Letters CSG tactics
To those readers given the impression by the front page story in last week’s Echo (‘Activists target Metgasco shareholders’) that I had somehow threatened an anti-CSG campaigner, nothing could be further from the truth. In this case, the gentleman in question, Michael Qualmann of Lismore, went to extraordinary lengths to obtain the names and addresses of shareholders in Metgasco, a company in which my super fund has held shares. Mr Qualmann then wrote a letter to shareholders advocating that we abandon our shareholdings in the company because of the actions that he and his fellow activists were about to inflict on the company. When you get an unsolicited letter via post, containing what is essentially a threatening and intimidatory message, even if couched in apparently friendly language, it’s not an unusual reaction to first of all look up the phone directory to see if the person really exists and secondly ring them up to see if they actually penned the letter sent in their name. In this case I did both. In the subsequent telephone discussion, I made the very valid point to Mr Qualmann that those using such tactics have to be extremely careful not to seek to influence the stock market by unlawful means. Mr Qualmann appears to be a man of means, a Lismore energy business owner and probably a property owner. I simply made the point to him
Parks boss responds to Bruns concerns I refer to incorrect statements made in The Echo on February 4 in relation to the draft plans of management for the Brunswick Heads Holiday Parks. Responses to some of the matters concerning the Trust are provided below. Additional information in response to issues raised in the media is available on the Trust’s website. The draft plans currently on exhibition do not remove any foreshore land from public use. The draft plans of management permanently preserve the existing public accesses along the foreshore at both Ferry Reserve and Massey Greene. Public access through the Terrace Reserve Holiday Park will be maintained for those who want to continue to walk through the holiday park as they currently can, subject to normal responsi-
ble restrictions to ensure the safety, welfare and security of guests and other users of the reserve. Submissions received to date support access being provided for longer hours throughout the year and these requests, as with all submissions, will be given serious consideration. The draft plan of management for Ferry Reserve specifically authorises the ongoing use of the boat ramp by members of the general public. As the boat ramp is on public land, normal responsible conditions of use will apply to ensure the safety, welfare and security of guests and other users of the reserves. Regarding land under lease to the Fishermen’s Coop, there is no development planned for the Co-op’s land. There is a proposal to upgrade an intersection with
the Old Pacific Highway, and to upgrade the road and car parking between the proposed park entry and the small craft launching area. Appropriate approvals would have to be granted by Council and Crown Lands for the proposed works to proceed. The holiday parks have operated under successive licences in full recognition of the setbacks from boundaries and roads. In 2007, Council issued a five-year licence for the holiday parks based on the setbacks that existed at the time, because they complied with the regulations then, as they do today. Exemptions from certain regulations, such as setbacks, are available to all holiday parks in NSW that were in operation prior to 1986. These provisions operate in the same way that a house built prior to 1986 would not com-
that indulging in such tactics was dangerous for a man of his background and he was in effect throwing caution to the winds. To those directing their coward punches at Metgasco: it is a local company with almost 7,000 shareholders, many local. It’s worth a measly $45 million on today’s value and obviously vulnerable to a multinational with an eye on their large proven gas reserves. Metgasco simply wishes to supply much-anticipated power and gas to local industry, in the Casino and SE
Queensland area; the recent state government REF approval is another step along the way. John Vaughan Byron Bay
ignorance (Letters, February 4). Furthermore, despite Cr Woods’s alleged opposition to coal seam gas mining, at the ordinary meeting of Byron Council of November 26, 2012, Cr Woods and her team voted against a motion rejecting the NSW government’s failure to rule out CSG development on productive agricultural land and in sensitive environmental areas, and also calling for the prohibition of CSG exploration or mining on Council-owned land (Res. 12-826). Even more enlightening is Cr Woods’s revelation that she had the ear of senior National Party and Palmer United Party politicians during the
Muddy waters
Rather than respond to the substantive issues surrounding her electoral funding that I raised (specifically her large donation from a mystery Queenslander and her lavish campaign budget that dwarfed all other candidates), Cr Diane Woods chooses to obfuscate and accuse me of
Letters to the Editor Send to Letters Editor Michael McDonald, fax: 6684 1719 email: editor@echo.net.au Deadline: Noon, Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. Letters already published in other papers will not be considered. Please include your full name, address and phone number for verification purposes.
ply, or have to comply, with current building regulations. Byron Shire Council also relies upon these exemptions in the ongoing operation of its holiday parks at Byron Bay and Suffolk Park, as would many privately operated holiday parks that were in operation before 1986.
Louise Sommer MA (Ed.psych) BA (Soc.Ed)
Now consulting in Byron Bay. Specialising in: • Women’s mental health • Crisis Available for weekend appointments • Grief • Eating disorders w www.thesommerinstitute.com.au e thesommerinstitute@outlook.com • Stress
INFORMATION MORNING Tuesday 25 February, 2014 10am to 12 noon • Is family day care the business for you? • Operating a family day care service from your own home can be a very rewarding career choice. • If you would like to learn more about becoming a Family Day Care Educator, Relief Educator or In-Home Care Educator, come along to our information morning.
continued on page 11
THE
The Trust’s responses to media coverage, Byron Shire Council enquiries and Frequently Asked Questions can be found at http://nswchpt. com.au/documents-on-exhibition. Jim Bolger General Manager North Coast Holiday Parks
Phone 6686 7799 for venue details and to confirm your attendance. Accredited Home-based Child Care Service
17 Brunswick Street, Ballina fdcballinabyron.com.au • admin@fdcballinabyron.com.au
RAILS
THE RAILWAY FRIENDLY BAR, BYRON BAY 6685 7662 THE FAMOUS RAILS kitchen Wednesday 12 Feb
OH PEP & ONE UP, TWO DOWN Thursday 13 Feb
RICHIE WILLIAMS Friday 14 Feb
FRANK SULTANA & THE SINISTER KIDS Saturday 15 Feb
BOSSY BIG HEART Sunday 16 Feb
4PM SAMBA BLISSTAS
6.30PM THRILLBILLY STOMP Monday 17 Feb
JON J BRADLEY Tuesday 18 Feb
JAFFER North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
The Byron Shire Echo February 11, 2014 9