Sykes: Bushfire Package a good start but ...

The State Government $138m Bushfire Recovery Package announced today has been cautiously welcomed by Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said, “The package contains some good initiatives such as:

• Repairs and upgrade to Whitfield Recreation Reserve;
  
• Upgrading community halls such as Cheshunt;
  
• Tourism Recovery Package as announced 31/1/07
  
• Upgrade of Jamieson – Eildon Road and Mt Buller – Mt Stirling Road;
  
• $60,000 to restore high country huts;
  
• $30m for SES; and
  
• $455,000 for securing fish stocks in streams affected by the fires.

“However, the quantum of money falls short of what is required. The Nationals believe that $250m is required.”

Dr Sykes continued, “$138m plus the $140m for Drought Recovery is less than three days income for the State Government. Many farmers and rural businesses have spent three years income attempting to survive the ‘double whammy’ of fires and drought.

“In addition, some items listed in the recovery package are not directly related to the fires or drought or are existing budget items ... eg.

• $34m for CFA shed upgrades (already in budget);
  
• $20,000 for Winton Motor Raceway marketing plan (unrelated to Bushfire/Drought)

“Increased money for weed and pest animal control is welcome but $3m is a pittance when there is over seven million hectares of Crown Land.

“The temporary wild dog and fox bounties will fail unless they are made permanent – any population biologist will tell you that wild dog and fox populations will rapidly rebuild to original numbers if the cull program only last six months.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the Bracks Government to increase its level of support to Country Victoria, in particular to adopt the following initiatives which we included in The Nationals Submission to the Bushfire Recovery Taskforce:-

• $20,000 cash grants to affected farmers and businesses;
  
• Funding 50% of costs of fence repairs/replacement where Crown Land/private boundary fences have been damaged by fire;
  
• Eliminating matching funding component requirements for small grants for community organisations;
  
• Decentralisation of Government staff to regional areas; and
  
• $200m pa for 10 years to fix country roads and bridges.

$138 million Bushfire Package to revitalise communities

A $138 million recovery and response package unveiled by the Bracks Government today will help rebuild, restore and equip bushfire-ravaged communities across Victoria for the future.

Premier Steve Bracks and Minister for Regional and Rural Development, John Brumby, announced the multi-million package in the north-east town of Whitfield, which came under threat from bushfires at the start of summer last year.

Mr Bracks said the package, outlined in the Ministerial Bushfire Recovery Taskforce's final report, had both immediate and long-term goals.

"Communities in Gippsland, in the North-East and in South-West Victoria have battled the worst bushfires in living memory," Mr Bracks said.

"In the North-East, the Great Divide fires burnt for 69 days, burning nearly 1.2 million hectares, or the equivalent of 10 million average-sized house blocks.
.
"This package is about providing support to individuals, farmers, businesses and communities in the aftermath of these fires and at the same time looking further ahead, so that our bushfire-affected regions can not only recover but continue to grow."

The package includes:

$24.4 million for essential infrastructure redevelopment including roads, bridges and iconic walking tracks;

$16.7 million for land recovery initiatives to help farmers and to regenerate natural resources;

$30.3 million to boost resources for the State Emergency Service (SES) to ensure it is well-equipped to continue providing rapid and effective response;

$34 million for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and volunteer groups, including an $11 million grants program for additional equipment to emergency service volunteer groups, $9 million for 18 new CFA stations, $3 million to expand the Valuing Volunteers program, and

$11 million to replace and upgrade rescue and recovery equipment and upgrade training facilities for the Vic SES;

up to $22 million to significantly expand the State forest timber salvage program. The program will recover fire-damaged logs in eastern Victoria to assist fire-affected communities and moderate the impact of the fires on the long-term sustainable yield;

$10.8 million to support businesses and communities as they get back on track.
Mr Bracks said because of the efforts, courage and resilience of emergency services, communities and individuals, Victoria had been able to overcome the worst fire-fighting conditions on record.

"On behalf of all Victorians, the Government expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the enormous number of personnel and volunteers involved in fighting these fires," he said.

Mr Brumby, also Chair of the Ministerial Bushfire Recovery Taskforce, said the package had been developed after listening to people in fire-affected regions relay their bushfire experiences and outline their recovery priorities.

"Today's package continues the Bracks Government's swift and targeted response," Mr Brumby said.

"Members of the Taskforce spoke directly with emergency services personnel, residents, business operators and local government about the best way to assist after the devastating impact these bushfires had on their communities.

"Feedback was that rebuilding infrastructure, helping businesses to recover, reviving tourism and ensuring communities could move forward was vital.

"This package includes practical on-the-ground support for communities, significant spending on walking track and road rebuilding projects that will drive the tourism industry forward, important initiatives to ensure both public and private land impacted by fire regenerates and importantly, ensures communities maintain involvement in the recovery process."

Mr Brumby said the final report outlined $111 million in operating budget expenses across four years and $27 million for capital expenditure.

"This report acknowledges the huge effort of the many personnel and volunteers across numerous local councils and community organisations, government departments and agencies, in fighting the fires and supporting recovery," he said.

The Taskforce report includes: Essential infrastructure rebuilding

$8.9 million to re-open priority roads and rebuild bridges in parks and forests to provide access throughout the year, as well as access for land and fire managers;

$1.55 million towards the Mt Buller-Mt Stirling Road, providing all-year vehicle access to both mountains;

$1.22 million to the Jamieson-Eildon Road - sealing the dirt section of 14km of currently unsealed road resulting in the road circumnavigating Lake Eildon being fully sealed;

$200,000 for the Rocky Valley Dam "Round the Lake" Trail - including construction of a shared pathway linking Falls Creek to Wallace's Hut in the Alpine National Park, via Rocky Valley Dam;

$6.755 million for urgent works to trap sediment and provide water quality monitoring, as well as longer-term works to protect stream sides and remove silt in rivers and streams;

$2.5 million to rebuild and replace visitor site assets in parks that were lost or damaged;

$1.27 million for fire severity mapping;

$60,000 to assist volunteer groups restore high country huts.

Land recovery initiatives

$5 million to regenerate 3,500 hectares in fire-affected state forests;

$3 million for better pest control in parks, focussing on invasive and fire sensitive weeds;

$1.885 million to assist private land managers with pest plant and animal control across the next two years;

$1 million for a fox and wild dog bounty to decrease populations of predators for six months;

$1.816 million to assist land managers on private land with soil conservation programs to reduce the likelihood of short-term soil erosion and long-term environmental damage;

$830,000 to protect vulnerable ecosystems and rare and threatened species affected by fires;

$650,000 for mapping and protective works for previously unrecorded Indigenous sites;

$455,000 to monitor the recovery of populations of trout and native fish and to determine and carry out remedial fish stocking where appropriate;

$247,250 to assist the wine industry with research into the precise tolerance of grapes before smoke taint occurs for projects to assist vineyards and wineries meet current challenges;

$664,000 for a case management service to assist farm families and businesses to recover;

$90,000 for specialist industry advice for farmers;

$28,000 for fencing insurance excess;

$120,000 for improved pastures on farms;

$36,000 to the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) to assist with fodder transport;

$100,000 for volunteer groups to rebuild fences;

$800,000 to determine sustainable harvest levels of timber.

Support for businesses and communities

$3 million to expand the Community Regional Industry Skills Program (CRISP) for additional training to enhance the skills of employees in fire-affected regions and industries;

$1 million for the rebuilding and refurbishment of community halls in bushfire-affected areas including; $200,000 to the Bairnsdale Racing Club and support to refurbish community halls in Merrijig, Tolmie and Gaffneys Creek in Mansfield Shire. Also in this package is $100,000 for the refurbishment and upgrade of community facilities and installation of a waste water main and watering system at Whitfield Recreation Reserve and $132,500 to upgrade the Allansford Community Hall;

$200,000 to Wellington Shire to assist Dargo and Licola in constructing a bore for each community as a solution to turbidity issues as a result of bushfires;

$15,000 for Lifeline

$50,000 for an information strategy for Gippsland.

The Bracks Government has already announced significant measures to help fire-affected communities including:

a $4 million tourism recovery package for bushfire-affected areas of North-East Victoria and Gippsland, including $300,000 to rebuild the iconic Craig's Hut and improve direction signage to fire-affected tourism destinations in and around Walhalla township, King Valley wine region, the Great Alpine Rd and Gippsland Lakes;

$1 million to open walking tracks by Easter;

$195,000 to re-open and re-build the Walhalla Railway;

$500,000 Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre (MECC) funding at Bairnsdale and
Mansfield, Wellington, Alpine and Rural City of Wangaratta;

$700,000 contribution to the joint Commonwealth/State Community Recovery Fund providing small business grants;

$200,000 under Regional Development Victoria's Business Continuity Program to provide one-on-one counselling to develop recovery strategies;

$480,000 for Community Development Officers in Gippsland and the North-East; and

Payroll tax exemption for employers with employees who volunteer as fire-fighters backdated to November 1,2006.

New Mokoan pipeline to save water

A new pipeline in Victoria’s north-east - part of the Lake Mokoan decommissioning works program - will save 4800 megalitres a year and improve the security of regional water supplies.

Opening the $20.4 million Tungamah Pipeline, Water Minister John Thwaites said the infrastructure would benefit the region economically and deliver significant environmental benefits for the Murray and Snowy Rivers.

The Bracks Government provided $17 million to the project while $3.4 million was provided by customers of the water authorities.

The pipeline will supply stock and domestic water to about 450 individual farmers and customers in the Tungamah Water District over a 63,000 hectare supply area.

“The old domestic and stock water supply system for Tungamah was inefficient, unsafe and had reached the end of its useful life,” Mr Thwaites said.
“In its place we have built a new, 370 kilometre pipeline distribution system, a 140 megalitre winter storage and a dedicated pump station.

“It is pleasing to note that the project, which commenced in February 2006, was completed and operational in December 2006, an extremely short period given the size of the project.”

A related pipeline, also assisted by the Bracks Government and being built by North East Water, will supply water from Yarrawonga to the towns of Tungamah, Devenish and St James.

“Secure water supplies and better quality water will result in a more efficient service for local communities and also boost the regional economy,” Mr Thwaites said.

The Tungamah Pipeline will provide one-third of the savings required to ensure reliable supply to Lake Mokoan irrigators.

“We are making a major investment in decommissioning Lake Mokoan to transform the Broken irrigation system from being the most inefficient in the state to something worthy of the 21st century,” Mr Thwaites said.

“With the ongoing drought and challenges of climate change, we cannot sustain a water storage that loses 50,000 megalitres of water a year.”

Mr Thwaites congratulated the local community and Goulburn-Murray Water, which completed construction of the Tungamah pipeline within a year.

Arts funding currently available

We want to alert local art groups to the Arts Victoria 2006-07 Funding Program.

It’s the perfect opportunity for our local artistic groups to find out about the resources available to assist with the development and continuation of local arts projects and initiatives.

The following funding categories are available for applications in the coming months:-

Programming & Innovation

Arts Innovation applications close 2nd April 2007

Touring Victoria

Applications close 1st August 2007

Details of the funding can be accessed from the Arts Victoria website ‘Funding Programs’ section www.arts.vic.gov.au. A copy of the booklet can be obtained from Bill Sykes office at 2/55 Carrier Street, Benalla or by phoning Arts Victoria on 1800 134 894.

Dr Sykes offered, “Our funding officer Peta Clark will help out where she can. We are very keen to see these opportunities utilised locally. Phone Peta Clark on 5762 2100.”

Bushfire Review Will Burn Out

THERE is to be a "People's Review" of the bushfire summer of 2006/07.

Initally I thought what a terrific idea until a keen bushwalker and former member of the Australian Conservation Foundation got involved.

The review won't go anywhere and once again those directly affected by the fires will lose their voice. They'll contribute their views, the report will come out critical of the government and conservation bureaucracy but any criticism will be watered down by dissenting voices from within.

What a waste of time and effort

Sykes says O'Kane Mokoan comments misleading

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, has criticised recent comments by Mr Bill O’Kane, CEO of Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA) on the impact of decommissioning of Lake Mokoan on the flood risks to Benalla as being misleading and incomplete.

Dr Sykes said, “No one questions that the channel capacity of 2,400 ML per day has limited impact on diverting water during significant flood events such as 1993.

“However, what Mr O’Kane fails to mention is the role of Mokoan to store water released from Lake Nillahcootie between heavy rainfall events in order to have an air space of 10,000 – 30,000 ML capacity to store run off during heavy rainfall.

“Mr Frank Rankin, Weir keeper of Lake Nillahcootie from 1970-1992, is adamant that he managed Lake Nillahcootie to keep air space available between June and November each year.”

Dr Sykes continued, “This public debate can be brought to an end if Mr O’Kane makes available to public scrutiny the operational guidelines, actual inflows, outflows and weir levels for the period 1970-1992.

“This information needs to be in sufficient detail to relate weir management to flood events in Benalla.

Dr Sykes said that two other outstanding points of the Lake Mokoan debate can be also easily resolved by the Government Departments cooperating with the local community.

“The community wants an independent assessment of the current level of security of supply of water which the Government says is 85% whereas irrigators say it is 97%.

“Similarly, the irrigators are seeking access to Goulburn Murray Water’s modelling and engineers to further evaluate their alternative to full decommissioning. The irrigators are confident that the Government’s water savings objectives can be met at less cost with better environmental outcomes – surely a win/win situation.”

Easter trade for Bright welcome

Granting of an exemption from Easter Trade restrictions for Bright has been welcomed by Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, who campaigned hard for the exemption in 2006.

However Dr Sykes said that the one year exemption from Easter Trading restrictions misses the point that the current procedures are clumsy, failing to achieve the intended outcome of protecting small business operators.

“An ex Labor Minister said to me that the current policy is a sham and needs to be modified to achieve the intended outcome more simply. I agree and I call on the Bracks Government to implement the advice of one of its ex Ministers.”

Dr Sykes also said that the Government’s failure to deliver its promised $1.9 million post bushfire tourism promotion package before Easter may impact heavily on tourist numbers.

Dr Sykes said, “I requested a senior Labor Party MP to make sure that the promised money would be available immediately to fund an autumn tourist promotion.

“However I was told last week that Treasury will not sign off on the money until next week – a few days before Easter – a fat lot of good that will do to attract visitors to the Bright district for Easter.”

Dr Sykes continued, “Unfortunately this is another example of Government ministers flying into country Victoria, ‘swanning around’ in their dark suits, looking important, ‘talking the talk’ but then going back to Melbourne and doing absolutely nothing to help country Victoria recover from the ‘double whammy’ of the drought and bushfires.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the Bracks Government to immediately sign off on the promised assistance and immediately commence the tourism promotion campaign to inject serious money into North East Victoria not just a few trinkets which they think will keep us happy.”

Football Clubs kick goals

Football/Netball Clubs participating in the ‘Good Sports’ and ‘Looking after Our Mates’ Programs are kicking goals when it comes back to cutting back alcohol consumption according to Nationals Member for Benalla and former Fitzroy player, Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said that the 2006 Australian Drug Foundation survey of Australian Rules Football/Netball clubs shows:

• ‘Good Sports’ club members consumed on an average half the number of alcoholic drinks at club events that non-‘Good Sports’ club members consumed; and
• ‘Good Sports’ club members had reduced their drinking at club events on average from six standard drinks to three; and
• Thirteen per cent of ‘Good Sports’ club members drank at risky levels, compared to 41 per cent of non –‘Good Sports’ club members.

According to Dr Sykes this great news may struggle to compete with sensational stories of alcohol and drug abuse by AFL stars.

Dr Sykes said, “Football/netball clubs play a key role in country communities. It is well known that involvement in sporting clubs results in young people making healthy life choices and having less risk of going off the rails”.

“That said, in the past some football/netball clubs have had a binge drinking culture and many football/netball clubs have felt pressured to maximise alcohol sales to generate much needed funds to put teams on the field each week.

The ‘Good Sports’ program encourages the responsible serving of alcohol and for the clubs to develop a family friendly culture which has been found to assist in attracting alternative sources of sponsorship and funds.

Dr Sykes continued, “I was a member of the Parliamentary Drugs & Crime Committee which conducted an inquiry into the harmful effects of alcohol, especially binge drinking in young people.

“A disturbing fact presented to the committee was the very high number of road deaths in young male drivers (aged 18-24) with alcohol and speed often being involved.

“Therefore initiatives such as the ‘Good Sports’ program and ‘Looking After our Mates’ are targeting a major issue and are obviously having success.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “I encourage the many football/netball clubs participating in these programs to continue to do so and to those clubs which have not yet signed up I encourage them to sign up as it is truly a win/win situation – a great club atmosphere, leading to on and off field success and keeping our young people fit and alive”.

What's on around Wangarata - 23 March 2007

What's on in Wangarata This is edition 88 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.

King Valley Football & Netball Club win grant moneys

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, today congratulated sporting clubs in the Benalla Electorate which have been successful in gaining funding from the 2007 VicHealth Active Clubs Grants Program.

Dr Sykes said the program aimed to identify a need within the community to fund new equipment or training required to allow the team/group to start an activity. This could be the only barrier to participation and sometimes is a one-off cost.

“This year there were approximately 740 applications received from sporting clubs across Victoria, and the VicHealth program will provide $799,172 in grants this year to 420 sporting clubs and community organisations.

“It is pleasing to see that twelve sporting clubs in the Benalla Electorate were successful.

Benalla & District Bowls Club $2500
Benalla & District Horse Driving $2300
Benalla & District Polocrosse $2345
1st Benalla Scout Group $1350
Bonnie Doon Community Group $2400
Euroa Cycling Club $1366
Euroa Lawn Tennis Club $2200
King Valley United Football & Netball Club $2500
Mount Beauty Soccer Club $1900
Scouts Association Tilba Tilba $1720
Violet Town Bowls Club $ 768
Violet Town Football & Netball Club $2500

Dr Sykes concluded, “I congratulate these clubs on their applications for funding and I encourage all sporting organisations to watch the VicHealth website www.vichealth.vic.gov.au for further funding opportunities”.

Cultural Capers Harmony Day Update

Australia celebrates Harmony Day every year on March 21. It is a national day that provides us with and opportunity to celebrate our successes as a culturally diverse society, re-commit ourselves to harmony and say 'NO' to racism. Harmony Day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Sykes questions Thwaites on Mokoan

The decommissioning of Lake Mokoan was the subject of a number of questions put to Minister for Water, John Thwaites, by Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes in Parliament this week.

Dr Sykes who obtained leave from Parliament to attend the Mokoan Irrigator’s meeting earlier in the week requested that the Minister for Water meet a deputation of irrigators as passed unanimously at the Benalla meeting.

Dr Sykes highlighted to the Parliament the widely different costing for the irrigator’s proposal by DSE compared with Murrumbidgee Irrigation Ltd who proposed the alternative means of achieving water savings.

Dr Sykes said, “DSE say the dam wall for the irrigator’s proposal will cost $6 million per kilometre. This compares with less than $2 million per kilometre based on Murrumbidgee Irrigation Ltd experience with the recently completed, environmental award winning Barren Box Swamp Project and around $1.5 million from another independent contractors.

Dr Sykes asked in Parliament, “How can $6 million per kilometre be justified? Is someone on the take or is this another example of gross incompetence by the Bracks Government managing major projects using public money?

Another five questions were put in writing to the Minister by Dr Sykes covering issues including:-

- a request for an independent comparative assessment of the Government’s decommissioning option and the irrigator’s reconfiguration option;
- potential conflict of interests of the consultants being used by the Government to discredit the irrigator’s proposal.

Dr Sykes concluded, “The Minister can easily put this whole issue to rest by allowing the irrigators to work with Goulburn Murray Water engineers to thoroughly assess their reconfiguration proposal.

“The irrigators have agreed that if their proposal is shown to not deliver the required water savings at a reasonable cost then they will ‘back off’.

“Conversely, if the irrigator’s proposal ‘stacks up’, I would hope that the Minister would take it on as it would deliver a win/win/win situation for the Government, the local community and the environment.”

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VICHANSARD
Whole Speech (Daily Hansard - Proof Version Only)

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Title	Lake Mokoan: Justice for the Broken Valley group
House	ASSEMBLY
Activity	Adjournment
Members	SYKES
Date	15 March 2007
Page	65

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15 March 2007 ASSEMBLY

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Page 65

Lake Mokoan: Justice for the Broken Valley group

Dr SYKES (Benalla) -- I wish to raise an issue for the attention of the Minister for Water, Environment and Climate Change. I ask the minister to meet with a delegation from the Justice for the Broken Valley group and allow it to present to the minister its proposal for a reconfiguration of Lake Mokoan, a proposal which has strong community support and delivers the required water savings at less cost than the proposed total decommissioning of the lake.

Since the Victorian government announced its intention to decommission Lake Mokoan there has been intense debate over maintaining current security of supply of water to irrigators and establishing what is the current level of security of supply. There are also other concerns regarding flood risks to Benalla and the serious impact on the environment and Aboriginal sites of significance.

*** DAILY HANSARD *** PROOF VERSION ONLY *** DO NOT QUOTE ***

Broken Valley irrigators have engaged Murrumbidgee Irrigation Ltd to develop an alternative proposal for the reconfiguring of Lake Mokoan based on the recently completed, environmental award-winning Barren Box Swamp project. The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) has rejected this alternative proposal, claiming that it will not deliver the required water savings and that its cost of less than $40 million is unrealistically low. The Broken Valley irrigators dispute both of these claims. In particular the irrigators cannot understand how DSE can justify a cost of $6 million per kilometre of dam wall when the Barren Box Swamp project costs were less than $2 million per kilometre of dam wall and a second independent contractor has quoted $1.5 million per kilometre of dam wall.

A serious question arises: how can $6 million per kilometre be justified? If someone on the take or is this another example of gross incompetence by the Bracks government in managing major projects, using public money?

I ask the minister to meet with the delegation and explain to the irrigators the costing of $6 million per kilometre of dam wall when the costing determined by the irrigators' independent assessments are $2 million per kilometre of dam wall or $1.5 million per kilometre of dam wall.

Earlier today I spoke of the pain being experienced by country Victorians as a result of the drought and fires. Broken Valley irrigators have been spared some of this pain because of the higher security of water available to them as a result of the presence of Lake Mokoan. However, the source of the pain for irrigators has been the challenge of trying to defend the retention of their current security of supply in the face of grossly misleading statements and positions adopted by a series of government departments. This anguish has taken its toll on the local community, and I ask the minister to immediately address this issue and ensure that he governs according to the government claim of governing for all Victorians.

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Sykes again asks for increased drought assistance

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, in Parliament this week again called on the Bracks Government to provide ‘serious help’ now to drought affected farmers and communities in North East Victoria.

Dr Sykes said, “Country Victoria has been hit hard by drought and fires and the response from the Bracks Government has been grossly inadequate.”

“The money offered so far for drought and fire relief is a pittance – it wouldn’t buy the stock feed for one hundred farmers. Further, a lot of the State Government promises are yet to be delivered on. As of last week, Treasury hadn’t signed off on the $1.9 million post fire tourism promotion packages for North East Victoria.”

Dr Sykes continued, “I see the pain in the eyes and etched in the faces of farmers and the whole community now in North East Victoria. I see it at Tolmie and Whitfield and other communities affected by the fires; I see it at drought meetings; I hear it in the voices of people who ring me begging for help and see it in the letters of those writing, begging for help.”

He called for the Government to provide:

• $20,000 cash grants for farmers;
• rate relief for all residents;
• subsidies for the purchase and cartage of water; and
• commitment to securing long term water supplies for Bright, Mansfield, Benalla, Euroa and Violet Town.

Dr Sykes concluded, “I remind the Bracks Government that it’s tough, damn tough beyond the tram tracks and it’s going to get a lot tougher. We need serious help now.”

Public Notice - Friends of Libraries Australia

FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES AUSTRALIA considers that a national, state and local government policy and funding recognition of the special contribution which Australia's public and other libraries do, and can, make to lifelong educational experience, is long over due.

Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA) is a non-profit association established in 1994 as the world's second national association to foster, advise and support the increasing numbers of Friends of the Libraries (FOLA) groups throughout Australia. These groups and FOLA are the voice of the 60% of Australians who use and value their public libraries, and the many other people who support them as unique 'cradle to grave' educational, informational, cultural and recreational agencies freely available to people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances.

Consistent with this position. In 2004 FOLA commenced a five year program of annual Reports to The Nation on issues critical to the development of public libraries to meet the needs of all Australians. The first report Australia BookStart: a national issue is a compelling case focused on the importance of a nationally comprehensive approach to early literacy development. The 2005 second Report to The Nation was Community Critical: Australian public libraries serving seniors. This conveyed the importance of public libraries to the life quality of Australia's ageing population. The 2006 third Report to The Nation Supporting students : the educational contribution of Australia's public libraries was launched last August.

All three reports are available at www.fola.org.au Copying of the reports or parts there of for dissemination and discussion purposes is encouraged . FOLA welcomes feedback about the issues raised through its president Dr Alan Bundy. alan.bundy@auslib.com.au or PO Box 622, Blackwood, SA 5051

The fourth FOLA Report to The Nation Looking ever forward: Australia's public libraries serving children and young adults will be available in late 2007.

"If it is right that schools should be maintained by the whole community for the well being of the whole, it is right also that libraries should be so maintained."

Andrew Carnegie

Inserted by Alison G Walpole, Whorouly South.

Funding available to encourage healthy lifestyles

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes encourages community groups in partnership with secondary schools or councils to apply for grants of up to $5000 to promote healthy lifestyle choices and a positive body image in young people.

Dr Sykes said the Positive Body Image Grants aimed to build self esteem and confidence and are available for groups who work with young people, especially those aged 12-16 years.

“Research has shown that young people who get positive messages about their health and appearance are less likely to become depressed about their looks or develop eating disorders,” he said.

Local community-based not-for-profit organisations can apply for the grants as stand alone entities, or can make joint applications with secondary schools and councils.

Dr Sykes said that suitable projects could include guest speakers, discussion forums, practical skills and learning focusing on sport, recreation, art and culture; healthy eating and physical activity advice; community events and exhibitions; peer group support, such as group discussions and forums; and the production of promotional and educational material.

Applications for Positive Body Image Grants 2007 must be submitted online at www.grants.dvc.gov.au by Monday 16 April 2007. Guidelines are available from Peta Clark, Grant Researcher at Bill Sykes’ office telephone 5762 2100. For further information applicants are encouraged to contact the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356.

What's on around Wangarata - 9 March 2007

What's on in Wangarata This is edition 87 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.

Do Green Energy products really make a difference?

Green Electricity Watch 2006 - Greenpower's Quarterly Report – Q4 December 2006 (PDF 1.3 MB) December 2006 is available here for download.

Green Electricity Watch provides a ranking of GreenPower electricity products, by three leading Australian environment organisations: the Australian Conservation Foundation, Total Environment Centre and WWF Australia.

Australians are the worst greenhouse polluters per capita in the industrialised world. This is largely due to our electricity consumption, which makes up 35% of Australian greenhouse emissions.

Our electricity doesn’t have to be like this: Australia is rich in clean renewable energy sources like wind, solar, bioenergy and hydro, which could supply much more of our power. Instead we get only 8% from renewable sources, and 92% from polluting fossil fuels such as coal.

There is a small mandatory target in law, for a 2% increase in renewable electricity nationally by 2010, and Victoria and South Australia have introduced their own targets. But these won’t reduce greenhouse emissions enough.

We need to source at least 25% of electricity from renewable energy by 2020 to help avoid dangerous climate change. Your choice to buy accredited GreenPower will help.

GreenPower is government-accredited clean, renewable energy sourced from the sun, the wind, water and
waste. By choosing accredited GreenPower you are driving the creation of new, renewable energy and reducing greenhouse emissions.

There are a lot of GreenPower products on offer. It’s important that you have confidence in your choice of GreenPower products. To help you, we have carried out an independent survey of what’s on the market.

Many GreenPower products include only a small percentage of accredited GreenPower. Some products are
sold as ‘100% renewable’ but it is only the accredited portion that makes a difference. Even if the remainder is renewable, it consists of renewable energy that is already in the grid or already being counted towards mandatory targets. Therefore your purchase does not contribute to the growth of new, renewable energy or assist in reducing our current greenhouse gas emissions.

Buy electricity with the highest ranking and amount of accredited Greenpower
Don’t buy non-accredited ‘green’ electricity products


How accredited products have been scored
... click on image for larger view

This survey ranks Green Power products. These have been scored on their ability to reduce greenhouse emissions based on several criteria, including:

• What is the proportion of accredited GreenPower in the product?
• How much does the product support the growth of new, renewable energy in Australia?
• How much has the retailer succeeded in promoting the uptake of GreenPower?
• How clear and accurate is the information given by retailers about their products?

Information on the Government’s GreenPower accreditation system: ph 1300 852 688 or www.greenpower.gov.au

For an easy guide to the full results of the survey visit www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au

Don’t buy these if you want your electricity to come from new clean energy!

ClearAir - Energy Australia
Green 100 - Jackgreen Energy
GreenFuture - Energy Australia
Red Energy - Red Energy

These electricity products are believed to come from renewable sources that have been part of our electricity system for a very long time or are already part of legislated schemes – buying from them will not reduce Australia’s greenhouse emissions or contribute to making more clean energy.

Earth Friendly - Synergy

This is not an electricity product, it is an alternative to GreenPower and has not been assessed by Green Electricity Watch. It is certified by the Australian Greenhouse Office’s Greenhouse FriendlyTM initiative and aims to reduce greenhouse emissions in other areas.

Impact of drought & fires on Brown Brothers wines

By Ross Brown

The 2007 vintage started three weeks early and is perhaps the earliest start we have ever experienced. Everything is in full swing with 5000 tonnes of fruit crushed so far, or about 1/3 of our vintage.

The fires that raged through the High Country over the summer months exacerbated what was already a difficult growing season and, as a result, every parcel of fruit from the King Valley, including fruit from our own vineyards, has been tested for the impact of smoke on fruit flavour.

We now have a clear measurement that determines if the fruit can be used for premium wine and, unfortunately, very significant portions of our local fruit appear to be affected by smoke and are being rejected, either to be dropped on the ground or on-sold to wineries that can blend the wine away in large bulk production.

The impact of the drought and frost across the country has also lead to a reduction in overall crop levels - in some cases to about 50% of an average year. Our production from the King Valley represents about 15% of our vintage intake.
This is commercially disappointing for Brown Brothers and will mean some wines from the 2007 vintage will not be produced, or at best will be at significantly reduced volumes.

In order to protect the quality of our wine and the integrity of the wider King Valley 'brand', wines grown exclusively in the King Valley will not be produced this year including Patricia Sparkling, Patricia Noble, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Graciano and SMC. However those wines where part of the fruit is grown in the King Valley will be produced but at significantly lower volumes, including Pinot Grigio, Non Vintage and Tempranillo.

There is enormous disappointment and frustration felt by all of us and in particular the vineyard teams who have worked their hearts out, to both grow and save the vineyards from fire, only to see it all in vain. However, we can not forget that this business is still farming based!!

The good news is that the quality of fruit from Heathcote, Mystic Park and the Murray Valley growers is very good, although down in volume. Fortunately, through their strong relationships, Wendy and the winemaking team have been able to secure extra parcels of fruit from the area that will generally make up the shortfall.
In summary we expect to have approximately 85% of our production for 2007 secure with some gaps from our King Valley vineyards. We will be placing extra emphasis on Zibibbo, Moscato, Crouchen Riesling to hopefully claw back some of the lost revenue in the months ahead.

Our job now is to make the best of the most difficult vintage ever. However with revenue results for January and February being above budget, there is good reason to be optimistic for the year ahead.

Photographic exhibition with a cultural twist

Opening at the Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery this Saturday, 24 March is a photographic exhibition with a cultural twist. To Buy a Fat Pig is an exhibition of images from Tim Webster’s Market project.

In this unique exhibition, photojournalist and documentary photographer, Tim Webster, presents an authentic insight into the vibrant, cosmopolitan emporium - the Queen Victoria Market.

Water is life photo competition

Water is integral to life, when it's scarce we realise how precious it is.

ABC Goulburn Murray is looking for local images that celebrate that most valuable of resources - water. We want you to send us digital photographs that have been inspired by the theme "water is life". The photo must have been taken within the ABC Goulburn Murray broadcast area.

You could capture the rebirth that follows a fortuitous fall of rain. Take in the spectacular views of reflecting Murray River waterways or the expectant Woolshed waterfalls. Frame a shot of you setting course in your yacht on Lake Mulwala, showing off your waterski skills at Echuca or the thrill of the Wangaratta swimming carnival. It doesn't matter where the inspiration takes you. All you need to do is capture an image inspired by our theme "water is life".

We will post your entries online so when you upload your images tell us a little bit about the story behind the photo. There is a limit of 5 pictures per person.

Entries close at 12:00 noon Friday March 23rd 2007.

The three images that best depict the theme "Water is life" will win an ABC Shop prize pack including DVD's Books and CD's.

The judging panel will consist of representatives from the Wodonga Albury Camera Club, Benalla Camera Club, Shepparton Camera Club and Myrtleford Camera Club. The winning image will be announced ABC Goulburn Murray on Wednesday March 28th 2007.

Celebrate with us the life sustaining nature of water and enter today. Send us your photo here to enter the ABC Goulburn Murray "Water is Life" photo competition.