The Greens candidate for Page Kudra Falla-Ricketts joined residents of the lower Clarence in a pop up protest against a proposal for industrialisation of the Port of Yamba.
Australia Infrastructure Developments Pty Ltd and Deakin Capital Pty Ltd are currently lobbying government to allow the construction of a large industrial port in the Clarence River estuary.
The latest version of this proposal has increased the size of port infrastructure so that is covers an estimated 36 sq km of the Clarence River estuary.
That’s over 27 per cent of the entire estuary covered with container, liquid and bulk terminals and at least 14 associated shipping berths – operating 24 hours a day for up to 365 days a year.
The Greens have declared their opposition to the proposal and could become an electoral lightening rod for voters worried about the impacts of the proposed Yamba mega industrial port proposal.
‘I have been meeting with residents here and their concerns are very real and heart felt,’ Ms Falla-Ricketts said.
‘It reminds me of the anguish that the threat of industrial gasfields generated in this region. If the proposed redevelopment were ever to proceed it would irreversibly damage the character, economy and environment of the Lower Clarence.’
‘Industrialisation of the Clarence river on this scale would do untold damage to the tourism and fishing industries of the region, damage the riverine and marine environment and potentially open the door to coal and coal seam gas exports and even live cattle exports,’ Ms Falla-Ricketts said.
‘The commercial fishing industry is worth at least $92m annually, and generates over 400 jobs. Tourism is one of the lower Clarence’s greatest economic assets generating $280 m annually and recreational fishing is a big part of that. Add to this the destruction of the relaxed lifestyle for residents of Yamba, Iluka and beyond and you have an industrialisation proposal that is immensely destructive,’ Ms Falla-Ricketts said.
‘This proposal relies on large amounts of Chinese capital to open up an industrial port possibly to oversee the last shipments of coal into a world that is kicking the coal habit. Instead of investing in yesterday’s fossil fuel economy, we should be proud of region’s assets and support our existing sustainable industries and lifestyles.
‘The threat of livestock export out of Yamba would also horrify many people and it is also a threat to meat industry workers and to family farming. The Chinese agricultural companies prefer to buy farms rather than farm produce so this port could also initiate a foreign land grab in the region.
‘This is a destructive corporate thought bubble that threatens our region and federal and state local members need to reassure this community that it will never happen.
‘At a time when we should be investing in renewable energy, sustainable fishing, tourism and farming, we are being threatened with this major industrialisation project.’
‘Communities of the lower Clarence and throughout the Page electorate can make their opposition to this proposal clear on July 2 by voting 1 Green then preferencing which ever other candidates can give an assurance they will oppose this destructive plan.’
I heard about this over year ago and the gent was using the guise of putting in a railway to be used for both punters and also cargo. He then went on to say that it could also be used as a cattle transition station load up cattle to send over seas. They would dredge the river so the draft was deeper for the massive cargo ships. they would also put in a lot more infrastructure at Iluka as well…. I was horrified and told some people that moved there but they didn’t think that it would happen.this has been in the works for years now I would be asking how far along this really is or is it a developers dream as it scared the hell out of me. the gent spoke at the Byron Meeting at ther Byron Community center and it was about the different uses for the rail line. Where we had all of the different ideas put to community he was in a suit an spoke last…….found it this is what I wrote after that meeting on 19.7.2014
HI Everyone
Well the transport evening was an eye opener, most group inventions or uses want to take on part of the line and turn it into a private railway run e.g. the one in Byron from Sunrise to Byron station is as one woman put it a pub to pub railway. But as the promoter said it was to move people from that venue into the centre of town, take it which way you like. Another was to use the section from Bangalow to Byron as a scenic railway with the four seater cars called Rail Explorers (check out on FB) which would take you down the hill from Bangalow to Byron then the cars would have to be pulled back up the hill by a small lite rail contraption which could be used by many.. lost…yes so where some of us this type of use could as time and money became available spread up the line. Then came Mr Neil Opit who runs a railway company in New Zealand with very smart look alike of post man pats vans, plus a light rail that could run on the tracks from Yelgun to Byron at the cost of 85.00 one way mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. From different stations different prices but again all aimed at the Tourist. All of these ideas where aimed at the visitors nothing for the community as it would be impossible to ride the rail for that sort of money every day. By this time we were all over it or I was when this gent stood up and said he was from YPR Aust and had been in talks with 3 stat governments disgussing ways to regenerate the line for freight and people after he spoke I left to follow and got his website so you can look. I didn’t like some of the things that he was saying and you will see why in is proposal on the net but it is there for all to see its http://www.YPRAust.com.au his name is Des Euen Manager Director… go to The Projects ………….Yes bit scary in some instances but the regional railway is the one. I will talk on phone if you wish to know more http://www.ypraust.com.au/ . So I believe we had better keep an eye on this as it could affect us enormously. I have the other proposals if you wish to view them please let me know.