The purpose was to hear views on the assessment report prepared by the Department of Planning and Environment, which recommended approving the proposal subject to conditions, before the commission makes a decision.

Twenty-two registered speakers opposed the modification and one unregistered was in favour, with conditions. There were some inspiring and emotional presentations. Tom Wells’ was inspirational, receiving loud applause from the audience.

I am most disappointed no meeting was held in Moruya, as we are the downstream users threatened by any failure of the tailings dam.

That the meeting was in working hours meant those who may have wanted to attend, couldn’t.

The main issues raised were:

1. The design of the tailings dam, even though there is now not going to be an increase in size, is based on questionable rainfall and weather data and should be redesigned.

2. The tailings dam will contain heavy metals and contaminants. 

3. Putting contaminated paste fill back into the exhausted mine is fraught with problems for the groundwater.

4. There is no fail-safe dam below the tailings dam in the event of overflow  or seepage or failure.

5. The road on which trucks of concentrate will travel is not up to the job. Locals will have to joust with trucks.

6. Noise and dust issues.

8. There has been NO assessment of the effects on and implications for downstream water users in the event of a catastrophic failure of the tailings dam.

A growing number of Catalina Country Club members are concerned with what is happening at their club.

Since January 2015, following a number of resignations by elected directors frustrated by several questionable policy decisions acted on by management, the Catalina Board has been comprised of appointed directors only, acting in a temporary role, unelected to their positions.

These unelected directors were to serve in a caretaker capacity until the next scheduled election later this year.

Members have patiently accepted the existence of this temporary Board of Directors anticipating that fair elections would eventually correct this disorder at the coming October 2016 club elections, where member preference will finally put in place a democratically elected and popular Board.

A number of interested Catalina members have already grouped together to present to their fellow members possible director options for 2017.

Communications have been sent by these intending directors to both golfing and social members advising them of the options.

In response, the outgoing appointed Directors posted a notice on the club’s website this week, appeared to act on a questionable interpretation of an obscure, never-before-used two line reference in the club’s articles to threaten disciplinary action to any member who directly communicates with another member on any matter relating to the election.

Members have noted that the club’s Constitution and the Electoral Act do not specifically prevent member-to-member communication.

What is happening here? Members cannot now freely and by agreement communicate with each other in any written form about the coming election.

This is not North Korea.