Greens MP, councillors on fixing Eurobodalla’s housing crisis

Story in BayPost about Alison’s time on Council

Photo credit: Vic Silk

Note this article is paywalled

This year alone we have seen the removal or proposed removal of established native roadside trees on Congo Rd, Tomakin Rd, Broulee Rd, and on Turnbulls Lane, Moruya. This has been an affront to the values of the Nature Coast. There is room for development, road safety measures and the retention of our beloved trees.

On council we will develop a Shire-wide Tree Strategy to protect and expand existing urban tree canopy and to retain iconic trees in the rural landscape.

We will also begin engagement with the community around roadside trees vs. speed and safety considerations. The bushfires have changed everything and in their aftermath, with the tragic loss of habitat and biodiversity, the removal of any trees needs serious consideration.

We will listen to current community attitudes around how we manage trees.

It is understandable that any roadside vegetation that may impede the clear vision of travelling motorists is either trimmed or removed.

Residents are concerned that established native trees that have obviously been on the side of existing roads for many years are being unnecessarily removed.

Roadside clearing is often exempt from the ESC Tree Preservation Code and residents are left wondering why they are losing trees to upgrade roads to higher speed ratings when, if asked, they would often prefer to drive slowly, retain the trees and enjoy the shaded lanes and roads.

Securing sufficient tree canopy is also critical to addressing the Urban Heat effect; a rapidly growing issue due to climate change and urban development.

On council we also commit to improving shaded, shared pathways for walkable neighbourhoods and connected communities. Shade on pathways is critical to their user-friendliness!

We need to protect and expand tree canopy, ensuring that as our communities grow so does our green cover. We will address the need for more trees and plant diversity in our streets and parks as part of our Pathways and Tree Strategies.

A part of the motion Councillor McGinlay brought to council in 2019 was:

Motion that “Council acknowledges and consequently declares that we are living in a time of climate emergency that requires focused and strategic actions at the local government level, for the benefit of our whole community, in both the immediate and longer term.”

This motion was not carried.

Four months later the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires raged out of control devastating parts of our shire.

We were ill-prepared for the ferocious arrival of one of the many faces of climate change on our doorstep. Our evacuation centres were completely insufficient and ill-equipped for the role demanded of them – providing safe refuge.

Critical communications infrastructure was destroyed by fire because the threat of catastrophic fires had not been addressed and these assets were unprotected.

Council’s emergency management plans were not up to date and communications from council to the community were found to be wanting.

We need to be ready for the more frequent and more extreme weather events and natural disasters that climate scientists have told us are now going to a part of our lives.

We will work with Council staff to implement robust climate mitigation and adaptation plans so that our communities are safe and are resilient to the challenges of a changing climate.

Acknowledging the climate crisis and activating the Climate Resilience Plan will also mean that our shire won’t miss out on the opportunities the emerging low-carbon economy can offer.

We can embrace every opportunity to install solar and develop community power generation to increase our renewable energy capacity and decrease our reliance on imported fossil fuel energy.

We can be a community that takes action on climate every day, in every way possible.

Get behind your Greens candidates for Eurobodalla Shire Council in the December 4th election to vote for action on climate NOW.

For many Tomakin residents, what should be an easy walk to the local IGA supermarket is complicated by incomplete pathways.

Greens candidate for the upcoming council elections, Alison Worthington, says it’s an issue that locals have previously raised directly with council and via the Tomakin Community Association.

“It’s been like this for years and it’s time the path was completed, including safe access to the shops from the pathway,” she said. “There is no safe footpath or bicycle path access. The supermarket is not accessible to prams, wheelchairs, mobility scooters or people on bikes without using the busy carpark entrance that vehicles turning in from George Bass Drive use.

“This lack of safe access is a problem for both local residents and for the large number of visitors that use this area. It discourages people from walking or cycling those short trips to the shops where the use of a car should be able to be avoided,” said Ms Worthington.

“The Eurobodalla Pathway Strategy 2017 identifies this as an existing shared pathway: ‘Tomakin Shared Path – from The Moorings along George Bass Drive and along Sunpatch Parade,’ only it doesn’t exist as a complete shared path to the destination at The Moorings.”

There is a shared pathway for pedestrians and people on bikes from Tomakin via the new roundabout, but it stops north of the supermarket, about 100 metres short of the The Moorings car park entrance.

The last 100 metres to the shops is uneven, often muddy, has numerous tree root trip hazards and only gives access to a steep slope and a flight of steps for pedestrian access, pictured.

The roadside reserve between George Bass Drive and the carpark has recently had a sewer main installed, but no works were done to complete the shared pathway.

Ms Worthington said that “Council’s Pathways Strategy prioritises safe walking access to schools and commercial centres but this doesn’t guarantee that residents will have that access provided any time soon.

“On council, the Eurobodalla Greens will prioritise the completion of paved, shared pathways that are accessible to a wide range of users, on these essential community routes.

“We’ll do the same for the Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017-21. Access for people with disabilities is an important step in becoming an inclusive destination for local residents as well as for our regional tourism industry; incomplete pathways just aren’t good enough,” Ms Worthington added.

“We will ensure that accessible and inclusive shared pathways are available for residents to make these small trips to the local shops possible without needing a car.”

Look out for the Greens shirts and your local government candidates at local markets over the coming weeks in November, as we talk to residents and get our community informed and ready for the council elections on Saturday 4th December.

THANK YOU to everyone who has supported our team and helped us raise funds for the Black Dog Institute to help put life-saving mental health support tools in the hands of those who need them most.

Your Greens team for the council elections – Alison, Nadine, Kylie and Charlie – joined supporters and walked for mental health awareness during the month of October 2021.

In walking around the shire we raised awareness, and funds, and just let people living with mental health challenges know that we care, and that they are not alone.

We smashed our fundraising goal of $500, bringing $702 to life-changing research into treatment and prevention of mental illness.

We can testify to the health benefits of walking and chatting amongst friends! Our Saturday walks gave us all a chance to step away from Zoom meetings and dust off our ‘going out clothes’ as we stepped out from Covid restrictions.

Thanks to all who joined us even when the weather looked threatening.

Catching up in this way was a great chance for us all to reflect on our mental health and see the importance of speaking to someone if you are not feeling the best. Awareness raising events like this also help us to remember to look to support those around us who might need our companionship.

ZeroSE’s work is of particular interest to residents of the Eurobodalla because it targets our south east region and provides evidence-based solutions for the transition our regional economy must undergo to end the use of fossil fuels and achieve net zero emissions. The need for the transition out of fossil fuels and tackling climate change was brought home to all of us when the 2019-20 bushfires came to our Shire.

ZeroSE was officially launched by eminent economist and past Secretary of the Department of the Treasury Ken Henry. The launch was also supported by ex-leader of the Liberal party, John Hewson, and attended by NSW Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Jihad Dib, Federal member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, and Greens councillors Cathy Griff, Patrick McGinlay and Amanda Findley from Bega Valley, Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven councils.

With our federal government mired in deadlock and denial around the need for climate action and unable to plan for emissions reductions targets, it’s more important than ever to take action locally.

Eurobodalla Greens were pleased to find so much overlap between the proposals of ZeroSE and Greens policies on environment, climate action and the opportunities we can embrace in the transition to a low carbon economy. ZeroSE Fact Sheets include proposals for:

• local electricity generation, including community energy generation from solar,
• electric vehicles and a comprehensive charger network,
• carbon drawdown in state forests by ending native forest logging,
• on-farm carbon drawdown through tree-planting and retaining soil carbon, and
• reducing methane emissions from livestock with seaweed feed supplements.

We applaud the ZeroSE team for sharing their research on ways forward, which include local employment opportunities, for all of our community to be a part of.

Seaweed for livestock is just one example of the opportunities in new industries our shire is well positioned to take advantage of:

“Asparagopsis can be grown commercially and locally along the south east NSW coast, offering economic and environmental benefits from the development of a new industry. The use of seaweed Asparagopsis could easily be the start of a new local job-creating industry.”

• ZeroSE Fact Sheet: ‘Livestock Emissions – Why cows should eat seaweed’

Our Greens candidates for council look forward to working with ZeroSE and the groups that make up this alliance – 350Eurobodalla, Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action, Climate Action Monaro, Coastwatchers Repower Shoalhaven and SHASA. We congratulate ZeroSE and thank them for sharing their expertise to develop environmental and economic benefits for the Eurobodalla.

When it comes to meaningful action on climate, this will be an essential partnership for Eurobodalla Shire Council to support.

In discussions around the role of local government in easing the housing affordability crisis it’s often heard that “only the state or federal government can fix that” and that councils do not have a responsibility to provide affordable or social housing.

We hear from council statements like the following regarding the sale of council-owned Operational land in Dalmeny, in Eurobodalla Shire on the south coast of NSW:

“Council could develop the land itself however, Council is not resourced to undertake land development of this scale…
It is considered the private sector is best placed to develop the land to meet market demand, hence the recommendation to sell the land.”
– ESC Ordinary Meeting Agenda 13 July 2021

I’m concerned that the private sector has fallen very far behind in meeting market demand, not just in Dalmeny, but across the south east region where we are experiencing both a homelessness and housing affordability crisis AND a severe shortage of all housing.

The private sector plans for profits, not people. We need to start planning for the wellbeing of our communities, ensuring everyone has access to the basic human right of secure housing – planning for people, not profit.

It’s going to take urgent action from all levels of government to alleviate the housing stress in our communities. Local councils can’t opt out here – it’s time to think more creatively about what it would take for our council to be resourced to be an affordable housing provider.

In the first instance, Eurobodalla Greens are calling on council to conduct an urgent audit of all council land suitable for affordable housing development.

Council also needs to prioritise developing a Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy, which currently sits in the ESC Local Strategic Planning Strategy 2020-2040 as only a medium-term priority.

A Greens-led council will do more for affordable housing

The Greens on council will make full use of the existing planning rules to get proper benefits for the community from new development.

Councils can directly deliver affordable housing by partnering with a community housing providers (CHP) or state government to build affordable housing on council-owned land. Councils should also use financial contributions made through the development process (e.g. affordable housing levies or voluntary planning agreements) to contribute to the funding for either of the above.

Other possibilities include:

• A council land purchase or gift for affordable housing, partnering with the State govt. and/or a local community housing provider;
• Introducing an Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme, incorporated into the LEP, which requires developers to contribute to council’s affordable housing strategy;
• Development consents requiring a percentage of new developments (such as over 55’s villages) to be affordable housing;
• Introducing incentives for owners of vacant properties or holiday lettings to increase the number of permanent housing rentals;
• Council owned affordable housing such as a retirement homes or crisis accommodation.

Greens councillors will ensure that there is broad community engagement in the creation of the Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy so that we can find the best of these models to meet our needs here in the Eurobodalla.

When council remains a stakeholder in affordable housing developments we have the opportunity to design community rather than developer-led housing solutions. We get to have more say in the design, sustainability and management of the housing.

Our shire also benefits from applying the ESC Local Procurement Policy to support local businesses.

We can’t afford to leave this housing shortage unattended for any longer. Housing is a basic right and we need to ensure that everyone in our community has both secure tenancy and choice around that.

Access to secure housing is critical to our social and emotional wellbeing.

Women will lead the charge for the Eurobodalla Greens at this September’s Council elections, with four candidates pledging a commitment to Council transparency and the ambitious decision making needed to future-proof the Shire.

Candidates Alice Worthington of Moruya, Nadine Hills of Akolele, Kylie Ryder of Moruya Heads and Charlie Bell of Tomakin will run on the Eurobodalla Greens ticket, with current Greens Councillor Pat McGinlay completing his service to Council at the end of the current term.

Eurobodalla Greens candidates for Council elections from L-R: Kylie Ryder,

Lead candidate Alison Worthington, Charlie Bell and Nadine Hills. Photo credit Gillianne Tedder.

Lead candidate Alison Worthington said: “This team of candidates brings the talent and capability to build on the excellent work of Councillor Pat McGinlay over the past five years”.

Ms Worthington said Greens on Council would be strongly focused on Council accountability to Shire residents and ratepayers; delivering the services and infrastructure needed to ensure vibrant and resilient communities; and prioritising environmental responsibility.

“We’ll work with Council to deliver on our ambitious goals for safe, inclusive and liveable communities on this Nature Coast that we are so proud to call home,” Ms Worthington said.

“Liveability is about connected communities. On Council we will prioritise and better fund the Pathways Strategy so that residents have access to better pedestrian and bicycle routes within and between communities. Walkability includes street plantings to shade us when we’re out and about and to reduce urban heat island effects in our warming climate. We will integrate a Eurobodalla Street Plantings Strategy with Pathways so that Active Transport is an option at all times of year.”

Ms Worthington said her team is passionate about sustainable transport and as councillors will ensure that electric vehicle charging infrastructure is in place to encourage the uptake of EV’s by our residents.

“This decade will be a time to make ambitious decisions about climate action for the wellbeing of our communities into the future. We’re looking forward to working with Council staff to enact robust climate mitigation and adaptation plans to ensure our communities are safe and resilient to the challenges of the changing climate.”

On accountability, Ms Worthington said “Unfortunately the current Council has developed a reputation for a lack of transparency in decision making. The Greens will work to create opportunities for more community input into Council’s decision making and will be repeating calls for the re-instatement of livestreaming of the Public Forum. We will prioritise honest and transparent governance of our Shire and will be accessible and accountable to our residents.”

Council elections will take place on Saturday 4th September 2021.

The day before the National “Stop Adani” Day October 7th 2017, Gilmore MP, Ann Sudmalis chose to reaffirm her support for the Adani coal mine. “Given that 56% of respondents to the latest ReachTEL poll oppose the mine and only 26% support it, Ann Sudmalis seems committed to political oblivion,” Eurobodalla Greens Co-convenor Will Douglas commented, “especially considering she holds her seat by the narrowest margin in the state, just 2.6% according to Crikey.com’s The Poll Bludger.

The day of action saw tens of thousands rallying across the country with 270 people including Greens Councillor Pat McGinlay at Congo Beach in the Eurobodalla, and 450 people at Gerroa Beach at the other end of electorate creating a massive formation to spell the message “Stop Adani”.

“She has misjudged the mood of the electorate on all issues regarding climate change. Even after seeing the film “Guarding the Galilee” she continues to defend the mine despite the indefensible history of corruption and environmental vandalism of the main proponent, Adani.

“I would have thought”, said Douglas, “that given Ms Sudmalis’ farming heritage she might choose to support the 2000-strong Farmers for Climate Action which formed in Queensland in response to the granting of free and unlimited water for the mine for 60 years. She has, however, hitched her wagon to a conservative national government which has spectacularly failed to see how much of a lightning rod the Adani mine has become on multiple fronts.

Whilst her community moves steadily away from the mining and burning of coal she skates blindly on banana skins in the opposite direction. Even the coal miners of the Hunter Valley have united in opposition to the Adani mine as they stand to lose jobs in the sector in NSW.”

“The Federal government can create jobs in Central Queensland without selling out the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Artesian Basin, the global climate and the Australian taxpayer with a huge loan to a dubious multinational company.

There are viable renewable alternatives available right now, with existing, affordable technologies for energy production by First World and Developing countries. Wind, solar and other non-fossil fuel based technologies are by far the preferred direction for energy production and storage everywhere in the world.”

The Greens stand for a just and compassionate transition for existing coal miners and coal-fired plant workers into other forms of employment, and the swift passage towards a jobs–rich renewable energy economy supported by battery storage and decentralised pumped hydro schemes.

Mr Douglas also questioned whether Ms Sudmalis even considers global, human-induced climate change as a threat to humanity, despite the overwhelming scientific evidence.

“Our children and grandchildren will inherit the consequences of poor decisions by Ms Sudmalis and her ilk. She does not represent the majority of her constituents in Gilmore, nor the Australian public generally, who are very committed to leaving the planet habitable for future generations. This is indeed alarming, given that Ms Sudmalis, according to her profile on the ABC election site, was reportedly once a science teacher.”