The Beagle Editor, The RLS Eurobodalla Rural Lands Strategy that is now under consideration, adoption or amendment has become certainly captured the attention of the community and media. And rightly so. By the submissions received from the community and from several NSW Government agencies there is a growing dissent that many do not support what’s been put forward as the Eurobodalla Shire Council's recommendation. On Tuesday it will come down to the vote and it is clear as day that the vote will go 7 to 2 in favour of adopting the strategy as it is written with only Mayne and McGinlay against while the "Gang of Seven" once again back the staff recommendation. The staff have got "all the answers" - have a listen HERE to the Mayor on ABC South East brush aside the comprehensive and concerned submission that was made to the Lands Strategy by the RFS. The ABC had happened upon the submission via a Eurobodalla resident, Noel Plumb of whom the Mayor refers to as a "conservation activists with some very extreme views". Listen: Mayor Liz Innes discusses the Rural Lands Strategy on ABC South East 22nd August 2018 with Simon Lauder
Click on image to Listen Copyright of interview remains with ABC South East
The vote of the councillors is basically a token gesture as it is plainly evident that they have very little comprehension of the strategy that has been five years in the making and is 1800 pages in volume. The shire's Councillors have never been in control of the Rural Lands Strategy or proposed rural development plans. It’s always been a matter for the State Government to decide on as part of a State and National Rural development Plan. The areas residents need to be aware of who is in control with the matter. Even after the vote the NSW Department of Planning and other Government Agencies may make some changes as they see fit before anything is adopted by the State Authorities . Private ownership is a fallacy. The population is totally controlled by regulation.
Name and address supplied Editors Note: In the interview above the Mayor referred to Noel Plumb a "conservation activists with some very extreme views" With little effort the Mayor could easily have done her own research (as we have) on Mr Plumb and, , rather than label him as an "activist with extreme views" , possibly recognise him as an informed and active conservationist recognising his determination and capacity to bring a massive spotlight to an issue and his ability and tenacity to reasonably bring poor policy to the public forum for focus. For those (and the Mayor) not familiar with Mr Plumb allow me to introduce him: Noel is Convenor of the Nature Coast Alliance recently formed to oppose the major rural land planning changes proposed by Eurobodalla Shire Council. The Alliance has the support of some 14 regional community, conservation and heritage groups who collectively have several thousand members. He also leads the South East Forest Alliance based in the Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven regions dedicated to end native forest logging with a focus on the South Coast. SEFA wants transition of the native forest logging industry to plantations with guaranteed jobs for current workers - in plantations or secure employment in Landcare or the management and protection of national parks and crown lands. Noel is a former Executive Officer of the National Parks Association of NSW the largest member based conservation group in NSW. He has served terms on the peak Australian and NSW conservation bodies, National Council of the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Executive Committee of the NSW Nature Conservation Council. He has recently served a term as President of Coastwatchers, one of Eurobodalla’s longest established conservation groups. He was the Joint Conservation Negotiator for both the Eden and the South Coast Regional Forest Assessments (NOT Regional Forest Agreements) in 1998 and 2000 and a forest campaign team leader. That work saw more than half a million hectares of forests added to NSW National Parks on the South Coast including such gems as Monga, Conjola, Meroo and Murramarang (Extn) that encompassed mist rainforest and superb coastal lakes such as Durras, Termeil, Meroo and Conjolaand their forest catchments. He was a conservation representative on the NSW Government Resource and Conservation Assessment Council of NSW in this period. He also inspired a 3-year campaign that saw the controversial NSW Charcoal Plant proposal for silicon production finally defeated in 2003 after bitter community campaigns in western NSW at Gunnedah and then the South Coast at Mogo;communities opposed to its pollution and the burning of native forests as industrial catalyst. As a direct consequence of this campaign the Carr Government in 2003/4 legislated to ban the burning of native forest woods for biomass energy, including both charcoal and electricity. Noel was formerly a Real Estate Manager and Negotiator for a large organisation for some 15 years, responsible for delivery of all property needs across Australia; whether a site for a high technology station, the disposal of surplus land, the development of a CBD head office building or the leasing and fit out of CBD accommodation. The key skills in this role were project management and meeting program timelines, team building and leadership, negotiation, management and co-ordination of expert advisers including architects and engineers. Presently, he is a semi-retired professional bush regenerator and urban bushland restoration advisor when he is not involved in advocacy for the protection of nature. He leads several all volunteer local and regional conservation groups as well as undertaking wider forest campaign responsibilities. He has three adult children and loves gardening, sailing, reading and volunteer bush regeneration whenever time permits.
