Issue 816
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Recent news reports about the proposed transformation of the Lismore Memorial Baths are referring to the new facility as the 'Lismore Aquatic Centre' or words to that effect.
To retain the original concept of these baths, which was a living memorial to those who paid the supreme sacrifice during World War 1, I urge all media outlets, and the Lismore City Council to refer to this new facility as the 'Lismore Memorial Aquatic Centre'.
Lest we forget!
Jim Hawkins
Goonellabah
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Re: Kevin Manning, Rosebank (Echo, Mar 28).
Mr Manning, it is very unfortunate that you are not happy with your purchase of land at Rosebank. If it was the right choice for you then all the matters of concern in your letter to the editor would not be an issue. I have lived in this area my whole life and am proud to call it my home.
Of course some of the best scenic drives can often be on the worst roads. We are after all living in the bush on the outskirts of Lismore and most accept the conditions. If it is dangerous then I am sure you and the locals can present to Council a case for them to answer.
Look at our river you say - well maybe you can volunteer to help with the Wilsons River Project. Feel free to take a look at the proposed plan on display at the Visitor Information Centre or the Lismore Transit Centre. I assure you it is very impressive and includes the repair of the old wharves and new walks around the river.
Nimbin is Nimbin. There are many who are keen to experience the scene, in a similar fashion to Amsterdam, and it belongs to the Lismore area.
Yes, I believe people do get warned for littering, especially in Lismore City, when they are caught in the act. This after all is not a problem that is unique to Lismore.
If you had lived in our area over the past 20 years as I have, you would understand the area's dramatic economic changes.
Take a look at our villages, for example Eltham and The Channon, are they not quaint? Why should the Council hand out free paint and discounted labour to repair old houses? Is it not up to the property owner to see for himself that his real estate is dwindling in value?
Also, did you know that those in town have to pay extra in their rates for sewerage, rubbish pick-up and for every litre of water we use or waste and if you own a business, the charges are even higher again? This again is not unique to Lismore.
Now after all that, how about buying a t-shirt and finding out how you can contribute to making a difference?
Christine Grant
Lismore Backpackers
I'm not surprised about the $10 million (conservative) cost of the aquatic facility at the Memorial Baths site. It was always clear to interested people who had followed the detailed information sought and gained by Council over a number of years that having an aquatic facility that meets the needs of water users today would cost that much.
Detailed costings for both a complex in Goonellabah in 1995, and the joint venture project with the University demonstrated that unequivocally.
Architect, Richard Bzowy, developed a visionary plan for the site, translating the wish list of the Councillors and addressing the needs of current water users. He has done an excellent job and prepared documentation that wasn't required of him to assist Council in seeking grant funding - and he has a sense of humour into the bargain. He deserves congratulations!
There are several tragedies in my opinion - and I don't use this word lightly - in regard to the proposed development of that site. The first is that the site is wrong. Military Road, the old travelling circus site near Ballina Road, or Council's land in Goonellabah would all have been preferable and cheaper in the longterm. And each of those has been rejected by the 6-pack, who are proposing a facility - a huge investment of ratepayers' money - in a floodway next to a flood levee that will be overtopped in the future - it's a matter of time!!! Floods don't just bring water at high velocity in floodways - they bring trees and other heavy objects that can damage whatever is in their paths. Has this Council considered the longterm financial impacts of this? No.
The second tragedy is that unless Council supports funding of at least some enclosed, heated water space the financial burden on residents will be even greater. Apart from funding the cost of building the complex, it will be closed for six months of the year and cost even more on a yearly basis than the current complex does. Unless it supports combined dry and wet spaces, the most common request by potential users according to our current Baths Manager, it will be even less viable - which means more of your money that could be spent on other things.
The third is that if Council had supported a joint venture project with Southern Cross University there would have been benefits for both Lismore and the University. The University, contributing 50% to capital and operational costs (and its huge financial input into Lismore's economy) would have made a substantial commitment to the people of Lismore, reducing the costs to ratepayers by at least half. Mayors in other areas have told me they would die to have a University as a joint venture partner - but this Council kicked them out within four weeks of being elected. By working with the University we would have demonstrated the type of commitment to it that Tweed, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour Councils (to name a few) are only too happy to make.
The fourth is that, unless substantial grant funding is received, the project will develop in stages - and I suspect that Stage 1 - maybe Stage 2 - is all we'll get!! But I guess that all depends on our Mayor and his 6-pack.
The fifth tragedy from my perspective is that this issue has been around for many years - too many - and that arguments to support anything, just to get things moving, will close out the voices of the many people in our community who tell me that this is wrong! Swimmers, business people, ordinary folks like you and me. There is an air of resignation, of trying to work within what is not what Lismore can afford and deserves, but what is only possible with this Council, that has taken over many of us, including me!
We could have done so much better, and although I will continue to work for the best facility and financial outcome for you, I can't help feeling frustrated and sad!
Cr Ros Irwin
Lismore
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Re: Kevin Manning's letter (Echo, Mar 28) 2002.
If you are really so unhappy here then please relocate yourself to make way for someone who is appreciative of this diversely beautiful area.
There must have been sufficient in this region's landscape and amenities to keep you occupied during your three years stay to date. Could you have been so happy and content somewhere else? I have lived on the North Coast for 28 years and see no need to grumble.
We are sorry that we have not taken away from our magnificent natural beauty by carving massive freeways through this landscape to speed up your 'drive in the country'. If you cannot manage to drive your vehicle away from the occasional pot hole along our country roads then you might be better off doing your Sunday drive up and down some nice modern freeways. Or try just sitting at home and seeing the Northern Rivers of NSW being shown on the TV, as it is regularly, by its proud occupants.
Nimbin, it has been said over the 28 years, is a social experiment. The results are there for all visitors to see - like it or not. Nimbin is not a theme park that caters for everyone.
Lismore has, at present, an extremely strong Council that was elected by, and is supported by a majority to divide available funds to the many and varied public facilities that you may like to use. The pool is a good example of Council's strong leadership in re-establishing a central facility that is available and accessible to both locals and visitors. Council has spent much effort in ensuring that the democratic process has been followed in this exercise, and I congratulate our Council for this. There are other developments, which will enhance the attractiveness of Lismore to residents and visitors.
This magnificent area, from coast to rainforest to the spectacular scenic drives in between, and coupled with a warm climate, is already a well known attraction to the Gold Coasters, and to their visitors. I don't think that we need to do more than to welcome the thousands of return visitors, who come travelling through our utopia. How much more central could you be here? We live and work one hour from Byron Bay and other beaches, and a few hours from the Gold Coast and Brisbane, yet we enjoy a country lifestyle.
We could encourage the unhappy few to look elsewhere to pass their time, or perhaps they could participate in the clean up day or contribute towards some other community volunteer exercises.
Rob Allan
Nimbin Candles
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Australia is now the only remaining English-speaking country without draconian anti-terrorist legislation, which curtails civil rights; whether it stays that way will be determined by a Senate vote in May or June.
Eight anti-terrorist Bills recently passed through the House of Representatives with minimal debate, the Opposition and other parties being given 16 hours to examine 100 pages of text plus a further 100 pages of explanatory notes. Seven of the eight Bills are now being reviewed by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee.
In essence, these Bills make such a broad definition of terrorism that picketing, demonstrations and civil disobedience could all be regarded as 'terrorist'. Organisations may be banned with no justification and ASIO will have powers to detain people for 48 hours without a lawyer and without the right to silence. As warrants are renewable, people could be held indefinitely without trial.
The government would also be empowered to intercept a greater range of communications, allowing future governments to spy on political opponents. Further details are at www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/01octasio.htm and elsewhere on the Internet.
I urge everyone to express their opposition to these Bills. People are encouraged to a) write to or email every NSW Senator (for details see www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/homepages/web/si-state.htm) and b) write to or email every ALP Member in NSW. The ALP will be deciding its position on May 13.
The deliberate propagation of fear through films such as Panic Room‚ can be regarded as an attempt to harness irrational forces in support of anti-democratic terrorist laws otherwise unable to withstand critical scrutiny. This movie, which is set in New York, begins with an opening sequence where the camera pans across the city‚s skyscrapers.
Commenting about these Bills, Supreme Court Justice John Dowd, president of the International Commission of Jurists warned the Senate enquiry that under the legislation trivial or minor offences could be regarded as acts of terrorism. Cameron Murphy, president of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties regards it as some of the most insidious legislation Australia has ever seen.
In the 1930s, rumours and murmurings spread around Germany about concentration camps. Compared with the pre-war Germans who lived without the Internet, democracy or relative press freedom, we have less excuses for turning a blind eye to the spreading shadow of totalitarianism, but we do have a window of opportunity to act now, so that in days to come we can look our grandchildren in the eye without flinching.
Martin C. Oliver
Lismore
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The immigration debate has become rather silly. Associating an increase in population with economic or ecological decline ignores the positive contribution that diversity can bring to a culture. The culture that has been dominant in Australian for the past 200 years (so called 'western culture') is extremely wasteful in the way it uses natural resources. This has had devastating effect on our environment.
Those coming from places of poverty can teach us much about the efficient use of limited resources. Our lives can be greatly enriched by accepting that we are not alone in this world. We share it with an amazing array of people and ecosystems. This represents a huge bank of knowledge and resources that can make our culture, not only more enjoyable, but also more sustainable. We cannot let prejudice and short sightedness destroy this opportunity.
David Julian
Lismore
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Crossing two busy roads at Sydney airport where there was no lighting, no pedestrian crossing, dodging the traffic and carrying a heavy bag at 6pm on a Friday night to make a regional connecting flight, may sound like a hazardous journey. Well that it was. Luckily I was not run over, lest I may never have been found.
My journey started in Melbourne and the destination was Lismore. One can only feel safe in the air with two reputable airlines, namely Qantas and Hazelton, but on the ground it is a different story.
Having arrived at Sydney airport and collecting my luggage (you can't book it through I am told) I asked a lady at Qantas check-in how I might get to my connecting flight. When I told her it was Hazelton she gave me directions, but seemed to express some concern as to how difficult this trek could be.
No wonder and there were many witnesses (friendly faces when I arrived at the remote Hazelton terminal) to vouch for my stress on arrival - pale, sweaty and exhausted but pleased to be still alive, I was relieved to receive counselling and empathy from fellow regional travellers.
If we can put on the 2000 Olympics, surely our airport authorities, political leaders and competition watchdogs can do better than this.
Andrew Binns
Goonellabah
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Re: my letter (Echo, Apr 18).
Many thanks for publishing my rather long reply to Rob Jackson, but please handle words with care. Changing Isaiah's (CH)53 to 'Israel' 53 and the Jewish Pasch to 'Pesach' among other curious misprints could be interpreted as a rush job for a deadline, however there was much 'gnashing of teeth' on my part, even though the family were amused, when my statement 'It wouldn't be difficult to find someone more learned than I' became 'It would be difficult to find someone etc' - pul-leese!
Perhaps RJ's block printed and highlighted letter with the bold headline 'Who is Jesus Anyway' on April 11th contained similar blunders and we are actually in agreement on a number of points. As Oscar Wilde once commented 'a writer can survive anything but a misprint'.
Mary B Mason
Lismore Heights
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Re Mary Mason's letter (Echo, Apr 18).
Mary you tried to answer Rob Jackson's questions 'Who was this Jesus anyway?' from the apologist writings of the Christian camp.
I agree with you that a Christian monk Dionysius Exiguus 6th century CE (common era), fixed the date of the birth of Jesus in the year of Rome 753, Jesus first birthday for example would be 1 AD (Anno Domini) or 1 CE
Many centuries later, religious scholars had found that some of the dates of Roman history in early Christian era, cannot be reconciled with what has been recorded in New Testament writings. Such as, when Herod the Great (73 - 4 BCE) reigned as King of Judea (37 - 4 BCE) ordered the 'Massacre of the Innocents.' See Matthew.2:16.
No other gospel writer mentions this massacre, and it is now generally regarded as being false. Herod the Great had already been dead four years before the supposed birth of Jesus, as calculated by Dionysius Exiguus. This created a serious problem with the Gospel of Matthew, and the easiest way to resolve this predicament was for these scholars to move the birth date of Jesus back to 4 or 5 BCE, just prior to Herod's death. The main scholars point to James Ussher 1581-1656, Irish church dignitary, Anglican scholar. Ussher had numerous writings, most important being 'Annals of the World.' 1650-1654. These writings establish his biblical chronology with the creation being fixed at 4004 BCE. This date is widely accepted by the church and is included in the page margins of many editions and versions of the bible.
Question. Is the creation of the earth and its people only 6006 years old? Or is this another myth?
The dates of the supposed Jesus' birth, are in contradiction to the Gospel of Luke. When Mary (about to give birth) and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem the Census ordered by Quirinius was being taken. New Testament writings give no dates for this census, but according to the historian of the day, Josephus, it can be calculated out that the Census took place in 6 CE, a decade after Herod's death. Makes one wonder where the truth lies? It's certainly not in the Bible.
Jim Lee
Alstonville
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Re: Mungo MacCallum (Echo, Feb 7).
In response to the proposed rise in premiums by the private health funds, MacCallum blames Prime Minister Howard whom he informs us has 'spent most of his time in office shovelling our money at the bludgers'. I am not too sure how much of Mungo's money was involved in this process as he like Mr Keating, Mr Beasley's daughter and others of this ideology are, despite the considerable incentives of the Howard Government, not disposed to lighten the burden on the public system by joining a fund and utilising the private system.
The Australian public since the advent of Medicare have been very significant misled by the likes of MacCallum who have forgotten that the genuinely poor and indigent are those most in need of the public system while those who can afford to do so could make some contribution to the health budget to relieve the public system. The Medicare levy, even if it were to be doubled, will sadly remain a mere drop in the bucket in terms of covering Australia's health needs. It should be obvious that there will be some need for both uninsured and insured patients to utilise A & E Departments, highly specialised units and intensive care and this fact should not be used as a club to beat the private system which cannot always provide these services. Many of those 'young and healthy' that he refers to have bitterly regretted their departure from the private health funds when confronted with the need for obstetric or orthopaedic services and their confrontation with the reality if the public system and its inability to meet their expectations. Those who have made the sacrifice to stay in health funds or who have accepted the Government incentives to join so that they can ensure that their family gets the best care available and have a one to one relationship with and a choice of doctor while taking the pressure off the public system are branded by MacCallum as 'mugs, elitists and bludgers'.
As there seems to be genuine confusion in Australia today about real battlers and bludgers I would like to offer an example of what a real bludger might be. A real bludger might, on recovering from the previous day's hangover make his way yet again to the Brunswick Heads Hotel and spend a good part of the day under the palm tree in the beer-garden consuming schooners and encouraging other Australians to follow his lead. Now that would be an example of a real bludger!!
B T O'Sullivan
Lismore Heights
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In reply to the assertion of G. Wallace of South Lismore that scumbag coward Howard is the best PM - he would be either old and senile or young and gullible and would not know the time of day. He has a long way to go and a lot to learn.
Norm Reg Turner Davidson
Goonellabah
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The Federal Government's new anti-terrorist bills will transform Australia into a fascist police state.
These laws have attracted unprecedented opposition from community groups who have studied their implications, and from Australia's finest legal experts, who all conclude they are heavy-handed and draconian, and an unprecedented attack on our fundamental civil liberties.
Using the so-called war on terror as a pretext for these laws is a transparent fraud, for a number of reasons:
First, the Government was passing equally sinister legislation well before Sep 11, namely the 2000 Aid to Civillian Authorities Act (aka the Shoot-to-kill bill), which allowed the Australian military to shoot to kill Australian citizens.
Secondly, Sep 11 could not have been an external act against the US, but the scale of it points to the complicity of what US Presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche has identified as 'rogue elements' inside the US military and intelligence apparatus, who have since used it as the pretext to hijack US foreign policy and wage a 'Clash of Civilisations'.
Thirdly, both the war on terrorism, and the Government's police state agenda, have been driven by the accelerating collapse of the global economy, which is the result of the complete failure of the globalist policies championed by the Australian, British and US Governments. They are now pushing for war in a desperate bid to maintain their power.
The atrocities being committed by Ariel Sharon in Israel against Palestinians, with the support of the US and Australia, shows the real agenda of those promoting the 'war on terrorism'.
The only true path to peace is through economic development. I urge everyone to contact their federal MP, and demand these laws be thrown out.
Angela Griffiths
Kyogle
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The cost of rented premises in Lismore has greatly spiralled within the last 12 months, leaving accommodation for pensioners and unemployed, low-income workers aghast at what is available within their means - mostly run down houses/units/flats, some badly in need of repairs, and the owners and the agents unwilling to carry them out!
In some places, owners can ill afford to own and expect tenants to carry out repairs at their own cost! Regular inspections by agents mean nothing, they see what they want to and so do the owners.
Checks on complaint books in real estate agents, which should be regularly inspected, along with premises rented - not just left up to the tenant to pursue these people through the Residential Tribunal to gain a reasonable standard of accommodation.
The Dept of Fair Trading needs to lift their game, and so do the others. A 'criteria' needs to be put in place to stop such places being rented until the proper repairs/maintenance has been duly carried out.
A cap on rental prices to suit such, its only greed not inflation! Those tenants who complain are put in a database, unbeknownst to them, so when their lease expires, they find it hard to acquire another property. They are called 'Unmanageable tenants', thanks to your friendly real estate agents or some owners. While some tenants deserve it, most don't. Check it out.
W. Nelson
Goonellabah
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