Port of Newcastle container terminal court ruling puts handbrake on Hunter economy

The recent decision by Justice Jagot not to remove the anti-competitive financial burden on a future container terminal in Newcastle is very disappointing, to say the least. Remarkably, Justice Jagot formed the opinion that a container terminal in Newcastle wasn't economically viable.

Thirty per cent of the produce exported in containers from Port Botany originates either in the Hunter or northern NSW and 17 per cent of Port Botany's imported containers end up in the Hunter or northern NSW. This equates to over 500,000 containers which could go through Newcastle's port. Sounds like a viable business to me, particularly when our deep water port can handle container ships far bigger than those which can get into Port Botany.

Port Botany boasts that its container terminal supports 25,000 jobs. At the moment Newcastle can only dream of having such a job-generating facility in our harbour.

Justice Jagot, thank you for putting a handbrake on the Hunter's economy.

THE foundation of democracy is that most human beings are good, rational and capable of self-control. Democracy provides 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Rights within an agreed boundary of human behavior, supported by associated laws and enforcement. A democracy allows for dissent within acceptable society limits and free speech (albeit socially correct).

Restraint was not evident in the Sydney protest, as the pent-up anger and emotional pressures of loss of employment, incomes, personal freedoms and failing businesses exploded. While understandable, it potentially makes their own situation worse by increasing the very cause of restrictions. The minority that doesn't believe COVID is dangerous, or is a fake attempt to take away their freedom, will never be convinced otherwise despite any evidence. The larger mass of people were butchers, bakers and candle-stick makers.

COVID will be with us for some time; those vaccinated can still catch it and be infectious (albeit to a lesser degree). The vaccination is only effective for 6-12 months and may need yearly repeats. So, allowing for those not wanting or unable to be vaccinated, COVID will be afoot in the community even when lockdowns lift. And lockdowns must be lifted to avoid economic ruin on a personal or national level. Overseas experience shows the capacity for the COVID variants to escalate infection numbers requires a high population vaccination rate to enable medical services to respond. The best result for all, is the sensible majority of Australians get vaccinated.

PERHAPS readers may be able to help me here?

One of the most exciting pieces of information of the last week, I thought, was the Florida USA legislation to prosecute large corporations who block legitimate questions of ordinary citizens.

I have been puzzled over the accusation that rallyists are "super spreaders". Are they? This caused me to search for evidence that proves or disproves this.

I actually found a report that declared that there was no evidence that the Black Lives Matter rally increased the spread of COVID-19.

A number of other rallies such as Brittany Higgins had no indication of any increase in the virus.

This causes me to think conversely; when do people contract this or any virus? I don't believe the season (like winter) is responsible. I suspect two features that seem common with passing on illness (of any kind). One is enclosed spaces, such as cruise ships, shopping centres, trains, planes and limousines. The second common feature I wonder about is air conditioning. Shades of Legionnaires' disease.

Keep well.

BRAD Hazzard, in lamenting the decision of the other states not to send some of their supplies of the vaccine to NSW, points to the fact that, in times of floods, fires and other disasters, states usually help each other out.

He is forgetting one little detail. Floods, fires etc usually affect one, sometimes two states at the same time. This virus can flare up overnight anywhere in Australia. I'm sure the people in those states would be a little angry that their state sent doses of their allocation to other states.

Not forgetting that this latest outbreak, affecting at least two other states, happened because the NSW government failed to ensure that persons dealing with overseas arrivals had full protective gear and because, it is generally accepted, that the NSW government acted about three or four days too late to go to lockdown, throwing away any chance of a quick containment of the outbreak.

EARLIER this year, Knights CEO Phil Gardner said he felt "sorry" for anyone who objected to the club's sponsorship deal with the coal industry. Now, in response to the possibility of fans being unhappy if the club does not retain the popular Connor Watson, he says he "doesn't respond to petitions'' (Toohey's News, 24/7).

I thought this sort of arrogance would end with Nathan Tinkler's exit. Apparently not. It isn't a good fit with any club, let alone one like Newcastle.

This is to say nothing of the fact that results clearly haven't matched the hype since Wests took over at the end of 2017.

Is it time to ask whether Phil Gardner is the right person to be in charge of the Newcastle Knights?

I READ with interest "Barnaby Joyce says farmers should be paid more to host gas wells", (Herald, 27/7), and I must say, I have extreme difficulties with it as the central issue is potential contamination of any water resource by the coal seam gas extraction.

While it should be a given that any property owner should be paid a far better price than the mining companies wish to pay them as they interfere with their land during a mining project, the whole issue regarding the extraction of coal seam gas is that a safe way of extracting the gas has not yet been found. As well if there is contamination to any variety of water, whether it be the aquifers, rivers or any other water on or adjacent to the properties being mined, there is no effective way of cleaning up the mess so created and we as a nation cannot afford that.

The total stuff up of so many places without a resolution in sight due to the firefighting foam should be a huge warning shot across the nation's decision makers; yet that is just cast aside and all the people affected just struggle along and are mostly ignored by the government. We should not do things that damage the place and if there is a significant hint that an action may damage the place we should plan a recovery before the action is taken so that a full and complete recovery can be made.

WITH regards to the container terminal in Newcastle, why can't we just get it built and handle 29,999 containers a year? I realise the costs of the terminal versus costs of handling just this amount of containers is not very attractive for investors, but get the thing built. Talking about the poor response from the courts doesn't solve anything. Build the terminal and fight this weak excuse for a government at a later stage.

THE spin doctors are at it again. I registered for the jab as soon as the over 50s were eligible. I am booked in for August 31, 12 weeks after application. The advertisements imply we are not getting the jab. The fact is the government cannot keep up with the applications.

I HAVE read two reports in the Sydney news this week that Newcastle Knights front rower David Klemmer is upset because he is now (currently) a bench starter. If this is true I would have hoped he would have played himself back to the starting/run-on team and showed his support for the accolades handed out to him by Knights supporters over the past few years. But in every rumour there is always a smidgen of truth. Coach O'Brien, if he is unhappy let him go.

THE confusion over whether to QR code into a venue or not is very vague unless a police officer giving a directive is present. Employing the unemployed as COVID marshalls might help the economy to plateau.

LOOKING at the news of the protest, I find it hard to believe that it was a spontaneous event. For the number present it had to be organised (most likely through social media). Authorities need to look for the organisers and visit them with penalties.

WITH council elections coming up, maybe it's time to review the performance of elected representatives. In my experience it's wide and varied. I have written to several councillors and the mayor of Lake Macquarie, response; one out of three councillors bothered to reply and nothing from the city mayor. Interestingly the mayor of Newcastle responded to the same question quickly and efficiently.

I'M no alarmist, but if children are catching it, they are in the game, which means washing hands and wearing masks.

THE reaction of our prime minister and deputy prime minister to the outrageous anti vax/freedom rantings of George Christensen was pathetic. Not a hint of criticism from either of them, just lame "well it's a free country" type reactions. Leadership. When will we get some?