POLLIE WATCH
Local Councilors
The Mayor of Whyalla, Jim Pollock constantly seeks the best of both worlds.
The Save Point Lowly group say the Whyalla Mayor, Jim Pollock, is right to question the economic, social and environmental benefits to Whyalla of the proposed industrial projects on the Point Lowly Peninsula. (Whyalla News 7th December 2010)
Save Point Lowly group spokesman, Tom Cheesman rejected Mayor Pollock’s suggestion that we should ask for compensation, as yet another example of his ‘limp and defeatist’ attitude. “It sounds like he is wanting to get some money for his cash-strapped council” he said.
“If BHP Billiton and the State Government can afford to pay compensation, then they can afford to investigate the many suitable alternatives for desalination, ports and petrochemical plants.”
“Talking about compensation BEFORE exploring all the alternative locations sounds like the Mayor is consigning Point Lowly to the industrial waste bin, and now he just wants to get money for its destruction! That is such a cop-out!”
“There are going to be very few actual jobs associated with these Point Lowly industrial proposals, and any new jobs will be more than offset by the job losses in the Fishing, Tourism and recreation industry, if industrial developments at Point Lowly go ahead.”
“When is Jim going to be true to his word and pursue his stated commitment of getting the ‘best of both’ for Whyalla and Point Lowly. Having the best of both doesn’t mean trashing the Upper Spencer Gulf and grabbing the cash.”
“When is Jim going to stand up for the Fishing industry, the tourism and recreation industry because, Jim, they are ratepayers too!”
“Jim’s happy to use their money to drag us out of his financial mess, but does nothing to protect their livelihood.”
Tom said Mayor Pollock had not thought this compensation comments through properly. “He says the State Government needs to replace the recreational land lost when the Point Lowly Peninsula is industrialised.”
“I would like to ask the Mayor where on earth that replacement land could possibly be, because when I look at the map, after the army has taken all the land to the north, there is no where else!”
“There are however, many alternative sites for industrial development.”
State Politicans
Greens MLC Mark Parnell has been very vocal in his support of the Point Lowly Peninsula and has offered sensible alternatives for industry so that South Australia cann have th
e 'best of both worlds'
The Rann Government should tell BHP Billiton to scrap Pt Lowly as their preferred location for a desal plant for the Olympic Dam mine expansion, says Greens MLC Mark Parnell.
“BHP Billiton is fixated on Pt Lowly despite the massive opposition from the South Australian community,” said Greens MLC Mark Parnell.
“Yesterday’s call from some of our state’s best loved food ambassadors is just the latest from a long line of scientists, the seafood industry, tourism experts and the local community.
“They are all asking the same question – why are we risking the world-class breeding grounds of the extraordinary Giant Australian Cuttlefish and the nursery of some of our most important marine species so that BHP Billiton can cheaply dump their waste into our waters?
“It’s time for the Rann Government to show some leadership and tell the world’s richest resource company, once and for all, they will not accept salty brine desal discharge at Pt Lowly,” he said.
BHP Billition is currently preparing their response to the Olympic Dam expansion Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Of the 4,600 submissions, many raised concerns about the Pt Lowly desal plant.
“Until the Rann Government makes it crystal clear to BHP Billiton that they won’t accept Pt Lowly, the company will keep on pushing it as an option.
“For everyone’s sake, it’s time for the SA Government to rule out salty brine discharge at Pt Lowly once and for all,” he said.
Federal Politicans
Under construction