Bateman's and Narooma meetings - 29-5-06

[ACTAngler]

It's been 24hrs, any reports from the meetings yesterday?

[rookies]

G'day Shane,
I thought you were coming down. I've been waiting for you to post a wrap up, your better at detail than me.

I didn't go to the Narooma meeting only the Batemans Bay one.
I believe there was around 200 people at Narooma and we had just over 500 in the Bay. (edit: official count 547)
Speakers were:

Cameron Westaway
Duncan Gay
Darren Conden-Green
Ben Innes
Andrew Constance
Jack Tait
The leaked draft plan was on the wall all night and was the source of great concern and anger, Cameron pointed out as soon as he got up that the map was out of date and was the minute it was released. Would not be drawn on what the official zones would be.
When Jack spoke he outlined what had been happening since the last meeting and also asked for a show of hands of who would be happy with the map that was being shown four people put their hands up.
During question time many business people and land holders asked valid questions like would there be compensation for loss of business and value of land. Again these questions went unanswered.
Also during the questions an lady took the mic and stated that she was a scientist and said it was bad that no scientist had been invited to speak and said that we had been spreading mis-information and that there was plenty of proof marine parks will increase the size and number of fish and pointed to an ABC radio recording of scientists form around the world to back this up. She was asked who she worked for and she said she was at Woolongong University.
The crowd got pretty rowdy and wouldn't let her continue.

Later a friend told me that a lady in an MPA shirt had videoed the scientists speech and congratulated her when she finished I stayed back packing up the projector and was the last to leave besides the MPA folk and the scientist when he left Cameron told her "Well Done"
So it would appear that the dirty tricks continue. I wonder when the video will be used to make us look like a bunch of ignorant fools.

I have not seen the news yet but have a tape to put up on the website as soon as I can convert it. The scientist was on? the news talking of aerial surveys from around the world and saying that the proof that sanctuaries work is that the fishermen congregate around the boundaries of the zones to fish. I guess that is proof positive then of the spillover effect and we should now admit defeat.

Dave...

[ACTAngler]

Yes, I was disappointed not to be able to come down.  I didn't know Cameron was speaking.

[catbalou]

Further to Rookies report, a motion was passed at the meeting, stating that the communities affected by the Batemans Marine Park "totally regect the zonings and entire concept in it's current form".
Also a letter is being sent to Premier Iemma from Andrew Constance, Local Member and Coastal Rights Association calling on the Premier to dismiss Minister for the Environment Bob Debus without delay over his arrogant, incompetent handling of the Park. This motion was passed 543 to 4.

[Rod Burston]

Bay Post
Anger erupts at marine park meeting
Wednesday, 31 May 2006

STAKEHOLDERS erupted angrily at Monday night's marine park meeting in Batemans Bay.
Local distaste for the Batemans Marine Park was tangible; many so disgusted they couldn't restrain their cries of protest until speakers had finished talking.

Passions ran so high, meeting chairman and Bega MP Andrew Constance was forced to wrestle control back off the crowd numerous times.

But it's that passion, Mr Constance believes, that could save the area from Marine Park doom.

An estimated 500 people packed the Batemans Bay Bowling Club auditorium for the meeting.

They heard from Batemans Marine Park manager Cameron Westaway, opposition primary industries spokesman Duncan Gay, commercial fisherman Ben Innes, Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce president Darren Condon-Green, Coastal Rights Association spokesman Jack Tait and Mr Constance.

Mr Constance was appalled the government didn't attend the meeting, as it had ignored community disapproval for long enough.

"Last night showed how emotive people were," Mr Constance said. "But they (the government) didn't even have the decency to show.

"We had 500 people there. These are not small community meetings - the government needs to acknowledge that. I don't think they understand how passionate people are about the issue.

"I, like everyone else, want to see our marine environment enhanced, but there has to be a recognition from Labor that the issue will impact the livelihoods of local families and businesses."

At the meeting, Batemans Marine Park manager Cameron Westaway said the park's draft zoning plan would be released in June and, from there, discussions with stakeholders would continue.

"What we have tried to do is balance use...with impacts. There are still a lot of concerns," Mr Westaway said.

Mr Constance said stakeholders' next step was to look at the plan.

"They all need to get a copy. For some, this is going to make or break people," he said.

[Rod Burston]

Photo: Chair of the Port Committee Dr Philip Creagh has expressed his concerns over the initial draft of the BMP zonings.

Narooma News
Fears for Narooma economy
Thursday, 25 May 2006

The meeting of the Narooma Port Committee on May 19 unanimously supported the stance by Primary Industries Minister Ian McDonald in ensuring the status of the Recreational Fishing Havens, such as Tuross Lake, from the Marine Park Zoning Plan process.
Chair of the Port Committee Dr Philip Creagh said "This demonstrates Minister McDonald is sincere in his protection of recreational fishers rights which have been purchased from funds paid by fishers when purchasing their salt water fishing licences."

"Steps to manage the fish stocks in Recreational Fishing Havens have been in place for only a few years, and any changes now would be damaging to the continuity of ongoing monitoring programs undertaken by NSW Fisheries".

The above support, comes about due to the recent "underhanded tactics" from the Marine Parks Authority with their attempts to try and coax locals into signing up to allow the MPA to decimate the Recreational Fishing Havens in the same way that they have 'wiped out" Wagonga Inlet in their first draft of the areas Sanctuary Zones.

The Narooma Ports Committee holds grave fears for the economy of Narooma, should these first draft zoning plans come to fruition. It shows the complete contempt that the MPA has for the well being of the towns captured within the Marine Park area, especially after all the promises given by the MPA regarding local economies at public meetings.

[Rod Burston]

Narooma News
Marine Park meetings next Monday
Thursday, 25 May 2006

Andrew Constance Member for Bega is reminding all interested residents of two community meetings next Monday in relation to the Batemans Marine Park and the proposed zoning plan.
The first is at the Narooma Sporting and Services Club Monday from 4pm, and the second meeting is at the Batemans Bay Bowling Club at 7.30pm on Monday evening.

"I have invited several speakers representing a number of community organisations as well as the Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Duncan Gay. The meetings are being held to unify industry and community groups and ensure that the 'divide and conquer' strategy of the State Labor Government fails," Mr Constance said.

"At this stage I have also invited the Minister responsible for the park Bob Debus to attend however he is unavailable.