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                                  Copy Of A Letter I Sent To Council

25/01/2013

To The Coffs Harbour City Council & Mayor

I have submitted some questions I hope you can help me with please for Coffs Online -
www.coffsonline.com

Under the Australia Day Celebration Story on Page 5 of Coffs Online I've published some more photos and a small story on the Coffs Creek Pollution and again would like to ask what the Coffs Harbour City Council will be doing about this issue around our town? http://www.coffsonline.com/Stories_5.html
We are all being charged environmental fees in our rates so what's this being used for in Coffs Harbour so I can pass this on to the readers please?
Will Coffs Harbour be undertaking any steps to prevent rubbish from entering various creek rubbish flow line points around our town?
Will the council be undertaking any cleaning of bulk rubbish collection areas in the creeks around our town to remove the most visible build ups?
Will any barrier be established at the mouth of the Coffs Creek to stop the rubbish from flowing our to sea each day?
What's being done to stop the dumping of supermarket trolleys into our creeks? Their pickup system isn't working.
Will the supermarket trolleys be removed from our creeks that have been there for years?
Will Coffs Harbour City Council start to take samples of polluted water when pollution dumps are reported like the other day instead of being ignored so chemical finger printing can take place to establish the possible whereabouts from such used chemicals?
Will better and bigger signs be placed in our parks to put a stop to the drinking that takes place in the parks over the road from the council offices and near the swimming pool?

                                 Copy Of A Letter I Sent To A Councilor
03/02/2013

To Cr Sally Townley
I'm posting this letter to you again using another email address forwarded to me from the "Greens" office in Canberra as I never seem to get replies from the council email addresses. Something you may like to look into.
RE: Pollution issues in Coffs Harbour.

Dear Sally,
                    I recently published and set up Coffs Online to bring public awarness to some of the many issues facing Coffs Harbour that our council chooses to ignore.
On this page:
http://www.coffsonline.com/Stories_7.html and other pages you'll see some of my most recent photos of pollution issues facing Coffs Harbour. I'm seeking your input and that from council as I also sent them a list of questions regarding taking some actions and asking them why they never do.

Here is a list of the questions for your reference:
Under the Australia Day Celebration Story on Page 5 of Coffs Online I've published some more photos and a small story on the Coffs Creek Pollution and again would like to ask what the Coffs Harbour City Council will be doing about this issue around our town?
http://www.coffsonline.com/Stories_5.html
We are all being charged environmental fees in our rates so what's this being used for in Coffs Harbour so I can pass this on to the readers please?
Will Coffs Harbour be undertaking any steps to prevent rubbish from entering various creek rubbish flow line points around our town?
Will the council be undertaking any cleaning of bulk rubbish collection areas in the creeks around our town to remove the most visible build ups?
Will any barrier be established at the mouth of the Coffs Creek to stop the rubbish from flowing our to sea each day?
What's being done to stop the dumping of supermarket trolleys into our creeks? Their pickup system isn't working.
Will the supermarket trolleys be removed from our creeks that have been there for years?
Will Coffs Harbour City Council start to take samples of polluted water when pollution dumps are reported like the other day instead of being ignored so chemical finger printing can take place to establish the possible whereabouts from such used chemicals?
Will better and bigger signs be placed in our parks to put a stop to the drinking that takes place in the parks over the road from the council offices and near the swimming pool?
As a Greens Councillor and Party Follower I also ask you why your party has never stepped up to the mark to fight this everyday pollution issue that has faced Coffs Harbour for decades?
The council doesn't even take polluted water samples when major toxic chemical dumps take place to fingerprint ID the most likely sources. They've been letting companies off for years even though they are being reported they still don't take action.
Why is this?
As you'll see from the Stories 7 page pollution doesn't disappear into sea even after floods it just gets dispersed into other locations and in many cases ends up in the same places as they are the natural tidal collection points. "The flow lines of pollution".
I've produced many videos on this topic as well.
What can you tell me the council is intending to do about these issues facing Coffs Harbour?
When will this action be put into place?
If they don't intend to take action then why not?
You are welcome to submit any stories you see fit that can be published in Coffs Online at any time. I'm sure people would like to know what the council is actually doing for this town from time to time.
I'm sure you're well aware that people have had enough of this council system that doesn't deliver what the community needs and should have had decades ago.
We have a new council but there's still no action on so many basic issues.
If you can find time some time to go through the pages of Coffs Online you'll see what's going on around Coffs Harbour as many people really just don't go around enough to ever notice as they're caught up in their day to day lives without the concerns of these things.
Meanwhile these are real issues in this town. I post new material almost daily on the whole mix of pages which is growing into building up a whole profile of Coffs Harbour. It can be seen in videos, photos and by the news stories. Good and bad.

                                Letters Sent To Our Council

Every now and then I'll email off some letters to council for replies to be published on this site to see if and what issues the council will be covering in Coffs Harbour. Sometimes they will be specific issue orientated or they may just be general questions about what their plans are. I suppose the first issue is will they ever reply at all? If they do I'll publish each reply as I get them. It will be interesting to see how this works out for Coffs Harbour residents. I will try and make council replies in a different color so you can see what they actually reply too. If there are any other councillors out there that would like to reply to these letters and issues or submit material just email it through to us. These are the people that are supposed to be representing you in our town.
               Copy Of  A Follow Up Letter Sent To Cr Sally Townley

12-02-2013

Dear Sally,
                    I've written to you again to follow up on a letter I wrote to you regarding many important issues facing Coffs Harbour on Sun 03/02/13
Just to let you know your replies and all sent letters in the future will be published online at Coffs Online - www.coffsonline.com in the Council section here: http://www.coffsonline.com/council.html
People have a right to know about these important issues that involve our town and hope that as our council representative you will provide some responsible replies to these issues facing Coffs Harbour.
I wrote to you in particular as many of these issues fall under your "Greens" backer portfolio that you campaigned under.
Also we would be grateful if you could let the people of Coffs Harbour know what your roll on council has been since you were elected?
What has been achieved in that time frame?
And what are the councils plans for the next 12 months?
What will be introduced within our town in the up coming months by council?
What programs will the council be undertaking to make changes to our town?
And answers to the questions I sent previously please?
                                Copy Of A Letter I Sent To Council

05-02-2013

To The Coffs Harbour City Council

Why doesn't the council allow the scrap metal collection of Supermarket Trolleys so they can be collected from our creeks and streets. Give the companies involved one month to stop the street and waterways pollution of trolleys and after that introduce the scrap metal legal collection by those that wish to do it. The current supermarket trolley collection system isn't working. Checkout Coffs Online to see the photos and proof.
http://www.coffsonline.com   They should lose the right of their trolley property once it leaves the allocated shopping area.
                                 Copy Of A Letter I Sent To Council
05-02-2013

To The Coffs Harbour City Council


When the Justice Centre is built and finished and their cars are parked all along Beryl Street how are disabled people with their mobility scooters and people pushing prams and walkers going to manage along the fully parked roadsides Coffs Harbour City Council? You're the regulatory body for such things. It will be much too dangerous to walk long distances along those areas then with the cars and trucks coming at you?
Will the council be building sealed footpaths in Beryl Street and other streets surrounding the Justice precinct area concerned? Its also a double line area and cars will be doing U-Turns all the time to get into parking spots on roadsides. This should be common sense stuff. I hope you're not going to make the same mistakes as you have with the Coles complex area? The road and traffic demographics will change this whole area.
You'll need to ensure there are safe sealed "wide enough" footpaths for people to manage with throughout that area. The people that park their cars their in surrounding streets will also need to walk to the Justice Centre too won't they? Where ever they park their cars they'll have to walk along roadsides as it stands. None of those streets have sealed footpaths. Some of the area will need major work widening footpath areas to accommodate people traffic as well. The photos and story is listed here:
http://www.coffsonline.com/Stories_8.html
              Copy Of A Letter I Sent To Cr Denise Knight Our Mayor

12-02-2013

To Cr Denise Knight

Dear Denise,
                        I'm writing again to council and to you in particular as it seems its hard to find a reply back over specific issues facing Coffs Harbour.
I produce Coffs Online and all the town issues are continually listed on the various news pages.
Would you like to comment on any of these everyday issues facing Coffs Harbour? I publish all letters to and from council in our council section here: http://www.coffsonline.com/council.html
I'm sure you'll notice a host of blank replies back from council over many of these issues so perhaps as Mayor you can try and find the time to fill Coffs Harbour residents in on many of these important town issues?

 
                              Copy Of A Letter I Sent To Cr John Arkan

13-02-2013

To Cr John Arkan

Hi John,
               I'm just going through the list of some councillors to see if any would like to comment on the issues facing Coff Harbour?
I produce Coffs Online -
www.coffsonline.com and I've written several times to council with no reply so I thought I'd give you a try.
You tried to ask me a joke last week at the market but you stopped at: What Do You Call A Dog? Well there's lots of answers I could give but the joke wasn't complete so we'll have to catch up on that one one day perhaps.
I've placed a list of letters written to council that you may like read through on the council index page of the site plus all the stories pages up to about page 10 now. They don't take that long to go through.
Get back to me if you're interested in posting some news and stories about what this council is actually going to do for Coffs Harbour now and not in 2030. That is if they haven't got you hog tied too?
To Coffs Harbour City Council

19-02-2013

RE: Black Cockatoos

RE:The Beryl Street Court House and Police Station Development.

I would like to bring your attention to the fact that the current pine trees planted along in that area in Beryl Street are a regular source of food for the migrating Black Cockatoos that visit Coffs Harbour various times every year. These are endangered birds and may I suggest you consider that although these pine trees are unsightly and do need removing that you consider planting the area extensively with advanced forms of Banksia like those planted on the corner of Coff Street and Pacific Highway near the sculpture in front of the CEX Club property. These forms of Banksia also provide a known food source for these same birds and they are used to eating them. They were present there again today.
It would be a shame to loose these great birds from our area as we have already lost so much already due to the pollution issues around our town.
These Banksia trees would suit the area and provide a food source to hopefully keep the Black Cockatoos attracted back to this area.

Photos of them feeding on these Banksia can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOlvVzNCq5Q&list=PLNqek-dZ8qv-EKDfyPbCkRnX0SScOhIlH&index=6
To Coffs Harbour City Council

RE: Coffs Harbour Public School Footpath In Harbour Drive

19-02-2013

Currently there's room on both sides of this path for another 400 mm of concrete path that could be placed on either side of this existing path effectively doubling the width of this footpath to make it easier for pedestrians and school children to use. Currently if a mobility scooter or pram goes up that section of the hill there's little room left for anyone else to get past them.
Photos of what I mean can be seen about half way down the page on: http://www.coffsonline.com/

Regards
John Boom
Coffs Online - www.coffsonline.com
Help save the environment for these Black Cockatoos.
20-02-2013

To CR Sally Townley

RE: Black Cockatoos at the Beryl Street Court House and Police Station Development Site.

I would like to bring your attention to the fact that the current pine trees planted along in that area in Beryl Street are a regular source of food for the migrating Black Cockatoos that visit Coffs Harbour various times every year. These are endangered birds and may I suggest you consider that although these pine trees are unsightly and do need removing that you consider planting the area extensively with advanced forms of Banksia like those planted on the corner of Coff Street and Pacific Highway near the sculpture in front of the CEX Club property. These forms of Banksia also provide a known food source for these same birds and they are used to eating them. They were present there again yesterday and today.
It would be a shame to loose these great birds from our area as we have already lost so much already due to the pollution issues around our town.
These Banksia trees would suit the area and provide a food source to hopefully keep the Black Cockatoos attracted back to this area. These black Cockatoos are mainly interested in the younger pines up the furthest end up Beryl Street which could even be left there perhaps?
Photos of them feeding on these Banksia can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOlvVzNCq5Q&list=PLNqek-dZ8qv-EKDfyPbCkRnX0SScOhIlH&index=6

A few more photos here:
http://www.coffsonline.com/council.html
I took the photos under the video today in the rain so the quality isn't that high.
I've written to the council as well but no one ever replies in Coffs Harbour so all one can do is continue with what I do.
Are you still a member of the Greens? You're welcome to submit stories concerning Coffs Harbour at any time to Coffs Online -
www.coffsonline.com

I also have the Coffs Harbour Forum here which is already being used by the Greens:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coffs_harbour/
          Copy of a letter sent to Coffs Harbour Council - 2 Departments

27-02-2013

To Coffs Harbour City Council / Environmental Department
I'm seeking a comment from Coffs Harbour City Council as to why our beaches weren't and aren't closed down for safety reasons due to raw sewerage and floating debris along our beaches.
Also why no reasonable signage has been posted to alert people to these dangers.
Will Coffs Harbour City Council be undertaking regular bacterial and toxic chemical testing of beach areas including popular areas where children dig and play in the sand?
And will those findings be made public?
The story to date can be followed here:
http://www.coffsonline.com/Stories_13.html

For Coffs Online - www.coffsonline.com

(Footnote: The EPA were also contacted over this town scandal.).

REPLY FROM THE EPA

Thank you for your recent emails advising the EPA of your concerns in relation to the recent sewer overflows in the Coffs Harbour City Council local government area. The EPA has been liaising with Tyron Cook, Manager Distribution - Coffs Harbour Water, Ph (02) 6648 4410 or Mobile 0418 409 071 who advised the following in an email yesterday:

Following the power outages Friday 22/3/13, Coffs Harbour Water erected 6 signs in the popular swimming and recreation areas around Coffs Creek on Saturday morning 23/3/13. A further 14 signs have been erected to notify the public that that water may be polluted. These signs are located at popular recreation areas on the banks of Middle Creek, Boambee Creek, Fiddamans Creek, Hearnes Lake, Woolgoolga Lake, Darkum Creek and Arrawarra Creek. The signs state “Waters Polluted - No Drinking, No Swimming, No Fishing”.
Water samples have been taken and tested for faecal coliforms at Coffs Creek, Middle Creek, Boambee Creek, Fiddamans Creek, Hearnes Lake, Woolgoolga Lake, Darkum Creek and Arrawarra Creek, Sawtell Beach, Park Beach. The sample results will be known later today. The Jetty Beach will be sampled Thursday and results known on Friday.
Coffs Harbour Water has been regular contact with Council’s Lifeguard in regard to the water quality of the beaches.

If there are further areas of concern other than those listed above, you should contact Mr Cook directly to ensure appropriate signage is erected.
Kind regards,

Nicole Power
Operations Officer l North Coast Region
NSW Environment Protection Authority
Local News & Information
Coffs Harbour
Council Meetings, Dates And Time

Council meetings are held in the Council Chamber on the second and fourth Thursday of every month from 5.00pm.
The meetings are open to the public.

Ordinary Council Meeting Dates for 2013
Some meetings will be held on Wednesday because of public holidays:
14 February
28 February
14 March
27 March (Wednesday)
11 April
24 April (Wednesday)
9 May
23 May
13 June
27 June
11 July
25 July
8 August
22 August
12 September
26 September
10 October
24 October
14 November
28 November
12 November
Copy Of Email Sent Environment Department - Coffs Harbour Council

Subject: Sewerage Pollution along coast near Coffs Creek

Date:
Mon 02/25/13 04:54 PM

Hi Gabrielle,
I've written a story regarding recent floodings and the smell of raw sewerage along our beaches that you may like to take a read of for council use: http://www.coffsonline.com/Stories_13.html
My report is current from today. You may like to to some testing along there for public safety and place some signs there?
Don't Forget To Refresh Your Page As I Make Changes Regularly.
Coffs Harbour Council On Twitter
17-03-2013 Letter Emailed To All Coffs Harbour City Councillors



To The Councillor Concerned

I've written to you to get your official comment on the matters concerning the pollution cover-up incident regarding Coffs Harbour City Councils involvement regarding the pollution into the Coffs Creek, ocean fallout and the staged BCU Triathlon Event?
Details here: http://www.coffsonline.com/Stories_13.html

I'm also seeking your reply regarding the habitat removal from the rare black cockatoo at the Beryl Street Court House Construction site?
Details are on this page: http://www.coffsonline.com/Stories_15.html
and on this page: http://www.coffsonline.com/council.html

If we don't here back from you regarding these matters we can only assume that you played an equal part in these matters in the course of your job as a councillor.

May I remind you that these are both serious matters one concerning the public health and safety of your town and the other from an endangered rare species.
I'm giving you the opportunity to give your side of the story in both cases.
A Reply From Cr Nan Cowling

Hi John, I am quite happy to comment on the items I know anything about.

1. The Beryl St site is a State Gov't site & is totally out of the hands of the Council.

2. The reasons for suggesting the Jetty Foreshores area for the skate park is that: a. Many c. H. Residents wanted to keep B.P. as a green space. b. There was insufficient funds at B.P. to go ahead with the $3.3M cost. c. Builders had declared $500,000 was sufficient to build a "you beaut" skatepark. d. $600,000 was transferred from the $1.5M at B.P. to the Jetty to build the skatepark immediately. No hold ups. e. With the WRC to be staged at B.P. in Sept it is a fair bet that the skatepark will not commence in the near future. f. The reporting in the Advocate sensationalised the story instead of reporting the facts & allowing the readers to make up their own mind.

3. The pollution problem is an operational matter for staff to handle not Councillors.

I have brought a few operational matters to Council & have been rapped over the knuckles on more than one occasion but the rubbish bins at the South Wall show a marked improvement since I showed a PPP at a Council Meeting showing the state of the area.

4. At the last meeting I successfully brought the Jetty Foreshores Concept Plans to the attention of the public that "yes the glossy photos look great but are they aware that the plan will cost $15M plus while the actual money on hand for the project is $3.5M. Residents are being hoodwinked into thinking they are going to see the whole plan implemented. Now when the plan goes out on exhibition it will contain all the elements & all the costing. That will allow them to make a much more valuable contribution to the consultation process over 3 months not 28 days as previously suggested by staff.

5. As to the suggestion in the Advocate that this will delay the process, check out page 2 of the plan that clearly shows that the Jetty 4Shores Project is due to commence December 2013. Will the Advocate print this, "No" it would get in the way of their front page story. Finally I would like to commend you for caring for our Community. If you are interested I send out details after each Council Meeting on how I have seen events unfolding. Let me assure you it often differs widely to the Advocate. Cheers Nan.
(Never heard back from again.).
RSS Feed
26-03-13

Mr. Boom,
Thank you for your concerns. I don't believe I played a part in these
incidents. I'll certainly look into it
Regards
Garry Innes
Council Exposed In Major Cover Up - Go To Story Page 13
Coffs Online