Labyrinths and blind spots.
Day whatever in court:
“Justice North said today it appeared from material before court that the likelihood of the spills occurring was about a million to one.” The Age today.
With respect, I am not sure what planet Justice North is residing on or what part of the city he abides within. Here, in Rye, we know the chances of a King Tide over winter when the toxic dumped muck is ’settling’ are far greater than ‘ a million to one’.
It seems that the POMc has everyone fooled. They have used OCEAN methodologies to plan for the containment of toxic waste in a BAY:
”The Queen of the Netherlands is due to start excavation of the contaminated Williamstown Channel clay today, to use in the construction of the unlicensed toxic waste dump off Mordialloc.
Ironic isn’t it that contaminated clay can be used to construct a containment facility for the more highly contaminated sludge from the Yarra. The trick is that the PoMC has used National Ocean Disposal Guidelines (NODG) to classify the contaminated Williamstown channel clay as “suitable for unconfined disposal”.
Of course the Bay is not the ocean, and does not behave like the ocean – but that hasn’t stopped the PoMC getting away with using NODG guidelines to justify its poisonous plan for the Bay. We need to stop them getting away with it otherwise we risk the long term health of the Bay and those who rely on it!”
htttp://www.bluewedges.org
Clear thinking indicates (for me anyway) that what we have perceived and evaluated as ‘adequate’ until now in terms of environmental care - is plainly insufficient - simply, not good enough! It all sounds like - ‘It’s what we’ve always done!’ as a reason to keep doing what is now considered quite unsatisfactory. Pffft! What really astounds me with these arguments is: that it is perceived as okay to dump toxic stuff in the ocean anyway! Did these people learn to clean up after themselves as kids?
It is all becoming very tiring and the arrogance and bull headedness of the POMc is so childish and egoccentric. Is the input of people in the know - valuable and respected enough to be considered? What interests are driving this project?
It is all happening down Brighton way now: the owners of the beach huts, the users of the Middle Brighton Baths and the members of the Brighton Yacht Club do not seem to be concerned about the toxic dump being constructed along their beach. Further down the Bay around Mordialloc - will the drinkers and diners at Doyles be happy with it all? Will St. Bede’s Mentone, be ruffled?
As someone once said, (cannot remember who):
“I’d rather be seen as an over-sensitive fool than an arrogant idiot.”
Maybe it IS all about perception and choice.
I do hope our concern is ‘over the top’. This is one time when we certainly do not want to see that ‘one-in-a-million’ chance of a King Tide during the ’settling period’ of 140 days of uncovered stinking sludge.
To think - this will continue on now until 2030. The POMc (as well as MP Garrett and Justice North) must have tremendous faith in the weather and climate predictability.