Mallee Emu-wren - Rally in Melbourne

 An alternative would be to make
those responsible for creating the toxic waste, pay for the development
of finding ways to process/treat/and reuse toxic waste so that its not
a burden on the environment and a landmine for future generations.





Fiona and all

I've been going to Hattah and nearby Wyperfeld since the mid 1970s, and obviously love it.  However, this issue is one of those hot potatoes that the State government has to deal with whether they like to or not (that is, not).

So far, the universal response has been "I understand that it has to happen, but not in my back yard".  It's a bit like prisons and wind farms.

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a place where this toxic waste could be stored where nobody objected to it?  Of course I don't think that Nowingi is an appropriate place for it.  And personally I think that the gardens around Parliament house would be better (even though I work on the corner of Collins and Spring).

Unfortunately, the government has to figure out not which is the most popular site, but which is the least unpopular, because it is popularity that rules in a democracy.  

Safety is another issue that the government engineers have to keep an eye on, and having worked with government engineers (on irrigation dams, but it's similar) I can tell you that they don't regard animal life as much of an issue at all.

These issues don't necessarily mean that Nowingi has had it, though.  I guess I'm a optimist when I say that a better place is probably out there somewhere.  It has to be isolated for safety reasons, but not too isolated for transport reasons.  It has to be undeveloped so there aren't many people there, but not too undeveloped so as to be wilderness.

Perhaps if birdos and other conservationists made some serious, constructive suggestions as to where they think a site might be more appropriate.  Put another way, given the fact that a site has to be found, where would like to sacrifice in order to save Nowingi?  How about an expired oil rig?  Too dangerous in case of spillage?  Suitably encased in bentonite and put at the bottom of a mine shaft?

I'll be there at the rally.  I don't have a Mallee emu-wren.

Bill