Central Coast Greens - Local Activities

	Central Coast Greens
Home Activities State Government Federal Government Local Government Policies Picture gallery Feedback Links	March 2010 At the March 2010 meeting, we had two guest speakers. Belinda, standing in for Peter Cooper from the Wilderness Society, gave a presentation on the problems faced by the River Red gums of the Riverina district. The latest NSW Government legislation does too little to protect this valuable resource. With only 136 direct employees producing low grade products in an unsustainable way, we should expect our government to be looking at a restructure. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Write a letter. See the Wilderness Society website for more details. Three speakers from RAID, Residents Against Inappropriate Development, spoke about the proposed development in MacDonalds Road Lisarow. They are very concerned that the development is very much out of character with the area. For more information visit their website. NOTE, this website does not work properly in Firefox so you should use Internet Explorer. Peter Freewater, Sue Wynn, Heather Ingram and Peter Meloy talked about Gosford's Draft LEP. Submissions close on 8th April. Much of the COSS land has been downgraded in its protection status. Please protest in writing. More information at CEN's website. One of our long time members, Gwen Parry_Jones of Wambina Flying fox fame, is very concerned about the potential extinction of this species. She requests that we write to both Federal and NSW Governments re the lack of action on Recovery Plan. GOATS, or Going Off at the Swamp, festival will be held on Sunday 11th April at Koala Park,Budgewoi (Munmorah Power Station - off Central Coast Highway/Scenic rd). GOATS Family Festival is the biggest event on the coast. It is one of the most well organised events and what is truly amazing is that there are no yobboes spoiling it with alcohol and bad behaviour like other events on the coast. This is due to the organisers and a testament to the young people. The music is great and it is amazing to see the wonderful talent we have on the coast and all the families and community stalls supporting the young people. GOATS rules and is the spring board to bigger things for a lot of bands and singers who have gone on to win many awards and found fame in the music industry. Glenys spoke about the Woman's International Peace Walk, from Brisbane to Sydney, which will be passing through the Central Coast on 3rd to 6th May. They are aiming to raise awareness against nuclear energy in favour of alternative sustainable energy. We are looking for support. Jane Andrews spoke about FIG, Food Integrity Group at Ourimbah., phone 0416 647 715 (Mondays 2.00 to 5.30 ONLY) or fig.centralcoast@gmail.com February 2010 At the February meeting, our guest speaker, Dr Ian Charlton, gave a strong presentation on his ideas for "Improving the Health of the Central Coast by improving Public transport". A orbital system of public transport would enable all residents to have access to the whole Central Coast by public transport within a few minutes walk from their home, for little change in the present cost. His nine page summary in pdf format is attached. Film Afternoon Sunday 14 February 2010, 3.00pm to 5.30pm (Valentine’s Day). Avoca Beach Picture Theatre. We will be showing the humorous movie “My Year Without Sex”, staring Sacha Horler and Matt Day. A tender story, which highlights the realistic ups and downs of an Australian family in the year following the woman's emergency medical procedure. This movie received strongly favourable reviews, and was touted by The Sydney Morning Herald as "possibly the best" Australian film of 2009 and "the most accomplished" local film of 2009 by The Age. Ticket ($21.00) will include pre-movie coffee and cake (3.00pm) on the lawn outside the Avoca Beach Picture Theatre. Have a fun evening; bring a group of friends. To purchase tickets please contact Heather on 4335 2838. Mangrove Mountain & Districts Country Fair Saturday 18th October 2008, at Mangrove Mountain Hall, Wiseman’s Ferry Road, Mangrove Mountain Commencing 10.00 am. Read more ...... Three Local Government Press Releases - 26th June 2008 Labor Fails To Clean Up Political Donations - Business as usual for September local government elections Greens Councillor, Terri Latella has criticised the Government's new political donations law, saying that Premier Iemma is not discouraging the use of political donations as he said he would through his new laws. He is offering the public very little surety and going back on his word that he would clean up political donations before the September local government elections this year. Read more ......... NSW HEALTH - PRUDENT AVOIDANCE OF EMF. On the 24 June, 2008 Gosford City Council passed a motion unanimously agreeing to write to the Minister for Energy, Ian McDonald requesting a reply as to his position on the Wamberal/Terrigal high voltage above ground installation of powerlines given NSW Health state that, "…prudent avoidance when considering new or upgraded high voltage power lines and the possible public health impacts of a proposal…..".This motion was put up by Greens Councillor Terri Latella in an effort to stop the current practice that Energy Australia is "hell bent on" in the face of major public opposition, that is, installing high voltage powerlines close to childcare and school facilities. Read more ...... BAN ON THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL TRANS FATS "BAD FATS" WITHIN FOOD BUSINESSES IN THE GOSFORD LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA. The Greens are campaigning for a rapid phase out and ban on the addition of trans fats ('bad fats') to foods. In an effort to do this at a local level on the 24 June, 2008 Gosford City Council passed a motion unanimously agreeing to amend the relevant DCP or standard conditions of consent for food outlets to ban the use of trans fats in food preparation in our Local Government Area.This motion was put up by Greens Councillor Terri Latella in an effort to prevent the use of 'bad fats' in food production. The motion has also called on Council to lobby the Local Government Association and National Local Government Association to follow suit and lobby for these changes at State and Federal government levels. Read more ....... Meet the Central Coast Greens Local Council Candidates The Central Coast Greens are fielding Candidates for both Gosford and Wyong Local Government Councils. Greens Gosford Councillor, Terri Latella, will be running again and has put together a group of candidates to support her. Sue Wynn, a dynamic and committed member of the Central Coast Greens is heading up her team for Wyong (Ward A) Council. The Central Coast Greens held a ‘Meet the Candidates’ day at Organic Plus, Erina. Both Sue and Terri were there throughout the day with other members of the Greens electoral team. Some of the campaign issues for this election in Gosford and Wyong are: Local Government Framework Social Justice & Social Equality Support for the local environment Rates Lower Hunter Strategy Planning Issues Political Donations and their links to Developers Cycleways and Public Transport Sue Wynn can be contacted on 0431 637 643 or emailed at skwynn@bigpond.net.au Terri Latella can be contacted on 0439 488 037 or emailed at terri.latella@gosford.nsw.gov.au HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES - WAMBERAL/TERRIGAL AREA On Tuesday, 30 April, 2008 a meeting was held between Councillor Terri Latella and representatives of Energy Australia at their offices in Sydney. This was as a consequence of facsimiles sent to the Minister for Energy Ian Macdonald, Minister for the Central Coast, John Della Bosca and the Premier, Morris Iemma, and further to the peaceful protest that the community held outside Governor Macquarie Tower in Sydney on 23 April. The meeting was fruitless and achieved nothing. It was a rehash of Energy Australia's proposal placing the burden of health in the hands of scientific possibilities. Read more ........ Somersby Sandmining The residents and parents at Somersby are fighting a proposed development consisting of a 42 hectare (100 acrea) sand mine. As you can imagine, the local residents, together with the school community are not too happy about this. The Environmental Assessment has been lodged which needs to get approval from the NSW Department of Planning in order to go ahead. Read more ...... On Thursday, 10 April 2008 in the NSW Upper House the Greens motion calling on the government not to proceed with the proposed sand mine was accepted unanimously. The motion calls on the Iemma government to reject the proposed sand mine and introduce legislation to create an exclusion zone forbidding any mining within three kilometres of a school or residential community in NSW. Read the full motion......... SOMERSBY SAND MINE - Question Time - 7 May 2008 Ms LEE RHIANNON: My question is addressed to the Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for the Central Coast. Is the Minister aware that New South Wales planning laws prohibit hotels or brothels near schools but will allow the construction of a massive sand mine creating unacceptable dust, noise and disruption and resulting in a mass exodus of students from schools located near such mines? Considering the widespread concern of people on the Central Coast about a part 3A application for a sand mine only 260 metres from Somersby Public School, what representations has the Minister made to be Minister for Planning, Mr Frank Sartor, on behalf of the people of the Central Coast to refuse the part 3A application? The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: I thank the member for her question, which is a good one. Read more .... Read a supportive article on the Somersby residents battle by Trudy Johnston in EcoVoice. Rockin' For Rights Protest March. With the successful State election behind us, the campaign to "sack" John Howard was on in earnest. Our first activity was a MASS ATTENDANCE of the Central Coast Greens, with banner, wearing Greens shirts/badges, at the Protest March/Rally (and concert if interested) from Hyde Park North to the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday 22nd April 2007 at 11.00am. Read more ......... A very special movie, KANYINI Publicised as "A FILM YOU MUST SEE", a group of nearly 100 attended a screening of a very special movie, KANYINI, directed by Melanie Hogan. Read more ........ Forum on Global warming - Solutions to Climate Change John Kaye, Energy Expert and successful Greens Candidate for the Upper House in the 2007 state election lead a forum on global warming. Read more ........ ANZSES Open "Sustainable Energy " House Leilani overlooks the bay at Bensville. It is a weatherboard and corrugated iron roof cottage that was built in the 1950s and was substantially added to during the 1980s. Peter bought Leilani in 1999 and has gradually been carrying out many alterations/improvements (both big and small) with the aim of making Leilani almost "autonomous" in terms of electricity and water use while, at the same time, making the Leilani more comfortable to live in. Read more ..... The Greens support workers' rights The Liberal's workplace laws affect millions of workers and roll back the clock more than a hundred years. Over a million workers in small business will lose the protection of unfair dismissal laws. The minimum wage, award working conditions and the right to organise in unions and take collective action are also all under threat. The Greens organised in parliament, workplaces, and the community to oppose these laws. Read more ........ State delegates Council (SDC). Every two months each local group sends a delegate to the decision making body of the NSW party. However, the SDC is open to all members and its location is rotated around NSW to ensure maximum participation of all members. In June, The Central Coast Greens hosted the SDC at the McCabe Centre, Mt Penang Gardens, Kariong.. It was a great opportunity to change what is a two day conference, into a "WEEKEND AWAY WITH FRIENDS". It was a great success.	March February
	Election material authorised by Terry Jones, 3 Baden Street Killcare 2257.