Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Archives for March 2, 2007

Canberra Stormed: A Note from Gavin

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Hi Jennifer,

I’m writing a note about a bizarre end of summer storm event that hit drought affected Canberra late Tuesday evening. To some extent the whole thing went right over my head but I recall hastily pulling out internet and power connections then rounding up pets as lightening developed around my place. It passed quickly but next day there was still chaos in our city nearby.

Read about “The Storm of the Decade” here, http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=general&story_id=561581&category=General.

For a while I have been most interested in what we now call “supercell” activity and I wrote another note on the Licloa event to a local political advisor on Tuesday afternoon thinking we must get used to a higher frequency of these spectacular but very dangerous events as our seas around Bass Strait warm.

Regards,
Gavin
In Canberra, Australia

Queensland Government Investigated Over Tree Clearing Case

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I was pleased and surprised to read today at Farm Online that the actions of six Queensland Government employees is being investigated over the Ashley McKay saga.

I detailed the sorry story in a piece at this blog entitled ‘Tree Clearing in Queensland: One Man’s Battle Against Bureaucracy’ posted in October 2005.

It began: “About six years ago Ashley McKay a softly spoken cattleman from south western Queensland was prosecuted by the Queensland Government for clearing cypress pine on his property. McKay had a permit to clear trees from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM), but not a permit from the Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) Forestry Division. The second permit was apparently necessary to clear the pine trees scattered amongst the other trees.

It is now folklore in western Queensland that the decision by government bureacrats to prosecute the local hero was taken because McKay appeared on national television program Sixty Minutes speaking out against the government and then new Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999.

Thousands of cattleman are being investigatged for illegal clearing under the legislation which many claim is unworkable.

The advice has been if you‘re prosecuted, plead guilty because government and the courts will show no mercy if you take a stand…

You can keep reading the blog post here : https://jennifermarohasy.com.dev.internet-thinking.com.au/blog/archives/000971.html