Petition Tag - development

The proposed development of affordable housing on the land at the north side of Drum Estate will impinge on the green belt and have a massive impact on the environment of the Candlemakers Estate.

As well as the loss of amenity of the woodland and open space and the loss of wildlife habitat, this proposed development will double the traffic volumes at the entrance to the estate with the resultant increase in noise and pollution.

It will directly impact on property values and insurance costs and change the entire nature of the estate. If the development goes ahead, there will be an extended period of disruption and disturbance which will end in the area being forever changed.

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Tetum below

The Government of Timor-Leste is currently free of debt. Despite current substantial income from petroleum resources, the government has announced plans to begin borrowing.

In September, more than 137 organizations based in 32 countries endorsed a statement that urged "the government of Timor-Leste to keep the nation debt-free and refrain from borrowing money from international lenders.... to protect its future generations." The groups argue that "Rather than repeat the mistakes of other developing countries that have struggled with debt during recent decades, Timor-Leste should learn from their experiences, which often inflicted great hardships on their people." http://etan.org/news/2011/08debt.htm

Income from oil and gas provides 95% of state revenue, making Timor-Leste the most petroleum-export dependent country in the world. Timor-Leste has not yet borrowed funds from other countries or international financial institutions, but the government has passed laws to enable borrowing. In the 2012 budget, the government has proposed borrowing.

This petition is a joint project of the the Movimento Kontra Deve, a coalition of civil society organizations in Timor-Leste opposed to their country taking out loans, and the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (www.etan.org), a 20-year old U.S.-based group working in solidarity with the people of Timor-Leste.

Additional background on Timor-Leste and borrowing can be found in English at http://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/debt/09Borrowing.htm and Tetum: http://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/debt/09BorrowingTe.htm

---- Tetum ----

Lian Dahuluk

Governu Timór-Leste agora dadaun sei livre hela hosi deve. Maski hetan rendimentu naton hosi rekursu petroleu, governu Timór-Leste anunsia nia planu atu komesa deve. http://etan.org/news/2011/08debt.htm

Iha fulan Setembru, liu organizasaun 137 ne’ebé baze iha pais 32 suporta estatementu ida ne’ebé husu “governu Timór-Leste atu mantein nasaun ne’e livre hosi deve no hases’an hosi impresta osan hosi kreditor internasional….. atu proteze ninia jerasaun futuru.” Grupu ne’e argumenta katak “Infez ita repete erru sira ne’ebé nasaun sub-dezenvolvida sira komete iha pasadu, iha ne’ebé sira luta ona durante dekade barak nia laran, Timór-Leste tenki aprende hosi esperiénsia hirak ne’e, ne’ebé dala barak lori naha todan ba sira nia emar sira.”

Rendimentu hosi mina no gas fornese 95% hosi rendimentu estadu nian, halo Timór-Leste hanesan nasaun ne’ebé depende liu ba esportasaun petroleu iha mundu. Timór-Leste seiduk deve osan hosi nasaun seluk ka instituisaun finanseiru internasional, maibé governu aprova ona lei balu atu loke dalan ba deve. Iha orsamentu estadu 2012, governu hato’o ona proposta atu deve.

Petisaun ida ne’e hanesan projektu hamutuk hosi Movimentu Kontra Deve, koalisaun ida ne’ebé kompostu hosi organizasaun sosiedade sivil iha Timór-Leste ne’ebé kontra sira nia pais atu deve, no East Timór and Indonesia Action Network (www.etan.org), grupu ida ne’ebé baze iha Estadus Unidus da Amerika ho sira nia solidaridade ho Timór-Leste durante tinan 20.

Informasaun liu tan kona ba Timór-Leste no deve iha dalen Inglesh bele hetan iha
http://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/debt/09Borrowing.htm no Tetum: http://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/debt/09BorrowingTe.htm

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Rossington nr Doncaster has been chosen as the best site to build a 1000 sq acre rail port. The railport being for the importation of cheap Chinese goods directly into the heart of our country.

To build this, the developers plan to remove Rossington's pit tip and spread it over hundreds of acres of prime farm land. Along with filling in our flood plains to stop the railport from flooding and building a 3 mile link road. Then an estimated 5000+ new houses will be built around the village. In effect encircling us with new developments and removing our much used green belt land.

This removal will affect -Buzzards , Swans , Barn Owls , King fishers, Voles, Deer, Orchids, Dragon flys and hundreds of other species that live within the confines of this natural wildlife haven. With the Yorkshire wildlife trust backing the developments due to there funding by HSBC bank.

HSBC being connected with more than one of the developers. And indeed being a one time owner of the intended main occupier of the site. These developments will bring ruin to our area with small businesses not being able to compete against the estimated 1 million tons of imports a year expected on our door step. Along with the expected 200,000 HGV movements a year. Our roads cannot cope now and our council cannot cope with the roads they already service.

All in all this stupidity by councils to raise capital from business rates needs to stop. This stupidity of building on flood plains needs to stop. This stupidity of allowing more and more imports into our recession hit country must stop.

WE NEED TO STAND UP AND SAY NO TO THE ROSSINGTON RAILPORT .

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It will cause more traffic congestion on Mickleham Road, loud noise pollution due to industrial developement and transport. Will destroy the habitat in the area for kangaroos, echidnas, endangered frogs, snakes.

It will create extra issues for the Airport as the current farming land is a flight path for the MELBOURNE AIRPORT. Lower the value of all the homes within Hume and all the residents within the area will lose the rural surroundings that drew them to the area in the first place.

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In March 2010 Worthing borough council dismissed an application to develop 125 acres of greenbelt farmland and ancient woodland west of Durrington near Worthing. However the same developers have returned with a modified scheme excluding the woods and lane but still building on the farmland.

Although this revised scheme has reduced the land take to 80 acres and the woodland is spared we are still objecting as this land boarders the South Downs National Park and ancient Titnore woods. Not only are the fields important for food production, they act as a buffer between the urban sprawl and the open landscape of the English countryside.

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Stop the destruction of agricultural land on the Waterloo moraine.

Taking a look at a zoning map of Waterloo from 2001, I noticed that a lot of the outlying land was zoned for agriculture. Right behind the Columbia Forest Court was a beautiful field that glowed a brilliant gold during the fall season. When I glanced at a more recent map from 2009, this same field was rezoned as land for development. For a decade this field had been owned by IBI, a development company that leased the property to farmers.

Up until the end of 2009, these farmers were growing their crops on their field, but last spring a sign in front of the forest that leads to the field announced City of Waterloo's plans to commence the construction of a trail, lighting and waterworks through the middle of the forest to provide a safe passage from the Columbia Forest Estates to the new “Vista Hills” development to be built on the field.

The field remained dormant until this spring, when bulldozers moved in and started to level it. In addition to IBI destroying the land, they are devastating an entire ecosystem, teeming with flora and fauna. Small animals such as groundhogs are being endangered or extirpated and moved to the nearby forest. This construction has damaged the existing ecosystem of the moraine, and there will be an imbalance of species in the forest, which can cause a lot of damage to the existing plants and animals.

A gaping hole in the forest has been cleared to make way for the new path and waterworks that is going to be constructed. The deforestation of ESPA 19 happened this month, in June, prior to a land bird monitoring report that was to be completed, and it occurred during the migratory bird breeding season.

My family and I would like you to help save the Waterloo Moraine that is being destroyed by developers such as IBI. The reason we are trying to protect this land is because it has a rich natural history: it was formed by glaciers thousands of years ago, and today is a rich supply of water for the residents of Waterloo. If you were dwelling near the construction site, would you want to watch the destruction of a valuable natural resource?

Please assist me in stopping this development by signing my petition, and you will be making a difference in our community for generations to come.

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Get on our land is a new Inside Housing campaign. Its aim is simple: to free up land on which to build homes.

It sounds so straightforward. The UK needs more homes (and take your pick from rising private rents, unaffordable house prices, slashed state development funding and recent predictions that the 20 years to 2026 will see 4.7 million more households form in England for evidence of the gross mismatch between supply and demand). Yet those who want to build them share a common complaint: lack of land. It’s too expensive, too contaminated, too fraught with planning complications, they say.

That may be so. But the level of housing need is too acute for us to ignore the need to find ways of unlocking land supply for housing development. In 2004 academic Kate Barker said up to 145,000 additional new homes were needed each year to meet demand. Last year 102,570 were built, according to the Federation of Master Builders.

Get on our land has three key aims.

First, it wants the backing of at least 100 organisations and individuals who are committed to doing everything they can to increase the supply of land on which to develop homes. We want our supporters to represent every stage of the development supply chain – from landowner, to developer, to social landlord, to the resident who will only find themselves suitably housed if more homes are built. We need planners, housing professionals, architects and contractors on board. We need local and national politicians. We need you.

Our second goal represents Inside Housing’s side of the bargain. We will work with our readers and backers to produce a charter which outlines ways of easing housing land supply throughout the UK. Our ongoing campaign coverage, in print and online, will further this aim by exploring the current barriers to bringing land forward for development, detailing the potential solutions and publicising schemes where land has been unlocked, in spite of everything.

Finally, we are asking local authorities to take part in a new scheme from the Communities and Local Government department. Its capital and assets
pathfinder programme is a support package designed to help councils identify all surplus public assets in their areas – from vacant public buildings to unused land. All 11 pilot authorities, running since July 2010, include a housing component.

We want new participants to commit to identifying development land as part of the CAP process. Get on our land will bring you in-depth coverage of the pilot areas getting it right.

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Knowing that more than 1.4 billion people still struggle to live on less than $1.25 a day (World Bank), it is obvious that much more must be done to eradicate the scourge of extreme poverty.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) coordinate the Social Protection Floor Initiative (SPF-I) as a joint UN effort to build a global coalition committed to supporting countries in building national social protection floors for their citizens.

A Social Protection Floor (SPF) is the first level of a comprehensive national social protection system that helps to realize human rights for all through guaranteeing:

 Universal access to essential services (such as health, education, housing, water and sanitation and other services as nationally defined);
 Social Transfers in cash or kind to guarantee income security, food security, adequate nutrition and access to essential services.

Countries will develop nationally defined strategies for the progressive realization and sustainability of their floor as well as higher levels of social protection in line with their needs, preferences and financial capacities.

Building on existing social protection mechanisms these strategies may include a mix of contributory and non-contributory, targeted and universal, public and private instruments depending on the social economic and political context.

In summary, the SPF is:
• Universal- It includes everyone.
• Rights- based – (enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
• Nationally owned and designed.
• The first step in an ongoing process – not a ceiling of benefits.
• Affordable by all countries.

How can you be involved?
 By forming a network to get as many signatures as possible to promote the initiative with your own government. You can sign as an individual or as an organization.

This signature campaign can be used as a tool for lobbying at national and global levels.
The most important purpose of the campaign is to convince national government that the Social Protection Floor is needed and wanted by its citizens and must be included in national development policies.

We see this initiative as a wonderful opportunity to work together to roll back poverty, to put social protection at the heart of the international development agenda and to strengthen the chance for every person to live with dignity.

For further information see http://www.socialfloor.org and www.ngosocdev.net

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The UCR Child Development Center released a letter to families participating in the subsidized child care program in mid April 2011. The program has provided more than a 70% reduction to low income families to allow their children the opportunity to a quality education in a safe and nurturing environment – an opportunity that most of the families would not have otherwise had.

The letter stated the subsidized program will no longer be offered to faculty and staff families (student staff will remain on the program) effective June 2011 giving the families less than two months to come up with an alternative plan for their children.

If action is not taken these families will not have the quality child care needed to continue to nourish their children’s education and social skills.

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*The number of proposed apartments / dwellings would cause unnecessary congestion, pollution and noise.

*A bus service is already operative on Bryants Rd, which is within easy walking distance, any addition to the route would only increase congestion.

*The proposed 'New Vehicular Connection' would encourage motorists to use same to access Bryants Road as a short cut, causing an excessive flow of traffic at peak times.

*The area is home to a multitude of wildlife, including birds, turtles, ducks, koalas, fish, snakes & foxes, and the proposed development would (if it doesn't kill them) force them away from their natural habitat and deprive them of their source of food.

*Local infrastructure, such as schools and child-cares, are already at their peak with long waiting lists applying. The increased population envisaged by the proposed development would add to this problem.

*It could be seen that the Logan City Council would benefit with the ability to collect more rates and fees with the proposed increase of dwellings and residents to the area.

*Can the Council provide assurance that all its councillors, including the Mayor of Logan, do not have a 'conflict of interest' as owners of properties in the area defined as 'Timor Ave Area, Loganholme', including properties on Arafura Ave and Timor Ave, which properties are not subject to resumption by the 'Parkland' proposal.

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The residents of Cremorne object to the introduction of a late trading bar in the premises at 398-400 Military Rd, Cremorne.

The area is one of the last quiet sanctuaries in the busy area and is enjoyed by many families. The development would destroy the area and the ambience that residents have spent a lot of hard work and time developing.

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A development application is before Waverley Council to allow the construction of 2 x 2 dual occupancy homes (ie 4 residences) at the top of Tamarama Park and fronting Birrell St. If the DA is approved, the heritage listed “Fletchers Glen” waterfall which is within this DA, will be destroyed. The waterfall is highly visible in the Park and as such is regarded as an integral landscape feature within the Tamarama Park Landscape Conservation Area.

The plans do not address how the waterfall will be protected.

The development is large for this very steep site. Significant excavations and concrete retaining walls at the top of Tamarama Park will be required to shore up this development with catastrophic impact upon the surrounding public open space and vegetation.

There is an unmade road through Tamarama Park. The proposed development inevitably resurrects the possibility of laying this road. If this goes ahead, signficant amounts of Park land will be lost to the road - land that people have known to be part of Tamarama Park for many years.

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The Forest is a volunteer-run, collectively-owned, free arts and events space. We provide a dedicated space for people to get involved in any creative activity imaginable, and have also become a vital resource for social, political and environmental groups, providing space and equipment for events, workshops and fundraisers.

Due to the bankruptcy of our landlords, the building that the Forest currently occupies is up for sale. On the 19th of February 2011 we learned that a prospective buyer is currently in the process of closing a deal to buy the building with the estate agents, Graham and Sibbald.

So now, as well as continuing a hugely successful fundraising campaign to secure Forest's future, we're asking our friends and community to show their support: we do not want to see this listed historic building transformed into yet another generic coffee shop or sports pub, and we want to let any prospective buyer or developer know how strongly the community feels we should stay in our home. Please sign this petition to show our strength.

Up-to-date information about the campaign and details of how to donate are available at http://blog.theforest.org.uk/savetheforest and through our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Forest-Campaign/187769714596278?ref=ts

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Our "free" democracy reached dead end. Proofs of it are all around us; if you examine any given problem closely you will find so much nonsense, that you won't be surprised "solutions" hardly work. Governments have tendency of appointing new agency or special commission for particular cases. It's not only clogging, slowing down proper development.

What is worse that kind of approach does not work on real causes,which are left alone and treated as constants. It won't work. Never. Our only possibility to deal with problems in our society is to treat them as we treat and understand ecosystems. And any kind of political correctness trying to blind us will not help. We have to step out of present illusion(we will anyway - why not now) of economy rules. It is not freedom, it is not even democracy - now marketing rules the world. We are humans, not employees. "Economically viable" and "right" are not synonymous. Sooner we realize it the better.

As problem is so complex I will give here only two examples:

1. Children Rising
At the moment we let "Money & Power" paradigm educate our children(and ourselves for that matter). It results in all sorts of trouble: from bed behaviour to alcohol abuse to overweight. Source of those is the same: we are leaving our kids alone and the don't know what is right or wrong. Their only dream is "to be famous".They are treating projection as reality and are unable to cope with their intellectual and emotional needs. Not even million commissions won't solve it if we do not address the source.

2. Drug Abuse
Similar really to the above. It is disorder of society which manifest in emotional problems of individuals. No agency or prohibition will work.

Accept it. It is pretty obvious truth. It is what we will do with it what matters.

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Honeywell International is proposing a "General Development Plan" (GDP) that will result in significant rezoning and increase development on 147-acre property off Columbia Turnpike in Morris township.

Currently proposed are a 250-ROOM HOTEL, CONTINUING CARE FACILITY, 311 RESIDENTIAL STACKED UNITS, a 416 ROOM RETIREMENT FACILITY and other buildings. Any rezoning will greatly change the character of the property which currently has 11 buildings all currently set back a good distance from Columbia Turnpike.

Honeywell's development plan is expected to 1: unsustainably increase traffic, 2: add incremental students to our public schools, 3: add incremental infrastructure expense to the Morris Township Budget and 4: place additional pressure on the environment in the area.

A logical result of the combination of all four will be to depress home prices in the area because very simply, it will no longer be viewed to be as desirable a place to live. This fast tracked redevelopment is not in our neighborhood's best interests and is not compatible with Morris Township's Master Plan or State endorsed plans (The Highland's act). The proposed changes in zoning to a mixed-use site will probably "debase the assessed value of Morris Township’s real estate base." Moreover rezoning through a "General Development Plan" will provide Honeywell with the means to redevelop the site over the next 20 years in ways not yet disclosed to the public and in a manner with which our community cannot foresee. As Tom Malman, a land use attorney with Day Pitney who represent Honeywell has stated (Daily record December 1, 2010) "We're testing the range of uses".

Please don't let Morris township become a test site for corporate greed and unwanted development. We urge you to sign this petition to preserve our community and to become personally involved in the process in which this proposal is moved forward.

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A planning application has been submitted to Oxford City Council for the redevelopment of St Clements Car Park to provide 4 blocks of student accommodation (141 bedrooms) upto 6 Stories in height.

The development will reduce the number of public car parking spaces from 113 to 63 and there no arrangements in place for the provision of a temporary car park during the estimated 12 - 15 month construction period. Businesses and other services in St Clements and Cowley Road, Iffley Road and the lower end of the High Street are totally dependent on the car park given that the only alternative is strictly controlled on-street permit only residential parking. The inability of customers to park within reasonable proximity will seriously undermine the ability of local businesses to survive, which will lead to the potential decline of what is a well established and vibrant area.

The proposals amount to a vast over development of the site. The amenity of adjacent properties would be adversely affected and the outlook towards the River Cherwell and Angel and Greyhound meadow beyond would be diminished. The design and scale of the buildings would have a harmful impact on the St Clements and Iffley Road Conservation Area and the adjacent Grade II listed James Stirling Florey Building and 27 St Clements Street. Trees which positively contribute to the site will be removed to facilitate the development and proposed new planting is entirely inadequate.

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Background/Rationale

The recent plan to scrap the Jensen Plan for an alternative plan for “Gess 8,” located in the Chilesburg neighborhood, calls for the omission of a number of valuable assets to the overall community while adding a number of features which will negatively impact safety and social connectivity.

The new plan omits neighborhood play areas, a community gathering place, recreational facilities and retail outlets which would build relationships by fostering positive social interaction (noted on the original plan are “churches/religious institutions, libraries and bookstores”). It, however, includes space for a gas station/convenience store, a chain drug store and another retail space.

Potential buyers were told by agents of Ball Homes that some apartments would be built near the school, north of the body of water, but that single-family homes would complete the rest of the area.

The changes associated with the scrapping of the Jensen plan would affect our neighborhood character; home buyers were not permitted to mimic the facades of adjacent homes so that variety would be the norm. The new plan for 13 identically-designed apartment buildings and 16 identical townhomes does not comply with current neighborhood character.

Finally, the plan on the table does not encourage movement from current single-family residences to the commercial center by foot. Gas stations require the presence of cars for fill-ups; convenience stores and pharmacies lend themselves to quick shopping experiences. Social interaction is limited by design.

The plan currently advocated by Ball Homes, while providing no room/facilities for recreation, is particularly insensitive to the needs of families, children and teens. While the builder has constructed mostly large, family homes, their lots are small and their streets are narrow. And yet, there is no designated space for play.

The only possible gathering place for young people would be the gas station/convenience store or pharmacy- not the best of alternatives, especially with a large elementary school nearby.

Finally, this design dismisses the concept of “Secured by Design,” considered by many to be a blueprint for “Neighborhoods of the Future.”

(http://www.cobizmag.com/articles/neighborhoods -of-the-future/)

This concept embraces mixed-use communities, close-knit neighborhoods, physically designed to encourage socialization, and “cultural and recreational elements” expected to survive long-term- all while maintaining the needs of safety and security.

The plan under consideration for this parcel of land subverts the quality of design built into existing homes. It ignores the social and recreational needs of its residents and focuses solely on builder profit.

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Ampthill is a historic Town. It is being destroyed by over development under housing targets now abolished under the new government. Our small town is car-clogged, over expanded and with a creaking infrastructure- we strongly believe our schools won't cope, our services won't cope. We must stop this now if Ampthill is to survive as a green and safe place to live for all.

We need to make our voice heard. Green spaces will also be destroyed by developers - our whole social and cultural heritage will be wrecked.

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The Northern Gold Coast Levy Action Group (NGCLAG) would like to thank everyone in the community who supported us! A very special thanks to those who signed our petition online, or at the Marina Quays Markets. We feel that was a major factor in Council relieving local residents from the discriminatory public bridges’ levies.

We have achieved a major victory with the Council at its meeting of the 1st of November 2010, resolving to fund both the Sickle Avenue North and South Bridges from whole of city funds, once and for all removing the proposed levy amounting to $13Million. This was a major achievement requiring many Councillors and Gold Coast City Council Staff to reverse their long held positions and support our cause.

The workload by the group committee over the past number of years that has brought this result has been overwhelming and ultimately exhausting. We have worked full time on this solution for the past 8 months, lobbying, researching, meetings with and submissions to Council and Government and wider stake holders, manning petitions, fund raising, protest rallies and events, also media interviews.

Following this victory, discussions have been held with Councillors and others to determine whether to pursue refunds of the Park and Canal levies applied in 2008. Several committee members who now face no levies at all, have indicated they would continue to stand by members who have already paid these levies. We appreciate the sentiments of those members who have expressed this stand.

Whether NGCLAG proceeds involves consideration of elements such as:

a) The remaining political capital, following Councillors and staff undertaking to bear the cost of two bridges, when they were sent away only three weeks ago to consider how they may pay for one.

b) The legalities of Council refunding levies already paid, as well as the illegality of letting some parties off the hook.

c) The ability to maintain the rage and effort needed for another extended fight that could last into 2012 with little chance of success.

d) The total loss of councillor and staff support for any further action following Councillors of other divisions burdening their constituents an additional rate sum that has been assessed at possibly 6% distributed over the next few years. This rate burden will create ratepayer agitation for these Councillors in the future.

e) The potential that the gains to date could be undone at 2011 budget time by the objectors Young, Sarroff, Crichlow and Shepherd. These objectors may not lie down and we need to retain the good will of the fringe Councillors that supported the recent resolution.

In consideration of the above the committee has now determined as a group it will not be pursuing the remaining levies.

We ask those who have paid or have to pay any levies, to accept that we have achieved significant success on your behalf removing in some cases, $10,000 to $12,000 from your total liability, that only a month ago seemed to be set in concrete. If you feel so aggrieved by the remaining levies we encourage you to pursue whatever avenues you feel appropriate. The structure of the NGCLAG shall remain in the near future to ensure no adverse circumstances arise.

Thanks to those who have sacrificed so much for this fight -in time, health, careers and family especially.

People power! With bridge levies “off the menu” everyone should enjoy Christmas!

Kind regards
The Executive Committee
- Northern Gold Coast Levy Action Group

PLEASE REFER TO OUR WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
www.levyactiongroup.org.au

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The City of Maryland Heights intends to develop more than 3,000 acres of land surrounding Creve Coeur Park, in the Missouri River floodplain called Howard Bend. As currently envisioned, this development will:

• Encourage light industrial, office distribution and regional retail directly bordering the park (“regional retail” means large-scale retailers such as Wal-Mart, Super Target, PetCo, etc.);

• Rob us of our local character, making our community indistinguishable from every other strip development along a highway;

• Siphon business from Westport, contributing to its decline; and

• Discourage agriculture in this fertile area, even as local food production becomes increasingly important and valued by the community.

Show your support by signing the petition to demonstrate to Maryland Heights city officials and developers that we want better for our community!

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Londoners - help us save Tideway Village houseboat community.

We all love London for its special locations, squares of historic houses, green parks, second hand markets, unexpected gems such as Neal’s Yard, Little Venice and Portobello Road to name but a few. Just some of the attractions that give London its individual character and helps draw so many tourists.

Yet recent developments are threatening to transform the city for good into a highrise, sterile, impersonal landscape of concrete and glass with a chain store at every corner, a soulless world where inhabitants never greet their neighbour. Canary Wharf and St George's Wharf may be the best examples of what the centre of London will look like; alien space stations hovering in the middle of the city.

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This petition is directed at our elected leaders from the Chicago Edgewater neighborhood.

Specifically, it pertains to any new development at the corner of North Sheridan Road and West Foster Avenue.

The current property is reportedly zoned for up to 500,000 square feet of development that could include a new high-rise with as many as 300 new residential units.

The high-rises that are currently in our area are not at full occupancy.

The residential market is not strong enough to sustain such a building.

Another tall building would only strengthen the barrier between the lakefront and Edgewater residents.

Increasing the density in Edgewater will only result in putting more strain on our roads, police department, fire department and school districts.

A building over 100 feet tall will increase shadows where we walk and live and bring unwanted traffic jams.

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This petition is to provide evidence of the overwhelming opposition to the proposal to rezone rural residential land to commercial land, and to then build a large scale supermarket and shopping/commercial centre.

This urban development is out of character with the rural coastal community of Beachlands/Maraetai, and is rejected by this community who already have adequate shopping facilities locally and large malls within 15 minutes drive. It will not improve the travel relationship between jobs and homes, will adversely impact on the already busy roads, and will destroy forever the beauty of this coastal community.

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Ryde council is well behind other Sydney councils in its support for the arts. Its very first Arts development framework (2007-12) is coming to the end of its tenure with little or no progress in its mission.

The City of Ryde Arts Development Framework 2007-2012 states that Ryde council will develop arts resources and infrastructure, will develop arts initiatives, create exhibition spaces and build social connectivity through the arts as well as building arts audiences. It states that Ryde council will develop arts projects, attract arts service providers, develop an artists’ network, webpage and database. It states that Ryde council will develop an exhibition and performance program, increase visibility of local arts and creative product, attract key institutions to assist in developing creative industries, create partnership opportunities with private industries to deliver arts facilities, and develop partnerships with state and federal government funding bodies for arts projects.

These are just a few of the many key points published in the Ryde Arts Development Framework on the council’s website.

It is acknowledged that some mission statements are being honoured, such as the engagement of public artists to create works along the new developments at Parramatta River, Meadowbank. This is to be applauded, as public artworks greatly enhance the area’s identity.

Yet, whilst Eastwood’s Brush Farm House was developed as an arts facility, it will no longer hold exhibitions (from early 2011), and is being handed over to the private sector.

This appalling track record is unacceptable for a large and wealthy council such as Ryde, who itself has stated “a key sign of a vibrant City is the health of its arts scene…arts products and services contribute to the growth of the economy.”

Ryde has maintained little or no support for the arts for way too long. We want Ryde City Council to honour its promises, to stop wasting the community’s valuable time by asking them to contribute to policies and promises council has no intention of honouring, and to start delivering on its Arts Development Framework.

http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/WEB/SITE/RESOURCES/DOCUMENTS/Community/Canvas_CityofRyde_Arts_Development_Framework_20072012.pdf

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On 19th April 2010, The Ash Tree Yard Development, Heeley was refused planning permission from Sheffield City Council Planning Department for its new digital media business centre.

This petition has been created by members of our local community to support Heeley Development Trust and this landmark scheme. We the undersigned would like to offer and show our support for this exciting new local development and to encourage SCC to reconsider its decision.

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Are you Ready, Willing & Able to give every child the right to an education?

There are around 50 million disabled children in Africa and the reality is that around 90% of these children are being denied this right – the right to an education

And the UN has committed to give every child a right to a primary education by 2015 and both David Cameron and Nick Clegg have given their support to this goal in principle

What isn’t clear, is what action the UK government is going to take to ensure that disabled children are included in this goal by the UN target date of 2015

We are calling on the new UK government to confirm its commitment to ensuring that every disabled child in the world can get a primary education by 2015

We are also calling on the government to publish a step-by-step guide to the actions it is committing to take to tackle this issue over the next five years

Our concern is that the world isn’t really Ready, Willing & Able to give every disabled child a right to an education by 2015?

We say the world isn’t yet READY to give every disabled child a right to an education, because we don’t even know how many disabled children there are in the world or the real percentage of those, not in school who are disabled

We say the world isn’t yet WILLING to give to give every disabled child a right to an education as there is a clear lack of both policy commitments and practice on the need to include disabled children in all education initiatives

We say the world isn’t yet ABLE to give to give every disabled child a right to an education because we don’t even know how much it will cost to overcome the barriers to accessibility that disabled children face – and there is a lack of international commitment to address the attitudinal and environmental barriers that prevent us from giving disabled child a right to an education

And if you are Ready, Willing & Able to take action today and give every disabled child a right to an education there are four things you can do today to help us help millions of disabled children in Africa:

1. Sign the petition below

2. Join our Ready, Willing & Able campaign by emailing ready@ablechildafrica.org.uk

3. Tell your friends about the campaign and ask them to join today

4. Support our work by making a donation to AbleChildAfrica today by visiting www.ablechildafrica.org.uk and clicking on the donate button

Thank you for being Ready, Willing & Able to help some of Africa’s 50 million disabled children to get the best possible start in life

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Dear Neighbors and Friends,

The Balfour Ferry Landing is a unique community focal point that fulfils many roles and functions including a community park, a tourism rest/play area, a gateway to the West Arm including Kaslo, Ainsworth and Nelson, a public beach, a community center, a business center, and more. The Balfour ferry landing has evolved into a much more than a simple Ministry of Transportation concern.

Currently the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Western Pacific Marine (Ferry Corporation) are planning to move ferry septic treatment facilities onto the ferry landing. Further the ferry corporation has informed the ministry of their desire to move the old Atco trailer, housing the ferry corporation, onto the landing.

We have an opportunity to transform the Balfour Ferry Landing a beautiful, environmentally friendly showcase to be enjoyed by residents and tourists alike. The landing has the capacity to accommodate offices for the ferry corporation, and, perhaps, a small, properly designed septic system. It is short-sighted, however, to ignore the big picture. Issues such as aesthetics, environmental stewardship, economics, and other issues like parking, pedestrian walkways, beach development and more, should be properly addressed. At this juncture, public discourse and proper planning are necessary. Before the damage is done, we have the opportunity to do the right thing.

The purpose of this petition is to show support for the development of a comprehensive, collaborative plan for the ferry landing to address the many concerns, improvements and impacts of ferry landing development. These concerns cover community, economic development of the region, the environment, the aesthetic look of the landing, health and safety issues, tourism and tourist concerns, as well as ministry of transportation matters. We are asking, do we really want our ferry landing to become the septi-dump for the ferries? What are the environmental impacts? Is an Atco trailer appropriate on the ferry landing? What can we do better? The answers take time.

We believe that appropriate planning and budgets are essential to any further ferry landing development. We further believe that any planning for the ferry landing is a joint process that requires public input and approval.

We CAN make a difference. We CAN make the Balfour Ferry Landing a jewel in the Kootenay!

Balfour and Area Community Association

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the scale of this building is likely to be huge - and the potential impact to us all considerable. By combining the two houses, the building will be listed as a Class 3 building (hotel etc) and not a 1B (which would be Boarding House classification).

The proposed building will extend out 12 meters (and two levels) into the two houses back garden (the current houses are 4 meters) - resulting in there being no areas for the backpackers to sit.

Imagine us having countless shopping trolleys and old furniture dumped on our footpath week after week - not to mention having to endure very noisy backpacking parties !!

These rooms won't have keys, as one would expect if this was going to be cheap housing for the homeless - but rather there will be swipe cards, as one has with any motel or hotel.

Also, this development will have a material impact on the value of our properties, as many others considering buying into the immediate area will not want to buy an house/apartment close to a backpackers....

Some of the objections that you might consider:

1. Clover Moore outlined her vision of a city of Villages, with the Sydney City Council and the NSW Government spending millions to regenerate and improve neighbourhoods like ours in Redfern. Allowing the erection of another cheap & large Backpackers in our (slowly improving) neighbourhood is diametrically opposed to this vision & the positive changes that have already started to take place.

2. The two terraces that have DA orders are listed as heritage terraces & should be maintained as houses. The developers have not engaged a professional heritage assessor, but rather an architects opinion on the heritage value

3. There is also the potential for significant parking issues, with Backpackers Vans and cars parked out the front - in an area that already has a major parking shortage, given the Australian Post building.

4. There is a increased likelyhood of theft, vandalism & other security issues

5. There is also a real possibility that the building could be used as a Brothel - as every small room has its own tiny bathroom.

6. There will be a significantly increased number of dumped super market trolleys in front of our building.

7. Noise will be a really significant issue - there is no common area for these backpackers - and the parties are likely to flow out onto the street.

8. These 24 rooms could quite easily have four bunks installed in each room - with the potential of us having about 100 backpackers who our out here to have a great holiday & party!

Please voice your concerns by signing this petition and forwarding and email to;

Mark Solomon (City of Sydney Council) -

msolomon@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

to voice your opposition.
This will need to be done before the 27th May.

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The Large Scale Commercial Activity Ordinance is important to the Laketown Community to help protect the rural character of the environment that we live in. This ordinance helps our community to up hold the Comprehensive plan that was approved by the Laketown Township in November of 2009.

This ordinance does not restrict citizen of Laketown, but allows the township to implement control on Large scale business. Examples of such controls would be hours of operation, noise and environmental contamination.

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There will be a 7 storey development constructed at 9-11 Darling St. This development was awarded a planning permit from the Department of Planning and a construction permit from the Melbourne City Council.

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