LETTERS NOOSATODAY.COM.AU
Golf hazards I used to love playing golf when first coming to Australia in the 1980s and would often go and play 9 holes on the Eumundi Golf course on my own. Sometimes with guys I knew through a business Takeaway we once had at Sunrise Beach in the early 90’s. As for ever taking it serious, that was squashed when ahead in a Saturday morning Social Club seasonal event in the early 90’s I was penalized for an opposing player not removing the flag from the hole on the 17th as I putted for a birdie. Another player in our group second to me in the event. And still today I wouldn’t want him beside me in the trenches if we became low on ammo. Because if it would have to be shared exactly and I was the better shot he would want the last bullet. Just for glory not a team win. So I am sorry to read about Cameron Smith giving up that chance of becoming a winner to go down in history because someone bribed him by blocking the hole on the 18th with money and forever removing his chance of doing it. Ernest Wright, Tewantin
LENSCAPE
Global issues OMG! I’ve just read that Steve Hall and Joy Ringrose “have taught the science behind global warming to countless students” (sic). I hope they’re also informing their students of Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) gas used in the switchgear for wind turbines and electric car batteries to prevent overloads. According to the IPCC this gas is 26,087% more harmful than CO2 and can cause CO2 narcosis and respiratory arrest. They say that the gas has been detected at increasingly higher levels over Germany. Between 2008-2018, annual emissions of SF6 rose by 24%. Oh, and don’t forget to mention to their students where wind turbine blades and solar panels are laid to rest after their useful life; and the fact that the Chinese manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank at $2.4m a pop for an uninstalled wind turbine. Brian Ford, Noosa Heads
Fathers Day joy Fathers Day lunch for us a family of eight with ages ranging from 84 (me the old man) down to the youngest being 5 years of age was spent at the Royal Mail Tewantin. Once again the staff and chef provided excellent food and service. It’s not the first time we have enjoyed their hospitality. Friends alas no longer with us also in the past shared lunchtime Birthday’s meals leaving memories of never to be forgotten service and with never a complaint of any unsatisfactory meals. Ernest Wright, Tewantin
Weather the weather Perhaps a little light relief from whether we must ‘weather the weather what ever the weather whether we like it or not’ or whether CO2 is going to do us in. Last week I received an article from a Kiwi friend with a picture of snow capped moun-
Chris Lofven captured this image of morning light on Noosa National Park last week. If you have a Lenscape please email to newsdesk@noosatoday.com.au
tains and a pristine lake. It was titled ‘Selling off Mother Nature’ by Stephen Andrew MP for Mirani. It says the Rockefeller Foundation, New York Stock Exchange, Aberdare Ventures and Inter American Development, announced a new publicly tradable security called Natural Asset Company. It involves governments putting their up their natural assets for sale. In this case part or all of the South Island of New Zealand. Perhaps in our case Mt Kosciuszko or even Noosa. NACs we are told, will unlock $4 quadrillion in natural assets to sell to the richest people in the world. Who will then be able to decide who will be allowed to live, work, visit their property. I asked You Tube by putting in Natural Asset Company and it came up with a logo and The Great Financial Reset. But put both together and more information. I suppose the question is; since governments have failed to intercede for the people regarding the catastrophes of the last two years will any of them help us stop this one. Elizabeth Cameron, Tewantin
Don’t Delay on Climate It’s probably not worth worrying too much about climate deniers, who represent an everdecreasing number of forlorn voices bleating in a wilderness of misinformation and are best ignored. More concerning are the climate delayers – those politicians who offer comforting platitudes about dealing with the climate crisis, but offer too little in the way of concrete action. At the Federal level, we have a govern-
ment thankfully taking some long-overdue steps, timid as they are but clearly insufficient, as shown by its willingness to allow new fossil fuel projects. The Queensland State government is similarly perturbed on the one hand, but remains addicted on the other hand to the revenue generated by coal and gas. Even with our local Council, one of the few to declare a Climate Emergency, the talking runs way ahead of the doing. It’s clear that there needs to be profound changes in the way we operate at all levels of politics, business and society generally. If it’s impossible to implement these changes immediately, at least there could be serious discussion about what this will entail, and recognize that inconvenience to our lives now is preferable to the widespread disruption and appalling suffering that will result if we continue to procrastinate. John Burrows, Lake Macdonald
Climate misinformation Ah, the irony. John Mikkelsen’s letter “Spectacular climate fails” (NT 2 September) could instead be titled “Spectacular factual fails “ because of the errors it contains. Here are the real facts: In the ’70s most climate scientists were not warning we were on the verge of another ice age. During the period 1965 – 1979, 62% of scientific climate studies predicted global warming and 10% predicted cooling. 1. Climate scientist David Viner never did utter the words John attributes to him. This was acknowledged long ago by the originator of the error, The Independent newspaper. 2. In a classical appeal to false experts, three of John’s five climate fails came from non-sci-
entists, which leads me to think he couldn’t find any from climate scientists. The Great Barrier Reef has not recovered. The recent recovery of coral coverage has been due to a few fast-growing pioneer species which are more susceptible to marine heatwaves, crown-of-thorns starfish and cyclones. 3. Like NASA, all climate scientists agree that water vapour is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide and methane. Both NASA and climate scientists understand also that the other greenhouse gases control the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere. Water vapour amplifies the effect of the other gases. That’s because water vapour is condensable at normal earth temperatures and pressure whereas the others are not. 4. There is no contention about whether the 0.04 percent of carbon dioxide in the air can influence climate, just as there’s no contention about whether 0.05 percent of alcohol in the blood can influence driving ability. The “No climate emergency” petition referred to by John indeed had over 1000 signatories. Fewer than 20 of these are climate scientists and of the remainder, over 100 are not scientists at all. Among them are “William Robert Detzner, retired special education teacher, fighter against the continuing reduction of personal freedom” and “Henck van Dijck, Sculptor, designer and innovator”.5 Too many letters on climate to this newspaper promote myths that have long ago been shown to be false. It’s time we saw the last of such misinformation. In this letter, I’ve footnoted references from reliable sources (not climate blogs) to support my claims. May I suggest that other letter writers on the subject be required to do the same? Graham Coghill, Marcus Beach
NEWS NOOSATODAY.COM.AU
New stairs for beach access Coolum residents will soon be stepping down to the beach from a new set of robust timber and aluminium stairs, designed to look and feel similar to the existing set. Work to replace the damaged stairs at beach access 77 is due to begin in October. It comes after erosion earlier in the year revealed wood rot and other structural defects. Sunshine Coast Council Division 9 Councillor Maria Suarez said council worked to keep beach accesses in good condition. “An engineer’s review at beach access 77 32 NOOSA TODAY Friday, 9 September, 2022
stairs showed wood rot had damaged the structure,” Cr Suarez said. “After considering the options, council decided that replacing the stairs with a new aluminium and timber set offered the best value for money. “The new set will be strong, last a long time and require minimal maintenance. “It will still have timber treads and balustrades to keep that coastal texture and feel similar to the beach access 83 at Third Bay. “The beach is an important part of our
Sunshine Coast lifestyle and these designated entry points help to protect the dunes and coastal foreshore areas from erosion and damage. “We thank the community for their patience while we work to restore safe access for our community.” Construction is scheduled to start after school holidays and will be completed in approximately four to five weeks, weatherdependent.
Replacement of damaged stairs at Coolum beach access 77 is due to begin in October.