Letters To The Editor
Why you won't be able to get a builder soon
I am writing in relation to the Continuing Professional Development regulations recently introduced by the Office of Fair Trading.
The new regulations, which come into effect on March 1, 2004 apply to all contractors in the building trades and require the completion of 100 points of professional development over 3 years with a minimum of 25 points per annum in order to renew a contracting license.
Details of these regulations can be found on Fair Trading's website.
Discussions with fellow tradesmen in the Nimbin area has established that one builder is looking at $3000 in course fees per annum, plus time to do the courses.
For example a TAFE Certificate III in Business Administration is worth 10 points. This course is an 18 week, one day per week course with fees of $600. If I get five points for industry experience (contracting) I will need to do three of these courses or their equivalents every year for the rest of my working life to maintain my contracting license. That works out to one day per week training, not including homework.
At present I am charging $45/hour. If you assume one day per week training, plus course fees, plus $3000 in associated on costs per annum (vehicle, meals, books etc) this CDP will cost me $23,520 per annum. That is my gross profit per annum.
As I understand it these new regulations have been brought in to address quality control issues in the building industry. Over the past five years the government regulated inspection and testing regime has been dismantled and has been replaced with self-inspection or outsourced private certification of building work. No tradesman will dispute the fact that the quality of work has plummeted under the new regime and the reasons are obvious. In the old days, cutting corners was not an option as your work was inspected by the regulating authority, and continued breaches would result in a letter asking you to so cause as to why you should keep your license. Now, no-one is looking over your shoulder and the main driver on a job is the cost. Even the SAA Wiring Rules were changed in 2000 from a proscriptive (thou shalt do it this way) to an outcome-based (take our advice and please yourself) format.
To put it in perspective, it is the same as sacking every traffic policeman in NSW and expecting every driver to personally guarantee that they will abide by the law. The only time that they come to the notice of the authorities is when they cause a serious accident. To continue the analogy, the authorities have noticed that the law is being broken and instead of reinstating the police they are requiring every license holder to go to school one day a week. For the rest of the week the license holders will be trying to make up lost ground.
How fast will they go? How many people will let their license lapse and keep driving? How many people will give up altogether?
Apart from the obvious failure in policy and the cost imposed on already struggling small businesses there are the practical considerations. I believe there are about 5000 electrical contractors in the Northern Rivers. If we all decided to do the Certificate III Business course at Lismore, Keen St would be grid-locked every Wednesday. If the plumbers and the brickies and the chippies and the plasterers and the tilers all wanted to do the same course there is not an oval in Lismore big enough to accommodate us.
These new regulations have to be rescinded. They are costly, impractical and do not address the issue.
John Inglis
Lillian Rock
|
|
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Pool value
In reply to Cr Tomlinson's comments (Echo, Feb 19) relating to the cost of redeveloping the Lismore Memorial Baths. Councillors and residents present at Council's meeting of 9th December 2003 were aware of the financial figures printed in the Business Paper which showed how Council intended to fund and service the cost of the project.
Cr Tomlinson continues to quote in his letter figures that are not factual. With the sale of some surplus Council property, to lessen borrowings and the use of dividends from Council's Business Units, now allowed by Government regulation, to service some of the $6m borrowings, Council is looking at a maximum repayment from ratepayer funds of around $450,000 per year for 20 years. This for a $7.5 million project with an estimated life of 70-80 years, is a small price to pay and is very affordable for a Council with a $60m yearly budget.
Even after borrowing for the pool, Council will still be capable of proceeding with other community projects such as the Goonellabah Recreation and Leisure Centre and the Art Gallery/Cultural Centre on the old Lismore High School site and planning is under way for both of these. As well Council's core activities such as roads will still be provided for.
The decision to redevelop the Memorial Baths was made in May 2003. In the ensuing time tenders were called for, tenders accepted and the need now is to get on with the job to cause as little inconvenience to pool users as possible.
An early closure on February 29, with work progressing until the expected time of completion in November 2004 will shorten both swimming seasons, but the inconvenience will be kept to a minimum.
Cr Merv King
Mayor of Lismore
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Traffic problems
I've just worked out what is causing the regular traffic blocks in Woodlark and Molesworth Streets.
I had some business to attend to in Carrington Street. My old route would have been Dawson, right into Magellan, then into Carrington.
Then they did funny things to Magellan Street, to the detriment of the traders there.
So it became Dawson, right into Conway, right into Carrington. Still fairly simple.
Lo! Now Council has closed off the right turn from Conway, and I have to go via Woodlark, Molesworth and Magellan (from the other end) to get to Carrington.
Is it any wonder that Woodlark and Molesworth are solid with cars, and that the traders in Carrington Street are tearing out their hair in frustration? Perhaps Council should consider closing all the streets in the CBD, putting all the traders out of business, then we could all go and live in some town where a little thought goes into planning.
Rosie Gibbons
Lismore Heights
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Wrong flood
It was with horror and disbelief that I read Jenny Dowell's letter (Echo, Feb 19) regarding Lismore's flood signage.
If Jenny, a seemingly well-informed individual and candidate for Mayor no less, is suffering under the illusion that the levee will protect Central and East Lismore from Major flooding, then what must the ordinary citizenry believe about the protection that this present levee will offer.
Please, everyone the levee is only designed to stop nuisance flood. It will not contain a major flood. Everywhere that is usually affected by a major flood will continue to suffer from that flooding after this levee is constructed. I can't stress this enough. It is only by being prepared and correctly informed that we will be able to avert the tragedy of property loss or even the loss of a life.
Lismore was built in a natural disaster area, that is a dangerous place to live. It is no place for a fool's paradise. So I suggest that, before the heavens open again, Jenny and everyone else who have business in Lismore ring up the emergency services and get informed. Do it now, you might need a flood pass to get inside the levee when the next big flood comes through.
Laurie Axtens
North Lismore
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Gloss & floss
Spun sugar, known as fairy floss, is normally in plentiful supply on the North Coast during the show season. However, as this is an election year, and a year in which the free trade agreement with America is to be signed, we should all be prepared for plenty of early fairy floss as the sugar spin season starts in earnest.
As the Howard government pours millions of your taxpayer dollars into this antiquated and inefficient industry we should prepare ourselves for a spin that tells us how important sugar is to the national economy and if it were not for those nasty Brazilians we would be the sugar kings of the world.
Don't be surprised though, if the fairy floss doesn't include a mention of how important the sugar votes are to Howard's re-election dream.
Sacchetto del Ratto
The Channon
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Vale Koala Plan
On behalf of the Friends of the Koala, Inc. and the many other supporters of Lismore City Council's Draft Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management I would like to thank The Echo for its informed and objective reporting on the matter, especially over these crucial months since the Draft Plan went on public exhibition .
As you (and many others) have pointed out time and time again, this Plan was never only about koalas. It endeavoured to provide a reasonable balance between development and koala protection. Developers were to be assisted by a performance criterion, which, if met, would ensure the expedient treatment of their development application.
As things stand the provisions of SEPP 44 - Koala Habitat Protection remain and developers continue with the vagaries of state government approval. The koalas miss out because of the loss of an agreed framework for habitat restoration, road traffic management, dog management, bushfires, health and welfare, education, research and monitoring. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of staff, consultants' and committee members' hours have been squandered.
As well as the financial cost to the community, the issue of Council's Advisory Committee system has to be seriously questioned. At the end of the day the recommendations unanimously agreed upon by the Steering Committee counted for nothing and were completely ignored by the Council.
Lorraine Vass
Member, Koala Plan of Management Steering Committee
President, Friends of the Koala, Inc.
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Help refugees
I recently attended the Rural Australians for Refugees second National Conference in Albury. There were over 300 representatives there from around Australia.
We were inspired by doctors, lawyers, farmers, politicians, priests and nuns, and the average country person, all working to provide support for refugees in and out of our detention camps. Of course we were harrowed by their years of suffering before they arrived at our shores as well as the years of suffering at Australia's hands.
At the closing ceremony we tied a ribbon to the wire for each person we prayed for, and then we sang the National Anthem.
As I thought of the words I found myself choking back the tears. It is so hard to sing the words and know we are doing the opposite. How can I rejoice when so many little children are not free? How can I sing the second verse about 'plains to share' when there are people behind electric fences in the desert, and families fenced into a football field for the third year on Nauru?
I have come to know so many of these people. I hear the news about the baby's first words as well as the mother sobbing.
So I took a deep breath and thought I would sing in the spirit of hope, that we could one day again be proud of our country's moral leadership. "Advance Australia Fair".
Elaine Smith
West Haven
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Nice work
Former G-G Peter Hollingworth had two years in the job , failed and then walked away with $185,000 a year, a Commonwealth car plus driver on call - 24 hours per day, a private secretary, unlimited Gold Pass air travel benefits and a rent-free office.
Now it is revealed he has had this office fitted out for a extra cost to the taxpayer of $234,000. Never mind that the office is already on the floor of one of Melbourne's most prestigious office tower buildings on the same floor as the Federal Cabinets own plush suite of offices and meeting rooms.
Great to see Peter and Anne maintain their sense of priorities.
This unabashed, top shelf spiv gives religion a bad name.
John X Berlin
Maclean
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Mea culpa
In my recent letter (Echo, Feb 19) suggesting that the blue flood markers be reinstated on Lismore basin power poles, I made an error in stating that future markers would not be needed now that Lismore has its levee bank.
Having attended the recent flood awareness meeting in the CBD, I am well aware that the levee would have been breached on average every 12 years in the past and gives no protection from the inundation remembered by the 1974 signs or from the 1954 flood whose 50th anniversary we commemorated last week. In fact the levee, when completed, only gives protection until the flood waters reach about 10 metres. Water will then begin to enter near the police station.
My unintended error was made in trying to note that the lower level of flood that the levee keeps from entering the CBD may mean additional problems for North and South Lismore. I apologise for this faux pas.
The main point of the letter remains that the blue 1974 flood indicator signs should remain.
Jenny Dowell
Goonellabah
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Kids thanks
A big 'thank you' to The Northern Rivers Echo for supporting the second edition of Northern Rivers Children's Health Fund's 'Our Kids' Calendar last year.
Once again the coverage the paper gave the calendar helped to achieve fantastic results, raising $35,000. In addition to the gratitude 'Our Kids' has for the paper, many thanks also go to the twelve wonderful local businesses who financially supported the calendar, thus enabling all money collected from the sales to be put towards purchasing equipment for the Special Care Nursery and Children's Ward at Lismore Base Hospital.
These sponsors were Birch Carroll and Coyle, Mayne Investments, Goonellabah Media Centre, The Condon Group, Frank Vanz Lismore Tyre Company, My Baby's Shop, Southern Cross University, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Lismore Turf and Truck Show, GlaxoSmithKline, Lismore City Printery, Telstra Countrywide and Graphiti Design.
Of course we cannot forget those in the community who bought the calendar and the businesses that kindly agreed to stock them. Without this help the calendar would not have been the great success it was.
The funds raised for 'Our Kids' benefit directly the children of the Northern Rivers and we wish to thank all the above people for their involvement and generosity.
Rebekka Battista
'Our Kids' Fundraising Officer
Click here to comment on this
letter.
GM's comments
Your article "Plateau developers claim council conspiracy" (Echo, Feb 12) included a number of responses from the general manager of Lismore City Council. I wish to address some of those claims through your paper.
His assertions that our groups' comments were "a media stunt" and "desperate stuff borne out of frustration" are simply not true.
Our claims are based on irrefutable fact following extensive research and statements from council's own documents.
No one in their right mind would undertake the level of research that we have, prepare a very significant dossier (900 pages) of evidence to support their claims and forward that dossier to appropriate investigating authorities unless there was significant evidence to support those claims.
We have highlighted several areas of concern that go the very heart of open and transparent administration of our city.
Mr O'Sullivan's throw away remark regarding "extremist conspiracy theories" just doesn't stand up. One would assume as general manager he would be thinking of ratepayer interests.
Mr O'Sullivan also comments on the speedway noise issue. No one, particularly our group wants the speedway closed. Lets get that issue clear from the start.
Now lets put the speedway noise issue into context. Every resident and business owner in town is required to abide by State noise legislation. Why not the speedway?
Lismore council is preparing a noise management plan for the speedway that will ensure its future whilst keeping its activities within legislated guidelines.
The end result is a win-win situation for everyone and the noise issue will no longer be an legitimate impediment to our lands being rezoned.
Mr O'Sullivan's comments labelling our statements as "a media stunt desperate stuff borne out of frustration" are just false. A media stunt, definitely not. Frustration, not quite, just disappointment that Lismore Council has hidden behind an issue they should have addressed years ago and used that issue to block the future development of Lismore.
Other ratepayers and business people who have had problems with Lismore Council are invited to contact our group through Mr B Sexton, PO Box 904E Earlville Qld 4870.
Paul Armour
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Labor hopes
Martin Gallagher's letter (Echo, Feb 19) deserves a reply. He is right when he outlined the political history of the past two decades; both Page and Richmond have been won by Labor when Labor governments have been returned. And this does seem a great opportunity with Mark Latham's growing momentum and the Coalition's flip flops.
I've put myself forward as a Labor candidate because I feel I have the breadth of experience to represent the electorate and to move us out of a National Party induced hibernation. I look forward to door-knocking the electorate over the next months, giving myself the opportunity of listening to the concerns of the people and to thus representing their hopes in a Latham Labor government.
Kevin Bell
Rosebank
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Bulk billing
GP bulk billing rates in the Page electorate have now dropped to below 50%.
Failure by the Howard Government to fix Medicare and halt the decline in bulk billing rates will hurt it hard in NSW because the rates have dropped significantly in marginal Coalition electorates.
This marginal seat of Page has seen an overall decline in bulk billing; down from 51.5% in 2000 to 46.9% in 2003.
NSW deserves a better deal on Medicare. The Democrats are calling for:
-
A universal $5 increase in bulk-billing rebate for all patients for all services bulk-billed, provided a target is met
-
A universal safety net with one threshold for everyone, and a 3 year sunset clause to examine if costs are increasing in price beyond CPI
-
Additional funding for regions that are medical 'black-holes', and for community multidisciplinary allied health services.
The Democrats have put these proposals to Health Minister Tony Abbott.
The Senate will continue consideration of the Government's Medicare legislation on March 1.
Aden Ridgeway
Australian Democrats
Sydney
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Cloudbursting
Cloud (Echo, Feb 19) attempts to rain on G Wallace's parade, and she tells us a joke that she heard in a café amongst her latte-sipping elitists. Well here's a joke that I heard in a work environment, so you obviously would not have heard this one Cloud.
Did you hear about the do-gooder that worked?
Neither did I.
Cloud likes to bluster, storm and thunder away but this cloud does not have a silver lining - she is just full of wind and hot air. She is about as worrisome as a cloudy day, and in fact, as far as clouds go, she is not even a vapour trail. However, I suppose I would be pissed off with the government/world as well if my parents named me Cloud. Also why is that you never list your last name, is it because it is Cuckooland?
Cloud had her five minutes of fame when she went on a public weight loss programme in the main streets of Kyogle a couple of years ago in support of the hunger striking refugees. Extending her fame by publishing her letters is only making it painful for the rest of us. It was good of your employer to give you a couple of days off to pursue such trivial fantasies, of course if you are on Newstart allowance, someone with high moral values such as yourself would have repaid the money you received when you weren't actually looking for work.
Blow away Cloud.
Tom Murdoch
Lismore
Click here to comment on this
letter.
What a croc
Some people who decide to go to the Northern Territory and go camping by rivers and creeks should know that it is a very dangerous practice. It is a croc's "home" and their territory. So when I hear of a tragedy every now and again I do not have any sympathy or feelings for these silly people.
Norm Reg Turner-Davidson
Goonellabah
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Debt worries
In the Lismore City Council's 2003 Annual Report the council states that it has a "low debt level compared with similar councils". When the disclosed figures are quickly analysed it reveals that the council is committed to paying almost $2 million each year in interest charges. Given that the current trend in interest rates is upwards, this figure can only increase. What is of most concern is that the money borrowed is used to fund poorly prioritised spending proposals or loss producing projects, such as the current pool construction.
From my experience in having to work within stringent financial budgets, I would expect that any funds borrowed be limited to essential projects. The other consideration is that the money spent on servicing unnecessary borrowings could be used to pay for projects that would be of benefit to the whole community, not projects that benefit a limited number of individuals, as is the case in the Skyline Road upgrade.
What is required from any future council is a reduction in borrowings, not a comparison with other councils. This comparison only hides the rue consequences of financial over commitment.
Terry Harvey
Goonellabah
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Never give up
In response to Doug Townsend (Echo, Feb 19)
Doug you and the readers of the Echo, including a 'resident' of North Ballina, write in relation to my claims of lack of enforcement of the NSW Police Service. Firstly you and the readers, as usual, only have half the facts. I have diaries full of questions yet no answers from authorities. All I ask in all fairness is why residents of the area have to put up with constant idiot drivers in North Ballina, as my letter says, and no action had been taken?
These idiots should have been pulled into line by now with heavy fines for speeding. Could you then afford to speed again and lose more points off your licence? I doubt it.
And further, I had only one letter recently from NSW Police and that was only after contacting our local MP. It should never have reached this stage to obtain action. I could go on but I won't, but rest assured I won't give up, as some readers suggest.
Allan O'Neill
Ballina
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Last stand
Thank you Cr David Tomlinson for reminding all of us in Lismore (Echo, Feb 19) that we are days away from the start of a monumental financial blunder (one that we will suffer the repercussions of for years to come). Six individuals (out of a population of over 20,000) have bulldozed through an exceedingly poor decision straight over the top of dissenting council staff, expert consultants, users, facility managers, schools, business groups... and the general community (whom they ignore and dismiss in a cavalier manner); and now intend to bulldoze the memorial baths less than a month before their term of office expires.
I personally feel that when building aquatic facilities, good sense dictates they should have been of regional competition standard (if Lismore really does see itself as the regional capital), on the flood plain of a river that does break its banks frequently, on a site that is patently too small - is foolhardy to say the least. No one I've spoken with agrees with the Council's erratic and ill considered decision.
At times like this the flaws in our democratic system advertise themselves like flashing (faulty) neon signs. A decision of such major (and contentious - witness the constant debate during the life of tis Council) proportions deserved to be put to the vote, and would have been, had not the local government elections been delayed by the State Government. It is disempowering to witness such stupidity, and find one has no way to effectively register dissent. The current Council has made its wish to marginalize and disbar community opinion from decision making very clear from the start of it's term, when it rejected SCU's offer of free research in this area.
It's term has been bedevilled by 'the pool debate' (commencing with the rejections of a joint venture option with SCU - a subtext is blatantly obvious here), and it is gauling that the now notorious 'six pack' must be smugly congratulating themselves that they have left their enduring mark by 'winning' the argument in perpetuity. They will indeed be remembered by a muddy site of broken up memories, cramped and inadequate facilities for future pool users and an extremely unpleasant taste of debt in everyone's mouths. To me that seems an awful loss for Lismore. The 'win' so ruthlessly engineered is for the benefit of six egos only. Not a good balance on the scales of justice.
So, do the rest of us continue to be the silent and unconsidered majority or can we act swiftly and effect change with only days to go the bulldozers will be at the memorial baths on March 3.
With elections so close, and so many candidates, can those standing brainstorm a way to delay this process, so that the voters at least get a chance to make their opinions known? I'm sure their efforts would benefit their campaigns and be very appreciated.
For myself, I'll be thanking the current counsellors who have ensured the frustrations and shenanigans of the current council at the ballot box. Their tenacity and dedication has been impressive.
Liz Gibbs
Eltham
Click here to comment on this
letter.
Save now
When John Howard was spooked into supporting Mark Latham's reforms of the pollie super-rort, that support only extended to getting rid of the rort for newly elected members of parliament.
This means that if we vote out Ian Causley and Larry Anthony at the next Federal election, we will probably save the Australian taxpayer hundreds-of-thousands (if not millions!) of dollars.
What say you?
Mark McDonell
Lismore Heights
- Sorry, you didn't fool us with V Villiam either. - Ed
Click here to comment on this
letter.
|
