Last season 42 separate whales were sited within 10 kilometres of the desal site (stat decs and photos confirm this). The Government’s EES said there were virtually no whales in the area and it was not significant habitat (the EES said only a couple of whales had visited the area over the last five years).

To build on the data from last season we are launching “WHALE WATCH”, an initiative to get details of as many whales as possible visiting us this season. We will then have good data to see how construction and later operation of the desal plant is effecting these beautiful creatures.

Please click on the image above to get a printable version and distribute wherever you can. Phone in any sightings, even any unusual events that you observe on our coast, we should be able to get photographers and observers down asap.

Further details as to where to drop off forms if you see something and fill one in will follow shortly

Form to record Whale sighting.          Download

Document to help you recognise and identify whale species.          Download

It has been about nine months now since the consortium building the desalination plant last met with the community to give any details of what they plan to build.

This is a very unsatisfactory situation. The government have set up a community liason committee that gives the community the same spin answers as the DSE used to. After requesting the answers to many questions over the last months without getting answers we called for another community forum. In the end we have had to set one up ourselves. Senior staff of the consortium have been asked to attend and sit on a panel, as have staff of the Bass Coast Shire. We also have a panel of water, environmental and economic experts to help answer the community’s questions about the desal plant being built and its likely effects.

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FREE ADMISSION:  Saturday 22nd May

Wonthaggi Town Hall, 7.30 pm.

Please click on the poster and print off copies to distribute to those you think might be interested

Friends of the Earth Australia have just published some great stories in their latest magazine -

click here to see the whole thing

The Greenwashing of desalination plants energy use:

http://www.foe.org.au/resources/chain-reaction/editions/chain-reaction-108/greenwashing-desalination/

And an article by Watershed’s Chris Heislers:

http://www.foe.org.au/resources/chain-reaction/editions/chain-reaction-108/victorias-bass-coast-desalination-plant/

And a good one on Water Privatisation:

http://www.foe.org.au/resources/chain-reaction/editions/chain-reaction-108/water-privatisation/

Water is such an important issue for us all that Watershed encourages you to read these and other articles from the latest Friends of the Earth magazine.

Watershed contributed a float for the street parade celebrating Wonthaggi’s 100th birthday.

We secured an honourable mention from the judges for our efforts and we think the miners of old would appreciated our efforts to stand up against Government arrogance and injustice.

The float represents the inlet pipe sucking up 30,000 tonnes of marine life each year, the outlet pipe and its potential for both short and long term consequences. Also the predominant theme of the cost of water, where government previously said water bills would no more than double, but the Essential Services Commission has now had to admit it may need to further vary water prices due to the cost of the plant.

People are being thrown out of their rented homes to make way for desal workers at hugely inflated rents. Do you know of anyone in this situation?

If so please ask them drop in and speak with a representative of the Tenants Union (confidentially) who will be at the Bass Coast Shire offices on Thursday 18th February (contact the shire on 56712222 or 1300 226278)

The local member of Parliament, Ken Smith, is also looking into this. He can be cotacted at his Wonthaggi office in McBride Ave. (again confidentially) 56724755, ken.smith@parliament.vic.gov.au

Or contact Jessica from Watershed on 0407 307231

Watershed will again be running an education and information stall at the Sustainable Living Festival in Federation Square, February 19th to 21st.

http://festival.slf.org.au/
If you would be able to help out on our stall please contact Jessica on 0407 307231.

WATERSHED

BULLETIN No 8

JANUARY 2010

IS NOW AVAILABLE

Click here, or on the image, to get it

PAST EVENT
FRIDAY 22nd January, 7.30pm, Wonthaggi Town Hall.

A GREAT time was had by around 250 people who attended the Watershed fundraiser show, “Bugger the Polar Bears - THIS IS SERIOUS”. As well as being hilariously funny, there was a fair bit of educational content as well.

A great time was had by all at our Christmas Bash

and we raised nearly $1000 to continue the fight for sustainable water policy

After a Busy and Tough Campaigning and Protesting Come and Enjoy

The Fun and Games –

FOR BOOKINGS AND NUMBERS CONTACT

MAGGIE – 0422 07 99 87 RSVP – ASAP p.s. a deposit would be great!

This was a great event, remember to keep
thinking globally and acting locally.

DESAL RELATED EVENT IN WONTHAGGI - Join the world-wide action to halt climate change. Meet others who share our concerns that the planet is being irreversibly depleted by our carbon-heavy footprint. Bring an example to read out of how YOU have changed your life to reduce your impact.

Spread the word - only by local climate change action can we get change happening !