Border Mail on fuel price campaign

Whilst the Federal Govertnment has walked away from reducing the exise on petrol and the State Government won't entertain the idea of reducing the GST, the Border Mail has started a campaign to apply pressure to the authorities. The following articles from Saturday's paper can be read on the Border Mail website.

John is pushing up hill
RISING fuel prices are changing John Hills lifestyle. The Porepunkah man is considering buying a Holden Barina to trim his fuel bills. The owner of Wodonga KTM drives 200km to and from work every day and averages 1300km a week ... Full Story

Operator says cost not sustainable
CHARTER plane operators have joined major airlines as the latest victims of rising fuel prices. Albury Air Centres Ivo Mol said his fuel costs had jumped|30 per cent in the past year and he was struggling to absorb the cost ... Full Story

Fuel outrage is spreading
5000 names and its only just started. THE number of signatures on The Border Mail petition to axe the GST from petrol is fast approaching 5000 ... Full Story

Its gas, not guzzlers
Drivers backing off horsepower FUEL-guzzling cars are being ditched in favour of smaller, more efficient models in response to spiralling petrol prices ... Full Story

Hitting back at fuel rises
I HAVE a suggestion for the chief executives of the NRMA and the RACV ... Full Story

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People can sign the Border Mail petition at newsagents and sub-agents throughout the region, by coming into The Border Mail office in McKoy St, Wodonga or Dean St, Albury and by filling in the coupon in Saturday's paper.

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This week I also received the following email:

Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 3:07 PM
Subject: Fw: Petrol Prices[Scanned]

Send on to everyone you know
regards
Pamela Menere

IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE IN AUSTRALIA DID NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF PETROL FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES. AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL COMPANIES.


THEREFORE THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED "STICK IT UP THEIR BEHIND" DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF PETROL THAT DAY. THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT. WAITING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND CONTROL THE PRICES IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL IN PRICES THAT THE ARAB NATIONS PROMISED TWO WEEKS AGO?

REMEMBER ONE THING, NOT ONLY IS THE PRICE OF PETROL GOING UP BUT AT THE SAME TIME AIRLINES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES, TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES WHICH EFFECTS PRICES ON EVERYTHING THAT IS SHIPPED. THINGS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING, BUILDING SUPPLIES MEDICAL SUPPLIES ETC. WHO PAYS IN THE END? WE DO!

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF THEY DON'T GET THE MESSAGE AFTER ONE DAY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

SO DO YOUR PART AND SPREAD THE WORD. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE SEPTEMBER 22nd A DAY THAT THE CITIZENS OF AUSTRALIA "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"

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Planning and Plotting the King Valley Future

In August 2001, the RCoW sponsored a community workshop in Whitfield titled, "Planning and Plotting the King Valley Future". It was a remarkable event, run by small town revivalist Peter Kenyon, and was successful in getting the local community involved in its future development.

Unfortunately, there was no follow-up by the community and now it is September 2005 and we have all but forgotten what happened that night. In July 2002, the Watchdog published a piece titled Peter Kenyon Revisited criticising the lack of follow-up after a year.

The major finding of the original workshop was the recognition of the lack of community cohesion in the King Valley. What that means is that there is no co-operation between the community groups and the town leaders. This has shown itself in the past with multiple events being held on the same day and then nothing else happening for months on end.

Four years on and nothing has changed. One of the projects that people wanted to develop was a weekly 'kid friendly' Farmers Market in Whitfield selling local produce that would attract both visitors & local community. Today, there are two Farmers Markets - one at Tolmie - the other at Moyhu. They are both held on the third Saturday of the month. Where is the community cohesion in that?

Sureley these two markets would be more successful if they were held on different weekends. The community and visitors would have the opportunity to buy local produce more often and the stall holders would have more opportunities to sell their wares.

Similarly, the King Valley Tourism Association (KVTA) has been neutralised by the local wine industry starting its own promotional organisation and taking over the well established King Valley Festival events built by the KVTA over many years. Where is the community cohesion in that?

The King Valley Tourism Association is left with a few B&Bs and the local features - and little else. The well developed Wine Festival events will attract the major funding whilst the KVTA will be left floundering. With these events now in commercial hands, the many community members who have contributed their time and community spirit to these events will be less likely to do so into the future.

In the last few years we have not only seen the loss of the Whitfield Cricket Club but the selfish removal of the wicket - a community asset - by the football club. We were to have a new netball court for the start of this season past but negotiations between the various community groups involved broke down. Where is the community cohesion in that?

In a small community like Whitfield, there are too many community organisations and too few people to serve on their committees of management. In fact,most of the committee members who serve on one committee also serve on a variety of other committees and yet, they still cannot work together.

Surely it would be better to combine these many factions and create an environment where they work for a common cause. For example, one organisation that managed all sports and recreation activities would be able to attract more co-operation of the RCoW and access more funding opportunities than any one of them can do alone.

At the Peter Kenyon workshop, many people registered their interest in working on the following projects:
(taken from RCoW follow-up letter to participants)

• Whitfield Main Street: parking; signage; flowers/garden/landscape; underground powerlines; use of public art; roundabout
  
• Signage Strategy: map display in town centre; consistent standards; distinctive; signage trail; Brand �King Valley�; Creation of an Identity; Link with public art; Town entrance statement.
  
• Regular Market: weekly; local produce; attract both visitors & local community; "Farmers Market" concept.
  
• A Distict Reason to Stop in the Valley: waterfall in island; promotion/signage strategy; family market - "kid" friendly; bakery - additional food; more activity.
  
• Railway Shed Restoration: community use; information centre; rail trail.
  
• Wine Trail Promotion: mutually supportive cellar doors (cross promotion); packaging - promoting the 'whole' King Valley; promotion of quality of product/variety.
  
• Accommodation Strategy: group bookings; diversity; supply/demand issues; promotion - a brochure to capture what is available.
  
• Walking Track between Whitfield and Cheshunt; strategy to enhance number.
  
• 20 Additional Families Moving to the King Valley: quality of life; infrastructure; skills; school/sports teams; injection of 'new' ideas; hairdresser & other 'trades' encouraged into the area.
  
• Building Communuty Cohesion: communication; "bring" groups together to identify; community issues; respect for each others opinions; 'big' picture goal - 'mission'.

Until the King Valley develops community cohesion, the rest of the objectives are pointless. Until there is community cohesion, the future of the King Valley remains an ad hoc agenda.

Population peaked in the 1920's and has deteriorated ever since. With the recession of the grape industry over the next few years and the ever increasing cost of fuel, the future of the King Valley may well be in terminal decline.

Do we want to see the Valley go ahead? With the world in chaos with terrorism, record oil prices, and threats to national economies, it may be 'safer' to do nothing and forget the future.

Ten reasons for ethanol in your petrol

Joyce backs ethanol blend petrol as fuel price soars
ABC Regional Online - Australia
... "We now have an issue where especially with a lot of old second-hand cars that the price of the fuel in the tank might be worth more than the car.".

Xmas fuel at $1.60
VICTORIANS could be paying $1.60 a litre for petrol by Christmas. Industry sources expect the price to hit $1.40 this week.

Grain growers release new ethanol plan
The Age (subscription) - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Australia's grain producers have released new proposals for mandating the use of ethanol in the nation's petrol supply. The plans ...

Costello to push Indonesia for lower oil prices
ABC Online - Australia
Treasurer Peter Costello says he will use a visit to Jakarta to lobby the Indonesian Government to put downward pressure on oil prices. ...

Business encouraged to budget for fuel price rises
ABC Regional Online - Australia
... "High fuel prices at the moment are inevitable and to make up some of the difference you may need to look at the efficiencies of your business," Mr Crone said. ...

Fears fuel price hike will hit charities
ABC Online - Australia
... Social Services says groups, which rely on volunteers and support workers on low incomes, will find it increasingly difficult to operate as the price of petrol ...

Grain farmers want biofuel production on Govt agenda
ABC Online - Posted: 12:48 (AEST)
Fuel prices are worrying a number of agricultural industries, with Victoria's grain farmers demanding an alternative.

Oil prices threaten economic growth
The Age (subscription) - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Australia's economy has posted an unexpected surge but record high oil prices threaten to put a dampener on future growth. Fresh ...

Nationals urge against ethanol blended fuel
ABC Online - Australia
... divisions have emerged in the ranks of the federal Coalition over whether the Government should legislate to force oil companies to blend ethanol with petrol. ...

Residents able to Collect Firewood

Following the recent storms experienced in the Rural City of Wangaratta, residents are able to collect wind damaged timber from various roads throughout the municipality. Firewood permits will only be available for the below listed roads.

Council permission is not required for these roads but residents still require a permit from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). DSE permits are available from DSE's Beechworth, Ovens and Wangaratta offices, Beechworth Visitor Information Centre and the general stores located at Moyhu, Whitfield and Eldorado.

* Rose River
* Upper Rose River
* Paradise Falls Road
* Smalls Road
* Miller Road
* Edi Cheshunt Road
* Lake Buffalo – Whitfield Road
* Black Range Road
* Edi Meadow Creek Road
* Carboor Upper Road
* Moyhu Meadow Creek Road
* Carboor Everton Road (weekend only)
* Oxley Meadow Creek Road
* Allans Lane
* Milawa Bobinawarrah Road
* Box Forest Road
* Whorouly Carboor Road
* Kneebones Gap Road
* Meadow Creek Hall Road
* Powells Lane
* Whorouly Bowmans Road
* Bowmans Murmungee Road
* Bobby Lane
* Ferguson Lane
* Sinclair Lane
* Lee Morrison Road
* Cemetery Lane, Everton
* Diffeys Road
* Horsehoe Gap Road
* White Post Road
* Boralma Tarrawingee Road
* Petticoat Lane
* Morrison Road
* Boland Road
* Boundry Borrhaman North Road
* Egans Road
* McLeans Road
* Chisholm Street
* Kellys Gap Road
* Moloneys Road
* Myrrhee Whitlands Road
* Boggy Creek Road

Collection of timber from these roads will only be available until 30 September 2005. As VicRoads is responsible for managing the main roads in the Rural City of Wangaratta any requests to access timber on these roads needs to be directed to VicRoads.

For further information about the collection of firewood please contact Council's Sustainability Program Coordinator, Karen Jones, on 5722 0888.

Bracks urged to act on petrol taxes

The Bracks Government is being challenged to spend some of its record revenue from the GST to help reduce the price of petrol and diesel in Victoria.

Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan said the record high fuel prices were providing a cash windfall for the State Government which receives all of the GST revenue generated from the sale of fuel.

Mr Ryan raised the issue in Parliament today in a bid to secure Bracks Government support for easing the burden on the travelling public, particularly in country areas. Unfortunately, "It was disappointing, but not unexpected, that Mr Bracks side-stepped the issue." according to colleague Bill Sykes, member for Benalla.

“Mr Bracks wouldn’t commit to a rebate – something within his control, instead he blamed the Federal Government for the high fuel costs. I agree that Federal excise on fuel is a significant part of the cost and I would hope that the Member for Indi is representing our interests in Canberra.

“The Victorian Government’s share of GST revenue on petrol prices is in the vicinity of $420 million per year and every 10 cent rise in fuel, delivers another $35 million in revenue to the Treasurer,” Mr Ryan said.

With motorists paying record prices for fuel, the 10% GST impost is building the coffers of the State Treasurer. The total state revenue when the Bracks Government was elected in 1999 was about $20 billion and this year it is expected to reach $30 billion.

Not many people would have received a 50% rise in income over the past six years and it’s ridiculous if the Treasurer suggests that services would have to be cut to rebate some of the fuel GST to motorists.

“Families and business owners deserve some relief from this hidden tax and the State Government can help provide it by returning some of the massive windfall to the travelling public.”

Mr Ryan said the Bracks Government should commit to reducing the fuel costs for motorists, particularly in regional areas.

“Outside the metropolitan locations the fuel prices are well in excess of the city prices and it is already having major social and economic impacts,” Mr Ryan said.

“If people are forced to reduce travel to visit family and friends or attend social and sporting functions it will add to the isolation of rural families and have significant social and health impacts.

Mr Ryan said the ‘tax on a tax’ situation also needed to be addressed with GST charged on top of Federal Government excises.

“The insidious tax on a tax is hurting all motorists and as the recipients of the GST revenue, it is the State Governments who can lead the way by returning some of the windfall to motorists.”

Major shift in community needs voiced

Each year the Rural City of Wangaratta sets aside funds for their 'Rural Towns Development program'. They hold Community Meetings to find out the community needs. Typically, communities ask for upgrades to community halls, picnic tables for the local park or fencing around a playground.

This year, a major shift occurred at the Upper King Valley meeting. The local communities were not competing for the available funds as in the past. Rather, they were looking for council assistance in improving services.

It was about making the Cheshunt swimming area safer. It was about getting an open drain cleaned up. Most of all, it was about getting the council to support the community in seeking improved access to public health services for an ageing community.

With a community health centre that only operates one day a week with a visiting doctor and nurse for little more than half a day, the rural community is at a great disadvantage when it comes to health service access.

One physically disabled elderly resident can only get 1.5 hours of home help every fortnight. Another elderly lady decried the loss of the council handyman/lawn mowing service that had been available in the past. It was pointed out that there is no access to wheelchairs, crutches ot other medical aids outside of Wangaratta.

There used to be a community bus based at Whitfield but it died and was never replaced. Later there was a community car but that is now gone.

It appears the problem lies in the ongoing cost cutting at the State Government level and the council has not been able to meet the shortfall.

The meeting asked the council to advocate on behalf of the community to seek an improvement in access to basic health services in the rural areas.

The need for an active ratepayers association

Article contributed By Allison G Walpole

The Auditor General's Report, East Gippsland Shire Council: Proposed sale of Lakes Entrance property, was tabled in the Victorian Parliament in July 2005.

This reads like a detective story. It begins with the purchase by Tambo Shire of 14.9 hectares of land overlooking the Tasman Sea at Lakes Entrance in 1982 for $150,000. Subsequently council offices were built on the site at a cost of $2.5 million and later refurbished at a cost of $600,000.

In December 1994, Tambo Shire was amalgamated with the municipalities of Bairnsdale (Shire and City), Orbost and Omeo to form the East Gippsland Shire Council. At first the new Council had administrative offices at Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance.

Following a financial report in 1997 the council in June 2001 resolved to sell the property for $1.5 million to a private company, Lakes Village Pty. Ltd. by private treaty.

On 1st June 2001, council's real estate agent provided a professional opinion to a 3rd party on the market and values inherent in the property assuming rezoning and relevent planning permits for its redevelopment. On this basis, the real estate agent valued the property at $6.9 million.

Community unrest and a number of other offers for the property influenced the council to decide not to proceed with the private sale, but sell the property by public tender. In October 2001, the council approved the sale of the property to Lakes Village Pty Ltd for $1.525 million. Subsequently, an interested party initiated a Supreme Court action to prevent the sale.

In October 2003, the council settled the Supreme Court action at a cost of $912,000 and the contract for the sale of the property was cancelled. Appendix A to the Auditor General's report presents a chronology of key events which led to this action.

The report 1.2 Overall Audit Conclusion states:

Although the circumstances outlined in this report relate to a single council, they provide a sufficient basis for government to consider extending to local governments the requirement fo all property transactions over a threshold level to be concluded in compliance with the government's "Policy and Instructions for the purchase, compulsory aquisition and sale of land", and to overseen and approved by the Government Land Monitor.

In August 2005, the Victorian Nationals Plan for Local Government, Policy Directions Paper, addresses matters raised in the Auditor General's Easty Gippsland report. The directions paper also addresses the financial problems of Local Government including Cost Shifting from the other tiers of government.

The report and policy paper provide background information for candidates for the coming municipal elections. They also show the need for an active ratepayers association as in East Gippsland and in the Gannawarra Shire Rates Review

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Read: THE REPORT OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL ATTEMPTED SALE, EAST GIPPSLAND
Read: Ratepayers want Accountability - July 2005

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Sykes - Success for country taxis

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, is very pleased with the commitments made by Carlo Carli, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for taxis, to take immediate action to ensure the continued viability of country taxis.

Mr Carli visited Myrtleford and met with Myrtleford taxi operators Rebecca and Lynton Wilson and Bright operators Marg and Jerry Wilson. Later Mr Carli met with David O’Donoghue, Benalla Taxis, Alan Bembrose, Shepparton Taxis and Ken MacKay, Kyabram Taxis.

At the meetings arranged by Dr Sykes, Mr Carli demonstrated a good understanding of the issues and his commitment to ensuring ongoing taxi services in country Victoria, in order to enable our disabled and frail elderly attend medical appointments and participate in community activities.

Mr Carli made the following key commitments for immediate action:

• Encouraging increased use of the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program – as many legitimate users made severe cut backs to their taxi usage when the Government placed a cap of $550 on taxi subsidies. This cap has now been lifted to $1,000;


• Encouraging greater use of taxis in community transport arrangements in recognition that community cars and buses may not always be the most economically efficient manner of providing public transport;


• Favourably considering requests for flexible hours of service by taxi operators in small communities, thereby allowing a reduction in operating costs; and


• Assisting with the cost of purchasing wheelchair accessible taxis (which cost $90,000, compared with $30,000 for a standard taxi). This will ensure better services for people who are in wheelchairs.

Mr Carli also arranged to use Myrtleford Taxis as a case study to develop more options for the continued provision of public transport

King River: Take a look at it now!

During the autumn, extensive willow removal on the King and Ovens Rivers left the banks at risk of erosion from floodwaters. The spring rains have now started and the outcome is yet to be seen.

The photo at right was taken after this week's rain and shows the river running a banker. Compare that with the photos below showing the downstream view with the willows and with the willows removed.



Now take a look at the upstream view from the bridge and compare this with the bottom photos above showing the view before and after the willow removal.

Click on this photo for a larger version and you will see the remaining bottlebrush plantings along the far bank that have not yet been washed away. If the water rises any more, there will be nothing left. Damage to the river banks will only be evident when the waters recede.

The water is running down the drain with such force that damage must occur to the banks. In the past, the willows slowed the water down spreading it further into the fields upstream which is natures way of renovating the river flats.

By turning into a drain like this, the excess water can only spill over further downstream around the Edi Cutting and beyond.

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Read: Flood mitigation infrastructure destroyed
Read: Update: King River Willow Removal
Read: Why is Willow Eradication Necessary?

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