mayor's recycled water plant which 62% of the community rejected.

See - Ruby says vote for me.

Many will be confused why Ruby would run again as, without the outgoing Mayor to prompt her at meetings, how will she know when to speak?

Perhaps she could change her slogan to - please vote for me so I can spend the next 4 years munching on gourmet sandwiches at your expense ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - 3 and 36 to compete on 15 March ...

The numbers are in.

As expected, only 3 candidates for Mayor.

There are 36 candidates for the 10 Councillor positions - far fewer than some predicted.

More details soon ...

NSW Labor leads in Ministerial shame game ...

If Qld and NSW Labor governments are actually competing to see which branch can have the most former Ministers charged or in jail, Qld may be ahead on numbers but NSW probably leads on absolute shame ...

See - Former NSW Labor Minister 'hooked boy on heroin'.

Public pays for KRudd's and millionaire wife's babysitter ...

Snouts well and truly in the trough ...

See - Telegraph - Public pays for Kevin Rudd babysitter.

Bottled water 'is immoral' ...

The Toowoomba City Council's catch phrase at one point was "if you don't like our recycled water plans, you can drink bottled water".

Comments about how environmentally unsound that idea was fell on deaf ears ...

Excerpt from the UK Telegraph:

Bottled water is 'immoral'

17 February 2008

Drinking bottled water should be made as unfashionable as smoking, according to a government adviser.

"We have to make people think that it's unfashionable just as we have with smoking. We need a similar campaign to convince people that this is wrong," said Tim Lang, the Government's natural resources commissioner.

Bottled water generates upto 600 times more CO2 than tap water.

Phil Woolas, the environment minister, added that the amount of money spent on mineral water "borders on being morally unacceptable".

Their comments come as new research shows that drinking a bottle of water has the same impact on the environment as driving a car for a kilometre. Conservation groups and water providers have started a campaign against the £2 billion industry.

A BBC Panorama documentary, "Bottled Water: Who Needs It?", to be broadcast tomorrow says that in terms of production, a litre bottle of Evian or Volvic generates up to 600 times more CO2 than a litre of tap water.

See - Bottle water is immoral.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - nominations closing ...

... on Tuesday.

See - Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - nominations close 12.00pm Tuesday 19 February 2008.

If you want to run, better get your skates on ...

Toowoomba Regional Council - winning candidates face wage freeze ...

Excerpt from Quest News:

Pay freeze extends to city hall

15 February 2008

Brisbane: Freshly elected local government councillors can forget about a pay rise in their first year of the new term after a freeze on government wage rises last week.

The decision by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to cap politicians' pay levels for a year in a bid to curb inflationary wage rises could cost Brisbane City councillors more than $6000 each for the year.

Councillors pay packets rose 6.7 per cent last year after a lift in executive salaries by the independent Remuneration Commission triggered a domino effect through government tiers.

Councillors' salaries are tied to State MP pay levels, which are tied to Federal backbenchers' pay, which in turn is based on rates set by the Commission each June.

If wage rates were to increase by 5 per cent from this July, the freeze could save ratepayers about $187,367, with Lord Mayor Campbell Newman missing out on $10,200 and councillors about $6,200 each.

Cr Newman said it would likely mean councillors would automatically forgo a wage rise.

"I am not here for the financial reward, if I didn't like my financial position I wouldn't be here," he said.

Labor Finance Committee chairman Kim Flesser backed the PM's decision.

"I think that in this time of increased inflation it is reasonable of people on high incomes like councillors and politicians to show some restraint," he said.

Local Government Association president Paul Bell said the move could help restrain rising council costs, but would not solve the problem itself.

An analysis released by the group last week has flagged the potential for large household rate rises as councils grapple to balance rising construction costs with restricted revenue bases.

Council costs rose from 4.5 per cent to 5.2 per cent in 2007.
...

See - Councillors get wage freeze.

When politicians get ready to leave office ...

The outgoing Mayor has little to do these days except write letters to the editor ...

Election candidate websites ...

Amazing how detailed the Democratic Primary candidates' websites are:

See - Hillary Clinton website.

See - Barack Obama website.

Both sites have stores (Hillary's store; Barack's store) where you can buy supporter items.

The Hillary "I'm your girl" button and Hillary ice scraper are too funny.

Now these candidates have big budgets but many bloggers are wondering where the election paraphernalia is for the Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election.

Where is the "Bring Snow to the region" button for Mayoral candidate Manners?

Where is the "Ask me why I need to be Mayor" bumper sticker for Mayoral hopeful Taylor?

Where is the "Letting Brisbane set the agenda" key chain for current 3rd place sitter candidate Jones?

Some campaign colour is needed ...

Outgoing Mayor solves Toowoomba water shortage ...

If the flood of tears from the outgoing Mayor at her little shindig at the Empire Theatre last evening could have been directed into Toowoomba's dams, she could have at least left Toowoomba with some contribution to solving Toowoomba's water issues.

Still can't sell the house but she's almost gone.

See - Goodbye Councillor Di.

Probably just a few letters to the editor left and Toowoomba will collectively breathe a sign of relief.

She'll then be Tasmania's problem ...

4350water blog - popularity increases among law firms ...

It must be election time if there are law firms from 3 separate continents spending time on the blog ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Taylor clan go after 4350water blog ...

Always interesting to see what search terms pop up.

This one from Baker McKenzie London (you know who!):

15 Feb 2008

Search Engine - google.co.uk

Search Words - john brown is the water blogger toowoomba water blog 4350

Maybe it was the 'chicken' reference that set them off.

Wonder which file at Baker McKenzie the time is being charged to ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - candidate Marks sinks the boot into the 4 pack ...

Candidate Peter Marks' latest YouTube ad - see - Marks sinks the boot into the 4 pack.

Bligh ready to ditch 'Slugger" Purcell ...

Former Minister Purcell must have thought he was out of the woods with his apology leading to the dropping of all criminal charges.

Maybe not ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Purcell's future in balance

16 February 2008

The political career of Pat Purcell is hanging by a thread after Premier Anna Bligh backed away from her staunch defence of the veteran Labor MP.

After initially insisting Mr Purcell's fate would be in the hands of voters in his Bulimba electorate, Ms Bligh yesterday demanded he consider his future.

Mr Purcell admitted on Thursday to assaulting public servants Eddie Bennet and Stephen Young last year when he was emergency services minister.

The admission came after a host of earlier denials, claims he withdrew from Cabinet for "personal reasons" and the entering of a not guilty plea in the assault court case.

Ms Bligh said she had told Mr Purcell that his behaviour was unacceptable and with the case resolved through mediation he should now consider his position.

"I would expect Mr Purcell would take the opportunity to consider his future," she said.
...

See - Purcell - career in the balance.

Mackay cops most rain in 90 years ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Two systems collide for biggest rainfall in 90 years

15 February 2008

Mackay copped a double whammy when two rain-bearing systems collided over the north Queensland city early on Friday.

Together, they produced more precipitation than most cyclones.

A storm-laden monsoon low converged with a similarly damp upper trough. The weather systems were boosted by moisture-laden, gale-force southeast and northwest winds – a key ingredient in getting such huge rainfall.

"When these winds met they had nowhere to go but up and they dragged a heap of moist air into the clouds," Weather Bureau forecaster Tony Wedd said. "When you have all these ingredients in place, you can get massive rainfall."

See - Mackay - most rain in 90 years.

also see - Mackay - flood photos.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - are Taylor and Jones too chicken to debate Manners ...

Isn't it time they came out of the candidate protection program and said to voters where they stand on issues?

Why hide from the voters?

Too chicken ???

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - meet the candidates ...

What?

An "olde Town Hall Debate"

Where?

The HumeRidge Church Hall

When?

7.00 pm Tuesday 4 March 2008

Why?

Your only opportunity to meet Toowoomba Regional Council candidates and listen to Mayoral candidates debate the issue which affect the voters.

Is there a map?

Yes - HumeRidge Church Hall.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Cr Manners challenges rivals to debate ...

Challenges coming thick and fast today.

Cr Snow Manners challenges the other Mayoral candidates to a debate on the issues.

Ian "Di" Jones says he's up for it.

Peter Taylor not so game - looking for excuses to avoid discussing the issues.

Excerpt from ABC News:

Councillor challenges mayoral candidates to debate

14 February 2008

Toowoomba mayoral candidate Peter Taylor says campaign debates should be planned and hosted by community organisations.

Toowoomba city councillor Snow Manners is challenging candidates, in the southern Queensland city, to a 'town hall' style forum.

Cr Manners is seeking an independent moderator and is challenging his opponents to a debate.

But Jondaryan Mayor Peter Taylor says he is unhappy about how it is being handled.

"But certainly a particular candidate organising it for his own benefit, seems to be a lot of conflict in that," he said.

But Cr Manners says there is no other opportunity for the general public to meet candidates.

Clifton Mayor Ian Jones says he is happy to debate Cr Manners anywhere and at anytime.

See - Manners debate challenge.

What is Taylor afraid of?

How can a debate of three candidates with an independent moderator have "a lot of conflict in that"?

Sounds like he wants to be nowhere near Manners' debating skills.

As for Jones, he should be wary of some of the hard questions he'd be asked on the night.

Game on ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - take the outgoing Mayor challenge ...

The outgoing Mayor seems to have nothing better to do than spend her days writing letters to the Chronicle.

So here's the challenge:

See how many letters to the editor you can get the outgoing Mayor to write between now and 15 March.

Here's a few hints:

- she can't help but respond to letters which point out the painful truths of her administration.

- she seems to hate letters which point out the obvious failings of her recycled water project.

- she seems to reach for a press release at the mere mention of her opponents in the water debate.

The winner is the person whose letters get the most responses from the outgoing Mayor.

Bonus points for anyone who gets her to restate that Crs Alroe, Englart, Schneider and Ramia want people in Toowoomba to drink recycled water.

Are you up for the outgoing Mayor challenge ...

Where does the 4 pack stand on recycled water for Toowoomba ...

You won't read about it on their websites as they duck and dodge the issue and cower behind phrases about how much they work for their community but the outgoing Mayor has said it for them.

On the issue of a stand-alone recycled water plant in Toowoomba delivering recycled water to household taps:

"However, councillors Albion, Alroe, Englart, Schneider and Ramia continued to support the project and do so to this day."

Outgoing Toowoomba Mayor, Toowoomba Chronicle, Letter to the Editor, 14 February 2008.

With Crs Alroe, Englart, Schneider and Ramia running for re-election on 15 March, campaign help like this is the last thing they need.

Talk about a Valentine's Day massacre ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - quiz question 1 ...

Vote for me -- and I'll never make you drink from the toilet ...

Worth revisiting at election time ...

CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE LONG BEEN TOLD, is the place where America's trends are born. The way we live is determined there -- things that seem odd and cutting-edge take root in California, then slowly work their way to the rest of us. By the time we're ready for them, they don't seem so odd anymore.

But I'm willing to go on record: This new toilet-to-tap-water idea that is beginning in California right now will never catch on anywhere else. There is no way in the world that the rest of the country will ever buy into this.

You may have heard about it (if you haven't, you're lucky):

Sewage water flushed down the toilets of residents of California's San Fernando Valley will, under the plan, be sanitized -- and then end up as drinking water that comes out of faucets of people in the Los Angeles area.

This is all being done is the name of environmental concerns and ecological benefits.

The purification of the water flushed down toilets reportedly takes five years. By the time people drink it, it allegedly will be just fine -- tasty and clean.

Yet -- as Lori Dinkin, president of the Valley Village Homeowners Association, told the Los Angeles Daily News -- "This is human waste. I'm very uneasy about that."

Indeed. Environmental groups have said that this toilet-to-tap-water method will assure that the Los Angeles area will not have to depend on water pumped in from other parts of the state, and that by drinking cleaned-up toilet water, residents will be doing something that "is less destructive to wildlife habitats in Northern California and along the Colorado River."

Which is all very praiseworthy -- wildlife habitats should be preserved and protected whenever possible -- but if it means telling people that the water they are gulping down is water that, five years before, was flushed from the toilets of strangers. . . .

Well, you'd think that political realities alone would kill this plan before it even gets started.

It would be the dream position for any California politician to be able to take: He or she could face the electorate, and, in speeches and radio and television commercials, say about the incumbent:

"Friends, may I remind you that during my opponent's administration, you were told that you must drink water that was flushed from other people's toilets."

You would think that there might be a 100 percent turnover in the California political structure. Out would go every elected official who was in office when the toilet-to-tap-water plan took effect; in would come every candidate who would tell voters that he or she is disgusted by the very idea.

The subject of water -- where it comes from, how it is paid for -- is a complicated one, and it is one that citizens prefer not to have to think about too much (and, in fact, virtually all tap water is recycled in one way or another). Twenty-five years ago, you never would have guessed that Americans would willingly pay for bottles of water to drink, the same way they pay for soda pop; now it is so common that even McDonald's sells water in bottles, and people seem convinced that if they are swigging down a bottle of water they have paid for, it is fresher and tastier than what they might get from the tap. (They make this assumption even though they usually have no idea where the bottled water came from, and how long it has been sitting around some warehouse, or in the hold of some ship on its way to the United States from Europe.)

This California plan, though . . . you would think that someone in authority would have overruled the scientists. Obviously the scientific experts believe with complete confidence that, in the five-year cleaning program, water flushed from toilets can be so thoroughly purified and sanitized that there is no chance at all for any problems.

Still . . . someone should have sat down with them and said:

"How do you think people are going to react when we tell them: `Drink this water. Someone went to the bathroom in it and flushed it down the toilet five years ago, but this should not concern you at all. We can vouch for the goodness of this former toilet water -- after all, we're the government. Trust us on this.'"

No, whatever happens with the toilet-to-tap-water plan in California, you can assume that this is one trend that will never make it past that state's borders. All around the United States, politicians are polishing their campaign slogans for every election year in the century ahead:

"Vote for me -- and I'll never make you drink from the toilet."

JWR contributor Bob Greene is a novelist and columnist.
8 May 2000

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - candidate Peter Marks hits YouTube ...

... and shakes his head at a depleted dam ...

See - Peter Marks - YouTube video.

... while saying "things that would have solved water years ago".

Clearly not a fan of the existing crew he sees the election as "a chance to start afresh" ...

Australia's future - under a carbon scheme ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

London to slug gas-guzzlers $53 a day

13 February 2008

Owners of gas-guzzling cars will have to pay 25 pounds ($53) a day to drive them in central London from October, mayor Ken Livingstone said.

The decision, following a year of consultations, is part of a package that Mr Livingstone is bringing in to cut London's carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025.

"I believe that this ground-breaking initiative will have an impact throughout the world with other cities following suit as they step up their efforts to halt the slide towards catastrophic climate change," he told a news conference.

Mr Livingstone, who has made the environment a central plank of his tenure, is facing a tough re-election battle in May in which green issues have featured heavily.

London, which generates some 7 per cent of Britain's climate-warming carbon emissions, is in a vanguard of a group of 40 major cities worldwide pooling their knowledge to play their part in fighting climate change.
...

But to force home the environmental point of a congestion scheme that initially had no green goal, the exemption granted to residents in the zone will be removed from drivers of the polluting four-wheel drive and top-end luxury cars.

That means that the owner of a gas-guzzler who chooses to drive in the zone every day will end up paying $13,980 a year for the privilege.
...

See - London commuters slugged.

Australia's future ...

Illustration by Andrew Mills (published in the Sydney Morning Herald)

"A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity."

Toowoomba City Council - outgoing Mayor's secret brains trust ...

Hidden for almost 8 years.

Now revealed as the outgoing Mayor heads to her pub in Tasmania.

If you look carefully, you can see the brains of her operation sitting behind her ...

Dalby Regional Council - 1 in 2 view O'Shea tape ...

Candidates for the Toowoomba Regional Council election should be so lucky.

Dalby Deputy Mayor Barry O'Shea's YouTube video has been online for 4 weeks and has notched up almost 8,000 views.

With 19,261 registered voters in Dalby and surrounds, that's a strike-rate approaching 1 in 2 (assuming only voter viewing and no-one's playing with the video views - which seems more likely).

Toowoomba Regional Council candidate Ros Scotney's "I want you to drink recycled water" video is languishing far behind with only 14 views ...

Bligh's SEQ drought exit strategy ...

Read it here - Bligh's drought exit strategy.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - name that candidate ...

Thrifty rent-a-car's used vehicle sale ...

Next time you rent a car and think it's been trashed by previous renters ...

Off topic but an amazing photo. For the full sequence see - news.com.au - Bathurst flip.

In this one, it's not clear if it's an ad for Thrifty or NSW tourism.

Bligh's new water policy for SEQ ...

Excerpt from Sydney Morning Herald:

Qld aims to wind back water restrictions

11 February 2008

The Queensland Water Commission has announced new triggers for the winding back of water restrictions as south-east Queensland dam levels continue to rise.

Commission chair Elizabeth Nosworthy on Monday announced current level six restrictions, in which households are encouraged to use 140 litres per day, will be wound back when combined dam levels reach 40 per cent.

Limited hosing would be allowed under new targets, with individual residents asked to limit water use to 170 litres a day.

Restrictions would be further wound back when dams reached 50 per cent combined capacity, with a new target of 200 litres per day.

Once the dams reached 60 per cent, 230 litres per day would be permitted.

Ms Nosworthy said the Drought Exit Strategy was based on the latest analysis, rather than on a plan developed years ago before the community embraced the Target 140 campaign.

"This is a plan that really essentially gives the community credit for becoming world leaders in water saving," she told reporters.

"It recognises we've changed the profligate usage we had pre-drought and it trusts the community to keep valuing water even as we start the process of stepping back from Target 140."

The combined capacity of the dams is currently 35.5 per cent.

Experts say 50 to 60mm of rainfall would be needed over 24 hours in the catchment area to reach 40 per cent combined dam capacity.

Ms Nosworthy said even if the Wivenhoe system's dam levels did not reach 40 per cent, the south-east region would be rewarded for its water saving efforts with a "wet afternoon" on March 1 and 2.

Residents of odd numbered houses will be able to use a single hand-held hose with a trigger or twist nozzle for one hour from 4pm (AEST) on Saturday, March 1, to wash cars, clean houses and equipment and water gardens, if need be.

Even numbered houses would be able to do the same on Sunday, March 2.

Ms Nosworthy said the trial would determine if the region could afford "wet afternoons" while still under extreme restrictions, also known as level six, under which residents have been urged to limit their water usage to 140 litres per day.

See - Bligh's new water restrictions.

Does everyone need to hand back the 4-minute shower timers?

Maybe people could post them to former Premier Beattie, c/- the University of South Carolina ...

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - name that candidate ...

... soon ...

Beware those offering environmentally friendly gifts ...

Blackle is touted as the green google.com with its black screen intended to reduce energy use.

This is what Blackle says:

Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black. "Image displayed is primarily a function of the user's color settings and desktop graphics, as well as the color and size of open application windows; a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen." Roberson et al, 2002

In January 2007 a blog post titled Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year proposed the theory that a black version of the Google search engine would save a fair bit of energy due to the popularity of the search engine. Since then there has been skepticism about the significance of the energy savings that can be achieved and the cost in terms of readability of black web pages.

We believe that there is value in the concept because even if the energy savings are small, they all add up. Secondly we feel that seeing Blackle every time we load our web browser reminds us that we need to keep taking small steps to save energy.
How can you help?

Help us spread the word about Blackle by telling your friends and family to set it as their home page. If you have a blog then give us a mention. Or put the following text in your email signature: "Blackle.com - Saving energy one search at a time".

This is Google's response:

Reducing climate change by saving energy is an important effort we should all join, and that's why we're very glad to see the innovative thinking going into a variety of solutions.

One idea, suggested by the site called "Blackle" (which is not related to Google, by the way, though the site does use our custom search engine), is to reduce energy used by monitors by providing search with a black background.

We applaud the spirit of the idea, but our own analysis as well as that of others shows that making the Google homepage black will not reduce energy consumption. To the contrary, on flat-panel monitors (already estimated to be 75% of the market), displaying black may actually increase energy usage. Detailed results from a new study confirm this.

Interesting ...

4350water blog - interesting search terms ...

Some recent search terms leading here:

1. candidates for mayor toowoomba regional council

2. parliamentary pension queensland

3. "simon taylor" baker mckenzie

4. why level six water restrictions should be stopped

5. dnrw

6. "acqua riciclata dibattito la questione" (that one came from Baker McKenzie in London)

7. climate debate daily

8. o'shea dalby youtube (that one came from Nashville so maybe music man Mark O'Shea checking in)

9. toowoomba city councils dam levels

10. toowoomba floods

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Candidate Ros Scotney wants you to drink recycled water ...

Candidate for Councillor Ros Scotney wants people in Toowoomba to drink recycled water as soon as possible.

"I always supported recycled water from day one when the concept was first introduced", she says on YouTube.

Scotney also ignores Toowoomba's ability to tap the GAB water, telling voters that water will run out in 10-11 months and 'time is running out very very quickly'.

On the connection to Wivenhoe Dam, candidate for Councillor Scotney is 'extremely pleased'.

Her views are clear.

See - YouTube - Scotney says it's time to drink recycled water.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - Ros Scotney bursts onto YouTube ...

A gaggle of videos from the current Pittsworth Mayor for voters to watch.

See - Candidate Ros Scotney hits YouTube.

NSW using recycled water for playing fields ...

Excerpt from the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader:

Funds to recycle sewage

7 February 2008

The State Government has offered Sutherland Shire Council $881,000 to pipe recycled sewage from the Cronulla treatment plant to sporting facilities, where it would be used for irrigation.

The Cronulla Woolooware Wastewater Project would use the "treated recycled sewerage effluent" to water playing fields at Cronulla High School and golf course, Woolooware High School and golf course, Toyota Park, Solander playing fields, Jenola hockey fields, John Dwyer and Woolooware ovals and other sites.

Early estimates put the cost of the project at more than $1.5 million.

A report to the council's finance committee said council staff would report to council on options to fund the $630,000 shortfall.

A council spokeswoman said land suitability studies were under way on the areas earmarked to receive recycled water.

"We have also called a tender for the design of the infrastructure," she said.

"Until this design is finalised the total cost of the project and the predicted shortfall cannot be determined.

"Council is currently completing the business case for the project which will require that organisations using the water contribute to the cost.

"The project will be structured to ensure that ratepayers do not subsidise water usage by other organisations."

The report said the project was expected to reduce water usage and costs and make playing fields safer by improving the turf coverage.

The money was allocated under the second round of the government's water savings fund.

See - NSW - recycled water for playing fields.

Bligh government to relax water restrictions ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Hope springs to ease water restrictions for millions

8 February 2008

Water restrictions for millions of residents across the southeast are set to be eased within days, after the state water authority gave its biggest indication yet that relief was imminent.

As Gold Coast residents enjoy free outdoor water use from today, the Queensland Water Commission said the rest of the region would follow suit.

"We are very close now to be able to relax restrictions generally in the rest of southeast Queensland," chief executive John Bradley said.

See - Water restrictions to ease.

Toowoomba City Council backflip on dual-flush toilets ...

Toowoomba City Council stopped dual-flush toilet rebates on the basis that Toowoomba homeowners only replace toilets when they break so why offer a rebate for something thay have to replace anyway.

"Single Flush Toilet Replacement The rebate to replace a single flush toilet with a AAA rated toilet will not be offered in 2005-06. For any enquiries contact the WaterWise call centre on 4688 6253."

See - Rebates go.

Now a backflip.

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Council flushed by water success

8 February 2008

War is being declared on single-flush toilets in the latest crackdown on household water consumption in the city.

As the water message is set to adorn the back window of six Citybuses, Toowoomba City Council will recommend the new regional authority brings back rebates on dual-flush toilets.

Council acknowledged residential water use had decreased, after community education, water restrictions and water rebates and incentives, to less than the 140 litres a person a day target.
...

See - Toowoomba City Council backflips on dual-flush toilets.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - THAT Mayoral candidate Taylor ad ...

One of the classic election moments: link - Clifton Courier ad.

Secret QWC report says lift water restrictions ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Queensland Water Commission retain restrictions

8 February 2008

The state's water chiefs are refusing to accept mounting evidence that water restrictions should be eased.

A secret water management plan obtained by The Courier-Mail shows restrictions in Brisbane should be wound back from level 6 to level 3 once combined dam levels hit 35per cent, as expected on Sunday.

Pressure is now on the Queensland Water Commission to reveal its plans. Sustained rainfall since the start of the year has added an extra 14 months' supply to southeast Queensland dams.
...

See - Secret QWC report.

KRudd axes Flemington racecourse recycled water project ...

Seems Flemington racecourse will have to use drinking water for the racecourse after KRudd's razor gang cuts.

See - No recycled water for Flemington.

The project was not even recycled water but desalination of ground water.

"The plant will tap into a salt water aquifer under the racecourse to cut drinking water consumption and water the tracks, ground and gardens."

See - Flemington goes desal.

So some misreporting.

Axing $3 million for the Fishing Hall of Fame sounds reasonable though. That was some real desperate Howard government pork-barreling ...

Sydney's dams hit 64 percent ...

Excerpt from Sydney Morning Herald:

7 February 2008

Six weeks' worth of water has been dumped into Sydney's dams over the past seven days, the Sydney Catchment Authority says.

Official figures today show dam levels have reached 64 per cent - a 3 percentage point increase over last week.

See - Dams hit 64 percent.

Fuel, acid tipped into sewers ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Fuel, acid tipped into sewers

7 February 2008

About 20,000 litres of diesel fuel, petroleum products and acid have been illegally dumped in Redland Shire sewers in the past six months.

About 10,000 litres of fuel was dumped in a sewer at Capalaba, east of Brisbane, in the early hours of January 5 and the acid in August last year.

Environmental Protection Agency staff are investigating the incidents, which have cost about $22,000 to clean up.

In the latest incident about 20 tanker loads of polluted water had to be removed from the sewage plant.

The influx of contaminants caused the plant to break its EPA licence conditions.

Shire chief executive Susan Rankin said it was only the third such event in six years but was disappointing because of its potential impact on Moreton Bay.

"The nearest place to recycle such material is at Caboolture (north of Brisbane), so they might have thought that if they dumped it in the dead of night they might get away with it," Ms Rankin said.

An EPA spokesman said about 100 incidents of material being dumped in the environment were reported over the past 12 months but almost all related to vehicle accidents and pipeline and machinery failures.

See - Sewer dumping.

Dalby election campaign goes on YouTube ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

Mayoral aspirant campaigns on YouTube

6 February 2008

Barry O'Shea says he posted a campaign message on the video sharing site YouTube two weeks ago and it has already been viewed by more than 5,000 people.

Councillor O'Shea says he will keep using the medium as a way of talking to voters across the far-flung shire.

"There have been quite a number of people who have answered back on ... youTube and put in messages back to me. It's a two-way street and I think councils will do well to look at this medium in the future," he said.

See - O'Shea online.

Watch the video here - Youtube.com.

Brisbane Mayor says scrap Level 6 water restrictions ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Scrap Level 6 water restrictions, says Campbell Newman

6 February 2008

Level 6 water restrictions should be canned in the wake of the this year's stunning rainfall, says Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.

Cr Newman today joined Gold Coast counterpart Ron Clarke in calling for the easing of water restrictions.

Water levels are at their best level in 18 months after a remarkable five weeks of rain that has added 12 months water supply to Brisbane’s dams.

But the claim has already been rubbished by Labor Lord Mayor candidate Greg Rowell who described the move as “foolish”.

“Campbell Newman’s out of touch and he’s just plain wrong if he doesn’t see the need to stick with Level 6 restrictions,” he said.

“It would be easy to relax Level 6 restrictions but it would be foolish, especially if you do not have a plan to secure water for Brisbane’s water.
...

See - Level 6 must go.

Anna says finish the water grid ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

Qld water grid still necessary: Bligh

5 February 2008

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says it is still full steam ahead for south-east Queensland's water grid, despite the recent rain.

Rain has lifted Brisbane's dams to their highest level since June 2006 and they are expected to reach a combined capacity of 30 per cent by tomorrow.

But Ms Bligh says that is not enough to relax restrictions just yet.

"We've all met 'Target 140' and I thank people. We may be able to set a higher target in future," she said.

Ms Bligh says contingency plans like mobile desalination plants may no longer be necessary, but work on the $9 billion water grid will continue, as will an investigation into a pipeline from north Queensland to the south-east.

"We are exploring all options to ensure we have a long-term plan," she said.

She says she never wants water supplies to become so scarce ever again.

See - Water grid still on.

Bligh Labor government plans permanent pay-as-you-go water restrictions ...

State Labor government playbook:

Form a commission for everyone to blame.

Grab all the water assets.

Charge what you like.

Excerpt from the Courier Mail (annotated):

Daily consumption plan for each household

5 February 2008

Permanent water quotas are being planned for southeast Queenslanders regardless of whether the wet summer fills the region's dams.

The [Bligh Labor government] Queensland Water Commission is discussing a long-term strategy to ration what households use.

It is understood a return to the old tiered restrictions, currently at level 6, has been ruled out.

Instead, a daily consumption level would be introduced for each household – with a daily figure of 230 litres per person being discussed.

Residents would be able to decide how they used the water.

Mechanisms to enforce long-term reduced usage – possibly a pricing scale – are being developed.

The aim is to ensure water users never return to pre-drought usage of 300 litres per person per day before restrictions were enforced in May 2005. But the move depends on the region's critical dams – the Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine – surging higher than their current combined level of about 29 per cent.

That figure could top 30 per cent if forecast rain arrives today and tomorrow. But despite residents being allowed to hose their garden three days a week when the levels were last at that level, there are no plans to lift bans on all but rationed bucket watering.

[Bligh Labor government appointee] Queensland Water Commissioner Elizabeth Nosworthy said although flood rains had been recorded in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, not nearly enough had fallen in hinterland catchments.

The 1,165,240 megalitre Wivenhoe was on 18.03 per cent, the 379,850 megalitre Somerset on 63.74 per cent and the 214,960 megalitre North Pine was on 21.72 per cent.

Ms Nosworthy yesterday declined to release details of long-term strategy but said it was aimed at protecting the needs of the entire region.

The Water Commission got people thinking about daily quotas with its heavily promoted 140-litre target. [Don't forget the Chinese 4 minute timers which never worked and are now part of the State's landfill.]

She said the commission was not under pressure to ease restrictions because few people wanted to water gardens in such wet conditions.

"Anyway the feedback I'm getting is the community wants us to be cautious," she said.

But Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke has blasted the [Bligh Labor government] Water Commission as "pig-headed" for its refusal to relax the restrictions for his ratepayers.

He wants the level 6 water restrictions eased to level 3 to reduce the risk of downstream flooding if heavy rain continues to fall.

But Ms Nosworthy said the council could reduce the risk of flooding by releasing more water through bypass valves in the Nerang River. The Hinze Dam is set to join the southeast Queensland water grid late this year.
...

See - State government to raise water prices.

Toowoomba's outgoing Mayor already forgotten ...

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

Mayors not contesting polls

5 February 2008

Voters in Queensland's council elections next month will see a host of new faces.

After a tumultuous year for Queensland councils, many veterans have chosen not to re-contest leaving the field wide open for new candidates.

In the major central Queensland cities of Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, none of the city mayors is contesting.

Bundaberg Mayor Kay McDuff said she had determined not to run for the mayoralty before the amalgamation with surrounding shires Burnett, Kolan and Isis was announced.

"That was a very, very good decision," she said. "I've had 10 years as mayor this year and it is time to give someone else a go."

Isis Mayor Bill Trevor is not contesting the election.

Gladstone Mayor and vice-president of the Urban Local Government Association of Queensland, Peter Corones, will not contest the elections either, saying that after 27 years in public life he wanted a break.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale paid tribute to Cr Corones, who has been mayor for 14 years, calling him "the second-best mayor in Queensland".

In Rockhampton, Mayor Margaret Strelow, a veteran of seven years in the job, will stand aside – a decision she announced mid-2007. An amalgamation advocate, she is currently the chair of the committee to oversee the transition with the merging of Rockhampton, Livingstone, Fitzroy and Mount Morgan.

In Mackay, none of the existing three mayors, including Mackay Mayor Julie Boyd, will contest the mayoralty, leaving Mackay's deputy mayor Don Rolls and businessman Col Meng to run for the top job.

The number of non-metropolitan councils this year has been cut from 156 to 72 following a major restructure announced in September last year.

See - Toowoomba's outgoing Mayor already forgotten.

Toowoomba Regional Council 2008 election - unions single out candidate for Councillor Rosemary Morley ...

How odd.

The President of the Queensland Council of Unions Toowoomba has taken the time to write a letter to the Editor, the Chronicle to lambaste candidate for Councillor Rosemary Morley for an alleged complaint about ALP and union election posters during the federal election campaign.

He also warns people about voting for anyone who doesn't 'have the interests of working families at heart'.

Forget for a moment about whether 'non-working families' actually exist in Australia or not.

Such a letter would seem very petty if there wasn't some other purpose behind it.

Unions apparently strong armed members into voting for the outgoing Mayor.

They were apparently also most supportive of Mayoral candidate Ian 'Di' Jones in his bid to head the Toowoomba Regional Council Transitional Committee (a fight they lost).

So it's no real surprise that they are taking aim at one of the outgoing Mayor's most vocal opponents.

However, consider for a moment whether the outgoing Mayor was really considering 'working families' when she said: 'you can drink it [recycled water] or you can buy bottled water'.

That hardly seems like a statement worthy of someone supporting 'working families'.

Rosemary Morley headed the CADS campaign which sought community input on decisions regarding Toowoomba's future water supplies.

She compiled a petition of over 10,000 signature from people wanting greater community input on water supply decisions. Surely some 'working families' signed that.

You can see the petition here - CADS petition - over 10,000 signatures.

At the 2006 Poll, she had broad support from families across Toowoomba's economic spectrum. (Yes voters were actually strongest in some of the wealthier eastside enclaves where they thought a Yes vote would mean instant water for their expansive lawns and gardens.)

You can see the voter breakdown here - 2006 Poll results.

Rather than seeking Councillors who support so-called 'working families', unions seem more interested in Councillors who will fall into line with Brisbane edicts.

What a surprise!

Union members should ask themselves

- why are the unions against certain candidates?

- is it because the people the unions want elected will give me a greater voice?

- is it because Brisbane wants their people elected so the people will have no voice at all?

Ask those questions and see if the unions are really representing 'working families' in the Toowoomba Regional Council election ...

Flash floods hit Brisbane - pictures ...

See - Courier Mail - Heavy rain hits Brisbane.

Coal seam gas water could provide up to 25% of SEQ's water needs ...

People within the Toowoomba City Council told Toowoomba voters that drinking coal seam gas water would kill you.

But they were pushing the potable reuse barrow and coal seam gas water was another option to be ridiculed and buried.

Dalby will use coal seam gas water for its town water supply.

So will Chinchilla and Miles.

Now, with QGC's $8 billion project announcement, it looks like it could eventually provide up to 25% of SEQ's water needs.

Excerpt from Courier Mail:

Massive $8b gas plant project for Gladstone

3 February 2008

Growing global hunger for clean-burning natural gas has spurred plans for an $8 billion project in central Queensland expected to create more than 5000 jobs.

In what could be the largest liquefied gas development in Australia for more than a decade, joint venture partners Queensland Gas and UK-based BG Group announced yesterday that the project would be built near Gladstone.

Plans call for a processing plant, a 380km pipeline and development of coal seam gas fields, with the first export shipments expected by 2013.

The initiative, which is the fourth of its kind planned in the state, is tipped to yield up to 4 million metric tons of gas a year and to generate about $25 billion in revenue for Brisbane-based Queensland Gas over 20 years.

"This project puts Queensland's gas on the world stage and transforms QGC from an explorer and producer to a fully integrated energy company with outstanding growth potential," said managing director Richard Cottee.

World demand for natural gas is forecast to more than double by 2015.

Premier Anna Bligh welcomed news of the project, which she said would deliver a "royalties windfall," to the state, generate hundreds of permanent jobs and help in the battle against global warming.

"LNG (liquefied natural gas) is a key transition fuel as we move away from traditional fuels," Ms Bligh said.

"A gas-fired power station emits half the greenhouse gases of a coal-fired station.

"As well, coal seam gas contains only about 3 per cent carbon dioxide and the carbon dioxide produced can be pumped back into the coal seam as part of the gas extraction process."

An added benefit will be that part of the gas extraction process produces large volumes of underground water – equivalent to about a quarter of Brisbane's annual consumption – which can be used after further processing to help drought-stricken areas.

According to State Government mandated targets, energy retailers and other large electricity users have to source 13 per cent of their electricity from gas-fired generation.

That will rise to 18 per cent by 2020, a change expected to boost private sector development of the gas market.

BG Group announced on Friday that it had secured a $663 million stake in Queensland Gas, which was launched nine years ago and is now worth more than $2.5 billion.

See - QGC - massive $8 billion project.

Excerpt from Sydney Morning Herald:

Talking up the green credentials of natural gas, the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, said the project brought other economic opportunities to the state's south-east, because the production process involved significant extraction of water.

Queensland Gas estimates the project could yield as much as 20 per cent of what Brisbane consumes.

See - Anna Bligh discovers water.

Also see - Qld Gas Company - press release.

Forget water price hikes, it's the power bills that are going to kill you ...

Excerpt from the Australian:

Power bills to double to pay carbon costs

1 February 2008

Major Australian greenhouse gas emitters believe that emissions-trading costs of about $65 a tonne of carbon are inevitable, forcing household electricity bills to rise by almost 100 per cent.

The new director of the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network, Mike Hitchens, told The Australian business should look to evolving carbon markets in Europe to estimate the future cost of emissions trading.

"We all need to understand that linking to other emissions-trading schemes outside of Australia is inevitable, whether done formally or informally," Mr Hitchens said.

"That means that it's the world price of permits we need to incorporate into analysis about the impacts on the Australian economy, not simply the implications of setting our own targets.

"The price of emissions in Australia will very likely be set in Europe. Australia is a price taker for commodities in all other global markets, and we will be a price taker in this global market as well."

The European Commission has estimated a future price of about $65 per tonne of carbon, with European banks predicting a price of between $60 and $80.

The National Generators Forum said a price of more than $40 per tonne would eliminate the need for the Government's 20 per cent Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET), while a price at $80 per tonne would effectively double the price of retail electricity in Australia.

Ross Garnaut, who is heading an independent review of emissions-trading schemes for the Rudd Government, declined to comment yesterday, although he will be addressing the issue of international integration of emissions-trading schemes later this month at a climate change conference in Adelaide.

Treasury has enlisted the assistance of Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Reserve Bank economist Warwick McKibbin in modelling the economic impacts of different carbon prices to guide price-setting when the design of a domestic scheme is finalised later this year.

Professor McKibbin said he could not speculate on the potential price of emissions in Australia, but said the risk of being forced to adopt higher world prices for carbon would be addressed if the Government implemented his hybrid trading model.

He said his model framed a national emissions-trading scheme more like a currency than a commodity, allowing countries to set and manage their own price for emissions just as currencies trade at different values rather than creating a single world price.

"We argue you don't want to trade your permits internationally except in specific circumstances, for the same reason you want to have independent monetary policies," Professor McKibbin said.

"It just seems to me better to have a series of national systems that are co-ordinated. You can always map it on to a global trading system by having the same price if you want to."

Earlier this week, Professor Garnaut suggested the Government consider setting a budget for total greenhouse emissions until 2050 and then let the market determine the rate at which it wanted to make cuts.

A working group to discuss how the NSW Government's Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme would be incorporated into a national regime will meet for the first time in Sydney today.

See - It's the power bills which will kill you.