ANOTHER KNIT-IN - ANOTHER LETTER

The Grafton Loop of the Knitting Nannas held their weekly knit-in as usual outside the office of Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis on Thursday 22nd August.

Nannas pause for refreshments.

It was time for another letter to our hard-working parliamentary representative Chris Gulaptis.  The reason  - another move by the NSW Government to disempower local communities and help their mining friends.  The Government is proposing to amend the Mining State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) so that community groups have less chance of taking the government's planning decisions about mining to the courts.

The Nannas' concerns in their letter to Mr Gulaptis

The Knitting Nannas are writing to you again because we are appalled that the Government is proposing to disempower local communities even further when it comes to mining development.  We object very strongly to the amendment to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries).

 The proposed amendment means that the "significance" of the "resource" (be it a coal or gas resource or whatever) to the economy becomes the central consideration in the approvals process.  This means that other matters of importance to the local community – such as their amenity, health, water resources, and the natural environment – will be downgraded to minor considerations.

The Knitting Nannas fear that the Government is forgetting the importance of those people they are supposed to represent – the general community.  We also note that many people are becoming increasingly concerned about the continuation of governments' anxiety to promote mining despite public unease.

We believe that this amendment to the SEPP should be abandoned in the interests of the general community and our children and grandchildren.

 Letter Delivery Team with letter & flower.

A couple of determined Nannas.

(No messin' with us!)

Every time the Grafton Nannas deliver a letter to Mr Gulaptis' office they present him with a charming yellow flower.    By now he should have a sizeable bouquet - or maybe a wreath - to decorate his office and remind him of Nanna concerns!

 NANNAS  LIKE  TO  LEARN  NEW  SKILLS

French knitting

NANNA  CREATIVITY

 

And then there was the little memento of our visit - not a yarn bomb this time.

Non-yarn Bomb

NANNAS CONCERNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT'S NEW PLANNING SYSTEM

Grafton Nannas once again carried their chairs and needles and settled outside the office of Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis to knit, plot and chatter AND to deliver a letter outlining their concerns about the NSW Government's proposed new planning system.

The Nannas enjoying working with the yellow yarn.

The Nannas' letter, delivered to the office with the usual yellow flower, urged our MP to speak to the Minister for Planning about making the proposed new planning system more community-friendly.

(We did not deliver the letter personally to Mr Gulaptis because he left the office and was away for such a long time that we thought he was avoiding us.  Hard to believe that our MP would want to avoid talking to such charming, harmless Nannas!  However, we were SO pleased that he returned just as we were about to leave and had a brief chat with us.)

The Nannas believe the Government's proposed changes give too much power to industry and development interests.  We want to see:

1. The principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) incorporated in the new system.
2. Rights for the ordinary community to access judicial review to remedy unlawful decisions made under the legislation for State Significant Development - including for coal mines and gas fields.
3. Removal of restrictions on third party merit appeals.
4. Incorporation of the environmental protections in the current planning system in the new system.

We hope to hear that Mr Gulaptis is lobbying enthusiastically on our behalf and the behalf of all the kiddies who have to live in the world that we are shaping.

In the meantime the Nannas will continue their regular knit-ins.  We enjoy so much our Nanna companionship, exercising our fingers, discussing our projects and chatting with the passers-by.

Speckledy, a Chook Against Gas, and a new friend kept the Nannas company.