Cassowary Coast Regional Council

I like to keep putting new issues before the public in this weekly report, but the Agent Orange fiasco is a major issue that deserves further coverage.

Firstly, we had sensational front page headlines in a Sydney paper and a two page article inside, asserting that Agent Orange was sprayed in the Gregory Falls area upstream of the Innisfail Water Supply intake in the 1960’s and that this resulted in higher rates of cancer in Innisfail, which were quoted in the article.

Secondly, we had Queensland Health asserting that cancer rates in Innisfail were in fact no different to rates elsewhere in Queensland.

Thirdly, last week we had the Federal Department of Defence denying Agent Orange tests were conducted, but stating that normal defoliants still in use in rural Australia were tested in the 1960’s.

In the meantime Innisfail residents have been caused unnecessary harm and concern.

I have no reason to disbelieve Queensland Health or the Department of Defence, but how did a senior journalist get the facts so wrong? I have contacted the journalist responsible and am awaiting possible access to his source material in the interests of there being full public disclosure. Numerous persons have contacted council with their opinions and further information.

Council health staff are advising on possible testing regimes that could be conducted as a one off exercise, to quickly get results and decisively assure residents that the water supply is free from possible carcinogenic substances. Soil testing for residuals may also be advisable. These tests are expensive, but if we can assist residents’ peace of mind, then I believe Council should do so.

This month is a decisive period for the CCRC as a newly amalgamated region. The new Chief Executive Officer, Terry Brennan, has been employed and will start work on 1st July, 2008. The appointment is timely as Council goes into the final stages of the budget deliberations and setting the future direction for the region. The new CCRC logo will be determined this week and will start to be seen on signage throughout the region.

Some decisions are being taken out of our hands by the State Government having introduced the 2025 Regional Statutory Plan. I don’t have an issue with there being such a plan – indeed it is extremely valuable – but the importance of the consultation phase until August can’t be overstated. Council encourages your submissions. As you will appreciate, in order to stop pre-emptive action, the draft plan carries force from the date of introduction in May 2008, but it can be, and is expected to be, amended, following community consultation.

Over the Queen’s Birthday week-end I presented prizes at the Cardwell Community Centre to competitors in the sports fishing competition. On the previous week-end I attended the Annual Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority committee chairs meeting. These two meetings had a common theme as it turned out, with concerns expressed about the future sustainability of the fishery resources off our coast and the conservation of the reef given climate change.

Fishing areas have already been significantly reduced, but the outlook is still of concern, with further restrictions possible. I believe we need to get the scientific evidence and keep the public informed, so that there is broad agreement on the appropriate future course of action, before introducing another raft of restrictions. Council can assist by being a conduit of information between all interested parties.

Cr Bill Shannon
Mayor