Mullum Action

WOOLWORTHS HOPES FOR LIQUOR LICENCE

2010-07-12T23:49:00.003+10:00

In order for Woolworths to open a bottleshop at their upcoming Big Box in Station Street,a Community Impact Statement must be completed, by law. They have employed Back Schwartz Vaughan (who describe themselves as the "NSW Liquor Licensing Specialists") to gather submissions and of course these solicitors' online survey questions are skewed to get the answers their clients, Woolworths, want. There is even a question about how Woolworths Liquor Shop might benefit the community.

An alternative way of submitting your comments is to send them direct to the government authority at: NSW Casino Liquor & Gaming Control Authority, 6/323 Castlereagh Street, GPO Box 7060, Sydney 2001 Fax: (02) 9299 7427. Their email is info@clgca.nsw.gov.au although they do ask for a hard copy.

Another way is to make a submission is to download the sample letter from our website http://www.mullumaction.org or just take from it the points which are pertinent to you. Copies of the letter are also at Santos, Edens Landing and there will be a stall at the Farmers Market each Friday (in the cafe area)until the submission period ends on 26 July.

If you want to wade thru the solicitors stuff or view their survey, go to http://www.bsv.com.au and follow the links under CIS, and scroll down. For additional (Woolworths) information go to http://www.bsv.com.au/community-impact-statement.htm scroll down to "Mullumbimby" click and enter password "BSV2406". I wonder how many of those other liquor applications listed are for Woolworths booze outlets - probably Nambucca Heads and Ulladulla are.

My personal view is that to put an Liquor Shop right next to the supermarket (in a quiet residential area, 150m from Mullum Public School) is creating a norm that buying booze is just like going to get a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk. Since norms are ways of describing what acceptable behaviour is, they reflect assumptions people make about themselves, one another and how things "ought to be". Does this mean, by extension, that alcohol-fuelled domestic violence, crime and anti-social behaviour as well as drink driving and drink walking are to be come norms in Station Street?

WOOLWORTHS CAGE FENCE

These ugly barricades have been up for six weeks now, and no work has been started. The roads have been blocked off which means that residents, fire engines, ambulance or other emergency services don't have access into Station Street residences. This may be illegal. I have heard stories of cage road rage and some very upset people. Please write (or call) the Echo, mullumaction.org or Byron Shire Council if you are suffering as a result of the cage.

WOOLWORTHS BENEFITS FROM INCOME MANAGEMENT WIDER ROLL OUT

Who benefits from compulsory income management, currently part of the NT Intervention? Woolworths and Coles, of course! Why? Because Centrelink welfare recipients have half their income quarantined to the Basics Card which can only be used in Woolworths and Coles (and few other shops). ABC's The National Interest radio programme stated that now income management may be rolled out to non-indigenous communities in the NT and other disadvantaged communities around Australia.
Listen online or get transcript from ABC"s National Interest on 18th and 25th June at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/nationalinterest/stories/2010/2931121.htm

RENEWABLE ENERGY FORUM

"Towards Energy Self-Sufficiency" Hosted by Mick O"Regan; various prominent speakers and information tables from local groups.
Bangalow A & I Hall – Sunday 1st August – 9.30 – 1 pm
Bangalow Climate Activist Group: Green Coast Catalysts
For further information, contact Green Coast Catalysts" Chris Sanderson on (02) 6687 2244, or Don Page"s office on (02) 6686-7522.

"COMMUNITY VOICE"

Working for better political representation in the Northern Rivers
Media Launch of "Community Voice" will take place on Friday 16 July 11 am at boat ramp on Kennedy Drive, Tweed Heads, opp Scales Fish and chippery.
Lifts available. http://www.nrcommunityvoice.org

YAMBA FIGHTING A CORPORATE BULLY

Having recently beaten Byron Bay as No 1 top tourist spot, poor ole Yamba is now threatened with a bloomin McDonalds on a massive scale. For more info contact: nomaccas4yamba(@)hotmail.com or call bob at 0434 857 873. Yamba is also going to get its first farmers market scheduled in with the Yamba Fringe Festival http://http://weloveyamba.com/yamba-farmers-market/ on Saturday 21st August, with regular farmers market coming up.

LA VIA CAMPESINA

I went to a 2-day gathering in Brisbane recently, welcoming members of "La Via Campesina" (a world-wide social movement of peasant farmers) representatives of which had come from Japan, Indonesia, Timor Leste and South Korea. The event "Food Sovereignty thru Farmer Solidarity" was organised by FoodConnect in Brisbane, who connect organic farmers with people who want to receive a box of veges each week. Wonderful place, wonderful people! http:// http://(www.foodconnect.com.au). More on Via Campesina in next newsletter – some info about the anti-globalisation movement is at: http://www.newint.org/issue338/keynote.htm

QUOTE:
In a foreword to "La Via Campesina – Globalisation and the Power of Peasants" book by Annette Aurelie Desmarais, Waldon Bello says that "La Via Campesina"s vision of agriculturally rich and diverse societies based on the principle of food sovereignty is a future that is not only worth fighting for, but also one that may be our only way out of the massive social and ecological predicaments spawned by corporate-driven globalisation".

Of course big companies upturn small towns and their communities!

2010-03-31T15:47:00.001+11:00

Posted by Leigh Blackall at 3/30/2010
from his blog:
http://leighblackall.blogspot.com/2010/03/of-course-big-companies-upturn-small.html

On Radio National's Australia Talks tonight was a discussion and talk back session on the issue of the big chain supermarket Woolworths setting up in the iconic small town Mullumbimby. I tried to get through with my phone call, but like most people I guess, was left out and relegated to a very slowly moderated online forum. So here's my post here, just in case the ABC moderator has gone home for the night (as it seems she has).

Disappointed at the set up of the discussion. Of course Woolworths and mega businesses like them disrupt the local economy. Transport, parking, foot traffic, consumer demand, the market, even the culture of the people in a place is affected by Woolworths inevitable presence and their standardised business practice.

And surely we can see that offering young people a minimum wage simply assists Woolworths to be accepted in the community over a generation of branding awareness.. giving kids a skewed view of what employment means to a massive company they will never meet the owners of, be treated as human resource, as a precarious casual or part timer.. little wonder kids have difficulty developing an understanding their place and responsibility in community and society.

So I'm disappointed that the discussion questioned the impact of Woolworths and the whether it is negative. Of course it is!

But Woolworth's success in changing the culture and market in Australia is done. It is inevitable that they, and companies like them are coming to your town. So I hope more towns will work with that relentless energy and turn it to their favour. Suggests Product or Brand Displacement, where the company's presence is seemingly invisable in the community. No logo, no standardised employment or shopping experience.

How about a genuine effort on the part of Woolworths with its vast resources? Create a business that addresses these and many more concerns for the community with real sensitivity, that works into existing businesses, making themselves invisible, enhancing rather than competing, taking responsibility for the impacts they will have, rather than spinning it into a thing we apparently need or want - we don't.

Land & Environment Court: Woolworths' try for Mullumbimby

2009-12-31T16:35:00.001+11:00

NEWSLETTER 70 31 Dec 09

First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR, folks! Many thanks to the kind people who contributed to our trip to the court case in Sydney. Much appreciated!!

WOOLWORTHS-v-BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

LAND & ENVIRONMENT COURT, SYDNEY 23/24 DEC 2009-12-31

The above case was to challenge Byron Shire Council’s refusal of Woolworths proposed on-site sewage system? Did they do that? NO! What happened? They thrashed out a round-table “agreement” at lunch time, presented their arguments for and against the latest on-site sewage management plan to the Commissioner and finished after less than one day, the second day’s hearing (Christmas Eve) was cancelled. Now we await the Commissioner’s decision which will come around the end of January.

After 2 years of campaigning, three court cases (two of which were deferred because Woolworths didn’t have a new management plan ready, despite the fact that the case was ostensibly about the management plan which was refused by our councillors) this was a very disappointing outcome. Ratepayers have paid for this court case, and it has not been about the right and wrong of BSC councillors’s approval – it’s been about how Woolworths can get the go ahead with “agreement” from both sides, with the Commissioner being the approval authority. If he approves it, and if things go wrong, who will be responsible? The Commissioner??

http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2009/12/31/woolies-protesters-feeling-ripped-off/

23 DECEMBER: In the morning, various items were presented and documented as exhibits – for example the Updated Draft Conditions of Consent: Exhibit 24. Our Counsel, Tim Robertson stated that they would have to be modified.

Commissioner Hussey: “Where’s the disagreement?” [about the Conditions]

Tim Robertson (Counsel for Byron Shire Council) made comments as follows:

System failure: the way the system is designed will lead inevitably to a de facto pump out system.
Critical control particulars such as:
- volume into the plant

- volume into the irrigation system/effluent field

peak flow rate: if the re-use system breaks down the numbers double.
CFUs one more in 100mL then you can’t use the water in the toilets

[CFU is Colony Forming Unit, a measure of viable bacterial or fungal numbers]

Inadequacy of management plan which we consider unworkable. They have retrofitted documents rather than building from the ground up.
Tasks given to the Woolworths Floor Manager are beyond his expertise. Critical person is the service contractor his not someone who is skilled in effluent irrigation management.

Other matters such as the number of pumpouts allowed per year, and the consequences of the failure of the model were mentioned. McEwan (Counsel for Woolworths) made some comments – ask Deb for details.

Basically the Commissioner wanted to agreement to be reached on the Consent Conditions for Woolworths development to go ahead. He asked the legal teams whether agreement might be reached that day – there was a shocked silence and then the Commissioner added that the administration staff wanted to know (NB next day being 24 Dec). The legal teams said they probably would, and lunch time was spent with them sitting around a table with the experts, coming to “agreement” about the conditions for Woolworths to operate.

After lunch, I arrived back and witnessed some of the round-table conversation. The soil expert Catherine Hird, commissioned by BSC, had been making a point (as I understand it) about the complexity of the on-site management plan. She was being roundly put down by both sides with “But Catherine …” in loud voices. My impression was that Ms Hird was not being heard.

A solicitor for Woolworths suggested that extra pumpout should be allowed to Woolworths in case of suspected sabotage from anti-Woolworths protesters because if they put one bottle of bleach down the toilet each day, then the whole system would be out of action.

When the Commissioner returned to the court, the court attendant called out “Silence in the Court” everyone stood up, and bowed their heads. The Commissioner was asked for a little extra time, and was assured that all would be finished that day.

When he returned, both legal teams gave speeches, and Tim Robertson outlined why the on-site sewage management system should not go ahead. His speech was reasonable, might have been convincing and yet seemed hollow since, as I understand it, they had all been thrashing out an agreement to make it a “viable” proposition.

McEwan did his speech for Woolworths. This man has chutzpah; his attitude is aggressive. He summed up the extraordinarily intricate management plan which hundreds of pages long thus: “They just have to look and see if its ponding, check the dials and fill out the log sheet”. Further, he said categorically “the land is not constrained” and “This system is 1000 times better than other systems”. I could see why Woolworths employed this man.

TANKERING and BUFFERS:

The agreement apparently includes 200,000 litres of sewage leaving the site in tanker trucks – about 3 months of the sewage produced per year. Effectively this makes in an off-site and not an on-site system, and tankering is still illegal in Byron Shire. As for the buffer zones, apparently the current proposal is for 1m buffer zones and not the 3-6m zones currently required for human and environmental health. Ask Shannon McKelvey or Ray Darney at Byron Shire Council for confirmation of the above.

L & E COURT PURPOSE:

From the Court’s website, their purpose is to safeguard and maintain

the rule of law
equality of all before the law
access to justice
fairness, impartiality and independence in decision making
processes that are consistently transparent, timely and certain
accountability in its conduct and its use of public resources
the highest standards of competency and personal integrity of its judges, commissioners and support staff.

It will be interesting to find out whether the Commissioner will construct a new rule of law in the case of Woolworths – in particular the Clause 45 (1) of the Byron Local Environment Plan 1988 which does not permit pump-out of effluent. A precedent set to refuse pump-out was set in the Codlea-v-BSC case 1999. The Local Government Act and Local Government Regulations set standards for on-site systems which were acknowledged by Byron Shire Council in their refusal of Woolworths on-site system.

Address for contact: Commissioner Hussey, L & E Court, PO Box 3565, Sydney 2001 or see Lawlink.nsw.gov.au for details. Let him know you care!

QUOTATION:

“If the law supposes that,” said Mr. Bumble,… “the law is a ass—a idiot. If that’s the eye of the law, the law is a bachelor; and the worst I wish the law is that his eye may be opened by experience—by experience.” (Charles Dickens: Oliver Twist).

************************************************

The following info comes from Mark Byrne from the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) Lismore. Contact: mark.byrne(at)edo.org.au

1. Climate change

In the washup to the Copenhagen summit, in early February the EDO will present a series of free evening seminars on climate law. They will feature our man on the ground (or out in the snow) on Copenhagen on what went wrong, the prospects for a legally binding global treaty, and what the commitment by major polluters in the Copenhagen Accord to limit the global atmospheric temperature rise to not more than 2 degrees C might imply. Northern Rivers staff will also speak about where that leaves the CPRS and alternatives, and recent and current climate change cases in domestic and international courts. Full details including venues next month, but the tentative schedule is as follows:

Port Macquarie, Thursday 4 Feb

Bellingen, Friday 5 Feb

Ballina, Wednesday 10 Feb

Murwillumbah, Thursday 11 Feb

2. Timber plantations

The Plantations and Reafforestation Act and Code have been under statutory review since 2005. On 14 December the NSW DPI finally released the two Bills with amendments to the Act and Code Regulation. The EDO intended to hold a public meeting and workshop to discuss the proposed amendments. However, as the Bills are only on public exhibition until 12 February, this will not be possible. Anyone who wishes to make a submission can get more information at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/private-forestry/plantation-authorisations/review.

3. Biodiversity

Also on exhibition over the summer holidays is the Draft Far North Coast Regional Conservation Plan. It "outlines mechanisms to offset the unavoidable impacts on biodiversity arising from the implementation of the [2007 Far North Coast] regional strategy." On 7 December DECCW announced that the Draft Plan will be on public exhibition until 29 January. Anyone interested in reading the Draft Plan and making submissions can get more information at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/biodiversity/regconsplans.htm.

4. Planning law reform

In November the EDO and the Total Environment Centre held workshops in Ballina and Coffs Harbour, among other places, to update the community on the recent changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and to seek community feedback on the NSW planning system. The workshops were based on a discussion paper entitled 'Planning in NSW: Reconnecting the community with the planning system' which outlines the NSW planning system and the opportunities for public participation. People who could not attend the workshops are encouraged to give their feedback on the NSW planning system by completing our online survey at http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/survey/planning_survey.php.

WOOLWORTHS-v-BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL: LAND & ENV COURT CASE 23/24 DEC

2009-12-21T22:08:00.005+11:00

NEWSLETTER 69: 21 December 2009

LAND & ENVIRONMENT COURT SYDNEY - 23/24 December this week.

This is Woolworths’ last ditch attempt to persuade the Commissioner that they have a viable proposal for an on-site sewage system for the too-small boggy site in Station Street, Mullumbimby. Wws cannot start building until they have approval for the on-site system, or else wait for Mullum’s new sewage treatment plant (STP).

THE HISTORY:

13 August 2009: Byron Shire Councillors rejected (6-1) Woolworths S68 onsite sewage proposal. Woolworths now have to wait a few years for Mullum’s new STP to be built. Not wanting to wait, Woolworths (Wws) challenge our councillor’s refusal in Land & Environment Court.

28 September 2009: Land & Environment Court hearing in Station Street; community submissions given by Duncan Dey, Garry Scott and Deborah Lilly. Next day case moves to Ballina Court House. Instead of the hearing being based on the proposal which was refused by our councillors, the commissioner agrees to let Wws come up with a new and different proposal – but, hey, its not ready – so case is adjourned, till next time, never mind the expense. By being late with their new information, Wws become liable to pay Council's costs. The issue of costs would be heard in a different Court. Council would have to mount that case and, unfortunately, the substantial costs of that court case are not recoverable.

18/19/20 November 2009: Sydney Land & Environment Court – Guess What!! Woolworths new plan is still not ready. Commissioner agrees to give them another month to come up with a plan.

23/24 December: Sydney Land & Environment Court ALL WELCOME!!! The new plans are ready!!! Are they final??? Of course not, each page is stamped with “Preliminary for Discussion” Will they work? My on-site septic is 'flush and forget'. Not so for Woolworths – the Management Plan is 178 pages long and is so complicated they will have to train experts to operate it.

The Commissioner has been excessively and suspiciously generous to Woolworths in allowing them THREE (3) attempts to convince the court that they can come up with a plan that will work, and it is plain for all to see that our councillors WERE RIGHT TO REJECT Wws original proposal.

I shall be flying to Sydney tomorrow for the court case and Duncan Dey and friend are driving overnight to get there so Mullumbimby community will be represented – we feel its crucial to keep an eye on proceedings and let them know we’re watching.
Any donations for our efforts will be welcomed, please go to: http://www.mullumaction.org/donate.html. Thanks Param in Bristol UK for offering some financial support.

WOOLWORTHS PLAN
The Wws plan has plenty of inadequacies, despite its 178 pages. Contentious issues include, for instance, the buffers between the effluent disposal area and the boundaries being considerably less than 1 metre; management of foul odours and putrid gases have not been properly evaluated; Dept of Health apparently has not been consulted about the use of recycled effluent for flushing toilets and whether the inhalation of fine droplets and possible pathogens is a health hazard; the extraordinary complexity of allowable situations when tankers might be used to remove the effluent (currently illegal in Byron Shire); the impact of the mainstream chemicals for cleaning the supermarket and food preparation areas & utensils which are designed to kill microbes, bacteria and algae which will then go into the on-site septic tanks and irrigation systems and probably render them useless.

I have researched some of the chemicals in the products as the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) supplied by Woolworths do not have the relevant information, such as the ingredients of the cleaning products, their toxicity, and Hazchem codes. We have been fobbed off with dummy MSDS sheets that look official! I have googled some of the products, and checked out the ingredients – in particular J512 which is used to sanitise sinks, all surfaces, all items which are handled, buckets, J-fill kits (sprayed onto walls, cabinets, etc) floors, etc has ingredients which are algaecidal, microbicidal. The Panclean product is bactericidal and microbicidal. I list here the other products and if anyone out there has a chemistry background and can explain the effects of these products, especially whether they will negatively impact the microorganisms in a septic system, please contact me, Deborah(at)mullumaction.org and the legal representative from Byron Shire Council, Shannon.Mckelvey(at)byron.nsw.gov.au

The products to be used at proposed Woolworths supermarket, Mullumbimby:
View Quick WW diluted 1:100
Pronto WW diluted 1:4
Reveal WW diluted
Revive WW diluted
Sanibrite liquid diluted 1:200
Soft Care antibac
Sparkle JF diluted
Panclean JF diluted
Pinnacle WW
Breakup Diluted 1:300
J512 JF diluted 1:512

J512 Ingredients:
n-Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride CAS 68391-01-5 which is algaecidal and microbicidal - and
n-Akyl Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride CAS 68956-79-6 which is bactericidal/microbicidal

Furthermore, the Department of Planning News Release of 22 January 2008, when they approved the Woolworths Stage 2 with onsite, stipulated Woolworths’

• "Deferring introduction of in-house, water-intensive fresh food preparation areas until a later stage of development which will be linked to the introduction of a reticulated sewer at the site."

It will be interesting to find out whether or not Woolworths are now planning to introduce an in-house, water-intensive fresh food preparation area, before the new Mullumbimby reticulated sewer STP is built.

More news post case.
Merry Christmas to all our readers.
May the New Year be Woolworths-free in Mullumbimby.

Cheers,
Deborah
Our contact at the L & E court: Duncan Dey: 0429 845440
My mobile: 0435 421053 (Deborah Lilly)

PS: Please see our website www.mullumaction.org and check out the article about Woolworths marketing pokie gambling pubs to children … and how the debate about pokies at the Woolworths AGM was shut down. Woolworths are the biggest operators of pokies in Australia.

climate change art competition for schools

2009-09-15T19:23:00.001+10:00

Ballina Byron ‘Fair-Go 350’ Art Competition

As part of the International Day of Action on Climate Change, Ballina Climate Action Network (BCAN) and North Coast Climate Action Group (NCCAG) are planning an event in Ballina - at Missingham Park by the Amphitheatre - and invite students to participate in an Art Competition depicting local sustainable solutions

Art: drawings, paintings or other creations (eg using recycled materials)
When: closing date Fri 16th October. Winner to be announced at the Fair on 24th Oct.
2 Categories: under 12 and 12 to 18 years
Entries mailed or delivered to: address and postal address TBA
Prizes:- 1st $80 voucher and 2nd $40 for both categories. (Vouchers donated by Ballina businesses: Eco-options & Jack Ransom Cycles.)
Enquiries: for Ballina ring Sue on 66860602, for Byron ring Tracey 66871056 or email bcanlist@gmail.com

Studies by NASA’s James Hansen - globally respected climatologist - and his team last year produced studies that show with over 350 ppm Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere:
• we will not have a planet as we know it and,
• to which life on Earth developed – and is adapted.

The present level of CO2 is 390ppm and rising. That is why we are already seeing many adverse effects around the world including: widespread droughts and fires accelerated melting of most glaciers and Arctic Summer ice, and tropical diseases spreading to new areas.

We have one planet and one chance to prevent runaway Climate Change. To do this we need a commitment to immediate and deep cuts, especially from the developed nations, at the Kyoto talks in Copenhagen at the end of this year.

100 countries so far have registered to host at least one event on the 24th of October
While the discredited sceptics are still finding fertile ground many ordinary people around the world, concerned for their children’s future, are uniting to tell their politicians that they want strong action NOW

Ballina Byron ‘Fair-Go 350’ will provide information on sustainable local solutions and highlight initiatives in place by our local councils, businesses, and environmental groups.

Sue Fielder on behalf of BCAN

Rally to STOP Woolworths in Newport, NSW

2009-09-15T19:19:00.002+10:00

It’s now been a couple of months since we started the campaign to stop Woolworths from ruining the beautiful village of Newport.
Thank you very much for signing the petition. The numbers have now swelled to a staggering 2,000 plus, both on line and on paper but we do need more people power to beat the likes of Woolworths, so we’re holding a

Public Rally, on Sunday, 27 September at 10.30 am meeting outside the Surf Club.

Please tell everyone – relations, friends, man, woman and child, to come to the rally to make it clear we don’t want this ugly monstrosity in our village.

Now here’s the latest on the progress of the development by Woolworths.

The council has entered into an automatic agreement to sell the carparks to Woolworths if the two carparks are zoned commercial. Then it’s game set and match as Woolworths automatically become owners of the land and push through their DA with minor compromises designed to palm off residents.

Woolworths rezoning application is now with an independent consultant for assessment. With the application are Woolworths “indicative concept drawings” that are the justification for the rezoning of the council’s carparks.

An independent consultant is being used because the council has a financial stake in the rezoning deal and submissions via Pittwater Council to the consultant, SJD need to be made by 9 October 2009 (see details below).

So what are the main points everyone finds so abhorrent about Woolworths’ proposal?

A typical submission might read as follows: (please feel free to use this one if you want to)

“The Woolworths zoning application should be rejected. It will destroy the village of Newport for the following reasons:

1. This is a key site because it is the last off-mainroad opportunity for Newport to develop its village character.- with landscaping local shops and open areas as embodied in the letter and spirit of the Newport Master Plan, endorsed by residents and passed by council.

2. The Woolworths proposal would dominate the site in the crudest possible way. It covers the entire site, is extremely bulky, allows for no community use, is designed to funnel people only into Woolworths supermarket and will therefore be detrimental to local shops.

3. Newport has sufficient supermarket space with the opening of the 1600 sq mtre Coles supermarket.

4. Because of its size and layout, this development would result in excessive traffic congestion, noise and pollution in Foamcrest Ave and surrounding streets.

5. Because the site is bounded by local streets and the escarpment at the rear, a large number of residents would be affected by after hours noise.

6. Many residents look down on the site. Viewed from above, the above ground carparks will be ugly in the extreme. This plan allows for more parking than Newport needs. This type of crude development is no longer acceptable in modern urban planning.

Even if minor modifications were made to the Woolworths plan, the effects as described above would still apply. To rezone council carparks commercial at this stage would result in the broad concept Woolworths have put forward. Therefore this application should be rejected.

At a later time, after this application is rejected, a fresh approach to this site could be undertaken. Other financially viable concepts that embody the spirit of the Master Plan, allow for community access and enhance Newport as a village would be welcome. “

To make your submission, you need to fill out a form asking whether you have looked at the rezoning proposal. The application is on the council website at http://tinyurl.com/ovwtdm.

The form you need to fill out is attached as a PDF which can be easily printed out. It is essential we get our submissions in by 9 October - and the more the better.

It’s great that just about everyone in Newport is pulling together on this. We can beat them! Look forward to seeing you at the rally.

David Catchlove
Newport Versus Woolies Community Group
(nowoolies@gmail.com)

Rally to stop Shooters Games, Sydney

2009-09-08T10:42:00.000+10:00

Urgent Rally
Keep up the pressure!

STOP THE SHOOTERS GAMES
- there's no such thing as conservation hunting -
Thursday 10 Sept 12.30 pm
Parliament House Macquarie St Sydney

Keep up the pressure on the Rees Govt:
No Hunting in National Parks
No Blood Sport Reserves
No hunting native animals
No release of exotic birds for hunting

ALSO

Free Public Meeting
National Parks Under Attack - Help Nature Claim them Back!

Wednesday 9 September, 5.30-8.00pm
Light supper, 5.30pm - Free
Theatrette, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney

Stop the exploitation of nature and national parks
by blood sports and commercial facilities

Many balloons for Jai

2009-09-07T13:00:00.002+10:00

Dear Friends of the Story Tree,

Here in little Mullumbimby, the whole community has been shaken by the tragic death of a teenage boy in a scuffle at school. The pain of that has been compounded by the distorted and sensationalised stories coming out of the media- even sadly our ABC didn’t get to the facts accurately.

The truth is only just emerging and it seems it was more of a freak accident than anything. There was never a vicious brawl or a mob as some media have reported. In Mullumbimby, the whole community has come together to offer support to those affected, not only by the incident itself and Jai's death but by the papparazzi-like press who descended upon our small town.

Two days after Jai's death, his parents urged Jai's friends to embrace peace and forgiveness. A memorial march was held at the school (not a walk out). On Saturday there was a funeral for Jai in our beautiful Heritage Park with hundreds of people attending. It was partly led by his teenage friends who read poems and sang songs for him. The adults and teenagers supported eachother in their grief. Balloons and doves were released at the end.

You may have heard that one of Jai's young friends called for people to tie coloured balloons to their letterboxes to symbolise peace and co-operation to honour Jai, who was a very peacable, beautiful boy and to start a National Day to recognize the need to stand up and say 'No' to bullying in all forms. The message travelled around Australia. Many of the streets of Mullumbimby were lined with balloons on Saturday.

Maybe our loving thought balloons are more ecological but just as powerful.

Peace and harmony to you,

Jenni Cargill-Strong

WOOLWORTHS SEWER AT COUNCIL AGAIN

2009-07-01T17:12:00.002+10:00

NEWSLETTER 50 - 1 July 2009

BSC TOMORROW: WOOLWORTHS SEWER-ON- A BOG s68: The 12 questions asked of council staff about the s68 meeting the required standards/policies/guidelines have not been answered satisfactorily in our view; the answers were ambiguous, incomplete and a gift to Woolworths. Tom Tabart will be raising this matter again tomorrow at Council’s meeting on 2 July. Garry Scott will speak during public access between 9-10 am.

TELSTRA SITE in Station Street, Mullumbimby, will also be up for discussion at Council meeting tomorrow. Will the Telstra Site be awarded to the Sustainable food Network for their market??? (see next item).

CONGRATULATIONS to local sustainable food people bringing 7 councils together to create sustainable food network called “Northern Rivers Food Links”. They have been awarded grant of $2m from NSW Dept Environment and Climate Change to develop new approaches to food growing and distributing to protect communities from climate change.

WWS & COLES BLOCK GROCERY CHOICE SCHEME: “This was the site the big supermarkets didn’t want you to see…” Choice CEO Nick Stace said about the scrapping of the Grocery Choice Scheme after Woolworths and Coles apparently would not co-operate with providing the data to the website, so shoppers could search for best prices. Scrapping the new website also scraps Kevin Rudd’s election promise to force grocery prices down. http://www.smh.com.au/national/grocery-choice-project-in-tatters-20090626-czot.html

EATING OIL
“Industrialised, globalised agriculture is a recipe for eating oil. Oil is used for the chemical fertilizers that go to pollute the soil and water. Oil is used to displace small farmers with giant tractors and combine harvesters. Oil is used to industrially process food. Oil is used for the plastic in packaging. And finally more and more oil is used to
transport food farther and farther away from where it is produced.”
(Vandana Shiva: “Soil Not Oil: Environmental Justice in a Time of Climate Crisis” (2008) South End Press, Cambridge, MA, USA.
(I would add to that list the post-harvest chemicals and the pesticides)

REPCO CAR RALLY: How would you like it? Tweed and Kyogle areas are targeted.
Sign petition http://www.petitiononline.com/NRG01e/petition.html also see blog by Julie Boyd of Hastings Point jboydedu.wordpress.com/

NEW TRAFFIC FINES FROM TODAY: I called Highway Patrol, Byron Bay, about the Left Bank Road traffic problem yet again, and the Sarge told me about new fines.
Less than 10 k over speed limit: 1 point $84 fine
More than 10 k 3 points $197
20k over limit: 4 points $338
30k over limit: 5 points $647
45k over limikt: 6 points $1744

STILLNESS IN ACTION RETREAT Ballina 24-28 July www.stillnessinaction.net

Please note you can put up your own event on our website calendar www.mullumaction.org

Cheers
Deborah

WHAT HAPPENED ... re: sewer-on-a-bog

2009-06-15T11:04:00.002+10:00

CELEBRATING A REPRIEVE FOR MULLUMBIMBY FROM THE WOOLWORTHS MAMMOTH.

Greetings Community

BOTTOMS UP! What I mean by this is:

a) “Bottoms up” is the toast of the celebratory glass bottoms going up as we toast each other and the 6 Byron Shire Councilors who showed care and concern for our community in their vote last Thursday (more details below).
b) “Bottom up” is the people-propelled change – rather than top-down change from those in charge. Our councilors listened from the bottom-up last week, and we got change! We were inches away from loosing our campaign; luckily we have some savvy people on our team who spotted the noose.
c) Finally, I am thinking of the brown-eye greeting that was given to George W Bush when he came here last year.

WHAT HAPPENED? Last week my newsletters had to be very discrete and strategic. In the Agenda last week, two options were given to the councilors regarding the Woolworths s68 on-site sewage application:

1. To follow the Precautionary Principle and vote “no” (this is what BSC recommended). by BSC giving an alternative option, they implied that the Precautionary Principle is disposable.
2. To follow a “pragmatic risk-based approach” and vote “yes” to the s68 as long as Woolworths adopt the “draft consent conditions” annex 31(f).

Notice the language: “pragmatic” sounds so practical, and “risk-based” sounds exciting. In fact the option is very unpragmatic and very risky. The Consent Conditions are tough and Woolworths would have to jump through hoops as well as move the water mains from under the site, at their own expense. The only problem with having tough consent conditions is – who will be watching if Woolworths breaks their consent conditions?

If councilors had voted “no” then Woolworths would have gone to the Land and Environment Court. All they would have to do is show the judge the “Consent Conditions” which are a list of what Woolworths need to do, authorized by staff at Byron Shire Council, to get an approval for their on-site sewer-on-a-bog. Therefore both a “no” and a “yes” vote would have been a win for Wws.

However, our smart MCAN wastewater experts smelled the rat. Garry and Duncan, in conjunction with Tom Tabart formulated 12 questions for council staff and Woolworths which demand to know how the s68 sewer-on-a-bog meets the standards/policies/guidelines of the local/state/national government. Tom put forward a motion to have these questions answered before councillors commit themselves to approving (or otherwise) Woolworths sewage application. We are confident that these questions cannot be answered (we will get them up on our website soon) so it may well be that the Woolworths development will not go ahead until the new sewage treatment plant (STP) is built, and that could be some years away. However, they are a wily bunch and goodness knows what they’ll come up with in the meantime.

Besides Tom, Basil Cameron seconded the motion and the other supporting councillors were Mayor Jan Barham, Richard Staples, Simon Richardson and Patrick Morrisey. Tom gave a lovely metaphor for the Woolworths sewage proposal; for it to work they would need “goat entrails and a PhD in Astrology”. Jan spoke passionately about the influx of corporations into the Shire which we’ve worked hard to preserve, as well as expressing distress at the way local councils are being overridden by corporations and State Government; Basil said that asking the 12 questions was a “sensible solution which is the nuts and bolts of this proposal”; Simon described the options offered by staff as being like “being given a bucket with holes in it and being told to put out a fire. We will get burnt”. He also mentioned there are cultural, environmental and social implications of having a Wws in Mullumbimby. Richard referred to the “silver bullet” product Wws propose that will supposedly clean/sanitise and not upset the microbes needed for the septic system saying that it would most likely contain large amounts of sodium, also detrimental to soil.

‘WE ARE THE PEOPLE WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR”: quote from Harvard Students about changing the world. I head this quote on ABC Radio National, Background Briefing, today. This was the best synopsis I’ve heard about the world situation, and the way forward, by ex-Greenpeace Global Head Paul Gilding. He is funny and wise as well as very pragmatic (!) and inspiring. The programme will be repeated 7pm Tuesday or you can listen online to “The Great Disruption”
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/

Another interesting snippet this week is SMH/Brisbane Times article http://business.smh.com.au/business/how-two-supermarket-giants-divide-your-familys-weekly-spending-20090613-c6pc.html

THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE who have supported our campaign, written to councillors and sent us words of encouragement and cheer (and cash – hey we still need some more for next round of stickers: Mullum: a Woolworths-free zone). Together we have made a difference. Special thanks to Garry and Duncan for being alert and knowledgeable and to Robert for keeping our website updated all the time. Had a look lately? The full Stateline clip (complete with the final minute which was cut) is up now (thanks to Susie Forster for making this) and the last minute is my best!

As Tom Tabart said, let’s hope this matter can be laid to rest.

Cheers
Deborah
www.mullumaction.org

Duncan Dey's synopsis:
On Thursday 6 Councillors (four Greens plus Basil and Patrick) supported MCAN's request to not support the staff recommendation or their report on Woolworths' Section 68 on-site sewage application. In reality, it is an off-site sewage proposal relying heavily on tankers with occasional watering of minor landscaped areas. The application continued to use poor technical advice form Woolworths' same consultant BRW of Toowoomba - who spends more energy denying faults in its proposal than fixing them. The Council Resolution should be on Council's website by now. It asks our Council staff to categorically state that the proposal complies and is quite sound. This of course cannot be said but will be a much healthier report to take to the L&E Court than one saying "... if Council wanted to approve the poor design, they could" and listing all the steps to do so. The report our Councillors have "thrown out" did just that and detailed how approval could be gained. Obviously, it argued the perfect case FOR Woolworths. Hopefully someone in Council now has the hiccups.

newsletter 46: Vote on sewer-on-a-bog tomorrow

2009-06-10T12:46:00.002+10:00

COUNCILLORS VOTE: Tomorrow Thurs 11 June on the Woolworths sewer-on-a-bog s68 application (does this make it a sewermarket?) Duncan Dey will be speaking on behalf of MCAN during public access between 9 and 10 am. The meeting starts at 10.30 am.

COMMUNITY is invited to this council meeting and MCAN will be there at 8.30 am with some signs which focus on the issue upon which we want to focus. This sounds mysterious and all will be explained when we meet outside council chambers at 8.30 am. This ain’t a protest although it is an opportunity to protest! Supporters are requested to be “orderly” so our cause gets the best hearing. The more people, the better! Please call me if you want more info: 66843723.

STATELINE: Thanks again to all who supported our demo last week – we got on national TV (ABC Stateline on World Environment Day 5.6.09) as well as two local TV news, local ABC radio news and the local papers. It is your support that creates The Tipping Point. Well done!! The full clip is on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJEK_4SA5i4 (the Stateline version lost the last bit.)

WHAT’S GOING ON?? Council’s Director of Planning and Environment Services, Ray Darney, has written a nice letter to all the people who expressed concern about the Wws s68, assuring them that Council officers have recommended refusal of Wws onsite sewer. What he doesn’t say in this letter, and which is written on p148 of the Agenda for 11.6.09, is that Council staff have written nine pages of “what you need to do to get your sewerage system passed” (Annexure 31(f) #857453 Draft Approval Conditions: http://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/meetings/meeting/221).

SUBSIDISING WOOLWORTHS? Council’s preparation of the “Draft Approval Conditions” is an extraordinarily unusual course of action which indicates the lengths they have gone to please Woolworths, apparently at ratepayers expense. As a Byron Shire ratepayer, I would very much like to know why I, apparently, am subsidising Woolworths on-site sewerage plans for a supermarket which I don’t want. Furthermore, Woolworths, according to their 2008 Annual Report, ranked no 25 in the world’s top global retailers, and their revenue for that year was $47 billion. They don’t need my money!!

More news on the situation after the meeting tomorrow.

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WOOLWORTHS AND ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY? A local woman is running a campaign and has a petition to protect orangutans in Sumatra because Woolworths are still selling products from Asia Pulp and Paper. APP’s reputation is for the worst environmental standards, logging practices and habitat destruction in Sumatra. Woolworths could source local sustainably produced paper products and help keep Australians employed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhdUW3LI2po Please contact the website if you want more information about the local orangutan campaign.

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UNFAIR FOOD PRICING: Southern Sydney Retailers Association submission to ACCC Grocery Enquiry on Woolworths pricing of food in one shop being outrageously more expensive in others: Geographic Price Discrimination and price gouging – Craig Kelly http://www.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=831957&nodeId=6347a6bfcdad107f1de7541a4039577b&fn=230%20(late%2013%20June)%E2%80%94Southern%20Sydney%20Retailers%20Association%20(sub.11)%20(7%20pages).pdf

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Our Maleny siblings are working on a new site to be called AWFUL (Anti-Woolworths Fighters United League) (Democratic, clean and lawful) to contain information as it comes to hand. The name springs from this poem by Michael Leunig, who will be asked to be a patron.

Every night and every day
The awfulisers work away
Awfulising public places,
Favourite things and little graces
Awfulising lovely treasures
Common joys and simple pleasures
Awfulising far and near
The parts of life we hold so dear
Democratic, clean and lawful
Awful, awful, awful, awful.

This one’s a laugh: http://WWW.youtube.Com/watch?v=jedd2FiZTqM

FLAT TO RENT: Short term rent, furnished granny flat close to Mullum market,
avail from July 19th-Sept15th at $140 per week, plus bills, and cat to feed
and cuddle. Contact: 66846623/0421650653

QUOTE: “The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to the point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1938 (Speech to Congress about the dangers of monopoly).

Cheers
Deborah

ROCK THE VOTE: sewer on a bog???

2009-05-29T12:34:00.001+10:00

SEWER ON A BOG: demo last Tues. This was a brilliant turnout after only two days warning! Glad we got some splashing shots. Thanks to you all who could make it, and for others who were disappointed – we will have another event soon. Watch this space (and see below).

TV CLIPS can be viewed on:
http://lismore.iprime.com.au/index.php/news/prime-news/mullum-residents-fight-a-retail-giant-video,99131 and

http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/2009/05/27/protestors-say-no-to-mullum-woolies/#

Robert has also put a clip on www.mullumaction.org
Susie Forster is busy editing her clip for ABC Stateline (in next week or two); the SAE students doco-makers got some footage, as well as Hillary Bain for her doco.

ROCK THE VOTE: Councillors will vote on the SEWER ON THE BOG either on 11 June or 2 July. This will be a grand occasion for community to rock the chambers again. Let’s make this memorable! Jenni may be singing our theme song – any creative ideas for pre-vote publicity? See our website if you want the serious details, and the local papers next week.

OTHER EVENTS:

Mullum iNTervention Awareness group will be meeting today 3 pm at Karen’s Place, 39 Prince Street Mullumbimby. 02 6684 6407. – karen_hodder@bigpond.com for more info re: the plight of our indigenous first peoples, the Alice Springs land grab, etc. (sorry for late notice)

Building Community Centred Economies
17 – 20 June, Brisbane convention & Exhibition Centre http://www.cdconference.com.au/ a think, talk and do conference focused on how we can build strong, creative and sustainable local economies into thefuture.

MICHAEL SHUMAN: internationally respected author and economist will take on how business can grow local living economies as we respond to climate change. (I hope he includes peak oil!). 3.15 pm Friday 19 June, Zest, Central Campus, Southern Cross Uni – contact Annie Kia 66207504 mailto:annie.kia@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au> Coordinator, Resilience: building health from regional responses to climate change for the Northern Rivers Climate Change Collaboration

QUOTE: This is what you should do: Love the earth and sun and animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone who asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labour to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, re-examine all you have been told in school or church or any book, dismiss what insults your very soul, and your flesh shall become a great poem.
Walt Whitman (1819-92) American poet, essayist, journalist and humanist.

See you at the VOTE!
Deborah

LATEST WOOLIE NEWS; COUNCILLORS GET THE VOTE!!

2009-05-24T16:19:00.001+10:00

Yes! Our elected councilors will decide on whether or not to approve the Woolworths on-site sewage application. Have you seen the site lately? It is saturated!!

Byron Shire Council staff have now received the “further information” from Woolworths and they are preparing an “Assessment Report” to give to the Councillors. I have asked Council for a copy of this report.

Having the s68 sewage application approved is pivotal for Woolworths so they can then get a construction certificate and start to build their big box.

We have been told by Ray Darney that MCAN will be advised of the council meeting when the s68 application will be discussed; I’ll send out the news to you as soon as I get it. This council meeting might be a good time for us to show up with full colours, banners and community response (TV, newspapers, etc).

Co-incidentally, after six months of asking, I have now received a copy of the “Whitehead Review”. Whitehead Associates are the environmental consultants employed by the Dept Planning late last year to make a report on the Woolworths modified plans for their big box in Mullumbimby. It is because of this Whitehead Review that the Dept Planning approved the Woolworths plans on 12th Jan this year. Finally, I got a copy through FOI (Freedom of Information Act) from the Dept Planning and it cost me $30. As I read it, one word comes to mind – one that Garry uses a lot when referring to Woolworths sewage proposals: “ludicrous”.

I will now try to explain, in ordinary language, what’s been going on and what the Review says. Basically, Woolworths need to make their proposal look as if it will work. They need to convince us that they will only be using a very little water so it will all sink away into the ground, and everyone will be happy. The thing is, the ground they are hoping to use as “irrigation” for their wastewater is soggy, boggy and just 500metres from the tidal river. It’s that bit of paddock by the railway line that floods. Furthermore, it’s a big supermarket on a very small site.

In order to get the on-site wastewater treatment system approved, Woolworths need to supply figures showing they’ll only be using a little water. Woolworths propose a number of things to reduce the amount of wastewater that is usually generated by a supermarket of that size. For instance:

Woolworths won’t be processing meat or most delicatessen items on the Mullumbimby site (until it is connected to the new mains sewer at least 2 years away). Who is going to ensure this? Byron Shire Council??

Woolworths will have high level water efficiency fixtures and practices. (The efficiency, however, of any tap or fixture is only as efficient as the person who uses it.)

SPECIAL CLEANING PRODEDURES: Woolworths have prepared a special “cleaning procedures document” which shows how the cleaners will save water by using a 7L bucket instead of a hose which is normally used for many these jobs. The bucket is specified for some 58 jobs, eg cleaning meat rails. benches, pumpkin cutters, walls, rubbish bins and coolroom doors, walls and floors. Estimated daily water usage in litres is listed for each job. An example is the cleaning of the shelves and racks in the coolroom with a bucket will use 1.28 litres of water and it will be done once a week. (That’s about a kettleful of water: how big are the shelves and racks?) The coolroom walls get the same weekly treatment using 1.28L water. The cabinets/displays in the trading area are also allocated 1.28L water for a weekly wash with a bucket. Is this hygienic for a supplier of “fresh food”? How big is each of these areas to clean with a kettleful of water? The meat and cheese slicers however get 27L water per day and are washed every 4 hours. (Perhaps there is a regulation here).

Using a 7L bucket for 58 jobs is going to be far less efficient than the usual hosing. Again, who will be watching to see the “special cleaning procedures” are carried out as specified?

PUBLIC TOILET ALLOCATION: Whiteheads estimate the amount of water per day for the public toilet will be 250L; that is for the loo and for hand basin. Since Woolworths, in their little green book entitled “Woolworths in Mullumbimby” given out at the public meeting last May, estimates that their catchment population is over 17,000 people, 250L per day seems a very small amount of water for public toilet use. What will Woolworths do when their daily allocation is used up? Lock the toilet doors? Who is going to count the flushes??

CHEMICALS IN WASTEWATER: Whiteheads encourage Woolworths to find cleaning/sanitation agents which won’t decimate the microorganisms which are crucial for the septic tanks, sand filter and soil in the effluent irrigation areas. Have Woolworths come up with an alternative which will sanitise the equipment and surfaces in accordance with health regulations, AND not have a detrimental effect on the vital microorganisms???

EFFLUENT DISPOSAL BY IRRIGATION: To stop the effluent seeping across carparks, footpaths and boundary buffers a 15mm kerb will be put around the irrigation area which will also (supposedly) stop floodwaters entering the irrigation area. An intricate system of soil moisture sensors will have to be installed to continually monitor the soil’s carrying capacity. Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling stress that “the effluent should never cause the soil to become saturated”. Interestingly, the site is usually saturated anyway and the Station Street ditch alongside the Woolworths site has had water in it since the Woolworths announcement in Jan 2008.

HALF METRE BUFFER ZONE: Has Byron Shire Council agreed to accept the half a metre buffer which is proposed between the on-site irrigation system and the Council’s boundary? How can Woolworths predict the effluent won’t seep beyond this decreed line? Are Woolworths like King Canute who decreed the tide not to rise?

CONCLUSION: Have Woolworths been able to come up with answers to the above questions in their latest “information” supplied to Council this week? Are their stringent controls and management practices likely to work? Who will be making sure they comply with their own promises? The whole thing looks, as Garry Scott would say “ludicrous”. We eagerly await Council’s assessment of Woolworths “new information”.

CONTACTING COUNCILLORS: Although they are super busy and earn only peanuts, we do have a democratic right to contact them to share our concerns. Separate messages to each councilor may get a response. Congratulations to Cr Simon Richardson and his partner on the birth of their first child.

Councillors details are: cr.jan.barham@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.basil.cameron@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.diane.woods@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.patrick.morrisey@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.richard.staples@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.ross.tucker@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.simon.richardson@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.tom.tabart@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.tony.heeson@byron.nsw.gov.au; Graeme.faulkner@byron.nsw.gov.au; ray.darney@byron.nsw.gov.au

Ideally Woolworths should wait for the new Mullum STP and send their sewage over there. This was what was originally approved for the Mallams Stage Two. Everybody else has to wait for the STP, why not Woolworths?

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GE FOOD LABELLING PETITION: http://www.truefood.org.au/OurRightToKnow/ Do you want to know whether your bread contains GE wheat? If so, sign the petition! We need to lobby to get food labeled, otherwise it won’t happen.

TRANSITION TOWN IN VICTORIA? How can a community survive in the face of peak oil and climate change? Transition Towns are happening in Queensland and now Victoria. http://www.pigswillfly.com.au/?p=4092. Our local TT contact is David Hall 66804728: See our website calander for David’s DVD showings on Tuesdays.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Treasurer Wayne Swan’s Budge Speech: “Small business is the backbone of the economy and are the largest employers, employing 4 million people”.

Regards
Deborah
www.mullumaction.org

Update: 17 May 2009

2009-05-17T16:43:00.003+10:00

The situation in Mullumbimby re: Woolworths is that building cannot commence until Byron Shire Council (BSC) approves the crucial S68 sewage application. They have been sitting on it for weeks. Apparently BSC is waiting for “more information” from Woolworths – which looks like they are "negotiating". Byron Shire Council seems unwilling to give the straight “no” that the s68 (sewage application) deserves for an on-site sewage application on a soggy site that’s too small. Please check our website for full letter you can copy and send to Mayor, Councillors, General Manager and Director of Planning & Environment of Byron Shire Council.

Robert suggests: "I am sure Council would feel much happier taking on an appeal by Woolworths in the Land and Environment court, with support from the community, rather than Council facing a challenge by the community if they approve the unsound application."

YOUR SUPPORT NEEDED – send a message – even one line will do such as “Please reject Woolworths S68 application” to http://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/contact

FRESH FOOD???? Check this:
ttp://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/08/2565046.htm

Snippet:
The poor pig with maggots infested in the wound was honestly the worst thing I've ever seen," she said. The piggery is a supplier to Woolworths, but did not have industry accreditation.
The supermarket chain says it has given the operator a list of improvements.
A statement released by Woolworths said: "Woolworths responded immediately upon being informed with our head livestock buyer arriving in Tasmania within 48 hours to investigate the allegations." "We were not happy with the conditions on the farm and provided the supplier with a list of improvements to be met". Woolworths says it is visiting the farm every fortnight.

VARIOUS UPCOMING EVENTS on our website www.mullumaction.org calendar (just click on the date for info): Transition Towns DVDs on Tuesdays at Ocean Shores; Repco Car Rally Demonstration in Murwillumbah on 28 May - see also Julie Boyd’s blog about this http://jboydedu.wordpress.com/ You too can add an event to our calendar on the website.

TWEED COAST DEVELOPERS IN ADMINISTRATION: Owing more than $300 million (see http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/03/04/55431_gold-coast-business.html). Resortcorp’s extravagant developments right up to Noosa are viewable on http://www.resortcorp.com.au/developments. Are these the same guys who intended to create new housing estates in Mullumbimby like “Casurina” (now in receivership) and make it the “major town” as projected by Frank Sartor (ex Planning Minister) in his Draft Regional Far North Coast Strategy? Because of the so-called potential “major town” status, this was the reason, Frank said, that we need a “full line supermarket”. The financial crisis may have a silver lining.

YOUR SUPPORT NEEDED – send a message – even one line will do such as “Please reject Woolworths S68 application” to http://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/contact

Message from the Rainforest Information Centre, Lismore www.rainforestinfo.org.au
TASSIE FOREST WARRIORS UNDER SEIGE!! (22 arrests just two days ago!)
Call out for crew to get down to Tassie. Please Come to Tassie to help or do what you can from afar, contact all Tassie politicians and Prime Minister Rudd, Enviro Min. Garrett and Climate Change Min. Penny Wong. Visit stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com for contact details and more info,

Politicians need to know of your serious concerns about the destruction of the globally significant forests of the Upper Florentine Valley. Become an active citizen and exercise your democratic right to let the government know that old-growth logging and the destruction of ancient ecosystems is unacceptable, and that serious changes to legislation and policy need to happen now!

Write a letter (every hand written letter is viewed as representing the opinions of 100 voters, so it's certainly worth making the extra effort) or send an email to your local federal member and any (or all!) of the following members of parliament. Make an appointment with your local MPs. They are your employees and need to listen to your concerns. Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper and call up talk back radio. Get the word out in the media!

DONATIONS? - BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS-
Donate online or at any Westpac Bank to help the campaign to save these precious forests.
Account name: Tasmanias Southern Forests
BSB #: 737001 AC#: 715846

LOCAL RESILIENCE-BUILDING STRATEGIES: What can we do to make Mullumbimby resilient in the face of the economic meltdown and forthcoming post-peak-oil petrol price rises? How can we be ready and self sufficient? Watch this space for more news. If you have suggestions and would like to write something for our newsletter, contact Deborah@mullumaction.org

In this life we cannot always do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa

newsletter 31

2009-01-25T14:06:00.001+11:00

WOOLWORTHS APPROVED - Despite all odds, the Minister Hon Kristina Keneally, has approved the Woolworths supermarket & bottleshop in Mullumbimby. Byron Shire Council’s submission has been ignored, the Environmental Consultants Whitehead & Associates have been ignored, 1500 community letters to ex-Premier Iemma and ex-Minister Sartor have been ignored, and 150 recent clicks on our campaign button have been ignored. Is this a symptom of rot in the system? Does something need to change?

OBAMA’S CHANGE - “The world is changing – and we need to change too” said Barack Obama in his inauguration speech. On his first day of office he shut down Guantanamo Bay, other CIA “ghost prisons” as well as freeing up Bush’s secrecy over records. Obama’s orders will create transparency around political prisoners and transparency about records from the Bush, Bush Snr and Regan eras http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=616132

TRANSPARENCY - Where do we in NSW need political transparency? My initial suggestions are as follows:

• Transparency about the Woolworths current proposals, plans and the Environmental Consultants Whitehead Associates Review – none of which were made available to the public despite our repeated requests. (We have seen nothing new from Wws or DoP since for nine months – since the public meeting in BSC Council chambers).

• Transparency about political donations made by private individuals, developers etc to political parties. In particular, any Woolworths donations to the current State Labour party.

• Transparency about why State Labour Planning Dept has swiped power of consent authority from local governments. Byron Shire Council is now powerless to reject inappropriate development in our Shire, as are all NSW local councils. Our Environmental Protection (EPA) Act (1970) has been undermined by “25 years of concerted determination to strip away our rights” (see Sylvia Hale Greens MP & Spokesperson on Planning speak on movie “RAID Rally a Resounding Success” on www.mullumaction.org where she explains why the EPA Act is now ineffectual, discusses developer donations, etc.) Also search Sue Higginson, EDO on our website for her paper on Climate Change Issues and explanation of Part 3A of EPA Act.

UNHOLY ALLIANCE - The new Minister for Planning, The Hon Kristine Keneally’s allegiance with Woolworths appears more important than the fact that Byron Shire Council (BSC) condemned the current Woolworths plans as “unacceptable” and said that if BSC were the consent authority, consent would not be forthcoming.

Furthermore, according to the BSC submission of 8.12.08 to DoP, the Environmental Consultants Whitehead Associates did not endorse the Woolworths proposals and said that “We stress the design stretches the land capability of this constrained site to its limits”. Have these “environmental experts” taken climate change into account?

CLIMATE CHANGE - The Woolworths site was selected for a local supermarket some 6 years ago, and since then climate change has become a no 1 issue. For example the King Tide last week was half a metre higher than usual and the Woolworths on-site sewage and wastewater disposal is just 500 metres from the tidal river. Furthermore Wws floor level is just 18 cm higher than the Mothers Day flood of 1987.

UNITED NATIONS stated last Thursday 22/1/09 that in 2008 there was a “dramatic increase in … worldwide disasters” and that floods and weather disasters were the most frequent disaster events.

CLIMATE RISK HOTSPOT Just over the border, SE Queensland has been identified as a “climate risk hotspot” and the Qld Government has embedded climate change as its no. 1 issue in its draft Regional Plan for S E Qld - see “latest news” on www.mullumaction.org.

Given the above, we can confidently expect that the Wws development, just 3.5m above sea level and 500m from the tidal Brunswick River, is going to be affected by climate change and in particular their on-site sewage disposal may well be dispersed around the town in the event of a flood. Get this ….

WWS STORAGE OF FLOODWATERS ONSITE!!! The Department of Planning’s News Release of Thurs 22/1/09 p2 states:

“The design also mitigates flood impacts by ensuring that the development does not reduce the area available on the site for the storage of floodwaters”.

(Are they joking?) I will happily send copies of Dept Planning (DoP)’s News Release and Byron Shire Council’s submission to DoP on the Woolworths proposal to anyone that wants it. Contact me via www.mullumaction.org

MCAN FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY will be on Australia Day 26.1.09 at Heritage Park at end of Stuart Street, by the river from 5 pm. Bring a picnic to share. We will be brainstorming our next strategy and welcome input from community. Entertainment will be community based – have you got a song or a poem? Come and perform your party piece!

We are not fazed: this is just the next phase. As George W Bush said “The future will be better tomorrow”.
In solidarity
Deborah

MCAN BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION/strategies/Erskineville win

2009-01-16T13:48:00.001+11:00

NEWSLETTER NO 30

Greetings MCANics

MCAN FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY – We are nearly one year old! Born on Australia Day 26 January 2008, we will be having a birthday celebration, gathering and update at Heritage Park at the end of Stuart Street, by the river at 5 pm. Please bring a plate to share and a poem, song or performance piece. All welcome!!

WORLDS LEADING ENVIRONMENTALIST will be giving a short video and talk with Helena Norberg-Hodge on Monday 19 January at Mullum Civic Hall, 7 pm, gold coin donation.

Strategies to Save the Earth
An Evening with Doug Tompkins
Founder of North Face and Esprit
turned Passionate Ecological Activist

Doug Tompkins has just spent more than a month on the Sea Shepherd. He will be in Australia for three days, and will be giving only one public talk. Doug is quite possibly the most influential environmentalist in the world today. Following an extremely successful business career, he has poured all his energy and almost all his money into restoring ecosystems and supporting strategic initiatives for political and economic change. He lives in Chile and Argentina, where he has bought millions of hectares of land in order to create national parks. For two decades he has been a primary funder of the deep ecology, anti-globalisation and pro-localisation movements worldwide.

ERSKINEVILLE WINS AGAINST WOOLWORTHS!! In May 2008 City of Sydney Council refused an application for a Woolworths (and ancilliary shops). The developers then made an appeal at the Land and Environment Court, which has this week been dismissed because of the scale, intensity, traffic generation and adverse impact on the village.. Bravo to the community group www.erskinevillevillage.org/

KING TIDE at Northern Rivers on Monday 12 Jan was 0.50m higher than usual. CSIRO said it was the highest tide in 18 years, and we can expect more King Tides. Being just 500 metres from the Brunswick River on the floodplain, Woolworths site is vulnerable to tide surges. They have set their floor just 0.50m above the height of the 1 in 100 year flood average. If there was another King Tide at 0.50m plus a major flood …. Would their shop floor be inundated … and what about the on-site sewage? This is a potential health hazard and environmental disaster.

Please click on our website www.mullumaction.org CAMPAIGN BUTTON which sends a direct message to Premier Nathan Rees and Planning Minister Kristina Keneally.

Erskineville won by public support – lets follow their example!!
See you on Australia Day.... let's party!

HAPPY NEW YEAR MCANics

2009-01-16T13:46:00.000+11:00

Thanks everyone for their support this year – we have kept the behemoth at bay! It was 1st January 2008 that the Woolworths announcement was in the Echo.

OUR FIRST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION – will be on Australia Day, 26 January. We could gather on-site and have another bonfire, early evening, weather permitting.

LATEST NEWS: BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL’S SUBMISSION TO DEPT PLANNING ‘UNACCCEPTABLE” on-site wastewater management plan. Woolworths latest efforts to gain on-site sewage approval and abuse the Consent Conditions of the original DA approved by ex-Minister Sartor have been met with disapproval from Byron Shire Council who say “if they were the consent authority … consent would not be forthcoming”.

Details of the December 08 submission are on www.mullumaction.org and if anyone wants a full copy, please contact Deborah. Some of the concerns raised by Whitehead Associates Environmental Consultants employed by DoP are on our homepage, such as the half-metre buffer zone for Wws sewage system, the use of their cleaning chemicals rendering the on-site system inoperable, proposed illegal pumpout of sewage setting a new precedent for other developers in the Shire, etc.

CLIMATE CHANGE media release for S E Queensland – a potential hotspot on our doorstep…. article on our website.

NEW STP: Why is this being built on a floodplain next to the tidal river, surrounded by high hills? Watch out for our guessing competition coming up.

Here’s hoping the State government hasn’t got any silly season surprises in store for us.
Please click on our website campaign button to let them know we care. (Thanks Robert for all your website work).

Perhaps the economic downturn might save Mullumbimby from rampant expansionism. Small is really beautiful!

Cheers,
Deborah

NEWSLETTER 15.12.08 - MORE WOOLLY PROMISES

2008-12-16T08:10:00.001+11:00

MULLUMBIMBY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
www.mullumaction.org
NEWSLETTER 28 – 15.12.08

WOOLWORTHS GONE VEGETARIAN?? They’re promising not to process meat or chicken at their proposed Mullumbimby supermarket!! Have they gone vegetarian? No, it’s their latest ruse to get on-site sewage accepted on the floodplain; they reckon if they don’t process these products they will have less wastewater!

Dept of Planning (DoP) and Woolworths (Wws) have been having intercourse; 3 communications dated 7 Aug, 19 Sept & 19 Nov were sent from Wws to DoP, copies of which were sent to Byron Shire Council (BSC) recently together with an “independent” consultants review from Whitehead Associates commissioned by DoP. Presumably Whitehead Assoc were the persons taking soil samples from the site a few weeks age. BSC was invited to make a submission to DoP re: this “new information” from Wws, the closing date being 8 December. Did BSC buy the vegetarian promise from Woolies? I am attempting to get a copy of their submission. Watch this space.

I contacted Paula Tomkins (DoP) asking for copies of the above documents and for some time in order that MCAN could make a submission. She simply replied thus: “The Department is not inviting public submissions at this time” and failed to respond to my request for copies of the documents.

I applied to BSC for the documents and was told to go to DoP for them. DoP are not answering me. Hello, what’s going on? Christmas is traditionally a special time for government to slip things through – remember last New Year’s Day when Woolworths was announced. Congratulations team, for keeping them at bay for a whole year!!

HOW YOU CAN HELP – please go to www.mullumaction.org and click on our CAMPAIGN BUTTON which will send a message direct to Premier Nathan Rees and Minister of Planning Kristina Keneally. Please ask your friends to click too. It’s easy!

MULLUM’s POO PIES – BSC councilors voted 6-3 to fix up (and replace if necessary) the leaky sewage pipes which dispatch raw sewage into the Brunswick River. This happens in times of heavy rain when the water table rises and groundwater infiltrates the pipes. Their Resolution 08-748 sounds great and this is my summary of it.

That should the pipes be deemed in need of replacement that funding will be made available for this work as a priority of 2009/10. Also, the moratorium will not be lifted until the rainwater going into the pipes is no more than five times the average Dry Weather Flow, and that residents will be kept informed of what’s going on re the pipes.

RUDD’S ROTTEN 5% EMISSION TARGET: Is this adequate for protecting Great Barrier Reef, Murray Darling and Kakadu? Is Kevin showing leadership and commitment to a meaningful target?? Complete on-line survey (2 mins) http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=4aEBfIJsFB3owEi0_2fG7u0w_3d_3d
and/or write to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Climate Change Minister Penny Wong at Commonwealth Government Offices, 70 Phillip Street, Sydney 2000.

CLASS ACTION RE CLIMATE CHANGE: Article from The Guardian: “You could soon sue oil and power companies for climate change” – how about a class action against Wws for contributing to climate change? Or Kevin perhaps?
http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=613261

MCAN CHRISTMAS GATHERING 16 DEC: (Also My 60th Birthday and Duncan’s birthday). Please call Deb for directions 66843723

QUOTE: DYLAN THOMAS
Do not go gentle into that good night.Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

My version:
Do not go gentle into Mullum’s plight
Rage, rage against the Big Box fight
(with your keyboard).

Blessings
Deb

2 days left to lobby Councillors

2008-11-25T00:14:00.001+11:00

Greetings

POLLUTION AND MULLUM PIPES: I have today lodged an official complaint to EPA (now known as Dept of Environment and Climate Change) about the sewage pollution in the town and in the river.

VOTING ON STP THIS THURSDAY This week the councilors vote on whether to go ahead with the new STP (sewage treatment plant) or fix up Mullum’s broken pipes – or even delay the decision whilst exploring all options. Cr Staples has suggested piping (more) liquid wastes to fertilise farmland – this has been done usefully in Main Arm, and could well ease the pressure on the old STP.

For me the priority is to find out why the river is so polluted and whether the new STP will fix the problem. This fix seems doubtful to me as the ancient terracotta pipes under Mullum are leaky and have perished seals; when it rains heavily the water table rises and there is an exchange of rainwater and sewage. The sewage is diluted up to 15 times and overwhelms the old STP and ends up in the river (untreated). More gets into the river at Heritage Park near the end of Dalley Street, and some bubbles up into Susan Skyvington’s garden in Dalley Street, much to her disgust.

There is some rush to get the STP happening as a State Gov grant of $2m may expire soon. This is maybe 4% of the total cost of around $40-$50million; a massive capital expenditure about 5 times the cost of the Council Chambers which kept us in the red for some 5 years. This begs the question: will other projects like Lighthouse Road and Helen Street bridge still be attended to?

OPEN SLATHER: If the STP gets the green light, the building moratorium will be lifted and there will be open slather – some 2000 new houses, Woolworths and whatever else the State Gov decides for us. According to the Local Government Association:

“NSW communities are the big losers in changes announced by the Planning Minister that will see 90% of major development applications (DAs) in coastal and metropolitan areas decided by state government appointees.” (Deb will forward full media release or for more info contact or Local Gov Assoc Media Officer: Kristie Down - 0427 109 593; Media Comment: Cr Genia McCaffery - 0419 404 867).

PLEASE ASK COUNCILLORS TO FIX THE PIPES! You have two days left, voting is this Thursday. This is a pivotal decision for the future of Mullumbimby. cr.basil.cameron@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.diane.woods@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.jan.barham@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.patrick.morrisey@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.richard.staples@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.ross.tucker@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.simon.richardson@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.tom.tabart@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.tony.heeson@byron.nsw.gov.au

DEPT OF PLANNING has organized soil tests on Station Street Site. No news re: S96 result.

WWW.MULLUMACTION.ORG is being continually updated: see our new campaign button. Thanks to Robert.

THE GENERATOR (Bay FM 9am Mondays) was highly commended at the National Radio Awards in Alice Springs over the weekend and The Generator News is now appearing in a New York newspaper, fortnightly. Bravo Giovanni and Charlie.

AVOID GMOs IN YOUR FOOD: 5 top ways
http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=612062

HELP STOP FARMER SUICIDES: http://www.newint.com.au/cotton/?utm_source=ni-enews-oz-2008nov24&utm_medium=email&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=new-internationalist-enews-oz-shop

GREEN DRINKS – Mitra Ardron invites sustainably-minded people to get together and network at Poinciana Café, Thurs 4th December from 5 pm. Come when you like, leave when you like, and there will be a table for business cards, leaflets, etc.

LUNCH WITH Wws NEW SPIN MAN: http://i.mysunshinecoast.com.au/bm/oid35994/doc/November_Lunch.pdf

QUOTE: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (J. Ife, 1999)
Ecological principle: sustainability
Consequences: Conservation, Reduced consumption, no-growth economics, constraints on technological development, anti-capitalist.

Cheers
Deborah

stuff up the shire for $2m!!

2008-11-10T14:48:00.001+11:00

NEWSLETTER 25

Greetings MCANics

URGENT LOBBYING WANTED!!

What is the source of pollution in the Brunswick River? Is it the old Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), the ancient leaky pipes under Mullumbimby or upstream contamination? Please ask councilors to investigate this before voting on proposed new STP on 27.11.08. This is especially important for those impacted by sewerage smells in town, or had raw sewage bubbling up into your back garden or under your house.

Please ask councilors to investigate the source of pollution before voting for the behemoth. A new STP may not solve the problem of pollution in the Brunswick River.

Ask them to delay the decision to think this through -new councilors need time to consider the implications. There is some pressure to have the councilors vote “yes” (see ad in Byron Shire News 30.10.08 p5). A new STP will lift the 10-year building moratorium but will it fix the pollution problem???

A new STP may be the largest ever capital expenditure in the Shire. Even the $8m Council Chambers had us in the red for years, and the new STP may cost between $40m and $50m (they still don’t know the full cost). Who’s paying for it? Us!! Our rates may well have to rise to meet this. When might it be paid for?

A State Government grant for $2m has been offered to BSC and this may soon expire, causing more pressure on councilors. The grant may only cover about 4% of the total STP cost, which is as yet unknown. As Nadia Pietramale said “Stuff up the Shire for $2m???”

Richard Staples has proposed that reducing pressure on the STP by siphoning off liquid wastes to fertilise agricultural land would be a cheaper and greener alternative to a massive new chemical plant. This system is currently used successfully in Main Arm, and could be expanded.

Councillors addresses are: cr.patrick.morrisey@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.tom.tabart@bigpond.com; cr.ross.tucker@bigpond.com; cr.basil.cameron@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.richard.staples@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.jan.barham@bigpond.com; cr.simon.richardson@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.diane.woods@byron.nsw.gov.au; cr.tony.heeson@byron.nsw.gov.au also send to Don Page at don.page@parliament.nsw.gov.au and ray.darney@byron.nsw.gov.au

The Councillors are our vehicle of democracy. Democracy rests on an ideal of equality in which everyone has a voice. Barack Obama has shown the power of democracy, see his “YES WE CAN” speech on http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=610706.

Avaaz petition to Barack Obama on human rights, climate change and peace
http://www.avaaz.org/en/million_messages_to_obama

Powerlessness is passé, and our web network is our most powerful ally. Please forward this to your contacts. Our voices must be heard as all future capital works in the shire may be at stake for years to come. Peter Cundall (Gardening Aust) sent message to RAID Rally “If you don’t fight, you lose”.

Seen our website lately??? New movie of Bob Brown, and check out RAID rally movie. www.mullumaction.org Robert our webmaster has done brilliant work.

“Will your grandchildren thank you for this decision?” (Bob Brown).

Cheers
Deborah

Newsletter 24

2008-11-05T16:20:00.001+11:00

Greetings MCANics

MULLUM STP – renew or fix the pipes instead? This is being debated by councilors (proposed by Richard Staples : cr.richard.staples@byron.nsw.gov.au). See ad p.5 of BSN 30.10.08 urging us to contact local councilors with an opinion on the debate. Many articles in the Echo (and letters from Duncan Dey and Garry Scott) have said the dilapidated state of the ageing pipes under Mullumbimby are the cause of the raw sewage being flushed into the river during rain. Will a new STP fix the pollution problem…. or will upgrading the pipes? Councillors workshopping the issue will present findings at Ordinary Meeting on 27 Nov.

Co-incidentally, the Sat Star last week announced that Woolworths proponents are now intending to connect directly to new STP when it comes online.

RAID DOSSIER given to the press at the RAID rally, representing each group (including Mullumbimby) and all that is wrong the NSW planning laws is at: http://www.friendsofcurrawong.com/RAID/raidgroups.htm. It will be presented to Planning Minister when Friends of Currawong meet her on 11 November and contains resolution passed at the Rally.

RAID MOVIE: on www.mullumaction.org shows easy-to-digest speeches on the crux of the planning issues. Brilliant speakers such as Sylvia Hale (Greens) stating “What we’ve seen in the last 25 years is a concerted determination to strip away those rights (of the EPA Act)” In other words, we have now lost the environmental protection won in the 1970s by the likes of Jack Mundy. She goes on to say that the development industry poured millions of dollars into the coffers of the Labour party, who used it for saturation tv advertising, and 12 months after the election provided a set of “reforms” to the planning legislation based on the wish-list of the development industry. Have a click on this informative, inspiring and motivating movie. (Thanks to Robert Hart for making this).

MULLUMBIMBY UPDATE: We await new Minister Kristina Keneally’s decision on the S96 changes to the DA proposed by Wws. The best we can hope from her is to give the decision-making process back to Byron Shire Council. A flurry of requests for her to do so around the time of receiving the RAID dossier on 11 Nov, might be good: office@keneally.minister.nsw.gov.au

BOB BROWN MOVIE: After Bob’s speech at BBCC last Saturday, Robert has added movie and article to www.mullumaction.org. What I appreciate about Bob’s speech is they way he makes info accessible; one kilo of CO2 can be emitted just by taking the car to the shops. Click for inspiration and news of the threatened lungfish to provide small amount of water to Brisbane – the city without tanks! Hear about the logging phenomena gathering pace in Australia and about the greenhouse gasses its producing.

THE COALY MOLEYS: Greenpeace Video on Rudd’s $1.2billion handout to coal industry – bottom line is “Imagine paying someone to be a prick”. Funny.
http://www.yourcalloncoal.org/gpcm/landing.php?utm_source=ni-enews-oz-2008nov04&utm_medium=email&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=new-internationalist-enews-oz-shop

JENNI CARGILL STRONG will be on Bay FM this Friday 7 Nov on Shakedown – Red Terra interviewing her about social change, trees, personal healing tales, etc. (plus CD giveaway). Jenni’s ACE course “Storytelling from the Heart” starts 12 Nov. Call her 6684 6548.

“What’s more important, coal or food?” Bob Brown.

Regards, Deborah.

NEWSLETTER 23

2008-10-14T16:22:00.001+11:00

TONIGHT – Organics and Community Food Systems: Community Film and Forum Night at Mullum Council Chambers (the Round House). 6 – 8.30 pm celebrating National Organic Week.

The evening will commence with the short film 'Think Global, Eat Local: A Diet For A Sustainable Society'. The film celebrates local food projects in communities around the world - farmers markets, food box systems, food coops, community farms, community gardens and school gardens, touching on many of the issues caused by our current unsustainable food systems and providing strategies for relocalisation. Following the film, hear a series of inspiring presentations from local farmers and sustainability experts then join the interactive forum to discuss organics and sustainable food systems as a means of relocalisation. Speakers include Tim Winton and local farmer Alasdair Smithson, chaired by Jan Barham.

RAID RALLY – SYDNEY – Sunday 19 October. Meeting at Hyde Park (St James Station) at 10am: will be community groups from all over NSW – all of them angry about recent changes to Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act), particularly Part 3A, which has given extraordinary powers to the Planning Minister to override local councils, community wishes and expert opinion as well as blithely ignoring issues of sustainability and climate change.

Speakers include Jack Mundey, Shane Withington, speakers from political parties, National Trust, National Parks Association, and community groups – Currawong, Sandon Point, Catherine Hill Bay and many others (see www.friendsofcurrawong.com the main RAID website).

Sue Higginson from the EDO (Environmental Defenders Office, Lismore) has written a paper concerning the integration of considerations of ESD, BASIX Climate change and offsets (Bio banking) into the Environmental Assessment process. (view via www.mullumaction.org).

Sue explains what the new Clause 3A to the EPA Act means, that inappropriate developments which can adversely impact the environment are now mostly assessed under Part 3A of the EPA Act and issues of climate change and sustainability are “simply not provided for”.

In other words, the Minister can approve Woolworths Development application in Mullum even with sewage capacity for a single bedroomed house … not to mention all the other disastrous issues involved with this application.

Deborah and Robert will travel to Sydney to support the rally and fly the banner “MULLUMBIMBY – SHAFTED BY THE STATE GOV”

Donations towards our costs, however small, may be made at Southern Cross Credit Union, BSB 802 185 a/c 132418 Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby (account: Mullumbimby Community Action Network - type S10).

WWS PLANS – still no news yet on whether Minister Katrina Keneally has approved these.

LABEL GM FOODS PETITION: http://www.truefood.org.au/OurRightToKnow/

MOBILE PHONE RESEARCH: Alarming new research from Sweden on the effects of radiation raises fears that today`s youngsters face an epidemic of the disease in later life.
“Study: mobile phone use raises children’s risk of brain cancer fivefold” (also cordless phones and wi-fi). http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=606796

Article in The Age “Behind the smoke, Byron Bay is just another Theme Park”
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/behind-the-smoke-byron-bay-is-just-another-theme-park-20080924-4n5o.html

JOHN LENNON’s birthday celebration at Strawberry Fields NY: movie on YouTube.

“A day without laughter is a day wasted” – Charlie Chaplin

Regards
Deborah

NEWSLETTER NO 20

2008-08-27T16:40:00.001+10:00

ABC 4 CORNERS this Monday, 1 September, features enquiry into the big box supermarket and will show footage of our demo held 12 July. If you miss the programme, you can see it online at www.abc.net.au/4corners

NATIONAL WOTTING DAY last week was carried out in dozens of Wws supermarkets around the country. Wot is it? Outlined in http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,17395086-3102,00.html... “ As well as the majority of residents boycotting the new store, there would be "wotters" lining up to fill their trolleys with goods and then abandoning them in the aisles. The term "wotting" comes from Woolworths Operation Trolleys and is a practice encouraged by anti-Woolworths demonstrators who see it as a way of expressing their opposition to the Maleny store.”

ENVIRONMENT DEFENDERS OFFICE is presenting a series of free talks (ca.30 - 45 mins. long) on Human Rights and the Environment on the last Fridaysof the month at the Byron Community Centre Verandah Room (first floor), withdrinks and nibbles from 6 for 6.30pm, followed by questions. Friday 29 August: SANITATION, with Ben Fawcett, ex-Southampton UniversityFriday 26 September: MINING, with Techa Beaumont, Mineral Policy InstituteFriday 31 October: WATER, with Ilona Millar, Baker and McKenzieFriday 28 November: CHEMICALS, with Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith, National ToxicsNetwork Although they are often thought of as two distinct realms, many human rightsdepend on environmental protection, and vice-versa. Come and hear local andvisiting experts talk about the interdependence of the social and naturalworlds, with a focus on international issues and initiatives. For more information call Mark Byrne, Education Officer, EDO NorthernRivers, on 6622 8470 or email edonr@edo.org.au.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

1. Earth Spirit Action film now on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6jCpChUxOw
2. Forest and Climate Change Action Forums - September 5-7th Lismore, Byron Bay & Mullumbimby
3. Upcoming Youth Bicycle Tours (see below)
________

1. If you haven't seen Earth Spirit Action, produced and directed by Ruth Rosenhek, you can view it now (16 mins) online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6jCpChUxOw. The film features Starhawk, Vandana Shiva, Ruth Rosenhek, John Seed and Matthew Fox speaking on Deep Ecology, Living Democracy and Revolution in Consciousness in a fast moving discussion of the type of change that needs to take place for a Sustainable Future. An inspirational and stimulating film including beautiful nature footage and a colourful array of global action shots.

**************

2. Get the facts on Australia's carbon bank! 3 Forest and Climate Change Action Forums

Friday 5th Sept, 7pm - 9pm - Byron Bay
Railway park, next to Byron Bay Environment Centre's rotunda.

Saturday 6th Sept, 10am -2pm - Mullumbimby
Heart Space, Santos Centre, 51 -53 Burringbar st.

Sunday 7th September, 5-6PM Upstairs at Winsome Hotel, Lismore

Costs: Free Entry
Organised by: The Wilderness Society

The Australian National University recently released a report called Green
Carbon. This exciting new science shows that Australia's forests store huge
amounts of carbon, and they help reduce climate change. The research shows
that Australia's forests store at least three times more carbon than we
previously thought. On top of that, logging our forests releases dangerous
CO2 into the atmosphere, shrinking the size of the carbon bank and making
climate change worse.
Gemma Tillack from The Wilderness Society will be presenting an exciting
powerpoint about the Green Carbon report and will lead a session about how
local groups and individuals can contribute to the campaign.
For more information contact Gemma from The Wilderness Society on 0427 057
643 or email gemma.tillack@wilderness.org.au

*************

3. The Otesha Project (Aus.) is making massive preparations for it's two upcoming bicycle tours in NSW and Victoria to educate youth and raise awareness about environmental sustainability and social justice issues. The Otesha crew combines theatre performances with interactive workshops to empower high school students to consider different life choices. With much success they have been able to fill the NSW tour with 20 enthusiastic individuals from all walks of life. Come live in a roving community to educate youth about sustainable consumption from January 18th to March 1st, 2009 while "being the change you want to see in the world." Spots on tour are quickly filling up so get your application in at http://www.otesha.org.au/biketours/joinatour before the September 19, 2008 deadline!

MULLUMBIMBY UPDATE: We still await news of the last S96 Amendments to Wws plans from paula.tomkins@planning.nsw.gov.au who will be making recommendations to Minister Sartor. Sending her a message to show her you care will help us achieve our goal to stop Wws coming to Mullumbimby.

WWS CEO: mluscombe@woolworths.com.au … keep up the pressure!

MESSAGE FROM MALENY: As part of the ongoing resistance to woolworths Maleny, Reply paid feedback forms (available at any woolworths store) are regularly completed and mailed.... with ww paying the postage. Thousands of these forms have been sent in past couple of years.... We have no idea who the perpetrators are but perhaps persons unknown in your area may wish to join in. Apparently it is driving them wild.

WWS CREDIT CARD LAUNCHED which will collect data on customers shopping habits http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/woolies-new-card-will-trail-shoppers/2008/08/26/1219516518185.html. Creation of this card is a Wws partnership with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) described on Wikipedia as “the most profitable bank in the world” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSBC. Info about HSBC predatory lending has been removed from Wiki, although www.householdwatch.com have plenty of horror stories about this financial institution, including the credit card interest rate being increased to 50% in India.

WWS SUSTAINABILITY IS SPIN DEEP exposure on www.wakeupwoolworths.com about Wws connection with APP (Asia Pulp and Paper) allegedly the worst offenders re: environment and treatment of indigenous inhabitants.

LETTER TO IEMMA – This month’s edition is on our website www.mullumaction.org (download and send). I heard on the news today that the Premier may be reshuffling the position of Minister for Planning! Maintain the rage!!

Regards
Deborah@mullumaction.org

newsletter no 19

2008-08-23T15:10:00.000+10:00

Greetings MCANics! (thanks, Echo for the collective noun)

TELEPHONE TREE urgently needed this week. Please ring me 66843723 (or your contact person) or email deborah@mullumaction.org with your phone number – how it works is I ring two people, they each ring two people, who each ring two more people – the message spreads like wildfire .... we have a message to send about a DIRECT ACTION happening very soon! This will have national repercussions.

This Tree will also be useful if any building works are intended.

EDO WORKSHOP: Solicitors from the Environmental Defenders Office, Lismore, will be explaining the major changes to NSW’s planning and development legislation, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, passed in June 2008.
Two evening workshops are for professionals, community groups and members of the public.
Ballina
When: 6-8 pm, Thursday 21 August 2008Where: Richmond Room, Regatta Ave, Ballina
Murwillumbah
When: 6-8pm, Thursday 4 September 2008Where: CWA Hall, 20 Queen St
The seminars are free of charge, however RSVP is essential. For more information or to register your interest, contact Mark Byrne on 02 6622 8470.
MULLUM COMMUNITY GARDENS official opening last Saturday – a beautiful celebration of a grassroots initiative deserving much success. A magical occasion – contact Jeanette at jl.martin@bigpond.com for more info.

Truck Drivers apply Pressure to Woolies
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/01/2321142.htm?section=justin

-some interesting comment re Coles /Woolies http://www.pigswillfly.com.au/?p=1090

“What Women Want” – registered as a political party one year ago – subscriptions $20 for this year now due http://www.whatwomenwant.org.au/home/modules/content/index.php?id=42
cheers
Deborah

newsletter no 18

2008-07-31T23:31:00.002+10:00

STATE-WIDE PROTEST: SARTOR’S PRO-DEVELOPER LAWS Sunday 3 August. We will be having our own gathering and photoshoot after the Mullum-to-Bruns walk/run on Sunday, at about 11.30 am.

MULLUMtoBRUNS WALK/RUN: Sun 3 August – walkers depart Apex Park, 8.30 am. See p20 this week’s Echo for details or call Mehil 0419 220 897 www.mullumtobruns.org.au This event is non-political. However, with the Statewide Sartor protest happening on the same day, we can’t ignore it; as Jan B said at the demo “We have been shafted by Sartor” (visit our website to hear her speech www.mullumaction.org its in the video of the demo) MCAN and protesters can gather after the raffle prizewinners are drawn at the Bruns Soundshell (opp dolphin café) for our separate photoshoot for the press. Bring yer banner!

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD printed an article about Mullumbimby, the demo and our campaign on Sat 26 July. Taking almost a full page, the informative article by local journalist Kate Hamilton gave the background to the Wws proposal as well as a fantastic picture of marchers at the recent demo, with plenty of colour & placards. View article on-line (no picture) http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/a-big-box-comes-knocking/2008/07/25/1216492732938.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 Article with picture will be at our info table on Sunday at Bruns Soundshell, with DVDs for sale.

ABC STATELINE (REGIONAL NEWS): “Bega Valley councillors have decided not to challenge the State Government's approval of new supermarket projects at Merimbula. This week the Council knocked back a proposal for a referendum on the proposed developments. Earlier, the Planning Minister refused to let the Council put a cap on the size of retail development in the town.” (from ABC on-line).

WOOLWORTHS PLANS – what’s going on? Phone Paula Tomkins at Department of Planning (02) 9228 6397 or email her at paula.tomkins@planning.nsw.gov.au for update on Sartor’s decision-making process. Remind her we care – she is the one to present recommendations to Sartor. Remind her that the Mullumbimby Settlement Strategy 2003 states on p17 “NO STAND-ALONE SHOPPING CENTRES WILL BE PERMITTED” http://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/pub_comm_plan/settlement_strategies/Mullumbimby_Settlement_Strategy.pdf

IAN COHEN’S QUESTIONS TO SARTOR (in newsletter 17 last week)

2. Q: Were you aware that this proposal contravened the Mullumbimby Settlement Strategy adopted by Byron Shire Council to not allow any stand alone supermarkets? A: I am advised by the Department of Planning that the approved development does not contravene the Mullumbimby Settlement Strategy 2003.

The Minister is mistaken!!
This could be a theme for placards on Sunday. This is a splendid opportunity to come up with some original artworks – the standard of banners at the demo was brilliant! Thanks to everyone who showed up with their creations. The photo in SMH was so vibrant with a sea of colourful people and at least 14 placards on view. The Mullum message about Woolworths has reached across NSW and will soon go on national TV (more news about that soon). Let’s get a message out for Sartor!
See you Sunday.
Regards, Deborah

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead 1901-1978

NEWSLETTER NO: 17

2008-07-26T14:35:00.002+10:00

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD printed an article about Mullumbimby, the demo and our campaign on Sat 26 July. Taking almost a full page, the informative article by local journalist Kate Hamilton gave the background to the Wws proposal as well as a fantastic picture of marchers at the recent demo, with plenty of colour & placards. View article on-line (no picture) http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/a-big-box-comes-knocking/2008/07/25/1216492732938.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

THE MULLUM DVD made by Jane Swallow and Gene Kulic recently, is currently being sent to Frank Sartor “Private and Confidential”. We will be getting it on our website soon and more copies will soon be available at Eden’s Landing veg shop (Stuart St) for a donation of say $5 each. It’s a delightful squizz at Mullum and features local speakers – just the thing to send to your family OS.

BYRON WOOL LIES to the rear and north and south Plaza is, according to the Tidy Town Crew, the most rubbished area of the whole town. Similar story is mentioned on P14 of Byron Shire News.

ORANGE ROUGHY (endangered fish) is apparently on sale there.

MALENY WW – story and pics on WW visibility due to last of bamboo coming out is now online: >> http://www.malenyvoice.com/

QUESTIONS POSED BY IAN COHEN TO FRANK SARTOR IN PARLIAMENT:
(Answers are following the questions: coloured type is not available in this format)
Mr Cohen to the Treasurer, Minister for Infrastructure, and Minister for the Hunter representing the Minister for Planning, Minister for Redfern Waterloo, Minister for the Arts
1. Were you the consenting authority for the 2 Stage Development of the 2,500 square metre Station Street supermarket on railway land surrounded by residential land in 2006 under SEPP 8 Surplus Public Land? Yes.
2. Were you aware that this proposal contravened the Mullumbimby Settlement Strategy adopted by Byron Shire Council to not allow any stand alone supermarkets? I am advised by the Department of Planning that the approved development does not contravene the Mullumbimby Settlement Strategy 2003.
3. Were you aware of the Byron Shire Council's ("BSC") moratorium on new connections to the sewerage system in the Mullumbimby and Brunswick Head shires when the DA was given? Yes.
4. Was the reason for the approval of the two staged development so as to allow sufficient land to be available for an on-site waste water system? Yes.
5. Are you aware that Woolworths have purchased that DA and that the current S96 is an attempt to circumvent the existing moratorium on new sewage connections in the Mullumbimby and Brunswick catchments as imposed by BSC? I am advised that Woolworths Limited has purchased the land to which the development consent applies. The amendments to the development consent proposed by the current section 96 application will be assessed on their merits.
6. Does BSC maintain this moratorium in the Mullumbimby and Brunswick Head shires due to deemed over-load and that there is no estimated project completion date for sewer infrastructure upgrades to allow new connections? This question should be directed to Byron Shire Council.
7. Are you aware that no contracts have been entered into and that there is no final price or completion date for work secured for the STP? Yes.
8. What measures will the Minister take to ensure and verify all information submitted to the Department of Planning by Woolworths or associated proponents in relation to its Section 96 Modification Application is correct? I have asked the Department of Planning to assess this application rigorously. The Department is currently assessing the merits of the proposed modification in consultation with a range of agencies, including Byron Shire Council.
9. What is the veracity of information produced by the proponent considering the proponent made a representation to BSC notating on a document that 1800 sqm would be set aside for on-site sewerage, when in fact it is only 180sqm? The veracity of the information provided with the application will be subjected to a rigorous merit assessment.
10. Are you aware that a Section 96 Modification currently before the Department of Planning requests the approval of a 2,500 square metre building without an interim connection to sewer being available? The Department of Planning has advised that initially the application proposed an interim connection to reticulated sewer. However, amended plans have been lodged with the Department of Planning that propose on-site effluent disposal.
11. If permission is given to build the full Stage 2 building without connection to the sewer, how can you be confident that a sufficient on-site sewerage facility can be effectively operated on the 180 sqm set aside for the on-site facility which contravenes the NSW Governments own guidelines for on-site sewage management ? I am advised that the applicant has lodged amended plans with the Department of Planning that now propose on-site effluent disposal. The proposed on-site system will be subjected to a rigorous merit assessment prior to determination of the application.
12. Do calculations using the guidelines indicate that 2700sqm is required? These calculations will be made during the assessment of the application.
13. Will you seek expert advice from Byron Shire Council regarding the feasibility of this? Yes.
1. If not, why not?
14. What recourse will citizens of Mullumbimby have and what processes will be undertaken if approval is given for the Section 96 Modification and an adequate onsite sewerage facility cannot be operated? Appeal rights, if applicable, are determined under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. The proposed amendments to the development consent relating to the provision of sewerage services to the site will be rigorously assessed prior to determination of the application.
15. In respect to the lack of any viable current sewage management option for the Woolworths S96 proposal for a 2500sqm store, how could the application before the Minister meet the criteria of a S96 in that it must be substantially the same development as granted in the original DA? The sewage management system proposed for the site will be rigorously assessed prior to determination of the application.

The Minister is wrong in his answer to q2 as the Mullumbimby Settlement Strategy 2003 clearly states “NO STAND-ALONE SHOPPING CENTRE WILL BE PERMITTED” on page 17 under “Mullumbimby Town Centre” and this is quoted by Mayor Jan Barham in Stateline item 27.6.08 http://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/pub_comm_plan/settlement_strategies/Mullumbimby_Settlement_Strategy.pdf

Whats wrong with Woolies new amendments?

2008-07-16T14:13:00.001+10:00

The most outrageous aspect of the S96 Amendments to the Woolworths proposal is their sewage plan. The flowchart calculations for their 2500 m2 supermarket are based on a single bedroomed dwelling! Furthermore the storage and irrigation area is underneath the carpark and access road; there will be no transpiration/evaporation possible through the tarmac. I’ve been told that noxious gasses such as hydrogen sulphide and methane will accumulate in the anaerobic environment and it will have the festering smell of rotten eggs similar to a waste dump; gasses which are 21 times more global warming that CO2.

Drainage is a problem in Mullumbimby, especially on the floodplain where the Woolworth’s proposal is. The Station Street ditch is still full of stagnant water two days after last week’s rain. Where will Woolworth’s treated sewage go when the ground is sodden with rain? Frank Sartor needs to check out these proposals very carefully; please keep onto him (submission deadline is 18 July). Whether you are for Woolworths or not, this sewage scheme is not good enough.

Woolworths appear to have forgotten that the DA Approval was granted for a two stage development; Stage 1 with on-site sewage disposal, Stage 2 “relies on reticulated sewerage disposal being made available to the site” (MOD 22-3-2007 Conditions of Consent www.planning.nsw.gov.au). BSC’s Director of Planning, Development and Environment Services Ray Darney wrote to Woolworths on 16 June and omitted the contentious sewage issue (www.byron.nsw.gov.au see Woolworths application; Response from BSC) A recent Urgency Motion prepared by Cr Westheimer about the sewage situation has also been ignored, despite a Resolution to bring up the sewage issue with Department of Planning.

Even the Traffic Report prepared by Masson Wilson Twiney is riddled with inaccuracies; in the Introduction they state the DA was approved and omit the Consent Conditions. This could confuse people. P2 flouts BSC by calling it “Bryon Shire Council”, p3 states Argyle Street connects to Pacific Highway. Even if you don’t understand the technicalities, Sartor need to know that these Consultants are approaching this serious business with disrespect, the results of which could be disastrous for Mullumbimby.

A sample letter to Minister Sartor is available to download from our website www.mullumaction.org, also at Eden’s Landing, Santos & IGA-Deli.

Deborah

newsletter no 16 - acknowledgements

2008-07-16T14:05:00.002+10:00

THANKS to everyone who helped to make our demo such an energetic, memorable and enjoyable event. Mullumbimby community is powerful! We pulled a rabbit out of the hat in just 9 days; good networking! It was a brilliant demonstration of Mullum’s commitment to stop the Big Box. The placards were imaginative, persuasive and made a “good show”. I feel encouraged, supported and connected.

Video of the demo is on www.mullumaction.org (thanks to Robert Hart) and another one, featuring in particular the procession and ceremony (thanks to Stephen Turner) is on http://www.byronballinagreens.org/home.html. Articles & photo at www.echo.net.au and Northern Star http://www.finda.com.au/story/2008/07/14/protest-hots-against-woolies/

RAFFLE: thanks to lovely persons who donated the bike; Santos, Eden’s Landing and Raw Store for $50 gift vouchers, Vashti’s Body Bar for 1 hr facial and Deborah Lilly for donating a 2 hour Hawaiian massage. Raffle will be drawn on 3 August if anyone can sell tickets, please call Deb 66843723.

MULLUM TO BRUNS RUN & WALK: Sunday 3 August. I would like to organise a MCAN group of runners or walkers for this community event, which is to raise funds for the Brunswick Valley Rescue Squad and Oxfam Australia (for indigenous support). The cost is $20 pp or $30 on the day (family discounts available). Volunteers are also needed. Their raffle (and ours) will be drawn around 11 am in the Soundshell at Bruns. Check www.mullumtobruns.org.au

CLIMATE ACTION PROTEST IN NEWCASTLE - About 1000 people demonstrated and a dozen chained themselves to a coal train, delaying it for 6 hours. See http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/protest-halts-coal-train-for-six-hours/2008/07/13/1215887451541.html

VOLUNTEERS FOR INFO TABLE needed specially this week as the submission period ends this Friday 18 July. Download sample letter from website www.mullumaction.org

Cheers
Deborah

“Apathy isn’t it”: John Lennon

“The price of liberty is eternal vigilance”: RSL (Thanks Liane Simons)

MULLUM RALLIES FOR THE DEMO: SAT 12 JULY

2008-07-09T22:36:00.002+10:00

NEWSLETTER NO: 15
Community is coming together for our rally; excitement is picking up and offers of support are trickling in steadily.

SPEAKERS: Mayor Jan Barham, Mark Cochrane, Garry Scott, Giovanni Ebono, Jeanette Martin (Community Gardens) and Magenta Appel-Pye (who will recite her poetry).

ENTERTAINMENT: Magenta & Mates, Toby & Jim Blues Duo, David Hall & Choristers will each be doing a couple of numbers.

KIDS STUFF: Face Painting by Sharon Shostak; Milli the Fairy sprinkles magic with wishes, stories and games.

RAFFLE: Magnanimous donations of a bicycle from Magenta and a $50 voucher from Paul at Eden"s Landing. I will offer a 2 hour Hawaiian Lomi Mana massage. If anyone else is willing to offer goods or services, that would be great.

REFRESHMENTS: About 6 offers of cakes/savouries so far – more needed please, also mandarins. (This is for fundraising). Paul at Eden"s Landing will supply some apples. Richard IGA is offering soft drinks. Does anyone know someone who could do teas/coffees? Can anyone lend some tables/chairs?

PA SYSTEM – Pip has offered to set this up for free.

HELIUM BALLOONS: we shall be putting them up on Sat morning, on or near the site, to indicate size of Big Box. Any offers to help do this? (Luis C is doing the plan for us to follow).

PERCUSSION FOR THE PROCESSION: We will be taking a Big Box down Station Street for a ritual burning. Bring your percussion instruments and dancing shoes.

PRIZE FOR THE BEST PLACARD: Any offers of a prize, please? Donator can be the judge, or we could ask the speakers to judge.

AEROPLANE BANNER FLY BY: We are working on this one with Andrew Polidano.

OTHER IDEAS: will be welcomed, call 66843723.

It"s going to be a great day for Mullum community to get together.
Cheers and thanks to everyone for supporting our demonstration.
Deborah
"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." - Goethe.

newsletter no 12

2008-06-27T13:40:00.001+10:00

TONIGHT!!! SHARON SHOSTAKs short movie about Mullumbimby's response to Wws has been advertised by the ABC that it will be on tonight (Fri 27 June) between 7.30 & 8pm. Its a good one, well worth a watch.

WWS AMENDMENTS TO S96 - BSC have advised that Wws new changes will be advertised in the next few weeks - that means a new submission period... will keep you posted.

SCALE MODEL: meanwhile, would you like to see a scale model of their proposals? Or perhaps even a photomontage that actually shows the building rather than a row of trees that they supplied with the last S96 and which they showed at the public meeting? Contact Mr Gary Boyer Regional Manager - who put out the lovely green booklet delivered by hand to Mullum letterboxes - at newdevelopments@woolworths.com.au - why not send a copy to Wws CEO Michael Luscombe at mluscombe@woolworths.com.au

SEDUCED BY THE BLANDISHMENTS OF SPIN? let us know how many lies/hype/spin you can find in that pretty green booklet.

WWS BEATEN!! ACCC Rejects a Supermarket Acquisition by Woolworths in Favour of an Independent: Extract from QRTSA (Retailers Assoc) newsletter:
It is with great satisfaction today that I bring members the news of an historic move by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to announce their opposition to the Woolworths takeover of a retail outlet in Queanbeyan in New South Wales. The ACCC has acknowledged that had Woolworths been allowed to buy the store, "...it would be likely to substantially lessen the competition in the local retail supermarket "market" surrounding the store". The ACCC further noted as reason for their position, "...if the acquisition had proceeded, Woolworths would have owned three of the four full-line supermarkets in the Queanbeyan area..." More info http://www.qrtsa.com.au

Congratulations, Queanbeyan - joining the ranks of Mt Evelyn VIC; Erskinevillevillage.org NSW; Eurobodalla NSW, Griffiths NSW.

QUOTE:
AS THE CRICKETS' SOFT AUTUMN HUM
IS TO US
SO ARE WE TO THE TREES
AS ARE THEY
TO THE ROCKS AND THE HILLS
........... Gary Snyder
Cheers
Deborah

newsletter no 11

2008-06-27T12:34:00.000+10:00

SHARON"S STATELINE MOVIE: We were advised by Stateline last week that they were going to show Sharon Shostak"s short movie, but it didn"t go to air as planned. It may be on this week. Apolgies to those who rearranged their plans to view this.
WWS NEW PLANS: We heard from Wws that they are working on new changes to S96, taking into account our suggestions. I followed this up with the Dept Planning and Byron Shire Council, both of whom had unforthcoming about information regarding changes. Their replies were as follows:
DoP: "The applicant has recently advised the Department that they intend to submit amended plans next week. A decision on whether the amendments will be publicly exhibited will be reserved until the Department is in receipt of the information."
BSC: "We are asking the DoP to renotify the amendment to Sec 96 primarily due to the on site issue. I doubt whether with such a large development that the changes that I have observed would lead to a new DA but certainly it should be renotified"
In conclusion, DOP will decide whether or not to "go public" with the new plans (called "amendment") which BSC are requesting. Basically Wws are changing the goal posts, ie the plans are now different to the S96 application about which we made submissions. Section 96 requires that the plans are "substantially the same" as the approved DA. I have asked Ray Darney what the criteria is in determining whether the plans are "substantially the same" to the original DA, and I await his reply.
If Wws want to build Stage 2 straight away (approval was only given for Stage 1) there is not enough space for on-site sewage works.
LETTER TO MORRIS IEMMA, NSW PREMIER, is on our website and explains the situation more. It requests him to review the S96 and ask Sartor to reject it. Click on "documents" http://www.mullumaction.org – or "read more" next to Iemma"s pic.
MCAN CARNIVAL: We are still considering this for sometime in August – alternatively a ball at the new Civic Centre, or a demonstration. Let us know your ideas/preferences/enthusiasms. August 2/3 is the same weekend as Splendour and we think a later date would be better.
MULLUM TO BRUNS RUN/WALK – Sunday 3 August http:// http://www.mullumtobruns.org.au
GET UP RURAL SURVEY: The survey lists a number of issues drawn from the GetUp Ideas Forum and the Australia 2020 Summit - they'd love to hear which of these issues are most important to you! They also want to learn more about rural and regional members and how best you can participate in future GetUp campaigns. http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/CountrySurvey
NEW LOOK WOOLIES CALLED "THOMAS DUX GROCER" in Lane Cove – looks like a chic deli – shop assistants wear black, they have chalk boards and wooden boxes for the fruit. They are not promoting this on their website, but we know it"s them 3; the local papers were on to it, also http://www.foodweek.com.au/main-features-page.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=1198 orhttp://www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2008/04/24/woolworths-open-first-thomas-dux-store.html. Next Dux will be in Paddington. The local Greek deli in Lane Cove has now gone out of business. By the way, have you heard Wws gospel song "Woa-oh The Fresh Food People Yeah" (ring their number and ask for the manager, you will hear it while you wait).
SARTOR"S PLANNING LAWS Scrape through the Upper House (media release from Sylvia Hale) Planning Minister Frank Sartor"s controversial planning laws passed through the Upper House of parliament tonight by 1 vote after the two Christian Democrat MPs split. Fred Nile voted with the government in support of the new laws while Gordon Moyes voted with the Greens and the Opposition against the Bill. The two Shooters Party MPs voted with the government. Greens MP and Planning spokesperson Sylvia Hale said the vote was very disappointing given the widespread community concern about the Bill. "This Bill has been driven by the development industry from day one. It is the government"s reward to big developers for all the money they poured into the NSW ALP"s campaign coffers before the last election," said Ms Hale. "The Bill will damage the state"s environment and heritage. It will remove the rights of residents to have a say about the way their neighbourhoods develop. It will lead to increased disputes between neighbours and it will open the door for an even greater level of corruption in what is already a corrupt planning system." "The fact that the government has responded to the Wollongong Council scandal and the public disgust at favourable development decisions for big political donors by entrenching and extending conflicts of interest is a disgrace," said Ms Hale. The Greens moved 94 amendments to the Bill aimed at maintaining existing environmental and heritage protections, removing conflicts of interest and restoring appeal rights. All of the Greens amendments were defeated after the Opposition joined the Government in opposing them.******************************************************
Ode to Mullumbimby - by - Magenta Appel-Pye
In Mullumbimby we pride ourselves on being a unique little town,Our heritage business centre the jewel in our crownWith friendly shopkeepers who know us by nameWe like the fact that none are the same.Our locally grown fresh food in all its diversityShits on genetically modified perversity.
How Woolworths got their D.A. through verges on criminalTheir architectural sensitivity is less than minimal.They want to be the "one stop shop"They don"t care if local businesses flopThis rampant greed has got to stop!Their representatives were totally condescendingTheir lies and tricks seem never-ending.Already they want more and biggerHow they get away with it one can only figure.
This spotlights that the "family store" WooliesAre really "get want we want" corporate bullies!When big business practices are unsustainableOur climate change goals are unattainable.
A selfish person stops live music in the hillsOur happy healthy rituals he willingly killsBan music, dancing and drumming and there goes our cultureFurther eroded by the predatory Woo lies vulture.
Mullumbimby could be a shining lightOf healthy communities getting it rightA community garden, heritage areas and businesses diverseMakes one want to visit and open one"s purse.But when our rights are taken away and its only about moneyWe lose our sense of community and that"s not funnyI hope we can beat them and community good prevailsFor our lovely Mullumbimby, the biggest little town in N.S.W.*********************************************************
Contact Deborah 66843723 if you want to get more involved with MCAN.for Mullum.Deb

NEWSLETTER 7: CONTACT COUNCILLORS TODAY!

2008-05-21T11:29:00.002+10:00

Greetings!
Brilliant turnout at BSC “Meet the Woolies” on Wednesday – thanks everyone for your support. The chambers rocked!

We have one more urgent need – that is to contact your councilors TODAY because they are discussing the S96 tomorrow at BSC. Meeting starts at 10.30 (let me know if you want placards). Because Woolworths have an approved DA, all we can do with the bureaucracy is to buy time: (you can cut & paste this section; then cut & paste the councillors addresses)

COUNCILLORS PLEASE REJECT S96 FOR DA 32-04-2006 MOD 2 BECAUSE:

BUILDING DESIGN
It’s taller by 1.2m (now 8.2m high)
It’s longer by 21.6m (its now 86.4m long)
(see our website for image www.mullumaction.org)

SEWAGE CONNECTION
Current STP is overloaded and a health hazard
“interim connection” is unfair; we have a moratorium
New STP won’t be ready by 2010 as no plans have been tendered

RELOCATION OF BUILDING TO NORTH MEANS
Extra traffic in Station Street: noise, fumes, pollution, vibration
More use of cars because of greater distance from town centre
Heavy good vehicles will pass 12 more houses in Station Street

SUNDAY DELIVERIES BETWEEN 10 & 4 PM
Unacceptable in residential area
These are the basic things we can get them on – no doubt you will think of more such as the building being alien to the heritage character of the town, an eyesore, etc.

BYRON SHIRE COUNCILLORS: cr.jan.barham@bigpond.com; cr.ray.kestle@bigpond.com; cr.ross.tucker@bigpond.com; cr.john.lazarus@bigpond.com; cr.peter.westheimer@bigpond.com; cr.jan.mangleson@bigpond.com; cr.diane.woods@bigpond.com; cr.richard.staples@bigpond.com; cr.tom.tabart@bigpond.com; cr.bob.tardiff@bigpond.com

“We don’t want Woolworths!” …. this is true and our strategy right now to stop them is... to play the planning game with Frank Sartor: get him to reject the S96 modifications; buy some time; ask for a new S96 which might be more acceptable or we reject it again.
Meanwhile, Woolworths will get fed up with the waiting game. Keep bombarding their directors (and CEO Michael Luscombe) with community opposition to the big box in the biggest little town. Email address: WW_Customer_Feedback@woolworths.com.au and snail mail address is 1 Woolworths Way, Bella Vista NSW 2153.

WOOLWORTHS DIRECTORS:
Mr James A Strong (Chairman, Non Exec. Director)Mr Michael Gerard Luscombe (Managing Director, CEO)Mr Tom Pockett (Director, Finance Director)Mr Ian MacFarlane (Director)Ms Alison Watkins (Director)Ms Diane J Grady (Non Exec. Director)Mr Leon M L'Huillier (Non Exec. Director)Dr Roderick Deane (Non Exec. Director)Mr John Astbury (Non Exec. Director)Mr Peter J Horton (General Counsel)
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Thank you to everyone who supported me with my rego bills – much appreciated!
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KULCHAJAM ETHICAL FOOD CO-OP is starting up in Byron to “activate and develop a model of production and consumption that reflects principles of sustainability, creativity, cultural vibrance & social justice.” Cheap food, too.
Contact Techa 0409318406 or Rob 0431366466 for membership forms.
********************************************************

VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR LETTER BOX DROP for S96 submissions
Please contact Meryn 66841415
*********************************************************

PINE GAP mind gap
The Terror Cell that Never Sleeps
What’s really going on in our red centre
http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=592592&abs2

*********************************************************

UPCOMING EVENTS

1. Tassie Forests Still Under Threat! Information and Action Night
Thursday, May 29th, 7PM @ Winsome Hotel, Lismore

2. Aquarius Film Festival - May 23rd @ Bush Theatre, Nimbin

3. Lismore People for Reconciliation Film Night for all the family
Friday May 23rd, 6.30pm @ Star Court Theatre, Lismore

4. Dance for Burma's Cyclone Victims - Saturday, May 24th from 4pm to 6:30pm at Temple Byron

5. Mushroom Mycrorenewal Project - Saturday, May 24th 7PM Sphinx Rock Cafe, Mt Burrell.

6. ...and on a community note, a Hats Off to Hofmann party will be held at the Bush Theatre, this Friday, May 16th, 7PM onwards in honour of the late Albert Hofmann including films, testimonials, yummy food, Happy High Herbs and a raging dance party with Pagan Love Cult.

More info on each of these events from:
Rainforest Information CentreBox 368, Lismore 2480 NSW(02) 66897519http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/
rainforestinfo@ozemail.com.au

Palm Oil Consumer Campaign, Take Action Now! - http://www.palmoilaction.org.au/

…. More next week
Cheers
Deborah

WHY WHAT'S GOOD FOR WOOLIES IS BAD FOR MULLUM

2008-05-16T23:31:00.003+10:00

Now that Woolworths have bought Mallams Supermarket, they want to build a very large new store, almost as large as Byron Woolworths—next to a residential part of town on railway land in Station Street.
Mullumbimby Community Action Network (MCAN) is a growing group of concerned residents who believe that Woolworths will be bad for Mullum.
Why?
Woolworths’ has a history of destroying local businesses and communities. Across Australia, towns have found that a new Woolworths, opening with prices at or below cost, sends many locals out of business, reduces local employment, and sells little or no local produce. Furthermore, the Station Street site will create massive traffic problems in Mullum, break up the present compact retail area, and destroy the value of a residential part of town. A lot more retail profit will also leave Mullumbimby instead of staying in the town.
History
In 2005 Byron Shire Council rejected the Station Street development proposed by Mallams, who then appealed to the NSW Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor. Sartor overturned the Council decision and allowed the development on certain conditions. Mallams then sold the approved DA to Woolworths—who are now unhappy with some of the conditions.
Bend the Rules?
One of the conditions of the original DA was that sewage had to be disposed of on-site, because of a moratorium on new connections to the overloaded Mullumbimby sewage system.
Woolworths have now lodged a DA to modify conditions, including a ‘special dispensation’ for an ‘interim connection’ to Mullum’s already overloaded sewage system. The new sewage treatment plant will not be finished for some years: the “interim” could become permanent. Why should Woolworths be allowed to bend the rules while other developers toe the line? The DA modification document can be viewed at BSC or on the BSC website.
Take Action
The NSW Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, has the final say on this revised DA, and MCAN urges you to lodge your personal objections. Write or email them using the enclosed form letter as a guide. An electronic version is available at our website, www.mullumaction.org. Or simply sign the enclosed letter (with a personal note, if possible) and, ideally, one signature per submission. Post it to the address included or leave it at a drop box in Santos, Eden’s Landing, or the deli counter at IGA. All objections must be received before 30 May 2008. Nonresidents may also submit objections.
Apart from the damage Woolworths will cause to local businesses, a building five times the size of either of our existing supermarkets, and in a residential area, is so out of proportion to the small-town personal scale of Mullum, it will change the nature of the town permanently—for the worse.
If you value Mullum the way it is—we need your help to keep it that way.

Woolies is bad for Mullum
Mullum Community Action Network (MCAN)
www.mullumaction.org
PO Box 603
Mullumbimby, NSW

To:
All Byron Shire Residents

Woolies Is Bad for Mullum

Why What’s Good for Woolies…
Is Bad for Mullum

Action Requested:
Please read the enclosed and voice your concerns to the Planning Minister

Be sure your submission includes:
• Your name and address
• The reference number (DA 32-04-2006 MOD 2)
• A statement objecting to the proposal and the reasons why you object

Submissions must reach the Dept of Planning by close of business May 30.
paula.tomkins@planning.nsw.gov.au
Post: The Director, Coastal Assessments
Dept of Planning
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

HOW TO OBJECT TO SEC 96 DA AMENDMENT

2008-05-16T23:26:00.002+10:00

The Director, Coastal Assessments
Dept of Planning, GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

Re: Section 96 by Woolworths for Variations to DA for Supermarket in Mullumbimby.
Reference No: DA 32-04-2006 MOD 2

Dear Mr. Sartor
I wish to object to the variations Woolworths Ltd. has applied to be made to conditions imposed by your Department in approving the above development in 2005. The reasons for my objections are as follows:
Variation on Sewage Connection. The original two-stage development was approved on condition that sewage from Stage 1 was treated on-site. Woolworths plan to build both stages at once with no on-site collection and treatment, and special dispensation to connect to the existing sewage system - breaking a moratorium other developers abide by. Mullumbimby’s overloaded and inadequate sewage system cannot cope with this massive extra load.

Variation on Building Shift and Vehicle Noise. Shifting the building 54 metres to the north from its original approved position and with no landscaping, will give residences at the river end of Station Street an outlook dominated by a large concrete wall instead of the present trees and pasture. Moving the re-located building’s loading bays to the north end means semi-trailers will travel further along Station Street with more residences subject to constant noise impact from morning till night.

Variation on Unloading Bay Operation Times. The original DA only allowed deliveries six days a week. This variation allows semi-trailers to unload on Sundays as well from 10am to 4pm.This is unacceptable in a residential zone.

Variation on Illuminated Signs. Standard Woolworths signs are much larger and more intrusive than those allowed for in the original DA. If allowed, this variation will also add to the light pollution at night for nearby residents from permanent lights in the car park.

Variation on Screening in Station Street. The variation leaves gaps in the tree screen allowing the supermarket to be clearly visible from residences in Station Street. Extra mature plantings are not proposed. Shrubs screening the fence along Station Street have been deleted meaning the perimeter fence will be very visible. A west elevation showing new plantings and which trees are to be retained to screen the building from Station Street is not provided.

Variation on Car Park. This allows the car park to be ramped from ground level at the southern end of the site to the supermarket floor level at the northern end. The site is flood-prone land. No details of the impact of these changes on flooding is provided.

Variation on Metal Screening. Metal screening around the underside of the suspended slab (elevated because of the flood prone nature of the site) will be an eyesore visible from the residential area of Station Street. Similarly there is no detail of the nature of the metal and timber perimeter fence is available for the public to comment on.

These variations to the original DA will create an even greater loss of amenity in a quiet residential part of town, compounding the negative effects of such a massive development totally out of proportion with the small-town scale we value highly about the present Mullumbimby. Please reject them all.
Yours,
Name
Address

SLOGANS FOR BANNERS, ETC

2008-05-13T11:59:00.002+10:00

Mullum: We Want Small Traders—Not Corporate Invaders. No Woolworths!
Mullum: We Are Not Fresh-Fooled People. Think Logically. Shop Locally.
Woolies, I Don’t Buy It.
Mullumbimby, Charming and Quaint. Woolworths Ain’t.
Woolies Are Bullies
Mullumbimby— Co-operation Not Corporation.
Mullum: It’s a Special Spot—Not a Red Hot Special
Support your local "Fresh Food People"Say no to Woolworths in Mullumbimby!
Bugger off bullies!
SUPPORT our LOCAL merchants, our local farmers, our unique community.NO WOOLWORTHS in Mullumbimby
You don't know what you've got till its gone.Shop locally—think globally
Warning Mullum, It Ain't Worth the Wool!
Woolworths - the f*cked food people.
Woolworths - the truck food people
Woolies, a wolf in sheep's clothing
Woolworths… Worth It?
Woolworths—Wealth from Stealth
Don't pull the Woolies over our eye's
Mullum CAN stop Woolworths
Size does Matterin the Biggest Little Town in AustraliaMullumbimby—Supporting Small and Local Businesses
Yer not pulling the woolies over my eyes
Save the Biggest Little Town
Woolworths the Trash Food People
Woolworths, it's not worth it.
Diversity=Resilience. Support Local Small Business
Mullumbimby Won't be Woolied.
Mullum—Woolworths free zone.
Woolies? Not Worth It.
Check out Mullumbimby before Woolworths does.
Local Business=Local WealthCorporate Business=Corporate Wealth
Woolies? Not!
Keeping Our Community AliveMullumbimby-Where Size Makes a Difference
Local is my space
Sustainable Communities Thrive on Local Support
Community Starts here
Save the Biggest Little Town
Shop Local – Save a Farmer!
Want to see the entry of your choice made up as bumper stickers, badges and T--shirt? We’re looking for funds to support these ventures. Call 6684 1415.

GOING LOCAL ... CONVERGENCE!

2008-05-13T09:57:00.003+10:00

Going Local - A Relocalisation Convergence
New Farm, Brisbane 24-25 May, 2008
Going Local has been designed as a participatory gathering of people interested in building the sustainability and resilience of their local communities. Amongst us will be some of the leading innovators in sustainable local economies, community-building and place-making. People like:

Judy Wicks, co-founder of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies in the United States, Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder of the International Society for Ecology and Culture in the UK and author of Ancient Futures,
Gilbert Rochecouste, place-maker, urban deep ecologist and founder of Village Well in Melbourne,
Ingrid Burkett, Education & Innovations Co-ordinator, Foresters ANA
John Champagne, founding member of the Bega Eco Neighbourhood Developers,
Mitra Ardron, founder of the Byron Shire Sustainable Ventures Network and Director of Beyond Building Energy.

A Going Local Program and Registration form is on www.climateleadership.net.au
REGISTRATIONS CLOSE THIS FRIDAY 16th MAY.

We are on the cusp of an era of unprecedented change - change that we can hardly even imagine. Our modern world is built of an assumption of unlimited growth driven by abundant cheap energy. But the end of this road is now in sight. Our future depends on reinventing ourselves in harmony with the natural limits of our planet. And doing it quickly. While action by governments and corporations is essential, it is the strength and resilience of our communities that will ultimately make the difference. In community we are best able to adapt and to innovate. This is where the inertia of our social and political institutions is weakest, our motivation strong, our values clear, and our willingness to collaborate with others the greatest. In community we care the most, feel most connected to each other and to place, and are most confident to act. Going Local is a unique opportunity to explore what we know about building strong, adaptable communities. It offers a chance to share the experience of some of the pioneers of sustainable local economies. It will be a place to build the connections for learning from each others experiences as we move into an unknown future.

So make a commitment to your sense of community, your love of the Earth, and to your own ability to learn and relearn in action. This is how we can create a future for our children to believe in. For more information: www.climateleadership.net.au

NEWSLETTER NO. 5 - ACTION ALERT!!

2008-05-07T14:24:00.001+10:00

MULLUM CAN – COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK

NEWSLETTER NO 5

YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT TO WOOLWORTHS NOW!!

PUBLIC MEETING – WED 14 MAY – 6 PM
will be held at
Byron Shire Council Chambers, Mullum,
To discuss the changes to the development.
Woolworths reps will be there
so please wear your protest tee shirts, badges and carry banners!

“SECTION 96” (Amendment to the original DA submitted by Mallams) is now on display at Byron Shire Council and Mullumbimby library. The submission period is from 7 to 30 May.

SUBMISSIONS NEEDED! Next newsletter will have some pointers for objections. Numbers of submissions count! Anyone, even non-locals, can submit their views (closest address is best).

LETTER BOX DROP: Volunteers wanted to help us circulate info. Please call Meryn 66841415 – even if you can do only one street.

INFORMATION TABLE – We would like volunteers to be there as many hours as possible, canvassing people to send in submissions We will have form letters on the table for completion and signature, and skeleton letters for people to personalize. Table roster Judy 6684 5390.

Please contact us via the website if you have any queries/suggestions.

PLEASE COPY THIS AND DISTRIBUTE TO YOUR CONTACTS.

Buy local or it’s bye bye Mullum

Keep an eye on our blogspot www.mullumaction.blogspot.com for upcoming objections info.

NEWSLETTER NO. 4

2008-05-05T14:51:00.002+10:00

Greetings - this has been a big week for calls for the people to speak up. NSW State Gov appears to be attempting to hand over local councils, state electricity, even Mullum's retail sector into the hands of Big Business (see "Keep it Local" below). The only way to counter corporate control of our state (read fascism), our town, our community is to speak up.

Wws HOT NEWS: Woolworths have put in Section 96 Changes to their DA into State Planning NSW (Minister Sartor's office). Byron Shire Council is awaiting details and Ray Darney (Chief Planning) has assured us of a public meeting, an exhibition in Council Chambers, and at least 2 weeks submission period advertised in the local papers. We will keep you posted as soon as we hear anything….form letters and information leaflets are being formulated. This is our Big Chance (and only one) to speak up about Woolworths in our town!

PRIVITISATION OF OUR ASSETS Yesterday John Kaye (NSW Greens) spoke passionately about the NSW State Gov's bid to privatize our electricity – they want to sell off OUR assets and let the corporate boardrooms decide on the future of electricity generation and therefore climate change – we will have no say. While we can still speak up – go to http://www.johnkaye.org.au/campaigns/energy/public-power-not-private-profit/privatisation he has a YouTube clip.

DEB'S REGO DUE! I have to find $1200 which means I'll have to get a job! I have been working full-time on this campaign for 3 months, and frankly I haven't got time for a job! If you can help with a donation (however humble) my account is BSB: 062665 A/C: 10052079 Commonwealth Bank.

ARMIDALE WIN: We had a call from a town planner from Armidale: when Woolworths wanted to build a big supermarket outside town, potentially killing it's heart by attracting shoppers to their one-stop shop; diminishing pedestrian traffic, therefore shopping in the town - as has happened all over the country - the people of Armidale spoke up. The Wws DA was approved and "in the bag" but the local people applied pressure; Wws relented, and built the supermarket in the town centre instead.

WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR MULLUM: John Waterhouse of Mallams said Wws have a contingency plan to open where Mallam's is now. That might be a solution, at least it would be better than them building the big box in residential Station Street. You can speak up to the Woolworths Directors (below) and tell them what YOU want!
Peggy Balfour advises that sending a letter in a brightly coloured envelope, marked "Private and Confidential" is most likely to reach its destination. From the ASX website details as follows:

Address: 1 Woolworths Way , BELLA VISTA , NSW, AUSTRALIA, 2153
Directors / Senior Management
Mr James A Strong (Chairman, Non Exec. Director)
Mr Michael Gerard Luscombe (Managing Director, CEO)
Mr Tom Pockett (Director, Finance Director)
Mr Ian MacFarlane (Director)
Ms Alison Watkins (Director)
Ms Diane J Grady (Non Exec. Director)
Mr Leon M L'Huillier (Non Exec. Director)
Dr Roderick Deane (Non Exec. Director)
Mr John Astbury (Non Exec. Director)
Mr Peter J Horton (General Counsel)

SLOGAN COMPETITON We had some brilliant entries, and these were the winners. Email me via website if you want the whole list. We are looking for funds to print these up on bumper stickers, teeshirts and badges – if you have a preference for sponsoring a particular slogan in a particular way, please specify. Call 6684 1415.
First prize, a $150 voucher from Santos Trading, went to Gary Street for:
Mullum: We Want Small Traders—Not Corporate Invaders. No Woolworths!
and
Mullum: We Are Not Fresh-Fooled People. Think Logically. Shop Locally.
Second prize, a $70 naturopathic consultation with iridology and hemaview from Lotions and Potions, went to Allison Howell for:
Keep Our Mullum Culture: Stop the Woolworths Vulture
Third prize, a $45 voucher from Eden's Landing, went to Ange Keenan for:
Woolies, I Don't Buy It.
And fourth prize, a $30 voucher from Sushi Wala, went to Olive McLeod for:
Mullumbimby, Charming and Quaint, Woolworths Ain't. ****************************************
"KEEPING IT LOCAL" campaign run by the Local Government and Shires Associations advise us as follows… their webpage is EASY TO FOLLOW! >
The NSW Government is introducing new State pro-Developer Laws that are tipping the balance away from local communities towards developers. The laws will not only drastically reduce funding for services like libraries, parks and playgrounds but also take away your right to have a say in local developments that affect you.

The new laws haven't been approved so NOW is the time to tell your local MP that local voices matter and you value high quality services. Help tip the balance back in favour of local communities by emailing your local MP here http://www.keepitlocal.org.au
Thanks for standing up (speaking up) for local communities!****************************************************************
GM FOODS = CORPORATE CONTROL OF OUR TUCKER Following is a link to Mathaba.com from SBS "Insight" programme. http://www.mathaba.com search the following:GM Foods in Australia Let Loose on Consumers Without Labeling
Time to get political again! SPEAK UP!
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Small business welcomes predatory pricing crackdown:http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/28/2229190.htm *************************************************************
Rudd to rein in business bullies April 28, 2008
BIG businesses that slash prices to destroy smaller rivals will be targeted under new laws to be unveiled by the Rudd Government today.Under the proposed amendments to the Trade Practices Act, the Government will defend small business from so-called "predatory" pricing and give it a permanent voice inside the competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. ..
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/wireless/story/0/22282,601-607968,00.html
*****************************************************************...
A reader questioned the figures quoted last week of Indian farmers committing suicide. I got this information from an article featuring Vandana Shiva in New Internationalist magazine http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// http://(www.newint.org) April edition p29. "In the past decade, 200,000 farmers have committed suicide in India and- according to the celebrated environmental thinker and activist – this is a direct result of agricultural modernization, including the introduction of genetically modified crops"
*********************************
FREECYCLE IS IN BYRON!!I had three responses to last week's Freecycle item and they are alive and well in Byron Bay. A fab way to get rid of unwanted stuff.: byron_bay_freecycle@yahoogroups.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/byron_bay_freecycle/ **************************************************
The Generator (local radio http://www.bayfm.org) is starting a section on Local Food Action which will actively support people with local food projects. We are particularly interested in supporting people who want to:process food in season that otherwise gets thrown out (eg citrus in Winter, when you literally cannot give it away)help maintain gardens for old people who's family has grown up in exchange for some produce, lend unused (or underused) land to community projects farm staple foods (eg rice, sweet potatoes, corn and other subtropical crops)develop community supported agriculture projects. Contact: Giovanni Ebono at Ebono Institute http://www.ebono.org 0402 779 375+61 2 6684 6202

DIRECT ACTION: Will anyone interested in direct action in the coming fortnight please contact Giovanni.
*************************************************
VOLUNTEERS WANTED (message from Techa Beaumont) MPI the charitable org I work for is looking for volunteers with a range of skills to assist with research campaigning and IT/admin support on a range of environmental, human rights and social justice issues to do with the mineral sector. If you can think of anyone who may be looking for an interesting and rewarding volunteer activity, or want to gain experience in NGO/environmental and human rights campaigning please let me know / pass on my details. Our website is http://www.mpi.org.au for background on the issues we work on. My contacts are advocacy@mpi.org.au and 0409318 406 or hm 66884608

CANUNGRA

Another rural village is threatened with a corporate invader: Canungra .....is NOT a shopping centre with a 300 space car park (proposed supermarket : 4 times bigger than FoodWorks)wants to remain a rural village (WOSP - see attachment)our future is our hands (Your voice represented by our Councillors and your submissions)for Canungra's future ..... please attend ...... Submissions close 12th May:The Chief Executive Officer, Scenic Rim Regional Council, PO Box 25, Beaudesert Qld 4285On Thursday 24th April CADA held a public meeting to hear local opinion on a proposed development application by "Canungra Commercial Pty Ltd" (LASCORP Development Group (Aust) Pty Ltd) at Christie Street and Finch Road, Canungra (Council Reference No: 020-030-001991): A major chain SUPERMARKET (2,650 m2) with 300 CAR PARK spaces, SHOPS (1700m2) and relocated bowling club with 21 car park spaces. Over 40 local residents from various areas around Canungra, as well as shop owners, attended to voice their concerns:
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ANU Digital Arts student Ty Mason is making movie about Mullum CAN: see article in N Star http://www.northernstar.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3770201
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Video On Demand: "Dirty, Sexy Money"Sarah Ferguson looks at how politics can be poisoned when donors are seen as buying access and partiality from decision-makers. If you missed the Four Corners prog, here it is http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/28/2229190.htm
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SHARKWATER –the movie, premiering this Sat 3rd May 7 pm at Byron cinemas $12.50 fundraiser for Australian Seabird Rescue based in Ballina. Full details: http://www.thegenerator.com.au ************************************************************************
Cheers,Deborah
.

newsletter no 3 - 25 April 08

2008-05-01T20:55:00.003+10:00

Hi Folks
What can we do about Woolworths?? John Cummings of NARGA (Nat Assoc of Retail Grocers of Aus) recommended we GET POLITICAL; ie lobby Don Page, Justine Eliot, Frank Sartor and Ray Darney (below).

INFO STALL SUCCESS: Don Page (I went to see him today) was very interested in a sketch map provided by Station Street resident to Renee on the Info Table. This resident had had a visit from 2 Wws reps this week to “explain the new proposals”. Sketch showed new location of proposed Wws further north on the site with loading bay now on the north side. This means trucks will travel deeper into residential area. Don Page took this seriously and said he will tell Sartor that our community wants input into Section 94 Variance of DA and that this needs to be looked at by Traffic Committee (BSC; RTA & police).

From Don’s website www.donpage.com.au : "My vision for the electorate is that we create a sustainable future for our community. This involves creating employment, whilst protecting the beauty and environmental integrity of our area. It is not a case of jobs or the environment - it is a case of jobs and the environment."

Jolly good, Don. Let’s support each other in this vision. Your message to Don will help! Don.Page@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Also, Ray.Darney@byron.nsw.gov.au who is BSC Chief of Planning said at our public meeting that “the Minister would ensure that the (Woolworths) proposal is renotified. I would expect that the Minister would put plans on display at Council’s Administration Building”(Darney’s Q & As are on our website under “Documents”) Darney needs to be reminded that we want to have our say when DA is revised (Section 96 Modifications) this is our chance to object!

You could, most importantly, write to the Minister who approved this DA: office@sartor.minister.nsw.gov.au (sample) Dear Frank – please will you let us know before you pass any Section 96 Modifications to Wws DA 32-04-2006. We want to see the plans on display at BSC first. Yours truly.

WALMART & ALDI IN OZ: From The Australian 24.4.08: A RUDD government plan to lower food prices by easing the way for major international retail chains to enter Australia has drawn fire from economists and retailers who argue it will make little difference to the cost of groceries at the checkout……Later in that article: “The peak body representing Australia's largest retailers, the Australian National Retailers Association, said the move would not increase competition because it did not address the underlying problem, which was a lack of new supermarket sites. John Cummings, the chairman of the National Association of Retail Grocers of Australia, which represents 4500 independent retailers, said the proposal would make no difference to grocery prices. "For an international player to get into the Australian market and compete with Coles and Woolworths, they would need to find 750 supermarket sites around Australia, and that just simply is not going to happen," Mr Cummings said.

I often get calls and emails from people – here is one:
USA MACAS IN LISMORE WWS “I went shopping in Lismore Central Woolworths. Amongst other items , I was after some raw macadamia nuts. I was appalled to see that the nuts were sourced from the USA. At least I would expect a modicum of political correctness on the part of woolies that would see them source their macas at least locally, given its importance to our local economy. Guess not!” John, Eltham

Wws are wanting to update their image to be more 'socially responsible': http://www.woolworths.com.au/vendors/news/announcements/greensmkt.asp "Woolworths is committed to building sustainable and environmentally friendly retail developments while continuing to provide local communities with an enjoyable shopping experience." - that's extraordinary!!

Woolworths installing self-service check-out terminals in all new stores – (perhaps they will need to revise their job figures for the Mullum proposal)http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/business/woolies-price-checks-checkout-chicks/2008/04/21/1208742882358.html

On-line petition to boycott Coles & Woolworths http://www.gopetition.com.au/petitions/boycott-coles-and-woolworths/sign.html
We are currently looking at putting in our own on-line petition.

ETHICAL SHOPPING- free on-line edition of New Internationalist magazine http://www.exacteditions.com/exact/browse/386/422/1787/2/2/0/

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY?? The following link is a video about GM seeds in India, particularly BT cotton which is causing the suicides of hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers. Vandana Shiva, physicist and social activist, quotes corporate biotech salesman: “to us it doesn’t matter if the crops don’t do well because they will just come back for more of our seed; the failure of agriculture is a market success for the Corporation.” http://www.livevideo.com/video/D8AFEBAA8DAF4AF7B758953A09880B34/zegee-com-unnatural-selectio.aspx

FREECYCLE your junk instead of landfilling! Freecycle initiatives in 85 countries – who wants to start a group here? http://au.news.yahoo.com/080421/19/16k2v.html

WOOLLOOMOOLOO community garden: green therapy for schizophrenia
http://www.smh.com.au/news/good-living/green-therapy/2008/04/22/1208742924107.html

TRANSITION TOWNS explained in free on-line edition of Resurgence: http://www.exacteditions.com/exact/browse/389/425/3137/3/36

Relocalisation (local) movies: Each Tuesday, 7.15 for 7.30 sharp start; tea and bickies, + $5 donation Tues. 29th April; 'How to Save the World'. Bio-Dynamic farmer Peter Procter (from NZ) is now living in India and doing great good works. Many, huge BD compost heaps, we can organise this in our shire! The community's waste is our resource! See Calendar on our website www.mullumaction.org for more details.
Happy surfing – just watch out for sharks.
Deborah

Report of Public Meeting, Mullumimby 5.4.08

2008-04-07T07:26:00.003+10:00

MULLUM COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK: PUBLIC MEETING
St John's Hall Mullumbimby - Sat 5 April 10.30 am

The panelists were:
Ray Darney (Director of Planning, Byron Shire Council) - who answered the questions (copies available from Deb) - written answers to the questions have been requested.

NOTE: Ray said if Wws put in a new or revised DA that there will be a public meeting where we can make submissions - see video on website http://www.mullumaction.org )

Rose Wanchap (Director of Red Rose Realty) spoke about values and community in relation to ownership of land - also the hidden agenda - possible financial support to potential council candidates.

Kali Wendorf, (Social Ecologist and Editor of Kindred Magazine) spoke about family living from sustainable and well-being perspective and the impact of a large supermarket on children in our community.

Helena Norberg-Hodge (Founder and Director of ISEC - International Society for Community and Ecology) (try googling her: v interesting) internationally recognised pioneer of the world-wide "localisation" movement and leading analyst of the impact of globilisation on economies and culture.

John Dolman (Manager of Santos) spoke about money circulation within the local economy (google 'Local Multiplier Effect').

Meeting was attended by about 200 people.
Deborah Lilly welcomed the audience
Anthea Amore facilitated the meeting
panellists gave 5 min talk each and then answered questions from audience
Jack Travis did power point display of questions to Ray Darney
Anthea took questions from the audience
Deborah explained MCAN overall aims, campaign goals, and MCAN sub-committees
More questions and suggestions from floor for individual and community action such as a UTube video specifically aimed at teenagers about the effects of a supermarket on a small community; interview with Macca on Australia All Over
Sausage sizzle (vegetarian & meat) & home-made soft drinks & tomato sauce
Song by Jenni Cargill-Strong 'Yellow Taxi' words changed to fit our campaign
musical accompaniment by Diti Dickson & David Hall

Mood of the meeting: Rapt attention to the panellists; probing questions to Ray Darney from BSC; disturbed local asking if Woolworth's had bought the two pubs in Mullum; more information wanted on the traffic effects (eg one-way system) in Mullum if Wws come - and promise by Ray Darney that if Woolworths put in a new DA there will be a public meeting so locals can make submissions.

Where to from here: MCAN will be having special meeting to discuss the structure of their group and strategies in a couple of weeks.
Appeal for legal help and funding brought immediate donations of $90 (including a $50 note)

There is an account of the meeting and video (with press quality photo) on our website http://www.mullumaction.org/. Incidentally, a PR person from Woolworth's Clare Buchanan, requested that they send a representative to our meeting to give a 'Woolworth's perspective'. We declined their offer, at this time.

This meeting demonstrated one of the Guiding Principles of our Campaign in action - that of strengthening SOCIAL CAPITAL - we worked together as a team, functioning as a community enterprise respecting, supporting and valuing each other's contributions to make the meeting the success it was - informing people about the effects of globalisation and the importance of localisation. Most important of all, we stimulated people's thinking!

Regards
Deborah

We've gone national!!

2008-03-27T22:48:00.002+11:00

Tonight on "A Current Affair" and also "Today/Tonight" our campaign was featured, with interviews from outside the Council Chambers. Thanks to everyone who turned up and supported and especially to Meryn Callander who co-ordinated this event. Congratulations Mullumaction! We've had feedback from http://www.erskinevillevillage.org/ who say they are "with us".... check out their website for similar campaign. The national networking has begun!

I have a VHS recording of the Current Affair, and hope to get it onto
the website soon. Regards, Deborah

TV team in town Thurs & Fri 27 & 28 March

2008-03-27T11:40:00.002+11:00

TV Today/Tonight team are in town today from 12 noon at Eden's Landing - will be wandering around filming and interviewing at random and then will interview Chris Abraham at 2 pm outside Mullum council chambers (it was to be be Woolworth's site but rain's changed the venue).

Tomorrow they will be interviewing Helena at 11.15 and wandering in town till 2 pm at Lulu's cafe.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR PRESENCE FELT WITH BANNERS, SIGNS AND OPINIONS!

Following is helpful info if you happen to get interviewed:

We want to alert people across Australia about what is happening here in Mullumbimby, and that it could happen in their own town. We are in a growing line of communities that have protested against Woolworths development, including Griffith, Sandgate (Brisbane), Lane Cove (Sydney), Maleny and Kempsey. In each of these communities monetary might and political clout has won out over the voice and actions of the local people.

We want it to be known that we are part of a growing wave of citizens who recognize the destructive impact of multinational corporations co-opting their town’s economy and that this destruction cannot continue. We want people to know that it matters a great deal how and where they shop, and that shopping is an active decision. Each time we buy something we are supporting a particular business practice as well as the ethics of that business practice. We want people to know how and where their food was produced and how many food-miles it has traveled. We want to know if we are buying a local product or a foreign one; supporting local farmers or overseas ones. We want people to be aware of how multinational corporations suck the blood out of local communities and contribute massively to global warming.

The NSW State Department of Planning over-rode Byron Shire Council’s objection to the development and our community was not listened to by the government. We are outraged that, in the face of all that we know about the importance of strengthening local economies, Woolworths may be allowed to come to our town. We want people tell State Planning Minister Sartor, as well as our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, that this blatant abuse of democratic process is not acceptable.

Some reasons why we don’t need Woolworths in Mullumbimby are as follows: Woolworths offer minimal financial support to local communities comparedto local businesses, who regularly donate many tens of thousands of dollarswhile also offering other forms of support to local causes. This support keeps our local sporting clubs, community groups and the arts alive.
Many local retailers provide personalised services to their customerswhile Woolworths do not. These will be lost if local businesses are forced todownsize or cease trading.

Woolworths plan to build a bigger supermarket than the one in Byron - with a bottleshop - surrounded by tarmac, close to the gateway of our town. Besides being an eyesore, this development is totally out of character with the residential setting, as well as with the small-business diversity of our town.

Fragmentation of our town centre will diminish the cohesion,sustainability, and unique character of Mullumbimby and the heart of ourcommunity.

The growing impact of global warming and peak oil makes it more importantthan ever to support our local producers and merchants in creating aresilient, vibrant, and sustainable local economy. In and around Mullumbimbywe have a rich, creative community, cultural diversity, experience and the fertile lands to create a model of localized sustainability. We’ve got what it takes!

letter to our website www.mullumaction.org

2008-03-03T15:08:00.002+11:00

Comments. . . . . .I am from Sydneys Northern Beaches and I am writing to congratulate you on this amazing step forwards for DEMOCRACY.> > > > Its sad that the people who are representing you in Parliament are so weak, lazy and out of touch that you have had to take the needs of your community into your own hands.> > > > Good on you. We have some major problems on Sydneys Northern Beaches with the State Government bulldozing our High Schools, illegally and its closure is still with ICAC.> > > > Frank Sartor following his success of bulldozing a $50 million dollar HIgh School wants to bulldoze Seaforth Tafe (at a time when we have a national skills shortage) The Tafe has union bans on it - 9 years - the longest in the history of education in our country, yet still EMPEROR SARTOR pushes on. Our council have not done enough and have caused us hell and want to flatten a $55 milllion dollar Tafe and put up another multi storey apartment block for which our Government will gain a paultry $5 million dollars but of course the Developers will make a motza> > > > Can you help us by letting us know how hard it is to construct a website and where we could start so we can help ourselves like you and hopefully get some success like yourselves.> > > > I WANT TO MOVE TO MULLUM YOU PEOPLE ARE AWESOME> > > > SUSIE COLVIN

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE

2008-03-01T15:30:00.003+11:00

www.mullumaction.org is our new site, where you can watch videos of the Telstra Auction and a recent public meeting.

TELSTRA SITE RETURNED TO COMMUNITY!!

2008-03-01T15:30:00.000+11:00

In less than 4 weeks of existence, Mullumbimby Community Action Group (MCAG) has achieved a major objective – to secure the old Telstra depot for community. Byron Shire Council’s successful bid for the site at an auction on Friday means that this strategic position at the entrance to Mullumbimby will not become an extension of the proposed Woolworth’s development next door.

MCAG was formed on Australia Day: 26 January 2008 in response to a report that Woolworths was coming to Mullumbimby, announced on the 1st January. Concerned residents have so far had three public meetings from which emerged the main goal: to stop Woolworths coming to Mullumbimby. Securing the Telstra site for community was another goal, and a “Telstra Site Acquisition Group” was formed, meeting weekly.

An Urgency Motion was organized by ex-Councillor Duncan Day, and Deborah Lilly addressed a meeting of Byron Shire Council during public access on 14 February. Councillors voted 4 -3 in favour of investigating acquiring the site, and one week later … they bought it! This was a miraculously fast move by Council, and is a brilliant demonstration of the influence of collective community spirit.

Winning this site for community and stopping the Woolworths encroachment at the entrance to our town is a terrific outcome for MCAG! Our next step is to raise public awareness of the enormous benefit to our town when we “buy local”. Circulating our dollars locally keeps our unique community creatively employed in jobs that we choose.

Keeping Woolworths out of town could enable Mullumbimby to become a model of sustainability… or just another link in the urban sprawl from Tweed Coast to Ballina.
Its our town and we have the collective spirit to chose our future…. use it or lose it!
One miracle in less than a month is a great start!

PLEASE WRITE TO TELSTRA

2008-02-20T14:59:00.001+11:00

Hello Supporters of Mullumbimby Community Action Group (MCAG)

– THIS EMAIL NEEDS TO ARRIVE FRIDAY AT LATEST!!!

RE: TELSTRA SITE AUCTION – Station Street, Mullumbimby 2482

PLEASE HELP RETURN TELSTRA SITE TO COMMUNITY!!

The old Telstra Depot ( up for auction this week: 22 February) is on land that belongs to community! It was originally on railway land (State Rail is a public utility) was sold to Telstra (another public utility) and may now become another community asset lost to privatization.

Please write to Sol Trujillo, Managing Director CEO of Telstra Corporation, - email his assistant at simone.l.asenberger@team.telstra.com

Expressing your disapproval of his disposal of a public asset.

Request that he:
Donate the land to the community, or sell for $1 (as did Northpower sell their building to the Mullumbimby community for $1 when they became Country Energy).
Sell the site back to community for the price they bought it, or
Defer the auction for approx 8 months to allow Mullumbimby community the opportunity to raise funds to buy the site for a community purpose
Accept a pre-auction bid from Mullumbimby local philanthropist who wishes to secure the land to allow time for community fundraising

Telstra’s generosity in this instance can be openly acknowledged by community in their use of the site – suggestions for which have been: Mullumbimby Gateway and Information Centre, community and/or farmer’s market, ethical food co-op, housing or day care for the elderly, community gardens, playground, Neighbourhood Centre, youth facilities, etc etc. All these suggestions are desperately need facilities in our town.

Appeals can also be made to the Telstra Foundation Community Development Fund at http://www.telstrafoundation.com/dir148/tfweb.nsf/webdocs/aboutus~boardmembers?opendocument who are prepared to make donations to DGRs (Deductible Gift Recipients) – we are currently negotiating with Friends of the Earth Real Food Campaign and may become affiliated with them thus receiving DGR status.

Thank you for your assistance.
Deborah Lilly
Co-ordinator
Mullumbimby Community Action Group

MCAG AT BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL MEETING 14.2.08

2008-02-15T14:53:00.001+11:00

Today Deborah addressed the meeting of Byron Shire Council. She was granted “public access” by special dispensation by the Mayor, Jan Barham in view of the urgency of our request, and the “urgency motion” tabled by Cr Tom Tabart regarding the purchase of the Telstra site, Station Street, coming up for auction next week.

The main points Deborah made requested BSC to support us in having the Telstra site returned to community: it was State Rail land, then Telstra bought it and now it may be sold by auction into private ownership.
a) ask Telstra to donate the site back to community for a token amount; a precedent was set for this when Northpower sold their building to the community for $1 some years ago, and this is now used by ACE.
b) ask Telstra to sell BSC the land for the price they paid for it, or a nominal amount.
c) Ask Telstra to delay the auction to allow council time to consider the purchase of the land.

Deborah told Council that MCAG had had three public meetings in the last 3 weeks and these ideas had emerged for the site:
1) Mullumbimby gateway, information and community gathering space
2) Permanent farmer’s market site, or community market such as the one at Eumundy which operates twice a week, with about 50 stalls, and attracts
many people to the town.
3) community gardens
4) playground
5) emergency house
6) housing for the elderly
7) extra space for Neighbourhood Centre to provide lunches and soup kitchen: their facilities are inadequate for the growing demand
8) youth facilities eg basketball court
9) parking
10) daycare for the elderly

Council resolved as follows:

1. That an approach be made to Telstra requesting that the sale date for their depot land … be delayed until after the council’s meeting on 28 February to allow Council to consider the possible purchase.

2. That Council receive a late confidential report to the meeting of 21 February on the possibility of purchase and identification of funds.

That Council contact the owners advising them of the possibility of contamination of the site. (Director of Planning, Development and Environment Services, Ray Darney, informed the meeting of possible contamination of the site).

Councillors who were in favour of looking to purchase this site were: Crs Tabart, Lazarus, Staples and Mayor Jan Barham. Those against: Crs Tucker, Mangleson and Kestle. Crs not present were: Westheimer, Tardiff and (I think) Cr Woods.

I am happy with this outcome. The Councillors debated the motion for an hour, and I appreciate their attention to our proposal.

Woolworths & the Lane Cove Experience

2008-02-15T14:45:00.004+11:00

Hi,This is a letter I sent to the Echo last week re Woolworths which didn't get get published. Thought you might be interested.Best wishes,Victor

Many people know about what Woolworths did in Maleny but not so many know about what happened in Lane Cove in Sydney. Woolworths bought a small privately owned supermarket called Clancy’s in the middle of Lane Cove shopping centre. It wasn’t big enough for them though and they put in a DA to use Council land and redevelop a Council carpark so they could get more space. For eight years (1998-2005) they fought for this, trying to change public opinion with glossy brochures on their proposal in letter boxes, with expensive displays, Woolworths public relations people at the displays for weeks on end to sway people, and with planning reports saying the area needed more shopping floor-space per resident. The DA was knocked back. They changed it and put in a redevelopment of a council building and it was knocked back again. They changed it a second time and got it through, with the help of a councillor who owned and edited the local paper and had property near the development.People didn’t object to a Woolworths in Lane Cove, they objected to the scale of the development in the middle of the village centre, the loss of the character of the place, the loss of community land. One of the councillors who opposed the development said that Woolworths won simply because they had more money to throw at it than the Council had to present an alternative view.The campaign to stop the development managed to get lots of conditions put on the DA but it was still a big loss. We hadn’t expected Woolworths would be so tenacious, particularly when it came to getting Council land.Victor von der HeydeMain Arm (and Lane Cove & Brisbane).

Interview Giovanni Ebono with Deborah Lilly

2008-02-13T15:18:00.002+11:00

Re: Telstra site, Station Street Mullumbimby up for auction February 22.

Bay FM - The Generator

2008-02-11T17:56:00.000+11:00

The interview between Deborah Lilly and Giovanni Ebono for The Generator, Monday Feb 11 is at http://www.ebono.org/thegenerator/soundfiles/telstra_site.mp3

2 Interesting articles about Woolworths

2008-02-08T18:38:00.001+11:00

thanks Paul from Edenslanding vege shop, Mullumbimby, for sending these links:

http://au.blogs.yahoo.com/michaelpascoe/13/the-woolworths-giant-rolls-on

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/05/1065292473908.html

Mullumbimby Community Action Group challenges Globalisation

2008-02-06T16:35:00.000+11:00

'The destructive global economy can only exist as long as we are prepared to accept and subsidise it. We can reject it. We can start today by joining the local food movement and reap the wealth of benefits from re-linking farmers and consumers. Fresh, local food for all may be one of the most rewarding - and certainly the most delicious results of localisation.' Helena Norberg-Hodge.

On Saturday 2nd of February the Mullumbimby Community Action Group held a public meeting at the Pioneer Hall, to discuss the effects of Woolworths opening up a supermarket in the town. Over 100 people attended,filling the hall to overflowing.

The meeting was opened by Athol Compton a local Midjungbal/Bundjalung elder.

Deborah Lilly posed the question "What happens when a multinational juggernaut comes to a small country town like Mullumbimby?. This meeting is to find out the answer."

The meeting was chaired by Anthea Amore, who opened the meeting by saying,

"Many of us see this as a great opportunity to bring the community together and to talk about the future and the direction of our town, Mullumbimby and its surrounds. We and the community have the right and the power to determine our town's future. This is also a great opportunity to share information about where our food comes from, and the hidden true costs of food production in the world today. Then we can strengthen our community and its spirit by affirming our right to determine the outcome of planning decisions that will shape and affect our community for generations to come."

Katrina Shields recently from Maleny, spoke about the effect of Woolworths moving into Maleny , a small country town similar to Mullumbimby in Queensland. Due to community process and action, Woolworths is often quite empty, while the main street is bustling with activity and the IGA does a roaring trade.

Strong Local Economy

"We seriously need to strengthen our local food economy. This development(Mullum) is a step in the wrong direction and will weaken it. Some of the reasons are, Woolworth's are locked into central buying systems and it is very hard for them to stock many local products. They truck their produce a long distance which means food-miles, greenhouse gases, more highways, more trucks, and they lock their suppliers into restrictive contracts. This continues into demanding perfect looking produce, and a very uniform kind of produce, which often pushes growers into using more and more chemicals. This usually means food is less healthy. Their main purpose is to dominate the market and maximize profit for their shareholders, and that is done by sucking money out of the local economy into their own corporate system. They give very little returns to local communities. Compare this to local small businesses, which re-circulate money back in to the local economy. This has a multiplier effect, the more they buy from local suppliers, the more money goes around in the town. Local small businesses also put substantial amounts of money into local clubs and cultural activities which rely heavily on business donations.

The Bigger Picture

Helena Norberg-Hodge said, "I have been working on these issues for the last 30 years. I first became aware of what is happening with food and farming when I ended up in a remote part of the world (Tibet actually) which had been closed off from the global economy, the corporate influences, and I saw what happened to that area when it was opened up to the so-called free market. The government was subsidizing roads, transport, petroleum, and the production of large monocultures. Then, suddenly, food came in literally from the other side of the world, and it was sold for a lower price than local producers needed to survive. I saw how this so called free market destroys local economies, local producers and local businesses. Food is the only thing that human beings produce that we need every single day."

"What we have in place is called a free market, but it is in fact mega-merging monopolies. However they don't look like monopolies, because they are so global, so mobile, and they influence government policy. If you look at it from the big picture you might think it is hopeless because it is so big. However, I have found that now there is a rethinking. There is a growing localization movement. Presently, this movement is still relatively invisible, but it is quite large. You would be amazed at the number of farmers markets, and other initiatives that have started all round the world, in the US, UK, France, India, and Africa. People have realized that it is in all our interests to support our local economy.

Transition Town

We can promote Mullumbimby as a TRANSITION TOWN. This is a new concept gaining ground in the UK, where there are 50 such towns. It means we are in transition from a high carbon footprint economy to a low carbon footprint economy.

The first the residents of Mullumbimby knew about Woolworth's was an article on the Echo front page Tues 1st january 2008. The announcement came after the period to make an appeal against the approval had expired.

Apologies were received from Byron Shire Mayor Jan Barham, and Ray Downey of the Byron Council planning department.

by Robert Hart

NBN NEWS ITEM 6pm tonight (6 Feb)

2008-02-06T13:36:00.000+11:00

Hi Folks!

RE: TELSTRA SITE & THE WOOLWORTH'S CAMPAIGN - MULLUMBIMBY

This morning I did an interview with NBN News asking for community to lobby Byron Shire Council to buy back the Telstra site, for community. It is up for grabs by auction on 22 Feb. this site was once railway land (ie community owned) then Telstra acquired it (they are or were community owned) and now its up for grabs and its right NEXT DOOR to where Woolworths want to build a massive supermarket in our small country town.

This site is clearly visible on entering the town. Its one of Mullum's Crown Jewels. Please help us to keep it in the community - maybe for local farmers market, community gardens or permanent market site fixture selling local produce: fruit/veg, tea, coffee, macadamias, meat, dips and maybe even local arts and crafts.

Byron shire Councillors are:

Jan Barham, Jan Mangleson, John Lazarus, Ray Kestle, Richard Staples, Ross Tucker, Tom Tabart, Peter Westheimer, Dianne Wood

THIS IS WERE PEOPLE-POWER IS NEEDED TO COUNTERACT THE MULTINATIONAL JUGGERNAUGHT COMING TO TOWN!!

Support your local economy! Demand low carbon footprint in our community! We live in a food bowl here, why should we have food from thousands of ks away monopolising our country town retail sector? Do we support monoculture, as does Woolworths? What about the local butcher, baker and candlestick maker - what will happen to their business if Woolworth's comes? The Billinudgel butcher closed down when Bi-Lo went to Ocean Shores.

Cheers
Deborah

Public Meeting - Sat 2 Feb - Pioneer Hall, Mullumbimby

2008-02-05T21:44:00.000+11:00

Introduction by Deborah Lilly,
Wecome to Country by Athol Compton, Minjungbal Elder, Bundjalung Nation
Chairperson: Anthea Amore
Speakers: Chris Abraham – update on DA and planning status
Katrina Shields – the Maleny experience & local issues
Helena Norberg-Hodge – the big picture: global & local

Some of the comments from the audience were as follows:

- What can be done legally to stop Woolworths coming to Mullumbimby?
- Have we been hoodwinked?
- In UK and Italy there is a “Transition Towns” movement – maybe we could do that here?
- With globalization and peak oil, we need to apply pressure asking for what we want, or don’t want: write letters to Frank Sartor, NSW Minister for Planning and Maurice Iemma, Premier of NSW (send copy to co-ordinator of Mullumbimby Community Action Group: email Deb Lilly) - ask why our council's decision to reject this DA was ignored - ask Sartor whether a SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT was made
- Demand review of the situation
- We want input into the design of Woolworths building (if it gets built)
- There is land to the south of the Woolworth’s proposed site which is for auction on 22 February (the Telstra site): we need to save that land for cultural ownership and establish viable alternative to Woolworths – perhaps community gardens, farmers market or retail outlet for local products
- The Farmers Market in New Brighton is functioning and needs support
- Frank Sartor has a soft spot for Mullumbimby – the spirit of Byron resides here ... complain noisily to him
– do not cause division in this community, we need open dialogue and understanding on all sides
- education in sustainability and building local economy is important
- Office of Environmental Defenders in Lismore may help our campaign
- Crisis can be catalyst for change - what changes do you want in this community? what is stopping you from social action? This gathering of community-carers is your vehicle to make your voice heard. We want to hear from YOU!

The meeting then formed Sub-groups as follows:

Education/Media – contact John Dolman 66843773 email John Dolman
Legal Issues – contact: Chris Abraham 66844996 email Chris Abraham
(Meet Monday 11 Feburay at 10 am at Poinciana Café)
Boycott – contact: Garry Scott 66843468 email Garry Scott
Letterwriting – contact: Deborah Lilly 66843723 email Deb Lilly
(meet on Thursday 14 Feb, Left Bank Road)
Purchase of Telstra Site: Contact: Duncan Dey 66845440 email Duncan Dey
(Meet at Middle Pub Wed 6 Feb 7 pm)

Please contact the above if you are interested in joining a group.

ACCC

2008-02-01T18:08:00.000+11:00

Hi Folks

The Byron Shire Echo (www.echo.net.au 29 Jan p3) stated this week in an article headed “Woolworths on the agenda” that “Local company the Mallam Group has sold its business to Woolworths. The sale is depended on approval by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission”.

On checking the ACCC website at http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/808640/fromItemId/751046 we can see that the ACCC have already approved this “merger”, and that no submissions were received objecting to this.

I rang ACCC spoke to Caspar (no surname given) 1300 302 502 and asked him why we, as a community, were not informed that ACCC had asked for submissions re: the Mallams/Woolworths merger.

He told me that they had not sent out a media release regarding this merger (usually they do send them thru their news centre on their website) because they considered this merger to be a minor acquisition. The Project Officer in charge of this merger was Mark Rakers. As the closest Woolworths is 20 ks away, they consider Woolworths are not increasing their market share in the area (the criteria is 3 - 5 kilometres).

In their 'SLC TEST" (substantially lessening of competition) they decided, in their review, that it won't substantially lessen the competition. I asked what was their criteria for SLC and that appears to be the proximity of the nearest Woolworths. He said the ACC has no grounds to oppose the acquision because Woolworths are not increasing their market share in the area. This decision is based on market factors and they do not consult the community (as I wrote this down repeating his words, he added the word "actively consult the community").

I pointed out that on their website it stated that "no submissions were received" and I asked him how could they receive submissions from a concerned community if that community didn't even know about the process nor the dates 8 to 22 January wherein we would have to make the submissions. I said that that was not fair and could we please have an extension of the dates so that we could make submissions. He said that the decision is made and that's not possible. I said can we appeal the decision? He said we could write to: Mr Tim GrimwadeDirector of Mergers BranchGPO Box 3131Canberra ACT 2601. Caspar then took my name and number.

CheersDeborah
1 Feb 08

View ACC report:

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/808640/fromItemId/751046

Public Meeting Update - Saturday 2nd February

2008-01-30T17:38:00.000+11:00

The second public meeting regarding the Woolworths supermarket will be held at the Pioneer Hall in Gordon Street (behind Civic Centre) on Saturday 2nd February at 10am.

Deborah Lilly will introduce the meeting: welcoming the local custodian who will 'Welcome to Country'.

Chairperson, Anthea Amore will introduce three speakers: Helena Norberg-Hodge (ISEC and local resident), Katrina Shields (former Maleny resident) and Chris Abraham (Mullumbimby resident).

We will then create an 'Open Space' for people from the floor so they can speak, be heard and contribute ideas... brainstorming from the community.

Woolworths Mullumbimby Public Meeting

2008-01-26T17:20:00.001+11:00

Thanks to all who attended the first public meeting on Saturday 26th of January.

The next meeting will be at the Pioneer Hall in Gordon St (behind Civic Centre) on Saturday 2nd February at 10 am.

Hope to see you all there.

Woolworths vs Maleny

2008-01-26T13:45:00.000+11:00

A clip from A Current Affair... but still, it raises some interesting points.