Politics
Doling Out a Giant Bog of Fudge Pudding
Well BINGO!
The almighty has spoken and under the instruction of TasWater, the Minister has foreseen that the death knell of the platypus, astacopsis, rakali, white breasted sea eagle , not to mention trout and tourists is nigh! Oh, and I forgot the demise of an historic town that signalled the onset of the mining industry on the West Coast, and saved Tasmania from annexure to Victoria.
Oh wait … the CHIEF of the OWNERS REPRESENTATIVES, Alderman Doug Chipman, emailed me this extraordinary comment:-
“While I can understand your desire to retain Waratah Dam for recreation and other purposes, TasWater is not the appropriate governing authority for an asset with such purposes, nor is its customer base the appropriate funding authority for such an asset.”
I dutifully responded:- If it’s not the “appropriate governing authority for an asset with such purposes, nor is its customer base the appropriate funding authority for such an asset” then they should have no business decommissioning it!
And EL CAPITAN magnificently rejoined with:-
“Or retaining it John. Surely it should be gazetted as a State or Council recreation reserve, putting the responsibility where it belongs. I don’t understand why you think Taswater should continue with this project when it is not even TasWater’s business?????”
This is not a parody – this is the actual encounter with the CHIEF!
Not surprisingly the Friends of the Waratah Reservoir will conduct a Community Meeting to determine the next steps to ensure the facility is remediated and both the heritage and the future of this amazing town is secured.
FRIENDS OF THE WARATAH RESERVOIR MEETING AT THE ALMA FAGAN HALL SUNDAY JANUARY 17TH 2PM
All welcome to discuss current application by Taswater to decommission Waratah Reservoir. Please forward your concerns before close of business Monday 1 February by e-mail to Bill.Shackcloth@dpipwe.tas.
And perhaps the relevant politicians, of ALL colours, might reflect and unite in accord to prevent this extraordinary example of collusion, corruption, coercion, and conniption, and allow one of the two proponents who wish to proceed with the remediation of the dam wall, which includes the construction of a mini hydro at the site of the heritage Old PowerHouse and ensure the town becomes carbon positive, to receive the circa $2 to $3million that they will need.
Maybe those recalcitrant controllers of $$$$ might like to also reflect on this poetic simile created by Lewis Carroll …..and replace ‘sea’ with ‘reservoir’ , ‘Walrus’ with ‘CEO’, ‘Carpenter’ with ‘CHIEF’ and ‘oyster’ with ‘platypus’.
Shining with all his might
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done
“It’s very rude of him,” she said,
“To come and spoil the fun.”
The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead
There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
If this were only cleared away,’
They said, it would be grand!’
If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,’ the Walrus said,
That they could get it clear?’
I doubt it,’ said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
O Oysters, come and walk with us!’
The Walrus did beseech.
A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each.’
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn’t any feet.
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
The time has come,’ the Walrus said,
To talk of many things:
Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —
Of cabbages — and kings
And why the sea is boiling hot
And whether pigs have wings.’
But wait a bit,’ the Oysters cried,
Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!’
No hurry!’ said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
A loaf of bread,’ the Walrus said,
Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed
Now if you’re ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.’
But not on us!’ the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!’
The night is fine,’ the Walrus said.
Do you admire the view?
It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!’
The Carpenter said nothing but
Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf
I’ve had to ask you twice!’
It seems a shame,’ the Walrus said,
To play them such a trick,
After we’ve brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!’
The Carpenter said nothing but
The butter’s spread too thick!’
I weep for you,’ the Walrus said:
I deeply sympathise.’
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
You’ve had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?’
But answer came there none
And this was scarcely odd, because
They’d eaten every one.