Q: What are YOU doing to stop the Traveston Crossing Dam?

[SteveB]

Here is a way to be an active citizen in the run-up to the looming 2009 state election -

1: Ask ALL the local candidates in your electorate (and any other political candidate you have contact with) this simple question.
"What are YOU doing to stop the Traveston Crossing Dam?"

2: Record their response to you (or refusal to respond) accurately. Better still, get them to give it to you in writing.

3: Post their response in a reply to this forum topic, making sure you clearly name the candidate, their party and the name of the electorate.

The LNP and Greens have already put out firm party-wide committments to put an end to the whole fiasco. Lets make sure they hold to their committment, and every candidate is aware of them.

Even Labor candidates can take an active role within the Labor party (and it's support network of big-business infrastructure, media and banking mates) to stop this farce NOW. Let's hear candidates clearly state how they will be active within the 'democracy' of the Labor party to fix up the mess that has been created. It is a sad situation if the only way that Labor party supporters and candidates can retain their personal integrity in the presence of a corrupt minority is to leave the party.

There is no need for any more scientific, economic or social analyses.
Nearly 3 years of studies and inquiries have made it is very obvious that this proposal is a dud on all fronts. The Senate has called upon the State Government to abandon the project. The only questions are how soon, and what will be done to repair the damage done to the families and communities of the Mary Valley.
_________________
"Bad luck ... you dickheads. Suffer in your jocks". (from: the Castle)

[SteveB]

David Gibson's (LNP member for Gympie) parliamentary record clearly shows his dedicated stance against the proposed dam, and he has been a tireless campaigner for the benefit of his local constituents. He is the shadow minister for the Environment and Sustainability

SteveMorrison (LNP candidate for Nicklin)has been personally active for several years in opposition to the proposal. He is running a major campaign against the Northern Pipeline Interconnector stage 2 (the Traveston delivery pipeline), which has major impacts on towns and people in the Nicklin Electorate. He has repeatedly publicly endorsed the LNP party line against the proposed dam and pipeline.

Kent Hutton - Greens candidate for Gympie has been a vocal and dedicated activist against the proposed dam since it's announcement in 2006,

David Artthur- Greens candidate for Maryborough has also been very actively involved in the campaign to Save the Mary River for several years.

Brian Stockwell- ALP candidate for Noosa has released a written water policy, which has many good elements (as does the federal ALP water platform documents). However, his policy document clearly endorses the ALP party line in favour of the proposed dam at Traveston Crossing. This is in conflict with the Mary River and Tributaries Rehabilitation Plan (of which he was the principal author) which clearly stated the position that there be no further water infrastructure development on the Mary other than the planned raising of Borumba Dam. He has refused to give a clear answer to the question of whether he would vote against motions in favour of the proposed dam.

Andrew MacNamarra (ALP member for Wide Bay) has repeatedly stated his support for the proposed dam in public. He has also released a personal water plan called the 'MacNamarra plan' for the downstream reaches of the Mary River, which involves building a network of pipelines connecting the lower Mary to Lenthalls dam on the Burrum River and on to Paradiise Dam on the Burnett River, as well as an unspecified number of offstream storages in the lower Mary catchment. Thus, under the MacNamarra plan, not only are the water resources of the Mary being targetted for out-of-basin transfer to the south via the NPI and the proposed dam at Traveston Crossing, anything left over in the river is also being targetted for out- of-basin transfer to the north by the 'MacNamara plan'.
_________________
"Bad luck ... you dickheads. Suffer in your jocks". (from: the Castle)

[bensoncooroy]

ALP Candidates response to “Where they Stand” on the Controversial Proposed Traveston Crossing Dam.

John Kelly –for Lockyer---- “In regards to the Traveston Dam I can safely inform you that with doorknocking , street stalls and functions that I have done that no one has mentioned the dam, either for or against.” Not an answer to my question!

Peter Baulch --Nicklin ---“ I am afraid that the Traveston Crossing Dam is the best of an unattractive set of options to guarantee the water security of urban residents of SEQ in general and Brisbane in particular.”

Christina Landis --- Mermaid Beach ---- “ I am inherently a person who believes in conserving our environment wherever possible. I was glad to hear that the people in your region of Mary’s River had won an issue they campaigned about.
I Believe the Labor Government according to news reports late last year has shelved the plan to build a dam for a few years.
This means they were listening to what the local people were saying and important information they had presented to the Government.”

Jenny Goodwin--- Kawana --- Supports many issues involving water conservation …
“ and of course the Proposed Traveston Dam. I support the proposal that the environmental concerns be addresses first, and that any environment consequences are within acceptable limits and meet approval under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act by the Federal Government.”

They obviously know very little if from outside this area, other wise their responses are off the ALP song sheet.

[bensoncooroy]

LAURA HAWKINS -- ALP Canditate for Buderim
" the general consensus about this issue is that as long as the environmental impacts are minimised and the landowners conpensated it seems that ensuring the flow of water around SEQ region is essential.
...... I understand the concerns of peopole about the envirnomental issues a project of this size raises and issues iit creates about flora and fauna sustanibility. I do however, think that the ECQ have stringent guidelines about creating balanced buffer zones [particularly about the frogs in this matter] ensure that the ecosystem remains balanced"
Obviously has no idea about the dam!

DANIEL TOOMBS --ALP Toowoomba south
He quoted the usual facts and figures put out by the government and finished with "SEQ - including Toowoomba --is experiencing the compound effects of the worst drought in more than 100yrs, and a booming population and the prospect of continuing irregular rainfall due to natural climate variability and long-term climate change"
Little understanding and rather contradictory comment I thought.

PHIL FREEMAN -- ALP Bundaberg

" I support the Government's position of building the dam as long as it passes all environmental approvals in the process"
_________________
Helga Hill

[SteveB]

(cross posted from another forum)

Peter Wellington (Independent MP for Nicklin) did a good job with his short time in the spotlight on 'The National Interest' on ABC Radio National last night - followed by an excellent article on the bizarre financial mismanagement of the 'BrisConnect' Bligh government/private toll road partnership.

Wellington stated quite clearly that he would not support Labor in any situation where he had a deciding vote in a hung parliament -directly because of their behaviour in his electorate over various dam and infrastructure proposals, particularly Traveston Crossing

Both well worth a listen via the internet http://www.abc.net.au/rn/nationalinterest/
“Queensland and the clout of the independents”
“Investors digging a deep hole”
_________________
"Bad luck ... you dickheads. Suffer in your jocks". (from: the Castle)

[bensoncooroy]

[TED SORENSEN --LNP HERVEY BAY

has replied to me thanking me for 'LOVE MARY '

TRAVESTON DAM NOT NOW NOT EVER

TREVOR RUTHENBERG --- LNP --- KALLANGUR

SUPPORTS THE CANCELLATION OF THE DAM

[tanzi]

[color=darkblue]Five Candidates in ballot paper order: [/color]

Paul Brown, Greens Candidate, Hervey Bay

We are yet to receive a statement from Paul in response to the question "What have you done/are you planning to do to stop the proposed Traveston Crossing dam".

However, the Greens are opposed to the dam.

Ted Sorensen, LNP Candidate for Hervey Bay
We are yet to receive a statement from Ted in response to the question "What have you done/are you planning to do to stop the proposed Traveston Crossing dam".

However, his response listed in the post above summarises his position "No Traveston Crossing dam ever"

Andrew McNamara, ALP Candidate Hervey Bay
We are yet to receive a statement from Andrew in response to the question "What have you done/are you planning to do to stop the proposed Traveston Crossing dam".

However in media and in parliament he has actively supported the dam. In recent local media reports he has also claimed the dam is on hold or on the backburner, which, as we all know, is incorrect.

Jason Powning, DS4SEQ Candidate, Hervey Bay
When asked about his position on the proposed Traveston Crossing dam, the candidate said:

"As a single issue party, we are concerned only with the permanent introduction of Daylight Saving into South East Queensland. We have a strict policy of not offering comment on any other matter. Our objective is to offer the voters of South East Queensland an opportunity to vote on this important issue, an opportunity they have been denied for over 17 years despite clear evidence that some 69% of the population of South East Queensland would like to see the introduction of Daylight Saving."

Peter Schuback, Independent Candidate Hervey Bay
When asked for his position on the dam Peter Schuback said:

"Definitely No Dams, No way - because of the environmental damage, because of putting people out of their homes and because of the destruction of a huge chunk of farming land. A big NO to the dam.

The dam will affect, recreational fishing, commercial fishing, prawns and build up of contaminants could impact on our scallop industry.

Every home should have a minimum 5000 gallon water tank."

[tanzi]

[color=darkblue]Four candidates listed in ballot paper order[/color]

Anne Maddern, LNP Candidate Maryborough
n response to the question:
"What have you done and/or what are you planning to do, to stop the
Traveston Crossing Dam?

Anne Maddern replied:

As you are probably aware the LNP policy is that under an LNP Government there will not be a Traveston dam. I have sent out in the last two weeks approximately 10,000 letters, all of which have stated in bold letters that THERE WILL BE NO TRAVESTON CROSSING DAM. There is another flyer coming out which will be going statewide, approximately 15,000 to this Electorate, which will be sent out next week and it also has the same message. Every media conference that I do, there is a No Traveston Dam message. Unfortunately these very often don't get published (and often that which is published/televised contains at least some incorrect information!). I will continue (as will Ted Sorensen in Hervey Bay and the whole LNP team) a No Traveston Dam stance.

Brad Hansen, ALP Candidate Maryborough
We are yet to receive a statement from Brad Hansen in response to the question "What have you done/are you planning to do to stop the proposed Traveston Crossing dam".

We are all well aware what his parties' position is. Based on his comments on radio recently, Mr Hansen seems to have not made a personal decision as yet.

Chris Foley, Independent Candidate Maryborough

We are yet to receive a statement from Chris Foley in response to the question "What have you done/are you planning to do to stop the proposed Traveston Crossing dam".
However, Chris is opposed to the dam as his election campaign add makes clear.

David Arthur, Greens Candidate Maryborough
In response to the question:
"What have you done and/or what are you planning to do, to stop the
Traveston Crossing Dam?

David Arthur replied:

In my response to the TCD EIS, I condemned the TCD proposal as unnecessary, and far more expensive than rainwater tanks plus fresh water recovery from treated effluent.

My candidacy in this campaign is driven more than anything else by my visceral opposition to TCD; so long as Q ALP intend to pointlessly devastate Mary R valley, I cannot be other than opposed to Q ALP.

[arawajo]

Callide independent, Clare Mildren says,