COMMUNITY CONSULTATION?

So far the Charr Team with the help of the government and the promise of many millions of our dollars, seem to be right on their target. August 13th and the Government declares the project of "State Significance."

There is no fanfare just a whimper as the news slowly seeps out into the community. The Charr Team are at it again, but watch where the ball bounces this time folks. . Its the Councils turn to play!!!. August 28th and Council staff are instructed by a Memo "that no person shall release details or whereabouts of the site because of a confidentiality agreement between the owner of the quarry and the developer" This is foul and everyone begins asking WHERE THE HELL IS IT ?.

The princes Highway ? No, Mogo ? No, Moruya ?-its in a quarry somewhere! Who Knows? total confusion reigns. The Charr Team go into a huddle holding small private meetings, this is their idea of Community Consultation? "What about emissions?" "There are none just steam!" Noise ?, "Will not hear a thing"! smell? "Only of cut wood no different than a timber mill really"! But what about escaping emissions if plant fails ?. "Impossible can't happen"

Anger kicks in and the fights back. "How many trucks a day"? -10! - "Is that Charcoal"? - Yes! - "Is that total movements"? - Ah no, well 20.! "What about the logs, Flux and sawdust trucks"? - Oh yeah, well 80 movements a day!.- That's pretty good folks, bounced from 20 right up to 80 -getting right into the swing we push on. "In daylight hours"? - Yes!. "So that's one every 8 minutes at the site"? Ah Ah.-.(Speechless folks), maybe they thought we couldn't work that one out! Remember the words of advise "keep it simple" how simple do they think we are?

We kick again, and "The number of jobs"? - 50. - "But you told a meeting yesterday 25"? "How much water"? a little bit, not much at all. "But yesterday at a meeting you said 50 megalitres" !! Could this be misinformation?

Slowly, anger, confusion and frustration fires up the community. A Residents Team have researched the world seeking real information on Charcoal manufacturing and concerned at what they find call a public meeting. 500 people turn up.

Unbelievably the Charr Team tell the Meeting how wonderful it will all be for us. The Residents Team take up the challenge, "They don't tell you that they actually purchase a License to pollute the air we breath with emissions do they ?" "What about the highly polluting Pyroligneous acid or sludge that cannot be allowed to enter any waterways and the highly explosive gases and vapours" didn't mention those did they ? .

More Meetings to packed halls follow as the community rises up against this monstrosity and a determined Yellow Team emerges to tackle them head on.

To be continued: ..The EIS and Submissions..

The Residents Action Group.

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