Proposed Mountain Bike Trail at Stringy Bark Ridge, Pennant Hills

It is my view, as a “Suburban” Green, that we, as the local Greens group,  need to properly consider all sides of this matter.

I have a fairly strong view, though I am ready for it to be challenged, that we need to support initiatives for active recreation, especially affordable unstructured youth activity, such as Mountain Biking. Especially if organised and managed in a positive, even educational way. Instead of trying to lock people (except PLUs) out of Berowra Valley Regional Park, and for that matter other urban fringe national parks, we should be encouraging people to use these resources, wisely, and to become more appreciative and informed about the bio diversity and other issues involved in the proper management of parks.

The answer surely is for reasonable people from the Conservation groups and the Mountain Bike groups to get together and try to understand each other’s point of view, and see if it is possible to have a eco-friendly bike trail somewhere in the locality. I believe that we, as a local Greens group, should be able to work with both groups to try to find a reasonable solution, if each group is prepared to be reasonable about it. We surely should be able to find some common purpose with people who’s activity is so close to bushwalking.

Without a managed trail, the odds are strong that un-managed use will proliferate and do real damage.

Letter to Hornsby Advocate - Hornsby CWA breaks its silence

Hornsby Advocate - Hornsby CWA breaks its silence

Richard Boultwrites:
Posted on13 Dec 11 at 06:22pm

Originally when I was faced with a petition to "Save the CWA Building", I declined to sign it. I thought it a fairly insignificant building, surely not of much heritage value (since it is not even as old as me!). And the last thing I wanted was for the council to have any excuse to delay or postpone building the Aquatic Centre. But I decided to pay attention to the issue. I learned that it is an uncommonly good example of this architectural style, possibly unique in being still in use in its original form for its original purposes. I learned that "Council" :- - are prepared to smear those who oppose it as being "political", - are very dismissive of the considered opinions of many professionals that the Mark Cambourn option is a sensible option, probably better in a traffic sense than the option the council seems determined to plough ahead with, no matter what, - expect us to swallow totally unbelievable estimates of $2.2M extra for the sensible alternative - all in all, are shown to be very arrogant, and not concerned what the community wants or thinks. The more this council is refreshed in September, with people who will engage honestly with the community, the better.

Letter to Hornsby Advocate - New call for lift as residents rail against stairs

Hornsby Advocate - New call for lift as residents rail against stairs

RE: Brooklyn residents campaigning for a lift at Hawkesbury River rail station

Oops! Will have to wait for that one to be published to get the text back

Why Green Suburban Business Blog ?

6 months ago I decided that impending Climate Chaos was something that needed more attention than just "Business as Usual", and that no longer could I just leave it to someone else. I decided to learn more about why the population is not paying attention to the problem, is cold to the real decisions that need to be made. I joined the Greens, volunteered in the NSW office a little, and worked hard toward the NSW Election in my local electorate.

Sitting down to reflect on this past 6 months, I applied some of my business thinking to the problem.

I think the Greens,and other progressive politicians, have some great ideas for real action on climate change. The Greens have a broad range of realistic policies - not perfect, but getting there. So why do most of the population still see the Greens as tree huggers, anti business, job destroyers. I've had a lifetime of learning that the best solutions will fail unless managed, marketed and sold properly. And the poor solution can too easily win if mistakes are made in selling the best solution.

I liken the situation to a start up company with great ideas. They have a production ready prototype ready which they have done test marketing on. But now they could really use the help of people who really do know more about how to go in to full production, marketing and sales. Not to take over and redesign the product, change the policies, change direction. But to make sure the messages are really getting out there. Not just to the Inner City and some rural areas (maybe even Tree Changer areas), but to the broad electorate, to Mr & Mrs Average in the suburbs, to small business and the self employed.

I'm sure many will see this as an overly critical review of the situation of the Greens at the moment, based on a very narrow experience. And I'd love to be proved wrong. I certainly know there are some very passionate, competent people working for the Greens. But my personal view is they could do with more help to get our very good message out more widely, more accurately.

And could benefit from more feedback from the areas of the electorate they need to be more in touch with. Which, of course, might lead to minor tweaking of policies, priorities. Knocking off some of the rough edges. Like losing a vital election over a Council Boycott of Israel. Or pointlessly criticising Barry O'Farrell over a very dubious issue within hours of him being appointed Premier after the biggest landslide win in Australian Electoral history. That might play well inside the Greens office, in the inner city. But to suburbia and small business they indicate the Greens are more interested in issues that are irrelevant to the general electorate, and are totally oblivious to even the strongest of messages from the electorate.

Manage, Market and Sell our main, most important messages clearly, widely. Do not sully the Greens Brand with irrelevancies of no interest to the main market.

That is, if we, The Greens, are really interested in being in a stronger electoral position to really influence, take part in, critical government decisions. And sooner rather than later, to have earliest possible real impact on the Climate Chaos Challenge. Or are we going to stick in the Protest Movement mode of our roots ?