The price of ‘success’
Huon Aquacultures' deputy CEO Phillip Wiese apparently suggested in the Examiner [September 13], that the recent attempt to grow kingfish has been a success.
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That is despite the loss of plenty of the fish and the unbreakable “fortress” pens that have now been removed for re-engineering.
This controversial project, largely unloved by most I have talked to in this community, except of course Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and their partners Huon, has been propped up by government grants of, as I understand, at least $12 million and returned just $1 million.
I think the barramundi farm on Marsh Road could be called a success, it reuses the waste, has had no escapes, controls pathogens and there’s been no need to release peroxide into the ocean to kill lice.
I was really scratching to see how these guys measure success when it dawned on me – it was at accessing large amounts of taxpayers’ money.
Come on guys, grow them on land, not in our Marine Park.
Don’t do to us what has been done to Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour.
Frank Future, Nelson Bay
SRV: get what you pay for
I recently attended a meeting in Shoal Bay, where the Mayor Ryan Palmer and members of the council, presented the Special Rate Variation Proposal to those in attendance.
The Mayor was very thorough and straight forward in presenting the proposal. All attendees were given time at the end of the presentation to ask questions and discuss the proposal in full detail.
What I personally took away from that meeting was that the council is listening to the residents of Port Stephens, who want either additional services and facilities or upgrades to the existing services/facilities. For the council to be able to deliver more projects, the council would need additional funds. One area to increase council funds is through the Special Rate Variation Proposal.
There are four options in the SRV Proposal;
Option one is no additional increase to the rates, which would mean maintaining the current level of service.
Option two is a 6.5 per cent increase over seven years, which would allow for additional services.
Option three is a 7.5 per cent rate increase over seven years, which would allow many more additional services, and upgrades.
Option four is an 8.5 per cent rate increase over seven years. This increase would obviously allow many more badly needed additional services and upgrades.
All proposed increases would include the annual rate peg of 2.5 per cent. Therefore, in reality, the additional rate increases would actually be four, five and six percents respectively.
The council also made it quite clear during the meeting that the funds to upgrade the sporting facilities in the area will be obtained from a State Government grant, and not from the Special Rate Increase.
I would like to thank the Mayor and the council for taking such an important issue to the residents of Port Stephens, in such an open and inclusive manner.
Wendy Dupont, Shoal Bay
Time to make a stand
The desperate struggle for Nelson Bay residents to resist the council’s plan to allow 10-storey apartment buildings throughout the CBD from ridge-top to ridge-top is a struggle for all residents of Port Stephens.
This council, which has already announced plans to increase rates, appears to be able and willing to do anything it pleases with impunity.
On Tuesday they were expected to satisfy the lust of developers because they will have the numbers – among those numbers will be your ward’s councillors.
Get out your note books and record their names.