Sykes 'outfoxes' foxes

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, is claiming his fox bounty to be a resounding success – at least on his farm at Benalla.

Dr Sykes paid a $1 per head bounty on foxes killed in the Electorate of Benalla in May 2006 to draw attention to the need for a State Government Fox Bounty as part of a coordinated fox control program.

Dr Sykes said, “I paid out on over 100 foxes and obviously the foxes around Benalla got the message to keep away from my lambing ewes.

“My lambing season has just finished and I had over 400 lambs of which the foxes may have got a couple. This is much better than the 10% they killed last year.”

Dr Sykes continued, “I used a combination of 1080 fox baits and shooting. One of my shooters cashed in 60 tails from foxes killed locally.

“So, as far as I’m concerned, a fox bounty is an integral part of a successful fox control program which includes baiting, shooting and the use of alpacas.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “The Nationals’ Environment Policy includes a fox bounty as part of a substantially increased focus on pest animal control. I call on the Bracks Government to follow the lead of The Nationals and reintroduce the fox bounty now.”

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Setting aside gas is folly: Macfarlane

Someone should explain to federal minister Ian McFarlane that liquified natural gas can be an alternative to petrol to run our cars ... and at a fraction of the price.

LNG converters were developed by the late Max Washbourne in the 1970's in Melbourne and patented by Peacock & Smith. They were sold to public transport fleets around the world but were never allowed to be fitted in Australia.

For more on Australia Energy Superpower dreams, go to the watchdog article Which Prime Minister thought of this one?


Setting aside gas is folly: Macfarlane
July 31, 2006 - 6:36PM

A proposal by Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter to set aside some of the state's gas reserves for domestic consumption is "sheer folly", federal industry, tourism and resources minister Ian Macfarlane says.

It would send the wrong signal to investors in the mining industry, he told a business lunch in Brisbane.

Mr Carpenter said last week up to 20 per cent of the reserves should be held back to meet future domestic demand, rather than being exported as liquefied natural gas to markets in Asia and North America.

The premier warned that under current contracts, natural gas supplies for WA households and industry could run out within 10 to 15 years and Western Australians should not be forced to pay international prices for gas found in their own backyard.

But Mr Macfarlane described the announcement as "incredible".

"He would, in fact, apply a new tax to gas resources in Western Australia," Mr Macfarlane said.

"By suggesting to the gas industry in Western Australia that 20 per cent of their reserves should be set aside for an unknown time and an unknown price - and the only thing we know about price is that it would be less than it's worth on the export market - to me is just sheer folly.

"The message that that sends to potential investors is one that they cannot be sure of the investment climate in Australia."

Mr Macfarlane said the average labour cost on construction projects was around $240,000 per person per year and withholding reserves would only be added cost.

"To say to a company 20 per cent would be pretty close of a good slice in profit will now have to be set aside on the whim of a state premier who apparently doesn't understand economics is quite unbelievable.

"It is an extraordinarily dangerous signal for Australia to be giving."

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How to beat telemarketers and junk mailers

Three Little Words That Work!! The three little words: "Hold On, Please..."

Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off instead of hanging-up immediately would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt. Then when you eventually hear the Telstra's "beep-beep-beep" tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.

These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.

Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end? This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone. This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a "real" sales person to call back and get someone at home.

What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialled the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer!!!

When you get those "pre-approved" letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope. Most of these come with postage-prepaid return envelopes, right?

It costs them more than the regular 50 cents postage "IF" and when they receive them back. It costs them nothing if you throw them away! In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-prepaid return envelopes. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to the bank.

If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them. You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them $1.00.

The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it... Twice!

Let's help keep Australia Post busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea If enough people follow these tips, it will work - maybe you'll get very little junk mail anymore.

THIS JUST MIGHT BE ONE E-MAIL THAT YOU WILL WANT TO FORWARD TO YOUR
FRIENDS!!!!!!!

Thanks to Anne Arnoldussen , a long term Watchdog reader, who passed on this interesting email

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Discover the North East Wine Region promotion

DISCOVER THE NORTH-EAST WINE REGION

A series of nine features in The Age has begun as part of a major new regional food and wine campaign, Minister for Tourism John Pandazopoulos said today.

The first of the eight page fortnightly series ran on Saturday in the paper’s A2 section, profiling Victoria’s north-east wine region. The articles feature our wine destinations, wineries, restaurants, food, local produce and accommodation. The next feature is on the Mornington Peninsula region.

Mr Pandazopoulos said the Bracks Government had teamed up with The Age to inform Victorians about our diverse and vibrant wine regions.

“The features are being written by well-known food and wine writers including Jeni Port and Jane Faulkner, and will guide visitors around the highlights of Victoria’s wine regions, as well as profile local accommodation,” he said.

“The north-east wine region of Rutherglen, Beechworth, Glenrowan, King Valley and the Alpine Valleys was the first to be featured. The features celebrate the quality of restaurants and dining in the north-east, as well as the fantastic local produce visitors can take home with them.

“Many of the wineries in the north-east are owned and run by families who have been making wine for generations. Tasting the wine and talking to the people who are intimately involved in the process of growing, making and selling the wine is a great highlight of visiting the north-east wine region.”

Mr Pandazopoulos said Victoria’s winery industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism in the State, contributing a massive $493 million to the economy - up 20 per cent from 2002.

The new food and wine campaign is part of the $27 million tourism package announced through the Bracks Government’s Moving Forward Provincial Victoria Statement that encourages Victorians to holiday and travel around their own state.

“Victoria has more than 400 wineries in diverse regions, wonderful country restaurants, energetic winemakers, chefs and food producers and a rich winemaking history. We believe the campaign will encourage Victorians to explore the regions,” Mr Pandazopoulos said.

“Other elements of the campaign include the two part Channel 9 prime time special Wine Me, Dine Me - A Journey with John Wood that blitzed the television ratings when it aired last month.

“Significantly, Victoria was rated Australia’s top destination for ‘quality regional food and wine’ and ‘car touring’ in the annual Brand Health Survey, so we have the best right here in our backyard.

“Tourism is the lifeblood of many of our regional areas and the Bracks Government recognises the importance of sustaining and growing the tourism industry in our regions. Tourism is worth $10.9 billion to the state as a whole and $3.4 billion to regional Victoria alone.”

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Water grants for sporting & community groups

Here is a funding oppotunity for local sporting and community groups to apply for an Australian Government Community Water Grant.

The successful groups in the first round of funding included schools, neighbourhood houses, landcare groups, local councils, sporting clubs, local community service groups, hospitals, aged care facilities and community recreation facilities.

In Benalla we had three schools who were successful in the first round of funding:-Benalla East Primary School $40,412; Benalla Primary School $19,319 and The Benalla Christian School $32,000.

Types of projects eligible
Your project must engage your local community and have clear public benefit. As well as strong community participation, your project must:

involve practical, on-ground activities that save, recycle or protect water
resources;

incorporate the promotion of wise water use; and

comply with relevant planning, health and environmental regulations and
guidelines.

Applications close by mail August 11 2006 and by online application 25 August 2006.
Web site contact www.communitvwatergrants.gov.au

Thanks to Bill Sykes for passing on this information

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Bracks government must cop weed fines too

Draft legislation to enable ‘on the spot’ fines for land holders who neglect to control weeds or pest animals must be extended to include Victoria’s largest landholder – the Bracks Government, according to Bill Sykes, Nationals Member for Benalla.

Dr Sykes, along with his National Party colleagues, has repeatedly called upon the Bracks Government, known throughout the State as ‘the neighbours from hell’, to manage pests and weeds as private land holders are required to do.

Dr Sykes said, “On the spot fines for the small number of recalcitrant land holders who fail to control pests and weeds will be welcomed by the majority of land holders but it must be one rule for all.

“The Bracks Government still subscribes to the philosophy of ‘lock the gate and throw away the key’ whereas private land holders know that native vegetation must be actively managed just as pasture and crops need active management.

“The Nationals recently released Environment Policy has several initiatives to ensure better management of Victoria’s seven million hectares of State forests and National Parks. These include:

• DSE to be responsible only for public lands;

• DPI to be responsible for all enforcement of weed and pest regulations on all land holders including DSE;

• The number of organisations and Government departments involved in environmental management to be slashed with the savings directed to ‘on the ground’ works;

• Our public land will be just that – available for shared, responsible use and access by groups including bushwalkers, 4WD enthusiasts, timber harvesting and cattle grazing where appropriate.

Dr Sykes concluded, “It is time common sense came to land management with one set of rules for all land managers. I call on the Bracks Government to extend the ability of the DPI to issue ‘on the spot’ fines to include violations by the DSE and Parks Victoria”.

Hubris in the Rural City of Wangaratta Council

With our council pushing forward after being presented with a petition of some 5,700 people opposed to the demolition of the Memorial Town Hall, we are witness to the end of grass roots democracy in the Rural City of Wangaratta. Our councillors have turned their back on the electors.



Not reported in the article above but heard on ABC Goulburn Murray was the interview with the petition organiser, Betty O'Keefe, who stated that the majority of those attending the meeting were against the demolition of the Town Hall.

The interviewer, Joseph Thompson, then interviewed the mayor, Cr Don Joyce, who flatly rejected Betty O'Keefe's claims telling us how popular the decision was. When asked if he could guarantee that local organisations would still be able to afford the rental on the new facility, the mayor missed the question completely telling us "There will be more user groups, it will generate more revenue, there are conference facilities there, we are unable to facilitate that now. I think it will be absolutely wonderful, it will be an enormous financial generator for this municipality".

A few days ago, the acting mayor, Cr Roberto Paino, was asked by Joseph Thompson what he thought of over 5,000 people signing the petition, he responded by saying there were many more who did not sign it.

If the petition of 25% of the electorate can be ignored, grass roots democracy is dead in Wangaratta.

We cannot ask the rest of the councuillors what they think because Justin Sholz tells us that there is a gag on councillors expressing their opinion. Only the mayor can give an opinion.

If our elected representatives are not allowed to have the freedom of speech, we are effectively isolated from our council.

The issue is unimportant. The reality is that we have elected representatives not prepared to listen to those who elected them.

If we presented a petition of 5,700 ratepayers objecting to the arrogance of our councillors, do you think the Minister for Local Government, Candy Broad, would be able to dismiss the call of the people as easily as our councillors can?

Definition from Wikipedia
In its modern usage, hubris denotes overconfident pride and arrogance; it is often associated with a lack of knowledge, interest in, and exploration of history, combined with a lack of humility.

Sharon Hargreaves loses her home to fire

Family’s life turned to ashes
BY NICK HIGGINS


Sharon Hargreaves and Rastus at the remains of their Docker home. Picture: Simon Dallinger

MOTHER-of-two Sharon Hargreaves is relieved no one was inside when fire took hold of her Docker home.

Ms Hargreaves arrived home about 9.30pm on Saturday to find the house in which she and her daughters, Carli, 21, and Elise, 17, had lived for the past 12 years well alight.

The family’s dog, Rastus, was also outside at the time of the blaze and survived.

Gone were family treasures, mementoes gathered from when the girls were born and many other items of sentimental value.

Despite losing their possessions, Ms Hargreaves was philosophical about the fire yesterday.

“It does bring home what matters most; we are a very strong team, me and my girls,” she said.

On Sunday they returned to see whether anything could be salvaged, but there was nothing left of the weatherboard house except for brick chimneys.

“It was heartbreaking watching the girls scratching through the rubble,” Ms Hargreaves said.

Ms Hargreaves is staying with her parents at Wangaratta, although she still instinctively wants to drive back home to Docker.

“It’s so surreal,” she said.

Rastus often stays in the house when the family goes away for a short time and Ms Hargreaves was worried he might have been in the house when it caught ablaze.

“When I found him I was elated,” she said.

The family is intact but have nothing in the way of material possessions.

“We have just the clothes on our backs,” Ms Hargreaves said.

The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

About 40 firefighters with trucks from six brigades — Moyhu, Carboor, Milawa, Greta, Oxley and Wangaratta — worked for more than three hours to contain and extinguish the blaze.

Aussie wine cheaper than water

Report: Babs McHugh and Cameron Wilson

In bad news for growers Australian wine has sunk to an all time price low. The industry is finding it hard to shake its international image as cheap and cheerful, and with the wine glut now at its peak, it's facing some tough choices. Some wines are now selling as low as $2 a bottle, which now makes it cheaper than bottled water.

Chief executive of the Wine Makers Federation of Australia Stephen Strachan says some growers now face the real possibility of pulling vines. "If you're a grape grower at the moment and you don't have a contract and you found (that) in 2006 for example that you couldn't sell your fruit then the likelihood of you selling it in 2007 is about zero...(and) it might be a good idea to make a decision to remove that vineyard."

With domestic prices at this level, most in the industry agree that exports markets are the key to moving Australia's wine surplus. But the perception is growing that Australian wine is cheap, not just here but also overseas. Andrew Pirie from the Australian wine industry's Directions Taskforce says we need to be careful the value of Australian exports doesn't fall in the rush to sell the surplus.

Kim Seagram from the Vineyards Association of Tasmania has just returned from Canada where she says the perception has already taken hold that Australian wine as low cost. "The cheap alternative. A lot of both consumers and the trade who are working in the shops were viewing Australia as the cheap and cheerful alternative."

In this report: Stephen Strachan, chief executive, Wine Makers Federation of Australia; Andrew Pirie Australian Wine industry's Directions Taskforce; Kim Seagram, Vineyards Association of Tasmania.

Bill Sykes responds to Mokoan criticism

A Chronicle article by Phil Nolan (24 Jul 06) reported that:

"an angry water minister, John Thwaites, said in parliament last week that the claim (of Bill Sykes of a cost blow out on Lake Mokoan) were untrue after three times being rebuked by the speaker for attempting to attack Mr Sykes personally".

Bill Sykes has now responded referring to the "Mokoan Cost Blowout Deceit"

The Bracks Government is getting tangled in its own web of deceit as it attempts to down play the $24 million cost blow out of wetland rehabilitation if the proposed decommissioning of Lake Mokoan goes ahead according to Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said, “The Government appointed consultant’s report shows that to deliver on the Government’s promise of a world class wetland (with associated tourism infrastructure) the cost will be $24 million (or more).

“Government claims last week that the costs of rehabilitation are only $2.33 million are grossly misleading as they only relate to a small proportion of the total costs.”

Dr Sykes continued, “I am extremely concerned about Government manipulation of the facts.

“A few months ago one of the consultants said to me, “Rehabilitation is certainly not a one year, $1 million project; it will take decades and cost tens of millions of dollars if not hundreds of millions of dollars”.

“Now the total project cost is estimated at $24 million comprising $2.33 million for specific wetland rehabilitation and the remainder for rehabilitating the dry land area, infrastructure costs including tracks, roads, interpretive centre and tourist accommodation – all essential if the Government’s promise of a world class wetland is to be honoured.

“But the $2.33 million is ‘rubbery’ and excludes basic rehabilitation costs.

“Costs included in the $2.33 million are:

Replanting $130,000
Fencing $700,000
Maintenance 6yrs $1,500,000

“The replanting costs are very low because the consultants have assumed a lot of natural revegetation. This is not supported by any reference to a similar scale revegetation project anywhere in the world.

“Further, land holders and land carers know that weeds are the first species to invade bare land.

“The consultants acknowledge this to some extent but seem to have grossly underestimated the costs.

“The costs for maintenance equate to 4-5 full time staff to control weeds and pests on several thousand hectares for six years. This is an ambitious assumption and similarly modest costings for weed control and maintenance for the longer term are included elsewhere.

“Excluded from the ‘rehabilitation costs’ are a rehabilitation schedule ($350,000), a management plan ($100,000) and the cost of rehabilitating the inlet and outlet channels and the 5,000-6,000 hectares of dry land which will not form part of the future wetlands.

“Also excluded are monitoring and research costs for which a paltry $500,000 has been allocated elsewhere in the budget.”

Dr Sykes also expressed his concern that the report tells only half the story in relation to increased flood risks to Benalla, presumably to down play those risks.

Dr Sykes said, “The report notes that given the limits on the capacity of the inlet channel, its impact on lowering flood levels is small and thus decommissioning Lake Mokoan will have little impact on flood risks to Benalla and downstream.

“The report fails to recognise the importance of Lake Nillahcootie being managed to have 30,000 mega litres reserve capacity in winter to take the top off moderate to big floods. This reserve capacity will not be there if Lake Mokoan is decommissioned.

“The full information must be made available to the public before any final decisions are made.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “The Minister for Water either has no grasp of the information upon which he is making decisions which impact on the future of Benalla and downstream residents, or he is deliberately continuing to deceive people as the Bracks Government struggles to deliver on its political commitments of water for the Snowy River and the Living Murray Project.

“I call on the Bracks Government to make public all of the facts and costs on the proposal to decommission Lake Mokoan.

“If the facts do not support the current strategy then the Government must go back to the drawing board and achieve water savings by other means – this time listening to local people.”

FAQ on the proposed Performing Arts Centre

Council adopted the concept, submitted by Harmer Architecture, which is very impressive and look 'outside the square' to ensure Council’s requirement of a visually dynamic building is fulfilled.

The concept links the Wangaratta Exhibitions Gallery with the proposed Performing Arts Centre as well as establishing a new iconic building. The concept takes advantage of the views to the Anglican Cathedral, providing a focal point for a restaurant and strengthens connections with the new Joined Up Government Centre.

The proposed development will have a high degree of flexibility and caters for the performing arts, conventions, conferences, community events, exhibitions, weddings, balls and other functions.

The new building has been designed to maximise energy efficiencies. It will also preserve car parking space and gives scope for temporary function spaces to be placed on site.

A large viewing screen can also be added to the new building at the Ford Street entry point that can be used for street events.

The total project cost is estimated to be $7.5 million, with the bulk of the funding to be provided by the State government.

Since Council adopted the Harmer concept considerable interest has been shown in the project and a number of questions have been raised. Council has put together a FAQ (frequently asked questions) sheet to assit our community to further understand the project.

Download FAQ sheet (527kb PDF)
Download Concept Plan (674kb PDF)

You're Invited to attend a Community Information Session

The Wangaratta Rural City Council invites residents to a community information session to discuss the new Performing Arts Centre.

To be held on Wednesday, 26 July at the Town Hall, a static display will be available for viewing from 5.00pm to 8.30pm with Council staff on hand to answer any questions.

A presentation from Council's Chief Executive Officer, Doug Sharp, will commence at 7.30pm.

All residents are encouraged to attend to learn more about this exciting project.

New Board members for NECMA

New Board members for the North East Catchment Management Authority have been appointed for the next three years, the Minister for Environment and Water John Thwaites announced today.

Mr Thwaites said the Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is a key body in the management of land and water resources across the region.

“The CMA provides an important link with local communities, bringing people together to work in partnership with local, state and federal governments to address important environmental issues,” Mr Thwaites said.

“Sustainable irrigation, water quality, river health, weeds and pest, salinity control and native vegetation management are just some of the ongoing challenges tackled by the CMA’s.”

“The CMA administers substantial resources on behalf of State government and helps make sure that land and water use in each particular catchment is sustained for the benefit of future Victorians – it’s a very important responsibility.”

“We all know that a healthy environment provides the livelihoods and lifestyle that all Victorians expect and depend on.”

Mr Thwaites said that Board members have broad experience ranging from strategic planning and organisational governance through to environmental management and community engagement.

“Being a Board member requires a lot of commitment and hard work, but at the same time is very rewarding as it is an ideal way to help lead Victoria into a sustainable future.”

“We are very confident that the mix of Board members we have appointed for the next three years will admirably fulfill their responsibilities.”

Ms Sarah Nicholas, reappointed Chairperson of the North East Catchment Management Authority, said that she was honoured to have the opportunity to continue to lead a team dedicated to protecting and improving the natural resources in the region.

“During the next three years, the board will work with communities to develop the strategic direction for the north east catchment,” Ms Nicholas said.

“We will undertake practical actions with local landholders, community organisations and researchers across the region to address issues such as water quality, salinity, and biodiversity,”
“We will concentrate on delivering direct improvements to the land and on engaging with the community to support practice change and to identify ways to address increasingly erratic climatic conditions.”

“There is a great mix of skills and experience on the Board and I look forward to a productive three years that will see this catchment prosper, both economically and environmentally.”

Mr Thwaites thanked the outgoing Board members for their contribution to the work of the CMA and its achievements to date.

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Board Members

Please note for further information on Board members or to organise an interview, please contact North East CMA Communications Officer Maryanne Scully on (02) 6043 7600.

· Ms Sarah Nicholas (Chair)
· Ms Lynette Coulston
· Mr Anthony Griffiths
· Mr Gregory Hayes
· Dr Terence Hillman
· Mr Anthony Jarvis
· Mr Raymond Park
· Mr Peter Roper
· Ms Rhonda Serpell
· Mr Brian Thompson (DPI)
· Kevin Ritchie (DSE)

Farmers welcome EC assistance extension

The extension of Exceptional Circumstances (EC) for farmers in North East Victoria until March 2007 is good news for farmers.

The announcement this week by the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Peter McGauran applies to the majority of farmers (except irrigators) in areas in North East Victoria currently declared to be experiencing Exceptional Circumstances.

The decision to extend Exceptional Circumstances status follows on from inspection of North East Victoria by the National Rural Advisory Council in mid June and a personal letter from Bill Sykes to Mr McGauran supporting local farmer’s requests for an extension of EC status which was scheduled to end this week.

Dr Sykes said, “Recent rains have given farmers hope but many farmers are still under significant financial and emotional stress from the series of late autumn breaks in North East Victoria.

“In many cases, stock will need to continue to be hand fed for quite a few more weeks at a cost of many hundreds if not thousands of dollars per farm per week”.

Support available includes interest rate subsidies up to $100,000 on loans, assistance with local government rates and for those with severely limited income, income support of up to $741 per fortnight.

Dr Sykes concluded, “I encourage farmers feeling the financial pressure due to the run of tough seasons to contact Centrelink for more information. Any help which is available should be considered as a “hand up” rather than a “hand out”.

Centrelink National Drought Hotline is 13 23 16

Power's Lookout - a view to remember

The latest issue of North East tourist News includes the following article on Power's lookout. If you have never been there, make sure you take a look on your next trip to the King Valley. The scenic lookout is a short walk from the carpark utilising stairways to negotiate the pathway.

Mokoan Tourist Centre to cost $24 million

The rehabilitation of Lake Mokoan into a wetlands tourist centre will cost $24 million according to Bracks Government appointed consultants.

This compares with the $1 million allocation in the original budget of $60 million for the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan and rehabilitation of the wetlands.

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, has been forecasting a significant cost blow out for many months – forecasts which up until now the Minister for Water has steadfastly rejected.

Dr Sykes said, “This $24 million cost blow out is the first in what will be a succession of cost blow outs which will put the cost of decommissioning Lake Mokoan well in excess of $100 million.”

This means that the cost benefit analysis of the whole decommissioning project needs to be revisited in light of the updated figures, particularly when the other side of the equation, the claimed water savings has become increasingly questionable. For example, the surface area of the wetlands will be over 1,000 hectares greater than the originally estimated wetlands, leading to significant increases in the water lost due to evaporation from the wetlands.

Dr Sykes continued, “Apparently only $2.5 million of the $24 million budget has been allocated to actual rehabilitation and maintenance with the rest being earmarked for tourism development etc.

“The Government anticipates 300,000 visitors to the new wetlands by 2020 – I say, unless a lot more money is committed to wetlands rehabilitation, no one will want to come and see a weed infested jungle in which feral cats and foxes roam, rampantly destroying endangered species such as the Latham Snipe”.

Dr Sykes concluded, “I call upon the Government to make public all of its revised costings on Lake Mokoan. I suspect that the Government cannot honour it’s commitments to maintain security of water supply to irrigators, deliver a world class wetland and ensure that Benalla and downstream residents are not flooded out within a budget of less than $100 million (if at all).

If this is the case, then I call on the Bracks Government to go back to the drawing board, and this time listen to the local people”.

Wangaratta Tech to record history - can you help?

Dear readers,

Many of you will have already heard that Ovens College will be merging with Wangaratta High School in 2007. Many of you will have known this college as Wangaratta Technical School (1956), then as Wangaratta Secondary College (1990) until it became Ovens College in 1999 under the leadership of Mr. John Peck.

A Heritage Committee has been formed to celebrate the history of Ovens College since the original college opened in 1956 at the Greta Road Site under the name Wangaratta Technical School.

Many students and teachers have passed through the doors of Greta Road and have fond memories of the excellent teachers and students and the contribution this college has made to the life of this community over the past 50 years.

The Heritage Committee is keen to preserve the memory of this college over that time and to celebrate the successes of those who passed through its doors. We need your help to help us preserve these memories. There is a small but very committed band of people working to have a "Back To" on Saturday 2 - 3rd December 2006.

The committee is keen to collect and archive our history so that we can hand this to Wangaratta High School and the Wangaratta Historical Society in an official ceremony sometime in 2007.

What we require are volunteers to help us collect and archive our history and to share their memories with the local community. If you can use a computer, help with displays or read documents then we need you.

A 'Volunteering to Help' form is available at the Ovens College office or by phoning during business hours 03 57231333 if you would like a form sent to you. The form asks for the skills that you may be able to contribute to help our committee record and archive our history. Please return the form to the Front Office in Greta Road, or post to Heritage Committee Ovens College, PO Box 483, Wangaratta Vic. 3677 by 11th of August 2006.

Yours Sincerely,
Joan Cochrane
Heritage Committee Chairperson
Mrs Kaye Harris Principal
Quality in Education

Roads congress adopts historic transport strategy

The RCoW still has over 2000 kilometres of unmade road with no prospects of it being sealed due to funding restrictions. The same 20 odd King Valley roads that were closed to heavy traffic in the days of the Shire of Oxley are still restricted today. Hopes of progress are further jeopardised by the imminent world fuel shortages.

In spite of all that, the Australian Local Government Association held a National Local Roads and Transport Congress in Alice Springs this week. At the heart of the strategy is a five-point plan addressing issues of major concern for Australia's 700 councils:

RCoW Community Raffle declared great success

The Rural City of Wangaratta Community Raffle was drawn by the Mayor on 21 June 2006. The draw took place at a free lunchtime barbecue in front of the Town Hall. Approximately 100 people representing groups who had been involved in, or who had assisted with, the raffle were present.

The winner of the first prize, a Nissan Tiida ST sedan provided by Wangaratta Nissan was Rees, Stockdale and Leggo of Wangaratta. The winning ticket was sold by NESAY. The winner of the second prize, a holiday in New Zealand provided by Harvey World Travel was won by Stephen Hoskins of Oxley. This ticket was sold by the Wangaratta Bicycle Users Group.

Overall, $59,086 was raised for by 110 community groups with all proceeds from each ticket being retained by the groups. Income per group varied from $40 to $5,034. Larger groups generally were more likely to raise more money, but some very small groups also raised a significant amount.

In preparation, 60,000 tickets were printed with 43,820 distributed to clubs. Of these, 12,205 were returned unsold and 2072 were declared lost. All clubs were asked to provide statutory declarations regarding any missing tickets.

Clubs were generally more conservative in their estimate of the number of tickets they could sell than they were in the previous raffle and also more efficient in recording sales and returning tickets.

While the clubs were able to retain all income from sales, the Office of Gaming Regulation required this money had to be returned to Council for distribution, which did not occur in the previous raffle. This money has since been redistributed. Due to gaming legislation, Council is not able to auspice the raffle. Once again, Council entered into an agreement with the Rotary Club of Appin Park, who acted as auspice.

The raffle is being audited by the Office of Gaming Regulation, who noted that ambiguities were caused by the auspicing arrangements. It may be appropriate for Council to lobby the Minister to have the legislation changed.

Council has received a great deal of positive feedback on the initiative from the
groups involved in the raffle. The initiative has met with a very enthusiastic esponse from community groups which has been positive for Council. The Council intends to hold a further Rural City of Wangaratta Community Raffle to raise funds for community groups between February and May 2007.


































































I
n preparation, 60,000 tickets were printed with 43,820 distributed to clubs. Of
these, 12,205 were returned unsold and 2072 were declared lost. All clubs were
asked to provide statutory declarations regarding any missing tickets.
I
ssues
Clubs were generally more conservative in their estimate of the number of tickets
they could sell than they were in the previous raffle and also more efficient in
recording sales and returning tickets.
While the clubs were able to retain all income from sales, the Office of Gaming
Regulation required this money had to be returned to Council for distribution,
which did not occur in the previous raffle. This money has since been
redistributed.
Due to gaming legislation, Council is not able to auspice the raffle. Once again,
Council entered into an agreement with the Rotary Club of Appin Park, who acted
as auspice.
The raffle is being audited by the Office of Gaming Regulation, who noted that
ambiguities were caused by the auspicing arrangements. It may be appropriate
for Council to lobby the Minister to have the legislation changed.

King Valley Shed Wine Show gets RCoW support

The King Valley Vignerons is planning to hold the King Valley Shed Wine Show on 14 October 2006. There is a renewed effort to attract visitors from outside the region to attend this event.

The Wangaratta Tourism Advisory Board has received and duly considered an application for funding under the Tourism Special Events Funding program. The Board recommends that Council approves the request for funding of $5,000 for this year's event.

The Vignerons have requested $5,000 for promotion, venue & bus rental, travel and accommodation costs of professional wine writer/critic.

The event benefits the RCoW by potentially attracting visitors from outside the municipality, particularly from Shepparton, Mansfield and Albury Wodonga. It will also further cement the reputation of the wines of the area. The format of this event is unique and as such, has the potential to attract solid media coverage.

The application by the King Valley Vignerons fits the Council Plan Objective for tourism which states that the RCoW will support and encourage sustainable tourism development throughout the municipality.

Supporting the development of tourism in the municipality in this manner encompasses a sustainable approach to the economic well being of residents as tourism is a significant generator of employment and income for the region.

The budget implication for the 06/07 financial year of these activities is $5,000.
This can be accommodated within Council’s 06/07 Special Events Budget provision. The budget allocation for the Special Events Funding Program for this period is $33,000. There are existing commitments for $5,000 leaving $28,000 from which this particular grant will be drawn.

The grant is recommended to be approved at the July Council Meeting.

Volunteers wanted - Great Vic Bike Ride

The 2006 Great Victorian Bike ride is on again in November. Starting in Wangaratta, it will stay over at Whitfeld before heading off over the mountain through Mansfield. If you want to get up close and personal with this great event, you might like to become a volunteer. For more information, read on ...

CFA to march on Bracks

Thousands of CFA volunteers plan to march in Melbourne in protest of the Bracks Government’s pressure on the CFA Board to sign an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) which empowers the United Fire Fighter’s Union (UFU) to effectively veto decisions affecting CFA volunteers.

Leader of The Nationals, Peter Ryan and Nationals Spokesperson for Police and Emergency Services, Bill Sykes, have both raised concerns about the impact on CFA volunteers.

According to Mr Ryan CFA volunteers were told at a meeting last night that the Bracks Government was applying extreme pressure on the CFA Board to sign the EBA which would continue the power of veto for the UFU; a power which has been severely abused in the past.

“Over 350 CFA volunteers from throughout Victoria from Orbost to the South Australian border responded to the call to hear CFA Board Chairman, Len Foster, explain the gravity of the situation”, Mr Ryan said.

Dr Sykes said, “This matter has been simmering for months – initially the Minister for Police & Emergency Services would not even talk to volunteers about issues in the EBA which impact on volunteers.”

“The Minister then relented and started speaking with CFA volunteers but he has refused to remove from the agreement the conditions that effectively grant the UFU power to veto. Now the UFU is pressuring Mr Bracks who in turn is pressuring Mr Holding and the CFA Board to sign.

According to Dr Sykes the UFU have repeatedly exercised the power of veto, for example, a new fire station was built at Caroline Springs. It had two doors; the UFU wanted only one; $250,000 later there was one door.

The UFU’s industrial action has also put CFA volunteers’ lives at risk. Part of the UFU action involved refusing to refill oxygen cylinders used by fire fighters using breathing apparatus in dense smoke and potentially toxic chemical situations.

Dr Sykes said, “The refusal to fill oxygen cylinders at one location increased the turn around time for oxygen cylinders from 24-48 hours to several days – totally unacceptable union tactics which put the lives of volunteers and country Victorians at increased risk.

Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to stand up to the bullying, blackmail tactics of the UFU and to protect the interests of Victoria’s 58,000 CFA volunteers and the lives and property of the people throughout Victoria serviced so well by the CFA”.

IMFMP - Draft Position Paper Feedback

FirePlan Update

Milestones in Integrated Municipal Fire Management Planning

The Project would like to thank our stakeholders who took the time to read the Draft Position Paper and provide comments.

Comments have been received from over sixty organisations and interested individuals.

Feedback was encouraging and some issues were raised. The most common theme related to clarity of roles at the three levels, State Regional and Municipal. Comprehensive definitions and roles will be included in the Integrated Fire Management Planning Framework when it is presented to Government.

A number of CFA volunteers and others expressed concern about being able to continue to contribute to the planning. A process is being developed by CFA and anyone wishing to be part of this development can call Andrew Andreou on 0419 561 259.

The Next Step
The project team is considering the feedback whilst developing The Integrated Fire Management Framework for Victoria. It is proposed to have the proposed Framework ready to submit to the State Government by 31 August 2006.

Changes to the Project Team
On 31 May 2006, the four Communication and Consultation Managers seconded to the IMFMP Project Team concluded their time with the project. Norm Free (MAV),

Shaun Huguenin (DSE) and Stan Hendy (VICSES) returned to their organisations after providing important and significant contributions to the Initial Discussion Paper and the Draft Position Paper.

Naomi Brown, CFA’s Director Community Safety and Project Custodian, said. “I wish to thank them for the contribution they made to the project, in particular to the extensive consultation that has taken place over the 15 months they were involved”.

Andrew Andreou (CFA) has been appointed to work with the project team, continuing his role of Manager Communications and Consultation to ensure CFA staff and volunteers are fully informed and consulted about the proposed Framework.

The Project will also welcome back Norm Free early in August. Norm will be working with MAV on local government matters related to Integrated Fire Management Planning.

To continue the multi agency flavour of the team, discussions are underway to have other agencies represented on the team during the development of tools and processes for the implementation phase of the project.

For further information contact
Garry Cook (Project Manager) - 03 9262 8697
Andrew Andreou (CFA) – 0419 561 259

What's on in Wangaratta - from 14 July 2006

This is edition 71 of the Rural City of Wangaratta E-Newsletter "Cultural Capers". If you would like to subscribe simply enter your email address in the subscription box at the bottom of the newsletter and it will be sent upon publication.

Brace yourself for massive petrol price hikes

The Financial Services Institute in Sydney was told the world's oil fields are producing as much oil as they can. An oil industry expert is predicting oil to reach $150/barrel ... double the current record of $77/Barrel. He states that demand is outstripping supply and may cause wars as the shortages hit the developed world.

Dr Ali Samsam Bakhtiari has also given evidence at the hearing of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee hearing into future oil supplies. (11 July 2006). Read more below ...

Oil production limit reached: (ABC Online)
An international oil industry expert says the limit of global oil production has been reached.

Podcast from PM program on the ABC

[RealMedia 28k+] [WinMedia 28k+] [MP3]
(Transcript available here)

Ali Samsam Bakhtiari was previously interviewed by Mark Colvin on PM - Monday, 9 August , 2004 where he predicted the current situation (Read transcript here)

Peak Oil (ABC Four Corners)
Read the program transcript of Jonathan Holmes' report, "Peak Oil?", broadcast July 10, 2006. This program will be repeated about 11 pm Wednesday 12 July; also on ABC2 digital channel at 7 pm and 9.30 pm Wednesday.



Click image for overview and to access the Broadband edition and the transcript of this Four Corners program.

Feds to directly fund local councils

Pubished in Border Mail 10/07/05

COUNCILS are close to an historic deal that would see them establish a direct funding stream to the Federal Government.

It would remove their reliance on money that is presently sifted through state government coffers, which it is claimed masks its direct contribution to local government.

Indigo councillor and vice president of the Municipal Association of Victoria Jenny Dale said talks were well advanced.

“We are well on the way to establishing a direct stream of funding with the Federal Government similar to Roads to Recovery,” she said.

“A lot of people have been suggesting that we get a cut of states’ GST windfall but that is never going to happen.

“This initiative will remove our reliance on the states and be far more effective.

“It is also the first time that the move has also been endorsed by the states and territories.”

Cr Dale said it was a sign of the growing importance of councils that the head of the Australian Local Government Association would take a seat at the next COAG meeting between state premiers and the Federal Government.

“The association president is talking to the Prime Minister about the plan and the importance of local government,” she said.

The news comes as the Victorian Opposition blames the Bracks Government for dramatic rate rises.

Liberal spokesman John Vogels said Victorian councils needed to speak out against a system that has robbed them of $250 million in the past three years.

“By sneakily decreasing state grants each year from $206 million in 2002-2003, the Bracks Government managed to claw back a total of $75 million in 2003-2004, $80 million in 2004-2005 and a massive $93 million last year — a grand total of $248 million,” Mr Vogels said.

“They hide their measly contribution behind money that they pass on from the Commonwealth.

“It is no wonder ratepayers have been faced with rate increases three times the rate of inflation as councils struggle to make up annual shortfalls.”

Original Article here

Penalties for poor electricity standards

A free brochure is available outlining the payments electricity consumers can expect if poor service standards are experienced is now available from the office of Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.

Earlier this year, the Essential Services Commissioner strengthened the uaranteed Service Level (GSL) payments to electricity customers whose level of electricity supply service falls below the required standard.

Dr Sykes said, “The five electricity suppliers in Victoria are now obliged to pay customers for poor service standards and certain supply interruptions.

“GSL payments apply to the cumulative amount of time off-supply and the number of sustained interruptions per calendar year”.

Dr Sykes continued, “The GSL Scheme, entitles customers to:

• $20 if the distributor is more than twenty minutes late for an appointment with a customer;
• $50 per day to a maximum of $250 if the distributor does not supply
  electricity to the customer on the day agreed;
• $10 if you report a faulty public light which is maintained by your distributor and that public light is not repaired within two business days of being notified, and you are the occupier of the neighbouring residence or business.”
• $100 payment if you experience more than 20 hours of unplanned, sustained interruption in a calendar year; $150 for more than 30 hours, and $300 for more than 60 hours.

The above payment provisions exclude the impact of certain events such as failure of the state-wide transmission system or insufficient transmission.

GSL payments do not cover faults caused by customer’s damaged equipment blowing a mains fuse or faulty safety switches.

Dr Sykes concluded by saying, “Distributors can be contacted by ringing the following telephone numbers”.

AGL ……………………..1300 796 011
Powercor…………………13 22 06
CitiPower …………....….1300 301 101
SP AusNet …………...…1300 360 795
United Energy (Alinta)… 1300 131 689

Councils seen as extensions of State government

If recent decisions of the RCoW have left you feeling that councils are "not-very-sexy extensions of state government", you are not alone. The Australian Local Government Association feels the same way too as the following extract from the ALGA Newsletter shows.

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It became apparent in our new council when the mayor, Don Joyce, supported the fluoridation of Wangaratta's water in principal as it was an initiative of the State government.

The joined-up Government Centre and the Joint RCoW/Tafe library are further examples of our council taking decisions supporting State Government institutions and passing the bill on to the ratepayers.

The State controls on local government are over the top. When you elected your council, each councillor had to swear allegiance to the State Government. Confidentiality rules brought in in 2004 deem everything discussed in non-public forums by councillors and committee members to be confidential under a penalty of $10,000 and banishment from public office.

In State Government documents, local councillors are often referred to as 'local government representatives'. Does this mean they represent you at the local government level or does it mean that our elected councillors are local representatives of the State Government?

Either way, very few of the current RCoW councillors can be perceived as representing ratepayers.

$500,000 for Gentle Annie Bridge upgrade

Extract of Border Mail article published 29 June 2006
Councils eager to spend road funding
BY CHLOE BUGELLY

THE Alpine, Wangaratta and Wodonga councils have earmarked how they will spend the Federal Government’s Roads to Recovery money.

More than $6.5 million was allocated to councils in the Indi electorate for roads and infrastructure work in this year’s federal Budget.

Wodonga will use its $370,000 to commence upgrades on Thomas Mitchell Drive after October.

The money will also be used to begin the construction phase of improvements to High St early next year.

Wangaratta council was given nearly $1 million, one of the biggest hand-outs in the funding package.

Six roads and bridges in the city will be reconstructed including the Gentle Annie Bridge, at Whitfield, crossing the King River.

Wangaratta infrastructure services director Malcolm Styles said the money would go a long way.

“Under the road management Act we have obligations to ensure roads and local bridges are maintained,” he said.

“Some of these structures are at the end of their useful lives so it’s crucial to be able to upgrade and maintain them.” ... full story here

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Upgrading the Gentle Annie Bridge is long overdue. The deck of the existing bridge is in fine shape but the support structure has rotted away and has been repaired over many years.

Back in the 1980's, the now extinct CRB had scheduled its replacement. Land was acquired and test piles were driven. And then came the transition to VicRoads ... and all bets were off.

In the 1998 floods, the deck was buckled by a giant gum tree lodging against the support structure. That is why the steel railing is bent along the way.

The RCoW is to be thanked for raising the priorioy on the Gentle Annis Bridge upgrade.

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