Thoughts With Taree

Watching coverage of  flooding in Taree Australia brings it all back again.

When you have experienced a massive flood it sticks with you .Although diminished  in the mind ,it is still sitting there and witnessing a similar event affecting our couzzies across the Tasman brings back the pain and the mud and the dirty water .The scramble for safety and the confronting issues to deal with.

I understand exactly what they are going through and wish them all the best in the battle ahead.

What makes me mad is the response from media and the crazy climate nutters that try and make a connection with the great con that is prominent in the blame game.

What is needed is a calm considered response,  in depth understanding of historical events ,no knee jerk reactions and a rational approach to repair and restoration.

From what I am seeing it is not happening.

Politicians are already muttering about climate change .Insurance companies are salivating at elevating premiums along with repeating the lie about weather events becoming more frequent .

The Government has announced a payment of  $1000 per adult affected by the flood. That is amazing.I mean at this time it is like a pee in the flood water.

An economist from the Australian Institute interviewed  on TV mentions how so many residents were not insured or underinsured. People cannot afford the cover. 

This has been the situation in the US floods and the NZ floods and most likely Europe and the UK.

The system is in need of an overhaul.

Unfortunately the economist mentioned increasing events because of climate change .This is misinformation.

In fact after a flood it is more likely the area is going to be less likely to flood for years.

If Taree was a one in 500 year event then there is time to stop and cogitate on that.

It is a time to learn from the historical flooding events that have hit the Taree area and work out the best plan for the future.

It looks like hundreds of homes are going to be demolished .This will be devastating for so many.

Is it necessary? Is there another approach for the years ahead?

Are there flood control measure that can be implemented ?

I wish the affected people all the best. It's a hard road ahead and takes all ones strength to deal with a mountain of issues.

 

  

 

For The Sake of Doing Something

It is disturbing to note that millions is being spent on reinstating infrastructure that had been identified as ineffective and yet following the cyclone we have authority that appears to be saying they need to carry out the work to show the Government and Banks and Insurance companies that something is being done.

Can you believe that?

The experts have been told that repairing a stopbank should not proceed. Locals with years of experience and knowledge of past weather events  , the history of the stream involved along with on the ground understanding of the whole area and system , have been shunned and likely scoffed at behind closed doors.

This attitude about spending taxpayers money and ratepayers money to make it look like something is being done is wrong.

This is clearly a case of waste at a time government could do with saving or redirecting the expenditure into other remedies.

It is frustrating to note this interpretation coming from a number of people and reminds me of the huge expenditure carried out by the Hastings District Council in an over the top reaction to one well being poorly maintained .Millions of dollars wasted to show something was being done.

The proposed action on an ineffective stopbank is also having the effect on a number of landowners who may have their land acquired  and lives turned upside down for no reason whatsoever .

Once again the power of the state rules and in this instance underlines how  out of balance things have become.

     

Fear Mongering

What a shocking headline. 'Hawkes' Bays Climate Future Revealed.' -drought, floods and more hot days.

The Climate Action Joint Committee, that had two Hawkes Bay councils pull out , commissioned a report that looks like it is full of the climate garbage circulating the world and unfortunately in Hawkes Bay we lack any objective approach at a time when it is an extremely sensitive situation.

The report reveals an increased risk of ex tropical cyclones , droughts and flooding.

This is scurrilous because not only is it wrong but it will cause fear amongst many and will lead to massive expenditure that will be totally unjustified.

A report like this will also give ammunition to Government and interested authorities to enact unnecessary moves that will see more red tape and irreversible decisions affecting most likely the wrong people.

There are well qualified scientists out there screaming the fact that cyclones are not increasing in either events or intensity.

Even the IPCC is agreeing that events are not increasing in number.

Using incorrect assumptions is basing on criminality .Rating people on flawed advice will penalise people  and in time will distort demographic distribution in the area.

Climate change is being weaponised and utilised for the wrong reasons.

The climate has always changed and always will.

It looks like no lessons have been learnt from Gabrielle and maybe the Wairoa Council have a better understanding after being crushed by the weather.