Aircraft noise
SYDNEY — More than 1200 residents gave the thumbs down to the Sydney Airport Noise Plan at a public meeting in the inner west suburb of Ashfield on February 2. The meeting was organised by "Save our Skies" (SOS), formed last year in response to the long-term operating plan for Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport, touted by the federal government as "sharing the noise".
Rather than "sharing the noise", the plan concentrates northerly take-offs over suburbs in the Ashfield municipality and avoids the blue ribbon Liberal electorates on Sydney's north shore. An SOS petition calls for sharing noise equally east, west and north, and honouring election commitments for no new flight paths over residential areas in the inner west.
A call by Kay Vella, an anti-Badgerys Creek airport activist, to move the airport outside the Sydney basin altogether received the biggest applause. No Aircraft Noise party members also raised the need to extend the environmental impact investigation into Badgerys Creek. For more information, telephone Save Our Skies on 9798 7069.
Protests over Otways logging
MELBOURNE — On February 2, a group of residents protesting against destruction of rainforest in the Otways region were assaulted by Otway Logging Company contractors in the east branch of the Ford River near Lavers Hill.
Protests in the area have increased since January 31 in response to news that Department of Environment and Natural Resources recommendations concerning Myrtle wilt (fungus dieback) have been hidden from public notice so that loggers could maintain access to the environmentally sensitive Wait-a-while Creek area.
"This is not the first violent incident involving contractors working for Otway Logging Company", said Otway Ranges Environment Network spokesperson Andrew Melzak. "It appears to be part of an orchestrated campaign of intimidation." For further information, telephone OREN on 5237 7516.
Bus drivers rally
BRISBANE — Brisbane City Council bus drivers rallied in King George Square on February 2 to oppose the introduction of casual labour.
About 250 drivers were told by Public Transport Union officials that job security, sick leave and holiday pay would eventually be taken from them if casuals were allowed to work for Brisbane Transport. The dispute is currently being arbitrated in the state Industrial Relations Commission.
Defenders of Native Title
MELBOURNE — Two hundred people attended the Defenders of Native Title general meeting at Coburg Town Hall on February 1.
The forum debated strategies for defeating the Wik legislation when parliament resumes in March.
Former Democrat senator Sid Spindler told the meeting, "We have three months to strengthen the ALP's and Harradine's position." Others pointed out that the ALP's policy supports eight of the 10 points in Howard's plan, that its Mabo legislation benefited lawyers more than Aboriginal people, and that it back-flipped on the Hindmarsh Island (Kumarangk) bridge construction issue.
DONT will hold a "sea of hands" at the Treasury Gardens on February 21-22, following a public meeting on February 15.