Letters To The Editor

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Premature pool

Residents will be pleased to have read in the Mayor's column (Echo, Oct 9) that a toddler's pool is apparently now to be included in the design for the replacement of the Memorial Baths. The change of mind is a credit to those community members who demonstrated their concern that the Council intended to provide a facility that did not cater to the needs of our children.

From a Councillor perspective, I am also pleased at this change of mind and, like many people in the community, after four years of dithering by this Council, I look forward to a final decision on what has been a frustrating and ever-changing position. With a better Council, an aquatic centre would be open and operating by now without having to face the prospect of leaving Lismore without a pool for at least part of a swimming season.

The last (majority) Council decision on this issue was to approve the provision of a 51-metre outdoor heated Olympic size pool. Since that decision, the design has been in the hands of a committee of council staff and Crs Baxter, Suffolk and King, and details have been released progressively.

First it is announced that the facility will be a 'first-class swimming facility'. That is what the current DA provides for. Now we are told that it will include a toddlers' pool. Neither of those possibilities reflects the last Council decision and I wonder how legal it is for a committee to go beyond a formal council decision.

Although I understand the Mayor wanting to hose down community concerns, I believe this announcement is premature, just like the previous announcement in regard to the 'first-class swimming facility' was. Until the Council considers and approves a final design to put out for public comment, in the full knowledge of exactly what it entails including the cost implications, such an announcement is at best unwise. It also demonstrates a lack of concern for process as it is the Councillors at Council meetings, not the Mayor, who makes decisions, with the Mayor's role being to explain those decisions and make sure they are implemented, not announce decisions ahead of time.

Cr Ros Irwin
Lismore

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Great Base

Don't we take so much for granted!

Lismore has so much to be thankful for. I had a tick removed from the right side of my head about 12 o'clock Saturday morning and half an hour later I developed a severe rash across my stomach, groin and under the arms. A hot bath didn't ease it at all – so I went to the "out patients" section of the Base Hospital.

They put me straight to bed and started treatment, increasing it when the tongue began to swell – although they were very busy, they checked me quite often always with a smile and pleasant talk. By 9.30pm Saturday night I was allowed to go home, but they made sure I would manage it.

Then early Monday morning I had a phone call from them saying that they were concerned about me. Offering to help in any way – shopping, house help or warm meals. How great that hospital is! We are very fortunate to live in Lismore.

Lois Keep
Lismore

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Doing his block

I read with G Wallace's rather virulent diatribe (Letters to the Editor, Echo, Oct 2) with some amusement. But the only lasting impression I got from it was that he reached his current state of enlightenment when a toilet block fell on him!

Let's hope he makes a full recovery soon!

Will Kemp
Terania Creek

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Water not everywhere

I recently had the pleasure of reading an interesting book of the history of "Bunaw Lbu" (Bonalbo) and was very intrigued with a picture of a calendar for 1949, compliments of the late Sir Earle Page. Included with the calendar was a relief map of the Clarence River water shed showing the potential of this huge water shed if eight dams were built at the Gorge, Jackadery, Nymboyda, Tabulam, Rocky River, Boonoo Boonoo, Maryland and Ebor, with four weirs at Copmanhurst, Newbold and two weirs at Orara. Investigation by the Federal, NSW & QLD governments revealed an estimate of 6 million acre-feet of water could be stored in these reservoirs. Unfortunately as so many such plans, they did not come to fruition, but what a difference if they had, especially in the present climate of our worst droughts in many years.

I have flown over this area, driven to many of the areas mentioned and fossicked, and it is well named "The Big River". Looking at signs of big floods experienced over many thousands of years gives a picture of the potential of this catchment. Watching on TV "Memoirs of Hon. W McMahon" and his opening of Lake Argyle Dam and Catchment in the "top end" of WA, which shows when there is a real will to get things done the result is worth it.

Lake Argyle has a capacity 28 times the volume of Sydney Harbour and touched up every year by the Big Wet. The irrigation system has put sleepy Kununurra on the map as the fruit and vegetable bowl of the north and more flights go in and out per day than at Perth.

I saw it first in 1979 and again in 1987 and the growth in agriculture in that period was beyond comprehension and could be only gauged by flying over the area. Tropical fruits even finding their way to Farmer Charlies in Lismore.

I was told on my 1987 visit that if the overflow was raised 19ft (6 metres) it would more than double the dam's capacity, more than enough to supply Perth, (who badly need a good supply of water) and South Australia. May the day come when the millions of dollars wasted on projects that return nil, will be channelled into piping this precious water to where it is needed most.

L Newton
Lismore

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Overworked

The website www.jobsearch.gov.au is currently having problems with the number of people using the database search function.

Do you think this may be a good measure of unemployment or underemployment when Government-run job search websites are overwhelmed?

Karen Bilson
Lismore

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Travel advice

Your readers might be interested to know the Australian Government has launched a new travel advisory service to help travellers make informed decisions before they choose to travel overseas. In light of recent events including terrorist alerts, the outbreak of SARS and changes to visa conditions in some countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade thought it important for Australians to easily access up-to-date travel information. The service can be accessed on the internet at www. smartraveller.gov.au or by phoning 1300 139 281. Touch screen kiosks will also be installed in international airport terminals throughout Australia. I hope all Australian travellers take advantage of this vital information service before travelling overseas to help ensure a hassle-free trip.

Senator Sandy Macdonald
National Party Senator for NSW

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Laneways alive

The rejuvenation of Lismore CBD laneways is an exciting project of great interest to all the stakeholders- property owners, traders, Lismore City Council and the broader community.

As Robert Prestipina of Vital Places outlined at the public forum on October 8, the revitalisation of a town centre should ensure that the city is a good place for people and business.

I was surprised however when the three options were presented.

Option A was merely the rearrangement of parking in Carrington Street between Eggins and County Lanes, a wider footpath in the northern section of the street and a further beautification of Nesbitt Lane for outdoor dining.

Option B would see the removal of parking in the Carrington Street section described in Option A, a winding road access for delivery vehicles and beautification of the surrounding streetscape and in Nesbitt Lane.

Both these options seem to be fairly simple with the only expected debate from traders at the loss of 25 parking spaces.

Option C, would result in the greatest impact and cost with a four-storey retail, office, residential and car park development on the site bordered by Carrington Street and Eggins, County and Larkin Lanes and equal in size to the current Lismore Square shopping centre. The provision of 140 undercover car parking spaces in competition to the Square is the key factor in this option.

Currently the CBD has 1300 public parking spaces within a 300 metre radius of the very centre of the Block. This compares with 800 at the Square currently and 1200 when extensions are complete.

I find it hard to believe that Lismore needs more parking. If there is a desperate need for downtown undercover parking, a better and cheaper solution may be to erect cover over the Frederick's or Brown's Creek parking areas.

The night before the forum, LCC's Traffic committee met to discuss the traffic congestion in the CBD. A large carpark with access from Keen Street into Larkin Lane would simply exacerbate this problem.

A further disappointment in the plans presented, is the lack of consideration of other uses and beautification of the other lanes in the CBD.

Recently, my sister and niece from Hervey Bay spent a week in Lismore and thought our city was absolutely wonderful. I share their opinion and that most of us do not realise how fortunate we are that we have a block-based city centre with a great mix of retail and other businesses in an increasingly attractive environment.

I'd like to see an end to the unhealthy side of the Block v Square competition and come up with ways to make both places attractive for us all.

I urge the community to call in to the LCC shopfront in Magellan Street to have your say on the options to protect and enhance Lismore's Heart.

Jenny Dowell
Goonellabah

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Good one

Whatever his motivations, Cr Silver deserves some credit for exercising his casting vote in a manner contrary to his deliberative vote and, for the time being, defeating the Tinkerbell Caravan Park redevelopment proposal.

Though the decision itself has paved the way for the likely approval of the project should commencement be deferred for two years. I do not deny the longer term importance of that, and other, project(s) however now was not the time.

On the tenuous assumption that a rescission motion will not be lodged in an attempt to overturn the decision, the situation does beg one important question. That is, what exactly will change between now and in two years time when Tinkerbell will be on the table again?

Demographically, little will change.

What will change most is the composition of the Council.

In March 2004, local councils in NSW will head to the ballot box for the first time since September 1999 and in Ballina Shire the runners are already jostling for position. For those who thought that 1999 was a keenly contested race, the early indications are that 2004 will be a lot more so.

Some current Councillors and would be candidates would be well advised to consider carefully their motives for public office. To those who have a problem with the odd bit of constructive criticism I would quite simply say, please consider another vocation.

Mark Bailey
Watson ACT

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Expensive loo

The growing mess that parades as sewerage 'management' for Evans Head and Woodburn should, in my view, come under the scrutiny of the Auditor General.

Around $1 million of taxpayer money has been spent with precious little effective outcome. Yes, Council is finally getting around to fixing up its leaky pipes, something it should have done years ago, but in terms of finding a genuine environmentally-acceptable solution that sees water and sewerage as part of a whole system, it's light years away.

Council's now talking about dumping partially-treated effluent around the mouth of the Evans River. The Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly EPA) rejected the dumping of the same effluent in the Richmond River. So it's not OK to pollute the Richmond but it is OK to discharge the same stuff at the end of the Evans River. God give me strength to fathom where Council and the DEC are coming from.

Council's flogging Evans Head as a tourist destination while at the same time it's proposing to release effluent off the main surfing beach. This thinking follows the successful pollution of Salty Lagoon by effluent from the antiquated STP, a process that continues in spite of 'no proof' answers from Council's 'strategic planner' Ray Medhurst. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, Mr Medhurst. And why is there no monitoring process? Where is the duty of care?

Council just doesn't get it when it comes to understanding water as a system. We are buying precious water from the dwindling supplies of Rous (remember the recent severe restrictions) and then we're going to flush it into the sea and spread it on playing fields. Hello?! Talk about throwing money down the drain!

Council's paid various consultants to manage this problem. What's the basis of the contract between Council and consultants, and how much has been paid so far? What performance criteria have been set for consultants, and what mechanisms are in place to guarantee that advice is independent and meets current 'best practice' standards?

These and other questions require public answers. They can't be buried in the secrecy of 'commercial-in-confidence', the hallmark of local government 'accountability' these days.

And the Auditor General needs to examine the books for what in my view is a serious waste of taxpayer funds. Where is the return on our million dollar investment?

Dr Richard Gates
Evans Head

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Help refugees

Lismore Rural Australians for Refugees, RAR, sent $800 to the Port Augusta RAR group recently.

This directly helps the men, women and kids in the Baxter Detention Centre, otherwise known as the 'Hell Hole.'

Thanks to those who came to the recent performances of Refugitive in Byron Bay and Lismore. Your support helped Saheen the actor and playwright who is still only on a Temporary Protection Visa. Oh, how the Iranian fascist Mullas would love to get their hands on him. On a personal note Shaeen was very happy with the venues in Lismore and Byron, not least because he had dressing rooms. It was the first time since he left Iran that he had performed in proper theatres, with dressing rooms. This small thing was another step in his journey of healing.

Your support also helps people in detention, and those on Bridging Visas who are not allowed to work and who receive NO government assistance. We are also sending $300 each to the Refugee Claimants Centre in Brisbane to help people suffering like this, and to the Ramero Centre in Brisbane who are helping a large group of people just released from Naru, and that disgrace called The Pacific Solution.

Some of the money sent to Pt Augusta RAR also helps people when they first leave detention. It also helps with fares, food and accommodation for families of people still in detention who have to trek the many hundreds of kilometres out from Adelaide to visit there loved ones still held captive by our government.

If you want to help come to our next fundraiser.

We are screening of the French film Chaos on Sunday, October 19, at 4.30pm at Cinema Lismore. Or you can Deposit donations in our Summerland Credit Union S1 Acc. 'RAR Fair Go'. Member Number. 55112.

Direct debit from your bank using above info PLUS this BSB number 802222.

Or send cheques made out to RAR Fair Go, to RAR care John Allan, 346 The Channon Rd. The Channon 2480.

John Allan
The Channon

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Cannabis con

It's not unexpected that drug users and their lobby groups will use any means to justify their own actions. Despite the wide recognition of the harms of marijuana there are still groups stuck in the past calling for its legalised wider use.

Their persistence with misleading claims targeting the seriously ill, show no compunction despite every reputable study on the issue concluding that whole plant marijuana has no place in modern medicine.

HIV patients who smoke pot tend to develop AIDS and die faster than those who do not.

Symptoms of the seriously ill are further complicated by use of whole plant cannabis either smoked or ingested, causing cancers, mental depression and immune system depression, worsening their conditions.

Among the many warnings against whole plant marijuana use, Goodman and Gilman, in the accepted "Bible" of pharmacology on cannabis state; "The effect sought by the user is the 'high'. Several medicinal effects have been described ..(which)..... come at the cost of the psychoactive effects that often impair normal activities. Thus there is no clear advantage of marijuana over conventional treatments for any of these indications."

There is no safe level of use of Marijuana. Marijuana is not medicine.

Michael D. Robinson
Executive Director
Drug Free Australia Ltd

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