Editorial by Ruth Parnell
From "Maple Street Co-op News", Dec 2004/Jan 2005
We're entering another critical period in the Battle for the Obi Obi,
and the attack is happening on many fronts. It's ironic, with so many
peace-loving folk around these parts, that we have no choice but to
be active if we
want to save what's left of Maleny's character and unique environment.
Anyone who's driven past the Maleny Showgrounds recently should be as
stunned as I am to see how far a new housing development is encroaching
on the lower weir. It's smack bang in the water catchment area, and
there are few barriers to prevent a whole load of topsoil draining into
the weir in the next big rain. If Maleny's town water is muddy after
that, we'll know why. Who knows what else will drain into the weir once
the housing
estate is constructed?
The planning processes that led to this blot on the landscape -- and
to other eyesores around town like the Bridge Creek Road/Palm Street
development -- were in motion from the mid- to late-1990s, and were
against
the spirit of the Local Area Plan and wishes of the community back then.
Meanwhile, our Council bureaucracy continues to be seemingly intent
on aiding and abetting a pro-development agenda at the expense of our
green spaces and farms, and previous councillors are implicated in this
mess.
So now we have the opportunity to comment on what the state government
has in mind for the future of southeast Queensland. If we get our acts
together and make submissions, maybe we'll be able to have more "pink
bits" of the "urban bootprint" turned into green zones
(see Environment News). Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Do your best
-- and have a great new year!
Ruth
[From "Maple Street Co-op News", Feb/Mar 2005; published by
The Maple Street Co-operative Society Ltd, 37 Maple Street, Maleny,
Qld 4552, Australia, tel (07) 5494 2088, email maplest.co-op@serv.net.au,
website http://www.maplestreetco-op.com.au]