Habitat Facing Bulldozers
I went for a walk at Pine Creek with some other locals today. We walked through parts of the promised Great Koala National Park (GKNP), and, sadly, areas full of mature flooded gum, and recovering grey gum, tallowwood and forest oak, all important koala foods, and all set to be bulldozed, because “plantations” have been excluded from the GKNP politically, rather than assessed ecologically.
Some plantation areas are vital to connect the massive gaps in the GKNP in Pine Creek and Tucker’s Nob especially. Some are ecologically valuable in their own right, being on good soil and so having quality foliage for koalas. Yet other areas are not plantation at all, whatever the maps might say, such as the areas we walked today. All will be bulldozed, degraded, sprayed, burned and then replaced with Blackbutt, which koalas don’t eat, and which will be a massive fire hazard for animals and Bellingen Shire residents for decades to come.
It’s great that we have a koala park coming, it will be greater still if has more integrity by including some plantation corridors, especially those which are in fact regenerating mixed species habitat.
Jason John, Hydes Creek
Affordable housing solutions
The Board of the Waterfall Way Community Land Trust would like to express our appreciation of the recent Bellingen Shire Council decision to move into the shire-wide community consultation phase of the proposed transfer of land in Urunga for affordable housing.
With the housing crisis now seriously impacting moderate income workers, local businesses and essential services, the WWCLT offers an affordable solution, now and for future generations.
We are a locally led not-for-profit organisation that grew out of the Housing Matters Action Group, we are part of this community and are determined to be part of the solution to the intractable housing problem.
The CLT model is not social housing, but rather an affordable, shared ownership option for people on moderate incomes, such as people on local wages, who under normal circumstances, would have been able to have secure housing.
While this is the first time the model has been set up in Australia, there are multiple examples of successful projects in the US, UK and Europe.
We welcome this consultation phase and look forward to talking to people about the CLT model and how an environmentally-responsible development on the Urunga site would create secure homes forgenerations of local families.
We invite you to explore our well-resourced website (https://www.wwclt.org.au/) or call us on 0494 331 821.
We look forward to seeing you at the council-run community drop-in event to be held in Urunga on Wednesday, March 18.
Michael Darcy, Chair, Waterfall Way Community Land Trust Board
The Madness Rolls On
We are drowning under information yet almost impossible to access the actual facts these days.
Firstly, I heard the Gordonville landslide, a disaster resulting from a massive rain event 25ml. We now have a natural disaster declared for the whole shire from a supposed catastrophic weather event in January. The slide financial impact and inconvenience for many, nothing to do with a huge weather event. What are these idiots referring to. Four million dollars via a federal grant for Summerville Road and heaven only knows how many millions to fix Gordonville. I pray for a one lane fix till completed as I fail to see Summerville Road as a viable option for the volume of heavy transport now using Waterfall Way.
As a temporary option subject to the weather, a local cocky with a wheel tractor and blade brushed off an old trail from junction of horseshoe rd to Waterfall Way north of Boggy Creek. A slow ten-minute run has been a fantastic alternative for many over the last couple of weeks. A huge temporary bonus till the rain comes or until someone sights a koala.
Having attended the passing of Common Sense in the past did wonder how many realised the magnitude of the loss. They now get the message. But maybe via A.I. We could dig him up and recreate him.
Darcey Browning
Fuel Crisis Looms
Only a few days ago Australians were warned that, due to a lack of an effective emergency plan from the Government, the country may once again find itself at the bottom of the barrel. This time the concern is fuel — with reports suggesting that Australia could face petrol shortages in as little as 31 days.
The first signs of trouble are already appearing. Food distributors supplying regional areas are raising concerns, and diesel shortages are expected to hit farmers particularly hard. Some producers are reportedly at risk of running out of fuel by Wednesday.
We have seen before how uncertainty and poor planning can create widespread disruption. During the COVID period, decisions that many believe were poorly handled caused significant hardship for Australians across the country. Now there are fears we may again be heading into difficult times.
If these reports prove correct and fuel supplies tighten, the impact will be felt most by businesses in regional Australia — especially farmers, tradies, and trucking companies who keep our communities supplied with food, goods, and essential services.
At times like this, there are practical things we can all do to help. When possible, leave the car at home, postpone unnecessary long-distance trips and conserve fuel so that those who rely on it to transport food and essential goods can continue doing their jobs.
We should also keep an eye on fuel prices and be aware of petrol stations that may quietly raise prices to levels that are unsustainable for local communities.
Remember, when fuel prices rise, the cost of living rises with them.
In small country towns we have always relied on each other. During times of uncertainty like this, that community spirit becomes more important than ever.
Blessings all,
Brigitte Graefin von Bulow PhD