Sibling Rivalry

Oh dear, the brothers are sparring and sibling rivalry is hilighting the central issue that is now Melbourne’s elephant in the room. There’s a huge dredger sitting idle in Melbourne’s port waiting to do its thing. The PoMc took a risk and sent word for the Queen of the Netherlands to hitail it to Melbourne before the EMP (Environmental Management Program) had been approved. Now she sits there waiting for Minister Garrett to grant his approval and meanwhile a Judge has warned PoMc not to go ahead when a hearing is pending.

Expensive gamble that one!

It’s a well known strategy here in Victoria – developers demolish houses, clear land and create havoc just prior to writs or injunctions are granted. ‘The horse has bolted and there’s nothing you can do’ … that’s the MO of those who choose control and imposition over negotiation. ’Fait Accompli ?’ Oh dear!

Premier Brumby revealed his own narkiness by trying to convince Melbournians that we’d ‘end up like Adelaide’ if we don’t create a mega port and build up the City. Adelaide Premier Mike Rann has responded. [see Press Page]. The Adelaide papers are loaded with Blogs, comments, articles and a poll.  Thoroughly entertaining reading. How embarrassing! Sorry Adelaide – please do not think for one moment that Premier Brumby represents all Victorians! No, no, we’re not a State full of pea-brained toffs in kahoots with ex-convicts!

Oh dear, Premier Brumby and all those who voted for this project, is the plan for a prosperous City limited to the meccano/legoland you want? Can you envisage a beautiful environmentally healthy City surrounding a huge carbon sink also renowned for its marine sanctuary and pristine beaches? Can you imagine and do you know about the cultural richness and diversity that is here already? Do you know about the educational facilities, the museums and art galleries, the gourmet food centres and local providers of organic (non GM) natural food and wines, the gardens and parks, the theatres and restaurants?  Do you know about the scores of people who would want to book into this City for their conferences, sabbaticals, workshops and personal R n’R? They won’t if you ruin Docklands! Have you even considered a Marine Biology College for Melbourne? [No, not one that is charged $1m per year to reside at Point Nepean - now that's discouraging of potential prosperity, isn't it!]

Do you know Mr Brumby, that directly below Port Phillip Bay is the Antarctic – providing us with fresh clean winds and cooling clear waters and yes, unique cold water Bay life? Do you know that Adelaide is developing their aquaculture? Do you know that this year is the WWF International Year of the Reef? Do you realise what we have here?

I have spent all of 58 years here in Melbourne and I do not ever recall anybody espousing the beauty and wealth of this City in terms of its port capacity and industrial potential. In fact, the suburbs that are over industrialised and suffocating with their roads choked by trucks are now forming local Action groups to call a halt to the creeping disease. Are you aware Mr Brumby that the rest of the world is cutting back on industrialisation and dependency on oil? WHAT big ships and cargoes are you expecting? Do you consult with Price Waterhouse on the stats of reducing populations, ageing Boomers, the need to train and educate  enmasse? We don’t have enough teachers but you are providing more jobs -for  whom? 

This was an idea from the mid 1990′s and inflamed with the passions of frantic last century developers.

It is over Mr Brumby. The world around you wants to sail on the Bay, play tennis and enjoy picnics whilst listening to outdoor concerts. The new hi tech world is cleaner than the old and the new message is quality as preferable to quantity. Built in obsolesence is fast becoming obselete and sustainability is replacing ‘rampant growth’. The new in words are ‘work smart’ not ‘work hard’ ! Finally Mr Brumby and cohorts from yesteryear, have you heard of mediation and negotiation ? They work better than imposition and shadow strategies. 

Any wonder we had to surround Port Phillip Bay with Lights!  

Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! So sorry Adelaide!