The candidates are:

• Cheryl Tonkin
• Mark Freeman
• Jenny Jensen
• Nick Djeric

Their responses mainly take the form of answers to questions posed by the regional environmental group CAFNEC in a questionnaire sent to all local government candidates in the region. CAFNEC presents  responses it received from Tablelands Regional Council candidates here.

Most candidates chose to add a personal statement to their responses.

Although limited by time, we asked three additional questions of the Division 8 candidates:

1. What is your view on the proposed Welcome Pocket Development and what would you do about it if elected?
2. Will you help advocate for rigorous testing of  the Barron river- both the drinking water supply for Kuranda and Mareeba and the river water for environmental quality- especially with regard to pesticides and heavy metals? And would you publish these results on the TRC website and /or make the results publicly accessible in some other way?
3. Do you support or oppose fluoridation and what would you do about this issue if elected?

Responses to these questions, where provided, are at the base of the entry for each candidate.

Mayoral Election

Voters in Kuranda are also entitled to vote in the election for Mayor of the Tablelands Regional Council. There are two candidates: the current Mayor Tom Gilmore and Rosa Lee Long (formerly State MP for The Tablelands).

CAFNEC has recorded Tom Gilmore’s response to the CAFNEC quetionnaire is on this page.

As far as we’re aware, Rosa Lee Long did not submit a response.

In the run-up to the forthcoming local government elections on April 28th 2012, FoE Kuranda received the folowing correspondence from Mark Freeman re his environmental policies.

Other candidates have also submitted material to us – see Mark Freeman, Jenny Jensen and Cheryl Tonkin.

Nick’s material is his questionnaire response to a survey of candidates’ views conducted by the Cairns & Far North Environment Centre. He opens with a statement of his own:

___________________________________________

Thanks for including me in your survey. I can’t promise all of my responses will meet with your approval. All I can do is answer according to what I know and believe. Honesty is always the best policy, you don’t have to remember so much that way.

I also appreciate you recycling a recycled envelope and using both sides of the paper for the survey.

I was raised on a farm on the scenic Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia and have always held a strong interest in science and nature. A ‘successful’ farmer in my mind was an original conservationist, looking after their environment so in turn the environment looked after them. Without sounding too ‘Hokey’, it was my Grandmother who was the source of much of my environmental leanings. She was an avid field naturalist, member of the National Trust and the most talented gardener, right up until she died. I spent most of my childhood with her and still miss her dearly to this day. In fact, I literally shovelled shit (from under the shearing shed) for her marvellous garden in exchange for her funding for my formal education.

She would shake her head in disappointment when a neighbouring farmer would do a wholesale clearing of an entire paddock and wonder why the ground soured. I also understand the economic pressures that have seen the rural landscape change dramatically. ’Get big or get out’ were the only options many were faced with. Diversification was a last ditch effort by a few who refused to comply and met with varying success, e.g. Ostriches.

Balance with nature is what we should be striving to achieve, and I applaud your efforts in this direction. I have currently begun research into the Hemp growing trials around Mareeba. This crop alsone could prove to be more profitable, create employment and ultimately less damaging to our environment.

Ok, enough of that, here are my responses.

1/ Would you support rates incentives for biodiversity conservation?

Yes

2/ Would you support rates incentives for sustainable building design?

Yes. I am amazed this has not already happened. I guess that is indicative of a distinct lack of true statesmen (who think of the next generation) and an oversupply of politicians (thinking only of the next election).

3/ Will you ensure that all new renewable energy developments which are approved in the Council area have no significant impacts on the natural environment and meet national standards for best practice (such as the EPHC National Windfarm Development Guidelines)?

Yes. I would even go as far as saying that although wind farms are a better alternative than coal fired power generation, but they too are not without significant environmental costs. Please refer to the following articles regarding the mining of neodymium used for producing wind turbines.
- http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/05/clean-energy-apos-s-dirty-little-secret/7377/
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1350811/In-China-true-cost-Britains-clean-green-wind-power-experiment-Pollution-disastrous-scale.html

My Father was born in the same village as Nikola Tesla, I was actually named after him. I have a very strong interest in environmentally sound methods of energy production and transmission. I’d love to see a waste to energy plan at least considered. Tesla’s vision was one of free energy, from the Earthfor all humanity. He actually built the Niagara Falls power station with George Westinghouse. You can imagine how this vision went down with the likes of investment bankers and industrialists like JP Morgan and his ilk.  I think this sums it up for me.

“We have many a monument of past ages; we have the palaces and pyramids, the temples of the Greek and the cathedrals of Christendom. In them is exemplified the power of men, the greatness of nations, the love of art and religious devotion. But the monument at Niagara has something of its own, more in accord with our present thoughts and tendencies. It is a monument worthy of our scientific age, a true monument of enlightenment and of peace. It signifies the subjugation of natural forces to the service of man, the discontinuance of barbarous methods, the relieving of millions from want and suffering”
– Nikola Tesla’s speech at the opening ceremony of the hydroelectric power station, January 12, 1897.

4/ Will you seek to ensure the improvement of public transport and bicycle infrastructure in the region?

Absolutely.

5/ Will you seek to prepare and implement a Climate Change Strategy for the Council area?.

Brace yourself! I can almost guarantee this is where I lose you. My intention is not to convince or convert but simply express my own personal views regarding the question posed.

My Stepfather was a geologist. I was fortunate to learn from some of his experience and later studying the subject for myself.

Consequently, I am well aware of the scientific relationship between the Earth and its atmosphere in an historical context. One of my teachers explained geological time graphically as a roll of toilet paper,  mankind’s time on Earth would barely take up the end perforation on the very last sheet. I have seen core samples that indicate polar shifts that produce cataclysmic consequences, such as the event that
saw the Beresovka mammoth that was found frozen in the Siberian ice with grass still in its mouth and stomach.

I am a firm believer in ‘climate change’. It is indisputable, the Earth’s climate has seen many changes throughout time. Believing we are the cause is, I feel, overestimating our abilities in relation to Mother Nature’s. This is not to say that we should continue wholesale harvesting of our oceans and land, largely for the profit and gain of a select few. Quite the opposite. Almost every native and ancient people, the World over, have historically claimed a unique and harmonious relationship with the Earth as the core of their beliefs. The true indigenous cultures never claimed to own the land, they were owned by the land. It saddens me deeply when I hear of another Native Title Land Claim being processed, all so they can ‘benefit’ from the mining royalties it brings them. If you are asking me, this is the true ‘white man’s curse’.

We have, at large, become such a wasteful ignorant society. None of us are totally without blame in this regard, myself included. It almost feels as if we have been painted (or painted ourselves) into a corner. Corporations are no longer interested in producing superior or more durable products, only cheaper ones, in order to maximise profits and maintain sales. Take the light bulb for an example.
“The light bulb conspiracy” is about the negative effects of consumerism and planned obsolescence. This theory that the leading manufacturers of incandescent light bulbs have conspired to keep the lifetime of their bulbs far below their real technological capabilities. This way, they ensure the continuous demand for more bulbs and hence, long-term profit for themselves. It’s hardly a revelation or conspiracy. The practise of degrading products for increased profit is a common strategy employed by many corporations. The Earth is in fact cooling, as many kindly acknowledge by no longer using the incorrect term ‘Global Warming’, conveniently replacing it with ‘Climate Change’.

Which leads us down the path of the CARBON TAX! (Yes, capitals for dramatic effect.) It is such a HUGE concern. So huge that surprisingly few people are actually aware that CO2 comprises an equally ‘huge’ 0.03% of the Earth’s atmosphere. If you subscribe to anthropomorphic climate change, that contributes to about 0.003% of the 0.03%. That being the case, if mankind and indeed all of our damaging behaviours was wiped from the face of the Earth, there would be precious little difference made to the overall CO2 levels. The same is true with the Carbon Tax, even if it is 100% effective, it changes virtually nothing apart from the profits of the carbon traders (Al Gore and failed Ernon executives, Rothschild Australia and E3 International), who are obviously the biggest driving force behind its introduction. It sends the message of  ‘emit as much carbon as you can possibly afford’.

Surely you would have to question Gore’s own belief in rising sea levels and his Montecito seaside property purchase. In conclusion, it is with a clear conscience, that I have quite possibly lost a great many votes, my integrity is still intact. I can only hope that my refreshingly honest approach must, at least, garner some respect, as I respect the wonderful ideals your group hold true. I think it was Voltaire who said ‘I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it’.

6/ Do you support the implementation of biodiversity community education by Council and support the protection of threatened species (including flying foxes) from urban development?

Yes. I had no idea that flying foxes were such a problem for some people. It reminds me of a friend who moved to Kuranda and was overtaken by the beauty of the birds living in a tree beside his house. He would sometimes leave bread crusts on his balcony so me might get a closer look and appreciate them even more. The next time I visited him, his thoughts on them had changed drastically, as they had taken over his balcony in such numbers that I had to agree, he had a problem. His problem was simply feeding them in the first place. Coming from a place of almost complete ignorance, on the subject of flying foxes, I can only speculate that any purported ‘problems’ or distress to people may be related to food source, or lack thereof outside urban areas. I could very well benefit from any such education, as I am already particularly fond of all wildlife.

7/ Are you supportive of the inclusion of regional greenhouse gas reduction strategies and targets within an appropriate statutory instrument, such as the Council’s local area plan or Corporate Plan?

Sorry…..please refer to my response to Q5.

8/ Will you work to ensure that wildlife corridors identified in the FNQ Regional Plan 2009-2031, are embedded in development assessment and environmental planning processes?

Yes.

9/ Will you ensure that your Council works with other partners (such as Landcare and Natural Resource Management bodies) to manage both current and emerging biosecurity threats (e.g. Myrtle Rust, tramp and electric ants, tilapia, pigs etc)?

Yes.

10/ Will you ensure that cyclone and flood recovery operations are managed according to an environmental code that protects biodiversity and habitat values?

Yes.

________________________________________________

Additional Questions to candidates submitted by FoE Kuranda on 24th April 2012

a/ What is your view on the proposed Welcome Pocket Development and what would you do about it if elected?

While it is important to have affordable accommodation and aged care, Welcome Pocket is in the wrong place and is not central enough. It would also result in an increased volume of traffic for local residents who have moved out of town for peace and quiet.

b/ Will you help advocate for rigorous testing of  the Barron river- both the drinking water supply for Kuranda and Mareeba and the river water for environmental quality- especially with regard to pesticides and heavy metals? And would you publish these results on the TRC website and /or make the results publicly accessible in some other way?

Absolutely yes- I care about this as much as you do. I would have the Barron river tested every kilometre from the source to its mouth and publish the results on the website.

c/ Do you support or oppose fluoridation and what would you do about this issue if elected?

I oppose it totally and would work to prevent it.

In the run-up to the forthcoming local government elections on April 28th 2012, FoE Kuranda received the folowing correspondence from Mark Freeman re his environmental policies.

Other candidates have also submitted material to us – see Jenny Jensen, Cheryl Tonkin and Nick Djeric.

Mark’s material is his questionnaire response to a survey of candidates’ views conducted by the Cairns & Far North Environment Centre. He opens with a statement of his own:

__________________________________________

Below is the response to the CAFNEC questions. They don’t really ask the right questions to derive an opinion of environmental attitude. Therefore I append the following comments.

I suppose that I could be considered an environmental Cynic, but I mean that in the Greek meaning, and not the modern. For example, with climate change, I think we probably passed a serious tipping point at about 360 ppm. We are now in the 390?s and going higher. 500 ppm is far too high. What most people do not realise is that even is we were able to stop all CO2 emissions immediately – it may start to cool in 3-4000 years.  In 1976 I stated to an audience that I expected to Cairns to be flooded due to oceanic rise within my lifetime. Well, I was probably wrong but only by a generation. I think that the Canadian Islands, and West Antarctica, and southern Greenland ice shields are gone, but not in the lifetimes of you or me, or my grand-children. But they are gone.

Habitat conservation is another of my little hobby-horses. The sad news is that we can no longer maintain habitat by closing it off and walking away. The recent example of hairy nosed wombats dying of what is essentially cirrhosis caused by introduced small woody and mildly toxic shrubs shows the way. If we are going to maintain habitat – it must be managed – and actively managed.

One of the most stupid proposals I see at the moment is fracking in the Galilee Basin and the Great Artesian Basin. The water in these essential basins moves so slowly that if our chemicals ruin them – we are talking in terms of 3 – 10 million years. It won’t worry our children – but it is very short-sighted; and almost criminally stupid.

I suppose that you could say that I am an ardent environmentalist where the actions and conclusion are scientifically based. I find the ‘feel good’ environmentalism non-productive and dangerous. I don’t believe that we can hope to save a small part of this planet (like Australia for instance) unless we manage it and very closely. I don’t have a problem with high energy use, only with the way the energy is derived. There are technological solutions but we have to be prepared to pay for them. Paying means taking a small living standard hit.

In essence – we have buggered it so we have to fix it up; and to do that right we have to think and study and use all of the care that we previously haven’t.

Mark Freeman.

TABLELANDS REGIONAL COUNCIL

1/ Would you support rates incentives for biodiversity conservation?

Yes

Comments:  I support assistance where landholders are required, or voluntarily, set aside land for biodiversity conservation. However, I would limit the amount applied to guard against conservation for tax evasion and future capital gain. As with everything, the devil is in the detail.

2/ Would you support rates incentives for sustainable building design?

Maybe

Comments: Really, your question does not have sufficient details to answer. Your question could relate to a home of timber construction (answer would be no) or perhaps Community Commons tenure where the answer is maybe. If you tell me the situation, I will try to answer.

3/ Will you ensure that all new renewable energy developments which are approved in the Council area have no significant impacts on the natural environment and meet national standards for best practice (such as the EPHC National Windfarm Development Guidelines)?

Yes (mostly)

Comments: All energy developments, renewable or otherwise, have an impact on the natural environment. They also have an impact on nearby residents. It is often a case of “I want this wind farm, but not here”. I believe that the Tablelands Region would be the most sustainable energy producing shire in Queensland. That is largely as a result of location. It also depends on your definition of significant. If, for example, 5 hectares of rainforest of no major note needed to be cleared to allow for the erection of a set of wind turbine towers, but would then be allowed to regenerate below the towers, I would probably support it. It would be an initial significant impact, but a long term minor impact. It would be a sad proposal that didn’t meet the EPHC guidelines.

4/ Will you seek to ensure the improvement of public transport and bicycle infrastructure in the region?

Yes

Comments Most townships on the Tablelands have bicycle infrastructure where such needs are obvious. e.g. Kuranda School bike path. If a need becomes obvious, then I will support it. This is really a question better aimed at Cairns candidates.

5/ Will you seek to prepare and implement a Climate Change Strategy for the Council area?

Yes

Comments: If I have my way, the Council will place careful consideration into climate Change considerations. This is not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it will save money and makes the Tablelands a better place to live – it is already pretty good

6/ Do you support the implementation of biodiversity community education by Council and support the protection of threatened species (including flying foxes) from urban development?

Yes

Comments It is not really Council’s role to embark on education programmes. That would probably be better handled by Cafnet, with council support. On occasions Kuranda has a flying fox colony, and we like them. I always support the protection of endangered species, unless I am swimming with a salt water croc.

7/ Are you supportive of the inclusion of regional greenhouse gas reduction strategies and targets within an appropriate statutory instrument, such as the Council’s local area plan or Corporate Plan?

Yes

Comments But probably not yet. We are going to need to see how the carbon tax implements and also how the change from tax to cap and trade eventuates. I think that by that time (3-5 years) a regional target will be set on councils by higher governments.

8/ Will you work to ensure that wildlife corridors identified in the FNQ Regional Plan 2009-2031, are embedded in development assessment and environmental planning processes?

Yes

9/ Will you ensure that your Council works with other partners (such as Landcare and Natural Resource Management bodies) to manage both current and emerging biosecurity threats (e.g. Myrtle Rust, tramp and electric ants, tilapia, pigs etc)?

Yes

10/ Will you ensure that cyclone and flood recovery operations are managed according to an environmental code that protects biodiversity and habitat values?

Yes

Comments: This question is not really relevant to a Tablelands situation in respect of flooding. Our rivers flood regularly and it is an integral part of habitat cycle. I don’t intend to interrupt that. Most non-urban cyclone damage will fix itself up as it has for millions of years. Cyclones are how the rainforest gets rid of its big, old non-productive trees and that is best left alone.

________________________________________

Additional Questions to candidates submitted by FoE Kuranda on 24th April 2012

a/ What is your view on the proposed Welcome Pocket Development and what would you do about it if elected?

The Welcome Pocket development still has several hoops to get through, some of which are based on environmental issues. The adjacent wildlife corridor is one issue that needs close scrutiny. I do not believe that these remaining issues are not able to be overcome – but I must wait and see. If the full development as first proposed (Village, home, nursing facility, 2 schools, old age residential) – I think that would become very difficult.

However, on a general principal, I support the Welcome Pocket development because this town desperately needs old age residential and nursing care where our elderly can be tended in their hometown, close to their family and their friends.

b/ Will you help advocate for rigorous testing of  the Barron river- both the drinking water supply for Kuranda and Mareeba and the river water for environmental quality- especially with regard to pesticides and heavy metals? And would you publish these results on the TRC website and /or make the results publicly accessible in some other way?

I have been concerned for many years about the water quality in Kuranda and Bilwon / Biboohra. The septic systems presently in the Anzac Avenue and Hastings Drive area are basically built on sand. This means the septic outflows go directly into the Barron River. The area around is sewered and this must be extended into the older part of eastern Mareeba. This is very important for the residents of Bilwon and Koah where river water is often used for general (not drinking) use.

Kuranda is a difficult situation. Essentially it is located on an artificial lake where tertiary sewerage is released into the lake and drinking water is also taken from the same lake. A local water scientist tells me that there are no problems, but I have some serious doubts. It is true that the effluent released is warmer and as such forms a thermal layer above the lake. It is also true that the intake is fairly deep. However, in winter, the topmost layer gets much colder – and sinks. I have been told on three occasions that there is no problem, and there may not be a problem – but it is going to get some very close scrutiny if I am elected.

Test results are public documents and are available. They should be available now. Pesticide residues are unlikely to be a major problem considering the main catchment area and the rainfall levels. To be honest you would probably get more pesticide residue shaking hands with someone in the evening that had sprayed a mosquito in the morning; but we can check.

It is almost certain that there are comparatively high levels of a few heavy metals considering the geomorphology of the catchment. I haven’t seen the figures but I would guess that tin, gold and arsenic are all comparatively high. That is not necessarily dangerous.

I would think that a rigorous test be done twice a year (they cost lots); weekly scan tests and daily bacterial counts.

c/ Do you support or oppose fluoridation and what would you do about this issue if elected?

I am open to have my opinion changed but at present I am in favour of fluoridation. All the opponents have to do is present me with some sound proof (as opposed to emotive unsound speculation) to change my mind. If there are new studies and papers, double blind based, done by qualified teams – I am keen to look at them, and maybe change my mind. If it is still only histrionics – well the health of children based on scientific study gets the call. There is a lot of emotive claptrap about this issue, on both sides. The call of fluoride toothpaste really doesn’t mean anything unless you swallow your toothpaste. I don’t. The cry of compulsory medication really doesn’t get me either. Do we really want to go back to non-iodised salt where children in Central Australia suffered a 10 – 20% IQ hit because of very small trace content in the environment? Do we really want to have the children in central Queensland unable to walk without pain due to Barcoo Rot because of tin deficiency. I would rather have fit kids and a bit of compulsory medication than sick and some dying kids that leaves my principals untarnished? I give the answer that I sent to Louise Cross in Malanda.

I have spent a considerable amount of effort on this question about 4 years ago. There was a vast amount of conflicting information, so I went into my usual process when faced with this type of dilemma. I ignored all studies that were not double blind based and all studies from investigators without applicable qualifications. There were surprisingly few papers left, considering the amount of noise generated on both sides. From memory there was less than 20, and half of those were relatively small.

All of the larger studies left were supportive of fluoridation in small intake with the major benefit being subsequent illness mitigation (especially heart, liver and intestinal tract) in adults over 50 caused by background infection from severe caries engendered in youth. There was also a considerable mitigation of infection based childhood illness necessitating hospitalisation.

I also stress that we are dealing with State legislation, over which the Council has no control. Council must obey the laws of the land.

I understand your opposition to fluoridisation, but you would have to show me some strong, double blind, qualified papers to change my viewpoint. Just give me the Google Scholar reference.

I also suggest an osmotic filter, or a tank. I have a tank.

Sadly, I have sent the above response to about 25 questionnaires over the past 3 weeks – and I haven’t received a single paper reference, not even a reference to a paper that didn’t stand up to scrutiny. Why not?

Synopsis.

If the environmental movement is to have any credibility at all, and it has a lot and has my ardent support – it must be based on sound scientific principals and study. If we do it entirely; or even partially on emotion; many will feel good as they lose the debate. We are in really serious trouble on this small planet, and we need all of the smarts we can muster to keep it the best small planet we and our fellow life forms can live on. We don’t have any alternatives.

With a bit of luck, and a lot of study, and vast amounts of hard work, and seriously enlightened management – we can actually improve the planet for the first time in a million years. Big ask, big job – but we all have to do our little bit.

In the run-up to the forthcoming local government elections on April 28th 2012, FoE Kuranda received the folowing correspondence from Jenny Jensen re her environmental policies.

Other candidates have also submitted material to us – see Mark Freeman, Cheryl Tonkin and Nick Djeric.

Jenny’s material consists of her questionnaire response to a survey of candidates’ views conducted by the Cairns & Far North Environment Centre and also  begins with a personal statement.

________________________________________________

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME:

The Kuranda area is one of the most unique and beautiful natural environments I have ever been fortunate enough to enjoy and live in. This must be protected and even improved, not only for our generation but for future generations.

As a Councillor with Tablelands Regional Council, my key interests are:

• Protection of the Barron River and our Waterways from development activities and extractive industries.
• Vigilance in ensuring the continued water quality of the Barron River and the protection of the Great Barrier Reef from human impacts via the river.
• Absolute protection of the Envirolink Wildlife Corridor to ensure the viability of endangered species
• Support for Cassowary protection programs
• Continued recognition of the indigenous history and cultural significance of Kuranda’s natural environment
• Council support/ assistance to community nurseries and tree planting projects
• Effective consultation with environmental interest groups in respect to Council’s strategic planning
• Encouragement of ESD principles in the design and construction of new buildings
• Continued activities and improved resourcing for pest and weed management activities, working closely with community and community groups
• Further progression/ completion of Council’s Climate Change Strategy plan
• Sustainable Development which recognises progress and development but is also sustainable and sensitive to the natural environment
• Careful monitoring of the potential impacts/ developments of mining activities in the area
• Improvements in Council’s regulatory activities in relation to the compliance of onsite waste treatment plants at residences
• Introduction of a region wide Recycling Strategy
• Absolutely efficient management of Waste within this district, without potential for environmental damage

CAFNEC QUESTIONNAIRE:

1/ Would you support rates incentives for biodiversity conservation?

YES support incentives.

Comments: I totally support the concept of encouraging individual property owners and residents to set up activities or designate parcels of land for biodiversity conservation. The maintenance and renewal of our natural environment, plants animals and ecosystems is everyone’s responsibility. Certainly “incentives” (possibly rates reduction, but there may be other ways to provide incentives which do not mean a loss in Council services to cover the reduced income) will improve things. However, more importantly, we need to educate people to want to engage in caring for our environment for a whole range of other reasons such as a genuine desire to improve the health, lifestyle and future sustainability of our area.

2/ Would you support rates incentives for sustainable building design?

YES

Comments: Most certainly! Perhaps the incentives could come as reduced building application fees according to demonstrated inclusion of ESD principles. We need to encourage people to consider different building designs which utilise natural light and airflows, complement the natural environment, include solar options, select building materials which are enviro-friendly and energy efficient. It is good to see the Tender Brief for Architect design for the new Kuranda Visitor Information Centre has required demonstration of sustainability principles and ESD. The greatest challenge however is in convincing people to spend more upfront in order to create a building that is more “Greenstar”.

3/ Will you ensure that all new renewable energy developments which are approved in the Council area have no significant impacts on the natural environment and meet national standards for best practice (such as the EPHC National Windfarm Development Guidelines)?

YES

Comments: I am fully supportive of renewable energy developments; however they must be located appropriately. Renewable energy yes!.. but not at the expense of the natural or human environment. To date, Council has approved some Windfarm development and more applications are anticipated. I have not supported the applications to date, because I believe there are still far too many “unanswered questions”. Appropriate location is critical.

4/ Will you seek to ensure the improvement of public transport and bicycle infrastructure in the region?

YES in appropriate locations

Comments: There is currently limited public transport availability in the region; however Kuranda is well served by public bus services to Cairns and to Mareeba/ Atherton. These services operate effectively and the public transport needs of Kuranda residents are generally well met (excepting perhaps for travel within the Kuranda area). Corridors for Recreational cycling are being developed (particularly in the Southern Tablelands area), however there is limited availability in the Kuranda area except for the bikeway from the Village to the Kuranda College. It would certainly be good to have improved public transport infrastructure, however this costs $ and the $ are hard to find. (I would also like to see some designated areas for children’s cycling development.)

5/ Will you seek to prepare and implement a Climate Change Strategy for the Council area?

YES

Comments: Council has already started to progress a Climate Change Strategy and I am fully supportive of this. I will continue to push for further development in this area and have been right behind all the activities to date (e.g. energy audits, working with staff on a strategy plan). Targets will be set by government (and this may take a few years), however I believe that it is Council’s responsibility to take a leadership role in this area and start working on this now.

6/ Do you support the implementation of biodiversity community education by Council and support the protection of threatened species (including flying foxes) from urban development?

YES

Comments: Threatened species must be protected and community education is essential. Council does engage in an education role at present, however this can be improved and I am hopeful that a new Council will support “protection” activities.

7/ Are you supportive of the inclusion of regional greenhouse gas reduction strategies and targets within an appropriate statutory instrument, such as the Council’s local area plan or Corporate Plan?

YES

Comments: Strategies for the reduction of greenhouse gases and the reduction of Council’s carbon footprint have been established. (eg. Biofuels trial), however much more activity is needed. Targets have yet to be set and I will continue to advocate for this.

8/ Will you work to ensure that wildlife corridors identified in the FNQ Regional Plan 2009-2031, are embedded in developmentassessment and environmental planning processes?

YES

Comments: I believe that the Wildlife corridors are already identified and embedded in the new TRC Planning Scheme (currently completed and now undergoing State interest checks). The Envirolink Corridor must continue to be protected at all costs and the new Planning Scheme, along with the FNQ Regional Plan 2031 and the Sustainable Planning Act requirements, ensures that the new TRC Council continues to protect these highly significant wildlife corridors.

9/ Will you ensure that your Council works with other partners (such as Landcare and Natural Resource Management bodies) to manage both current and emerging biosecurity threats (e.g. Myrtle Rust, tramp and electric ants, tilapia, pigs etc)?

YES

Comments: There are currently successful working relationships between TRC and groups such as Terrain NRM which include a number of joint projects in the areas of watercourse protection and pest and weed management. I am keen to see these continue and receive appropriate Council budget funding along with further expansion of links with local groups such as BRICMA and Kuranda based groups: Envirocare, F.O.E and Kuranda Conservation.

10/ Will you ensure that cyclone and flood recovery operations are managed according to an environmental code that protects biodiversity and habitat values?

YES

Comments: The current TRC Disaster Management and Recovery Plan addresses specific plans for environmental management and recovery activities following natural disaster events. I will ensure that the new Council continues to place these at high priority in their Natural Disaster Management planning and operations. The links with other assisting agencies must also continue to be maintained along with joint activities with neighbouring Council regions such as Cassowary Coast and Cairns Regional Council.

_____________________________________________________________

Additional Questions to candidates submitted by FoE Kuranda on 24th April 2012

a/ What is your view on the proposed Welcome Pocket Development and what would you do about it if elected?

I support the development of Aged Care facilities; however these must be subject to strict planning conditions. The current “preliminary approval” of the Welcome Pocket facility is still very subject to conditions and will be assessed further when the application is made to TRC for Development Approval. The Envirolink corridor and surrounding environs must be protected. I am not in support of an “urban node” as part of the Welcome Pocket proposal.

b/ Will you help advocate for rigorous testing of  the Barron river- both the drinking water supply for Kuranda and Mareeba and the river water for environmental quality- especially with regard to pesticides and heavy metals? And would you publish these results on the TRC website and /or make the results publicly accessible in some other way?

I will and do advocate for close monitoring of the quality of both drinking water and river water. Current water testing of Drinking Water supplies is regular and subject to Australian Standards, with weekly laboratory testing in specialised units. The Kuranda and Mareeba water supplies are tested rigorously. Results are publicly available upon request.

In terms of the river water and environmental quality tests, as this is a DERM responsibility, Council does (and must) advocate for stricter controls on the river water quality. The Terrain projects are bringing about some improvements in regards the level of pesticides and chemicals in the Barron, however there is still a way to go.

c/ Do you support or oppose fluoridation and what would you do about this issue if elected?

I oppose the fluoridation of Council’s Water Supplies and have actively done so by advocating for changes to the State legislation which gives the State power to impose fluoride. Council is required by legislation to impose fluoride and if it does not comply, the State Act allows for the State to enter the Water Supply area and add the fluoride. I am fully supportive of the current local campaign which is seeking to have the Qld Govt change the legislation. Council has also written to the Minister to seek review of the legislation.

In the run-up to the forthcoming local government elections on April 28th 2012, FoE Kuranda received the folowing correspondence from Cheryl Tonkin re her environmental policies.

Other candidates have also submitted material to us – see Jenny Jensen, Mark Freeman and Nick Djeric.

Cheryl’s material is her questionnaire response to a survey of candidates’ views conducted by the Cairns & Far North Environment Centre.

__________________________________________

1/ Would you support rates incentives for biodiversity conservation?

YES. We are having to suffer too much environmental degradation from many a short sighted
development proposal. The long term outcomes will be devastating.

2/ Would you support rates incentives for sustainable building design?

YES. I would like to see home owners especially be given every assistance and incentive to build/renovate/install environmental appliances etc.

3/ Will you ensure that all new renewable energy developments which are approved in the
Council area have no significant impacts on the natural environment and meet national
standards for best practice (such as the EPHC National Windfarm Development Guidelines)?

YES. While we need to extensively develop and promote alternate sources (I prefer solar) I also
acknowledge that some BIG development proposals will not necessarily be in the best interests
of our environment and that may not necessarily be the motivation for their construction.

4/ Will you seek to ensure the improvement of public transport and bicycle infrastructure in the
region

YES. Acknowledging that this may not be appropriate in EVERY scenario.

5/ Will you seek to prepare and implement a Climate Change Strategy for the Council area?

Yes

6/ Do you support the implementation of biodiversity community education by Council
and support the protection of threatened species (including flying foxes) from urban
development?

YES. Would love to involved with this. I agree whole heartedly that this is the way forward.

7/ Are you supportive of the inclusion of regional greenhouse gas reduction strategies and
targets within an appropriate statutory instrument, such as the Council’s local area plan or
Corporate Plan?

YES. Absolutely.

8/ Will you work to ensure that wildlife corridors identified in the FNQ Regional Plan 2009-2031,
are embedded in development assessment and environmental planning processes?

YES. I personally have ensured the wildlife corridor at the back of and through our own
property. It was a choice we made many years ago. Our property belongs to the animals and
wildlife as well.

9/ Will you ensure that your Council works with other partners (such as Landcare and Natural
Resource Management bodies) to manage both current and emerging biosecurity threats
(e.g. Myrtle Rust, tramp and electric ants, tilapia, pigs etc)?

YES. Isn’t this a given.

10/ Will you ensure that cyclone and flood recovery operations are managed according to an
environmental code that protects biodiversity and habitat values?

YES.

______________________________________________________

Additional Questions to candidates submitted by FoE Kuranda on 24th April 2012

a/ What is your view on the proposed Welcome Pocket Development and what would you do about it if elected?

I disagree with the Welcome Pocket proposal. Myola and this community stood up to the minister years ago for Myola to not be made an ‘urban node’ and this was upheld much to the relief of the local community. The fact that in the meantime a handful of people went secretly to the government of the day to negotiate special exemptions and priveledges went entirely against the Myola plan. The proposed development is predomonantely designed as a ‘retirement village’ and the ‘aged care’ element is minimal if not entirely illusory. Many local residents will be disenfranchised if this proposal is permitted to proceed.It appears that the developers managed to get their hands on a cheap block of land and then went looking for how they could make money out of it and this is what they came up with.  I also have had confirmation for the present mayor that the developers ultimately have the right to do “anything they choose with the block”…..

b/ Will you help advocate for rigorous testing of  the Barron river- both the drinking water supply for Kuranda and Mareeba and the river water for environmental quality- especially with regard to pesticides and heavy metals? And would you publish these results on the TRC website and /or make the results publicly accessible in some other way?

Yes I would. The last thing we want for people to be drinkingl and using polluted water and neither do we want those pollutants in our environment. Happy to make results easily and publically available.

c/ Do you support or oppose fluoridation and what would you do about this issue if elected?

I strongly oppose the compulsory fluoridation of our water supply. That choice is and individual one and not a governmental decision at ANY level. Should people still want access to flouride I can’t see why it not be made freely available either over the counter at the local Council offices or via an arrangement with local pharmacies. Funding from the State government seeing they are the ones proposing it. From the Councils perspective – refusal to abide and challenge the State government. I think we will not be the only one to do so.

Michael Trout MP

Following the Queensland State election on March 24th, the new Member of Parliament for Barron River is Michael Trout of the LNP.

Congratulations to Michael Trout on his resounding victory!

Commiserations to the other candidates, including Dr Elaine Harding of The Greens who gave the best answer (actually, the only answer) to our pre-election questionnaire, as well as defeated Labor MP Steve Wettenhall who achieved some significant successes for the environment during his time in in Parliament.

Michael Trout is founder of the Blazing Saddles adventure park near Koah.

A news report last year, written by Gavin King, then “editor-at-large” of the Cairns Post and now the new LNP MP for Cairns, revealed that Mr Trout is concerned about flying foxes. This is an issue of concern to FoE Kuranda. We hope the new government will take – and follow – sound scientific advice in wildlife management and give high priority to biodiversity conservation, for which they now how a key custodial role.

Although Mr Trout did not find time to answer the Kuranda environment groups’ questionnaire during the campaign, he did an interview with local ABC radio on February 20th 2012.

The local ABC doesn’t believe this interview has news value. Consequently, along with all other candidate interviews from the recent State election, it’s not available online via the ABC Far North website.

Happily, pleading with ABC staff eventually brought results and it provided FoE Kuranda with an audio tape.

In our view the interview is of considerable news value and public interest, because of the very limited amount of information released during the election campaign by LNP candidates such as Mr Trout about the LNP’s specific plans for this region.

This interview gives some insight into our new MPs interests and priorities: Michael Trout Interview February 20th 2012

UPDATE 29th March 2012

Unfortunately we have to disable the link to the above audio file.

The local ABC insisted on its removal, on grounds of breach of copyright.

Requests to the ABC to put the audio file on its own website were refused, on the basis that the information has “no news value” and there’s no is “public interest” in presenting it online now.

The ABC recommends people who’d like to access its pre-election coverage to contact Media Monitors, a commercial service. Media Monitors charges the public between $50 and $80 per tape.

The ABC is funded by all Australians via the Federal budget.

If you’d like a copy of the audio file (5.5MB) please contact us and FoE Kuranda will email it to you, subject to the ABC not seeking to put further constraints on the availability of this material.

We gave candidates several days to reply, but sadly received only one reply which attempted to answer the questions.

Thanks to Elaine Harding of the Queensland Greens for taking the trouble to reply and for providing thoughtful answers.

The other parties have some explaining to do.

Is it really too hard to answer these queries? You be the judge…

Although it’s likely this area has been inhabited continuously for tens of thousands of years – longer than anywhere in North or South America, for example – the modern township of Kuranda is less than six generations old.

That makes Kuranda, in its modern manifestation, a very young village. Each decade that goes by adds nearly a tenth to its age. Even a year is a significant fraction of its lifespan to date.

As a consequence, planning of this area can make a very real difference. Like a sketchpad with lots of blank pages, there’s plenty of scope to make for changing this area for good or for ill. Choices made at this time are likely to have long-term consequences for how this area develops long into the future.

FoE Kuranda congratulates the new Tablelands Regional Council for undertaking a community planning revue . We are grateful for the opportunity to make input into the revue process.

We are, however, concerned about the draft document that’s been made available for comment, for a few weeks only during the holiday season, with a view to the final plan being approved prior to the forthcoming March elections.

We’re concerned this community plan, at least for the Kuranda area, lacks coherence. To some extent its eclectic nature is a function of its identity as a community plan, with input from many sources. More seriously, we’re concerned that some of the key proposals that are articulated in this document amount to the WRONG plan for this area.

Having said that, we’re aware that the forthcoming new Planning Scheme, due for completion in 2013, may be the document that contains what we consider missing from the current plan – and that the Draft of that new document is not yet available. (see http://www.trc.qld.gov.au/development/one-planning-scheme-tablelan/preparing-new-scheme )

In any event, we hope these comments will be constructive input into the planning process on the Tablelands.

Due to shortage of time, we have not attempted a comprehensive review of the entire document. This region is an integrated whole but the focus of FoE Kuranda is mainly on our local area identified in the document as Speewah, Koah, Kuranda (and Myola). Our comments reflect that.

What the Kuranda area needs

In our view, there’s much that truly wonderful about this area that should be conserved, treasured and nurtured. But there are also significant problems in Kuranda and its environs. These need to be addressed, over time. Good planning and appropriate investment are crucial.

The following is a list of these positives and negatives as we see them, followed by some suggestions and a specific comments on points in the Draft:

Positives

The township of Kuranda and the inhabited outlying areas has stunning, highly biodiverse and largely forested surroundings

The surviving Aboriginal community in this area is a link with its unique and ancient pre-historic culture.

The climate of Kuranda is (we think) as close to perfect as anywhere on the planet.

Kuranda is near the small but internationally significant city of Cairns, with its many attractions and an airport that connects this region to the rest of Australia and overseas.

The village of Kuranda still has great charm and continues to serve as a magnet for visitors, who bring wealth and employment to the area

Kuranda has good basic services for a small community: schools, medical clinic, library

The community in Kuranda has experience, knowledge and skills – as evidenced by many fine suggestions documented in this plan, too numerous to repeat here.

Negatives

The Kuranda area still lacks a plan for long-term conservation of the biodiversity of the area. Really comprehensive identification and mapping of our biota has never happened. Even species unique to the area don’t seem to have survival/recovery plans. Wildlife remains threatened by exotic species – both plant and animal – and human activities such as pesticide/herbicide use, road kills and vegetation clearance). Loss of native vegetation continues mainly though new housing development in areas such as Kuranda, Speewah, the Myola Valley and Koah.

The surviving Aboriginal people of the Kuranda area still lack a place they can truly call their own – a refuge and centre for kindling Aboriginal culture. Aboriginal communities such as Korowa and Mantuka remain in need of significant new investment.

The Kuranda area is chronically car-dependent. The only form of pubic transport are buses, and bus services are infrequent, connect only some parts of the area and operate only in daytime. Rail easements are so under-utilised they would be more useful to the community as cycle tracks; if we are to have a rail network that makes appropriate use of them, a major rethink and very significant new investment are required.

The Barron River, source of drinking water supply for the Kuranda township, serves as a sewer for agricultural run-off from the Tablelands. It contains a plethora of pesticides which have a measurable negative effect on adjacent areas of the Coral Sea. These artificial compounds, while they may not be as lethal ad DDT, have an unmonitored impact on the health of Kuranda residents who drink water from the Barron that’s not tested for pesticides; there’s no attempt to remove them from the town water supply.

The Kuranda village, while it attracts some million visitors per year, does not have the vitality or general prosperity that many in the community feel it could and should have. A frequent comment is that the “village is dead”, meaning it lacks people and vibrancy, especially out of daytime trading hours. Reasons for this are various. (We have some suggestions for remedies).

Telecommunications in the area are second rate

We are still overly dependent on an occasionally-unreliable national electricity grid – and net importers of energy from outside

The region that includes Kuranda (FNQ) has no effective system for minimisation and/or recycling of solid waste; we suffer from this even more than necessary, because waste is currently transported between Cairns and Mareeba via the Kuranda Range Road, putting extra unecessary strain on this thoroughfare

The earlier Myola Plan has been superseded by the State Government’s 2031 regional plan, yet that plan was inappropriately amended, at the last moment and without public comment, to facilitate the development of Welcome Pocket. We believe that was a major mistake for the area

Suggested Solutions

We need a comprehensive survey of the area’s biodiversity. This should be assisted and facilitated by agencies such as the Wet Tropics Management Authority and James Cook University, but there should also be community ownership of and involvement in the survey, with the local school playing a pivotal role. The internet/web can be used to store and display data collected from the community as well as wildlife specialists – and updated progressively so it become an ongoing monitoring operation. Better data and higher community awareness about the area’s natural riches will facilitate improved conservation and planning

Many suggestions proposed by the local Aboriginal community should be embraced, but we wish to emphasise two things: the historic need and justification for higher investment in infrastructure and support for our Aboriginal communities in general – and in particular the desirability of providing significant new assistance to the local indigenous people to redevelop Mona Mona as a distinctively Aboriginal settlement with an appropriate amount of autonomy.

Transport in the area needs significant new investment. There’s a need to upgrade of roads, but in our view the balance of transport investment is quite wrong at present. We believe the rail service should be upgraded into the 21^st century, and used not only for freight but for human transport, providing a real alternative to car transport for people travelling between Mareeba and Cairns and points between including the Myola Valley and Kuranda. It’s easy for this to be dismissed as too expensive. We believe there’s a need to review state of the art rail as a genuine transport alternative at least between Mareeba, Kuranda and Cairns and as soon as an appropriate solution is found, to actually built it. In addition, we’d like to see much more effective road based public transport – perhaps with frequent mini-bus services connecting people within the Kuranda area so the need for individual car ownership/usage is significantly reduced.

Until it’s regularly tested for the plethora of pesticides that are currently unmonitored in the Barron River (and/or a sophisticated filtering system is utilised capable of entirely removing these contaminants from the water supply), we believe the town water system may be unsafe for human consumption. If a suitable location can be found for small local catchment-replenished dam/s (not entailing clearance of native vegetation), that would be more satisfactory than drinking unmonitored river water. Alternatively, the entire drinking water supply could be shifted from a mains system to localised rooftop catchment and household storage. Long-term, and somewhat separate from the issue of drinking water supply, we seek a significant reduction in the usage of pesticides and herbicides in the Barron Catchment; it drains, after all, into the Coral Sea.

Rail could revitalise Kuranda – making it an attractive evening destination on the many hot evenings in Cairns and ensuring that more tourists visit and spend time in the village, arriving and leaving when they please. The “dead” feeling in Kuranda village, despite high aggregate visitor numbers, is partly the result of high proportion of visitors arriving via organised tours that take them, with limited time, to specific venues such as Rainforestation, the Market and Skyrail. Our vision is that Kuranda is more easily visited by people travelling under their own steam – and a regular, fast rail-link to Cairns is the best way to make this happen. Such visitors would be able to spend time and money visiting the smaller shops and attractions, ensuring that revenue from tourism is more evenly distributed. In addition, a better public transport network of the type we propose, entailing bus and a rail backbone, would help transform Kuranda into a more attractive place to live for people easily able to commute to Cairns or Mareeba. This would benefit our local economy without putting extra strain on our roads and without creating the demand for yet more unsustainable road transport. Improved rail should also become a real alternative for transport of freight, building materials etc.

Telecommunications should be upgraded without delay. The Tablelands Regional Council should be proactive in demanding that the area is wired ASAP with fibre-optic to the door for the vast majority of households in this area, supplemented by wireless in outlying extremities. Cable should be under-grounded.

Our area should become a much more significant producer of sustainable energy via solar and wind. Taking into account also the Barron HEP scheme at the Falls, the Kuranda area should aim to for a locally generated energy supply that’s carbon-neutral.

FNQ’s waste minimisation & recycling system need a complete overhaul following the abysmal (and predictable) failure of the Bedminster recycling plant. In the interim, solid waste should be moved between Cairns & Mareeba by rail – not on the road!

Crucially, we believe the Welcome Pocket development is a major planning mistake. We support the provision of aged care facilities in this area (and more public housing for low income earners). However, the location should be in the village – probably on the old school site and adjacent playing field or in another suitable near-village location. The scale of the Welcome Pocket development is very significant, and ancillary facilities are required such as shops, cafes and medical facilities. However, those facilities already exist in they village, which would benefit from higher usage. Kuranda should be consolidated – not have another node added on the Myola Valley, increasing car-dependency and forcing unnecessary duplication of facilities.

Additional specific comments

Any bio-mass production MUST be done in a genuinely sustainable way. Establishment and expansion of this industry without meeting this precondition would be a retrograde step.

The planning Scheme biodiversity overlay seems promising as long as it protects all native life forms and the natural environment that sustains these species. It would be insufficient to just favour certain iconic or endangered species.

FoE Kuranda believes there should be no more development including residential subdivisions on forested land whether rainforest or schlerophyll and other areas of significant regional biodiversity

Increasing population should be accommodated by higher density development in urban areas and capping growth if necessary if it cannot be done without damaging the natural environment

Suggestions that herbicides should be used on hill slopes in the Kuranda area are controversial and we do not support this. The impact of herbicides such as Roundup (and surfactants used with them) on wildlife remains a topic of international controversy. Given this uncertainty, the option we should treat it as a safe product to be encouraged via a plan such as this is not acceptable.

Many regular users believe that the present Kuranda range road is superb considering that it follows the original surveyed route, climbs to 420 meters over a relatively short distance, is well signed, well maintained, surfaced with the very best stone mastic asphalt, and has good safety features: warning signs,guard rails, and crash barriers.

One drawback it has is it is difficult to police so a percentage of drivers who use the road see it as their own personal mount panorama

The road itself if driven to conditions is safe; what makes it a nightmare is the tailgating, overtaking over double centre lines, and speeding by would- be race car drivers.

The police must be given the resources they need to protect the majority of the Kuranda road users.  The technology is available at far less the cost of building a new road, what we lack is the political will.  The government has done a good job upgrading the current road but must now finish the job and make it safe.