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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.8.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:04:55 GMT--><rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rss="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:cc="http://web.resource.org/cc/"><rss:channel rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/"><rss:title>Media Watch</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/</rss:link><rss:description></rss:description><dc:language>en-AU</dc:language><dc:date>2009-11-24T21:04:55Z</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.squarespace.com/">Squarespace Site Server v5.8.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</admin:generatorAgent><rss:items><rdf:Seq><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/23/mary-valley-renewal-team-20th-november-2009.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/23/sydney-to-squeeze-in-640000-new-homes.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/23/water-limit-will-not-fix-core-issues.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/20/paradise-dam-challenge-continues.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/20/too-much-grass-after-dam-blocker.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/20/stop-taking-our-water.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/19/traveston-crossing-right-decision-wrong-reasons.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/19/perish-the-thought-that-we-can-handle-a-bigger-population.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/19/report-labels-anna-blighs-asset-sale-plan-as-foolish.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/18/we-live-in-a-state-ruled-by-nay-sayers.html"/></rdf:Seq></rss:items></rss:channel><rss:item rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/23/mary-valley-renewal-team-20th-november-2009.html"><rss:title>Mary Valley Renewal Team – 20th November 2009</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/23/mary-valley-renewal-team-20th-november-2009.html</rss:link><dc:creator>stevem</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-11-23T02:29:51Z</dc:date><dc:subject>Save the Mary River-Press Release What happens next?</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[A cross-section of organisations and group leaders were invited to meet last night at Kandanga Hall to start the complex process of moving forward for the community after the announcement of &#8220;NO DAM&#8221; at Traveston Crossing.
Save the Mary River Coordinating Group President, Glenda Pickersgill said &#8220;There is a great opportunity for the community to be involved in the rebuilding process, caring for the river and the environment.&#8221;

&#8220;A way forward through a framework and a lead Renewal team concept was endorsed that represents local government, community and the environment.&#8221; she said.

The groups represented on the Renewal Team were identified at a community meeting and will provide links from all aspects of the community, economy and environment ensuring a triple bottom line approach.
]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/23/sydney-to-squeeze-in-640000-new-homes.html"><rss:title>Sydney to squeeze in 640,000 new homes</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/23/sydney-to-squeeze-in-640000-new-homes.html</rss:link><dc:creator>stevem</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-11-22T23:08:52Z</dc:date><dc:subject>"Don't you worry about that" Environmental Global Warming Population Growth Power and Energy</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[A Forty per cent increase in Sydney&#8217;s population over the next 20 years means the State Government has no option but to open up scores of suburbs for new developments, according to a radical proposal for Sydney to build 640,000 new dwellings.

The Urban Renewal Action Plan compiled by major property companies argues a complete change to the way planning is done is Sydney is essential if the city is to cope with the explosion in population.

In a document just provided to the Government, the NSW Property Council says the city is running out of old industrial sites like those in Alexandria and Pyrmont as areas for new housing and Sydney must move to a new, more difficult phase where there is large-scale development close to existing and new transport routes&#8230;&#8230;.

&#8230;..the Urban Renewal Commission would also have powers to compulsorily acquire land, some of which could be sold to developers for urban renewal projects and part retained for public use. Release of the Property Council&#8217;s proposals comes as the Government is preparing to announce a review of the five-year-old Metropolitan Strategy, the main planning document to guide development of the city.
]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/23/water-limit-will-not-fix-core-issues.html"><rss:title>Water limit will not fix core issues</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/23/water-limit-will-not-fix-core-issues.html</rss:link><dc:creator>stevem</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-11-22T22:31:27Z</dc:date><dc:subject>"Don't you worry about that" Costs Dam Alternatives Desalination Population Growth Storm water runoff Water Grid Water Restrictions Water Wasteage</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Bligh Government may not admit it but there were quarters breathing a deep sigh of relief after federal Minister Peter Garrett put the &#8216;stop&#8217; sign up for the Traveston dam project.

The wheels were well in motion for damming the Mary River when Anna Bligh took over as premier &#8212; it was a Peter Beattie project. Fast forward to 2009 and the State Government simply can&#8217;t afford any more big-ticket infrastructure projects.

To have the Traveston dam off the books is like winning lotto for this Government.

And limiting water consumption to 200 litres per person per day is as much about delaying the need to sign a cheque for another desalination plant as it is about genuine water conservation.
]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/20/paradise-dam-challenge-continues.html"><rss:title>Paradise dam challenge continues</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/20/paradise-dam-challenge-continues.html</rss:link><dc:creator>stevem</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-11-19T22:49:51Z</dc:date><dc:subject>Environmental Freedom of Information Paradise Dam QWIPL</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[IN THE shadows of anti-dam celebrations, a Wide Bay conservation group has this week continued its legal challenge to the suitability of a fishway for lungfish at Paradise Dam, north-west of Biggenden.

Sunwater is being challenged in the Federal Court by the Wide Bay-Burnett Conservation Council which claims the State Government utility breached Federal Government environmental controls by operating the dam since 2005 without an effective fishway for lungfish.
]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/20/too-much-grass-after-dam-blocker.html"><rss:title>Too much grass after dam blocker</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/20/too-much-grass-after-dam-blocker.html</rss:link><dc:creator>stevem</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-11-19T21:51:04Z</dc:date><dc:subject>Local Stress What happens next?</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[THE bowls players of Kandanga will happily have to make do with their present digs, after news the cancellation of the Traveston Crossing Dam proposal has also meant the end of a proposed replacement bowls facility.

This week’s Gympie Regional Council Planning Committee meeting was told the proponent of both the dam and the replacement bowls club building, Queensland Water Infrastructure Pty Ltd, has withdrawn the bowls club application.
]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/20/stop-taking-our-water.html"><rss:title>Stop taking our water</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/20/stop-taking-our-water.html</rss:link><dc:creator>stevem</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-11-19T21:40:22Z</dc:date><dc:subject>"Don't you worry about that" Water Grid Water Restrictions Water Wars</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[Mayor Bob Abbot wants the state government to stop draining the Sunshine Coast’s water supply after Baroon Pocket Dam this week came close to its lowest level in more than two years.

The controversial northern interconnector pipeline has siphoned 7800 million litres of water since it was completed in March, while the Coast region experienced less than half its normal rainfall during a long dry winter.

The Bureau of Meteorology has also predicted below average rains this summer, with a similar El Nino effect forming to that experienced in 2002, which preceded the worst drought in Queensland’s history.

Baroon Pocket’s level dropped by nearly 10% in the past two months and an average of 1% a week to its current level of 86%.
]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/19/traveston-crossing-right-decision-wrong-reasons.html"><rss:title>Traveston Crossing; Right decision; Wrong reasons.</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/19/traveston-crossing-right-decision-wrong-reasons.html</rss:link><dc:creator>stevem</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-11-19T03:40:16Z</dc:date><dc:subject>Captn Bligh Environmental Impact Statement Peter Garrett</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[This is a prime example of the old adage that nobody&#8217;s life liberty or property is safe while parliament is sitting. While property rights are generally secure from private encroachment, they have no security when the government invokes &#8220;the common good.&#8221;

It seems incredible to me that in the long run the destruction of the Mary Valley was only averted due to the presence of some fish, turtles and frogs etc. I am not in any way attempting to denigrate those who led the campaign on these issues, indeed we would all be poorer for the extinction of these species, and these people promoted the issue that saved the day.

Congratulations to them on that.

It is shocking though that the enormous economic costs, social disruption, waste of resources, incredible stupidity of the concept, and the crushing psychological burden to the victims of this outrage, counted for nothing. Right up to the announcement of the decision the Premier was waging psychological warfare on landholders attempting to force them to sell.
]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/19/perish-the-thought-that-we-can-handle-a-bigger-population.html"><rss:title>Perish the thought that we can handle a bigger population</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/19/perish-the-thought-that-we-can-handle-a-bigger-population.html</rss:link><dc:creator>stevem</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-11-19T01:39:45Z</dc:date><dc:subject>Population Growth</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[It defies &#8220;carrying capacity&#8221; constraints. One windy day blows our onion paper-thin soil 1400 kilometres. Our rivers are mere creeks compared with those fed by the Alps, the Rockies or the Andes. Two capitals, Adelaide and Brisbane, have come perilously close to running out of water&#8230;..

&#8230;..In the meantime I would like Canberra and big business to level with us about the implications of soaring immigration.

Will they, for example, stand shoulder to shoulder with state planning ministers when prime farming land on the city fringe has to be ploughed up for housing and low-density suburbs rezoned for high-rise? Residents of Ku-ring-gai opposed to flats along their rail corridor should remember these rezonings were to help facilitate a Sydney population of 5 million. Now we are headed for 7 million. Their placards belong outside the Department of Immigration, not the Department of Planning.
]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/19/report-labels-anna-blighs-asset-sale-plan-as-foolish.html"><rss:title>Report labels Anna Bligh's asset sale plan as foolish</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/19/report-labels-anna-blighs-asset-sale-plan-as-foolish.html</rss:link><dc:creator>stevem</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-11-18T19:26:56Z</dc:date><dc:subject>"Don't you worry about that" Captn Bligh Costs Privatisation</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[A MAJOR economic analysis of the State Government&#8217;s $15 billion asset sale claims the plan has no credibility, could cost millions and is based on poor economic advice and manipulated Treasury figures.

The report, by Sydney University Professor Bob Walker and his wife Betty Con-Walker, a former NSW Treasury boss, rubbishes the need for the privatisation and claims it would be fundamentally foolish.

It describes the Government&#8217;s strategy as a &#8220;Magic Pudding&#8221; which could somehow reduce debt and build infrastructure with the same money.

The report, commissioned by the union movement which is opposed to privatisation, also claims the Government manipulated figures to provide an economic picture that was far worse than in reality.
]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/18/we-live-in-a-state-ruled-by-nay-sayers.html"><rss:title>We live in a state ruled by nay-sayers</rss:title><rss:link>http://swampnews.squarespace.com/media-watch2/2009/11/18/we-live-in-a-state-ruled-by-nay-sayers.html</rss:link><dc:creator>stevem</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-11-18T04:21:40Z</dc:date><dc:subject>Oh No! Peter Garrett Political</dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[YEARS back I had to go to San Francisco to learn that the famous sea lions in the bay smell worse than week-old sardines and that the Australian lungfish is about as exciting as Kevin Rudd.
A murky tank at the California Academy of Sciences has been home to Methuselah the lungfish since 1938 and I presume he is still going strong, although I am yet to receive confirmation from the Ichthyology Department.

But if he&#8217;s still on duty, I hope they treat him with the respect due to a creature that can demolish a $1.2 billion dam.
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