Community Meeting With Deputy Premier- taskforce Newsletter

[westholme]

TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COMMUNITY FUTURES NEWSLETTER I GOT IN THE MAIL TODAY.
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GYMPIE COMMUNITY METING WITH DEPUTY PREMIER

AT the Gympie Community Meeting held on 3 November, the Deputy Premier Anna Bligh spoke with 1500 residents from the Mary River Valley. The residents raised a range of issues and posed many questions. The list of issues and responses below is a sample of the matters discussed at the meeting. Other issues raised at the meeting will be included in future editions of this newsletter.

What are the terms of reference for the Environmental ImpactStatement?
The draft terms of reference (TOR) for the EIS will be made available for public comment before the end of the year. Any interested person can prepare a submission on the draft TOR. The draft TOR will include requirements for items such as environmental, social and economic impacts of the proposed dam. It will also cover safety issues and ongoing management of the proposed dam. More information on what is involved and the approval process and timing of the EIS is available on the QWI website www.qldwi.com.au and from the Kandanga One Stop Shop and is covered in an article in this this newsletter.

Will residents in Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the proposed dam have access to flood insurance?
Tha Task Force has contacted the Insurance Council of Australia in Sydney for advice on this mater and is awaiting a response. This information will be included in a future newsletter.

How can we get information about the technical aspects of the dam?
QWI is responsible for the design of the proposed dam. Information about design and construction of the proposed dam will be available from QWI as it comes available. The environmental impact statement will contain a detailed description of the design and the operation of the dam. QWI can be contacted on 1800 225 384 or ther website.

Will the Drilling Results and Geotech Information be made publicly available?
This information has been made available and can be viewed on the QWI website at www.qldwi.com.au .

What is happening to the roads in the area as a result of the proposed dam?
The Department of Main Roads is continuing community consultation about the upgrade of the Bruce Highway. QWI has published maps indicating the locatin of he local roads around the dam and there is continuing discussions about some roads with the relevant shire council, residents and communities the affected areas.

What will happen to the Kandanga Cemetery?
The future of Kandanga Cemetaery is a matter that will be resolved through consultation with the community. The cemetery is not impacetd by Stage 1 of the proposed dam and the Community Futures Taskforce is arranging meetings with people who have an interest in the Cemetery.

Are alternatives being considered that would eliminate the need for the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam?
The Government is committed to pursuing it's proposal for a dam at Traveston Crossing. The Deputy Premier gave an 'in principle' agreement to consider alternatives that have substance. The results of this work will be made public as the studies are finalised.

How can residents keep up to date about developments concerning the proposed dam?
The Community Futures Taskforce newsletter advises readers about developments and is distributed widely in the Mary River Valley through local Post offices and as inserts in the Gympie Times. The Task force website www.communityfutures.qld.gov.au maintains a calender if significant events that are planned inr elation to the proposed dam. A fact sheet of contact numbers is available on the website. The one stop Shop is also a source of information about social and community support.

What support is available for businesses affected by the proposed dam?
The QLD Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA) is administering the QLD Governments Business Assistance Package. The package is available to businesses that are affected by the proposed dam. Businesses should contact QRAA on 1800 623 946 or at their website www.qraa.qld.gov.au and should refer to the article in this newsletter.

What support is available for community groups in the Mary River Valley?
The Community Futures task Force is working with Government and nongovernment agencies to ensure that communities in the Mary River valley have access to social support. The Department of Communities is oerating the One Stop Shop at Kandanga to provide residents with access to a full range of government services as well as access to the counselling services of Lifeline.

Do residents in the areas affected by the proposed dam have to sell their property to the Government?
Currently there is no obligation for residents to sell their propoerty. However, QWI is offering to purchase properties that they have identified a being required for the proposed dam. no property will be resumed until the dam is approved. Land Acquisition enquiries should be directed to QWI>
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CESARE LOMBROSO "The ignorant man always adores what he cannot understand"

[Darren E]

We got the newsletter too. The QWIPL website address www.qldwi.com.au is mentioned at least 6 times - but guess what? When I try to go to that address I get "Error 403 - you are not authorized to view this page". I guess the community futures group are so used to being part of the government team they've forgotten that parts of the QWIPL website are "secret squirrel only" and not for general access.

Shirley contacted CFTF and got a working link to the geology data - http://www.qldwi.com.au/resources/other.shtm - no surprises that they still haven't provided the data that we actually asked for - the summary report and seismology report.

The working link to the non-secret home page of the QWIPL website is http://www.qldwi.com.au/index.shtm No doubt this problem will mysteriously cease to exist in a day or so when they move the secret stuff to another location and remove the restricted access to the main address.
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"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything" - anon.
"There can be no liberty for a community which lacks the means by which to detect lies" - Walter Lippman

[Shirley E]

Something else interesting in the Taskforce Newsletter. An Insert entitled "Land Use Around Dams".