The executive director of the Australian Coal Association, Ralph Hillman, said governments were making serious investments in renewable and clean energy production.

“People are working on all these technologies because everyone can see climate change science is real and we are facing a carbon constrained future, “ he said.

Mr Hillman said coal industries were working towards methods to address carbon emissions and they have Coal21 Fund, which is dedicated to carbon capture and storage technologies.

“Coal is going to have to address its greenhouse gas emission via carbon capture and storage, which is central to a global solution to climate change,” he said.

Energy ‘boost’

Australian Conservation Foundation climate change campaigner Phil Freeman said the survey results released in September would hopefully spark renewed action to promote clean energy.

“What we need next is a boost for the emerging clean energy technologies like large-scale solar, geothermal hot rocks and tidal and wave power,” he said.

Urban and Regional Planning and Sustainability lecturer at Queensland University of Technology, Mellini Sloan, said it was significant the survey shows an overwhelming majority of people in both areas care.

“It’s a great challenge for young engineers and it certainly seems like it’s a direction that we are going in,” she said.

“It’s quite exciting”.

‘Expensive to perfect’

The Zero Carbon Australian 2020 Stationary Energy Plan said it was “technically feasible, practical and economically attractive” to have 100 per cent renewable energy in Australia in 10 years.

But Mr Hillman said both renewable energies and cleaner traditional methods would be essential to meeting future energy demands.

Mr Hillman said renewable technologies were expensive and took time to perfect and these costs would transfer to consumers.

However, Mr Freeman said electricity prices would continue to increase regardless of whether or not the energy was being produced by renewable or clean energy sources.

“[Electricity prices have] already doubled in the last 10 years and that’s got nothing to do with clean energy policies or putting a price on pollution,” he said.

The estimated increase outlined in the Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan would be an “affordable” $8 per household each week.

But Mrs Sloan said whether homeowners would find this a reasonable amount they are willing to pay was still hard to tell.

“Eight dollars doesn’t sound like a lot but if you are strapped financially [it may be hard],” she said.

Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson was not available for comment on the issue.

Energy efficient measures

However, Mr Freeman said there were many measures homeowners could take to reduce their energy usage and there energy bills.

“It’s a smart hip-pocket move to think beyond the next electricity bill, invest some time and money in smart technologies like solar hot-water and better insulation, that will reduce energy use,” he said.

The Queensland GreenHome Guide said the top five things to do to reduce energy were:

• switch to green power;
• install solar hot water system;
• heat and cool homes efficiently;
• have an energy efficient fridge;
• and do not leave appliances on stand-by.

Sustainable communities

Meanwhile, master plan communities, which offer shared lifestyle centres and self-contained communities, are taking great steps towards becoming more environmentally friendly.

Future master plan community, Rochedale Estates, south of Brisbane’s CBD, began construction this month and will have recycled water for gardening and flushing toilets and 5,000-litre water tanks standard in each home.

The homes are also designed with the housing orientation in relation to sun and wind patterns in mind, which Mrs Sloan said was sensible and could help reduce energy usage.

Brisbane Lord Major Campbell Newman said Rochedale Estates had made outstanding developments in water sensitive design and efficient use of power and water.

“This is a significant master plan community that’s finally on its way,” he said.

Peter Brown CEO of FKP, the property and investment group behind Rochedale Estates, said a great amount of environmental work was done because purchasers appreciated it.

“Within limits buyers are willing to pay a premium for [more sustainable housing],” he said.

Related Links:

• Queensland GreenHome Guide – Australian Conservation Foundation.
• Media Release Survey – Australian Conservation Foundation.
• Zero Carbon Australian 2020 Stationary Energy Plan.
• Ezy Green – Brisbane City Council and The Queensland Government

Water quality not improving for Brisbane's surrounding areas. Source: Sebastian Sinclair

The latest report on water quality has shown only slight improvements.

The Healthy Waterways report is released every year and this year, results on 400 sites across the south-east of the state show little change.

The data has been compiled by the Queensland and local governments, research organisations and community groups.

President of Wildlife Queensland Simon Baltais said there is room for improvement.

“They should be repairing the riparian areas. There should be re-vegetating of any cases. Until they do that, the problem is only going to continue,” he said.

The Ecosystem Health Report Card scores catchments and estuaries on a scale from A to F.

The program manager for science and monitoring at Healthy Waterways South East Queensland, Piet Filet, said urban waterways are struggling.

“All of our urban freshwater streams have continued to struggle for their scores because of legacies of impacts over the last 100 years,” he said.

He said storm water and flooding do impact on the quality of our water.

“Storm water is always part of the impacting process on our waterways and what we have seen in the last 12 months is a mixture of run offs from both rural and urban areas,” he said.

Information released over a 12 month period shows the Moreton Bay area jumped from D to a C rating.

The Oxley, Redlands and Lower Brisbane River catchments have again scored an F rating.

Engineering academic Dr. Les Dawes said environmental projects need more funding to improve the quality of waterways.

“The problem with the State Government and local governments is that they don’t have the man power or the money to do this sort of stuff,” he said.

He also said urban developers can help improve water systems.

“I think developers also have to take responsibility, to make sure that there’s lots of guidelines produced for what we call water sense of urban design in any new residential development.”

Mr Baltais said urban areas are by far the worst contributors to contaminating the quality of water.

“Comparing hectare to hectare urban areas are by far the worst contributor of nitrogen phosphorus in silt into the system,” he said.

He said better partnerships between communities, local authorities and developers are crucial to improving the region’s waterways.

“Until we actually understand that if we want a healthy community and a healthy economy, you have to have a healthy environment.”

One in four Australian children are overweight or obese. Photo: Ellen-Maree Elliot

A producer has defended an advertisement to highlight the problem of childhood obesity that equates parents giving their children junk food to injecting them with heroin.

Precinct ad agency managing director and producer Henry Motteram says his agency created the ad to “spark discussion” and was “happy to be the enemy”.

“I don’t think we would have got a quarter of a million hits in two weeks if we hadn’t done something shocking,” he said.

“I know the analogy towards heroin and junk food is very strong – but both kill.

“Junk food kills a lot more people than heroin does in this country every year.”

Mr Motteram says the Breaking the Habit ad was made for “purely philanthropic” reasons.

“What we’ve done is drawn attention to something that really needed attention drawn to it,” he said.

‘Hard-hitting’

Cancer Council NSW nutrition program manager Colleen Glasson says the ad’s concept is “very hard-hitting” but she has “major problems” with it.

“We all need to eat – we don’t all need to take heroin,” she said.

“It’s okay to have a little bit of junk food – it’s not okay to have a little bit of heroin.”

She says one in four Australian children are overweight or obese.

“Many of those children will grow up to become obese adults, increasing their risk of chronic diseases, like certain cancers, heart diseases and diabetes.” she said.

“It’s a huge problem.”

Unhealthy food advertising

Junk food advertisements directed at children are self-regulated by two separate bodies, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and the Quick Service Restaurant Industry (QSRI).

Both bodies have voluntary “initiatives” that outline guidelines for responsible food advertising to children.

A report compiled by the University of Sydney and the Cancer Council found there was a significant reduction in “non-core” food advertising to children by AFGC signatories between 2007 and 2009.

However, the report found the voluntary nature of the self-regulated codes limited their effectiveness and did not “adequately protect children”.

Ms Glasson says there ”are a lot of loopholes”.

She says although parents need to be educated about the link between too much junk food and obesity, the “real problem is the environment and the volume and the nature of unhealthy food advertising for children”.

“Everywhere they turn, children are being confronted by junk food ads,” she said.

Stronger regulation needed

Ms Glasson says the Cancer Council believes self-regulation does not work.

“The government needs to impose stronger regulations on junk food marketing to children,” she said.

She says restrictions need to:

• Be effective for children under 16 years old across all media;
• Have a standard definition of unhealthy foods across the board;
• Be effective for whenever children are watching television (for example, the children peak viewing time of 6-9pm);
• Restrict pervasive marketing techniques (for example, no promotional characters, sporting figures or premiums);
• Be monitored by an independent statutory body;
• Have meaningful penalties for non-compliance.

However, a spokesperson for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing says they take childhood obesity “very seriously” and are taking steps to address it.

“Food marketing is but one element of what is a complex challenge in addressing obesity,” the spokesperson said.

“Effectively tackling this issue in Australia will require collaboration across industry, the community, families and individuals.”

Education environment

University of Sydney Associate Professor Dr Margaret Allman-Farinelli says encouraging an environment where children can make good food choices is just one aspect of combating childhood obesity.

“One thing is always education, perhaps for parents and communities as a whole, as to what constitutes a healthy diet,” she said.

Dr Allman-Farinelli says healthy food needs to be more accessible to busy families.

“It might be difficult to get public transport to and from getting the source of fresh food, but it might be only a walk to get some form of takeaway food,” she said.

She says community and local councils can improve and implement infrastructure like parks, footpaths and cycle ways, that are safe for children to use.

Dr Allman-Farinelli says everyone needs to pitch in.

“It’s not just a health issue – it’s an issue that goes across society if we’re going to be really serious about addressing it,” she said.

Related Links:

• Cancer Council’s website – Junk Busters
• 2010 International Journal of Pediatric Obesity: Industry self regulation of television food advertising: Responsible or responsive? – Joint research project by University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW.
• AFGC Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative Core Principles
• QSRI Initiative for Responsible Advertising and Marketing to Children

Dance stage and food stalls: Roma St Parklands on October 17. Photo: Jin Kok

Set over six performance areas, there were performances by ethnic dance groups, ensembles, traditional instruments groups and well known cultural performers like The View from Madeleine’s Couch.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Annastacia Palazczuk said in an earlier press release the event would show Queensland had a strong multicultural identity.

She said people would experience many of the state’s 200 cultures at the festival.

Russian ensemble

Among the acts on the “Unplugged Stage” was the Russian folkloric ensemble Samotsevty, who performed at similar events such as the Mariner’s Cove Fraser Coast Cultural Festival in south-east Queensland and the National Folk Festival in Canberra in the ACT.

Domra player Vladis Kosse said the Russian ensemble was established in 2000.

“The members come from the five republics of the former USSR – Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan,” he said.

Traditional Russian costumes, which the ensemble make themselves. Photo: Jin Kok

Mr Kosse’s wife, Alla Ekzarkho, is the founder and artistic director of the ensemble.

Mr Kosse says his wife is the only “professional” in the group and with her background as a piano teacher, she organises musical arrangements and leads rehearsals.

“One of the main objectives of the group is to collect Russian folklore, preserve it and perform it,” Mr Kosse said.

“Usually some of the songs we find in recorded music, books with songs that are brought in from Russia … it is difficult to find the text of songs with musical notes so she [his wife] has to write in the notes.

“It is also necessary to divide it to different voices like sopranos, altos, tenors and bass.”

Mr Kosse says the ensemble has performed at the festival at least four times.

“It is really important and people [ensemble members] are proud that they represent the Russian culture and Russian folklore,” he said.

Another performer, Obertas Polish dancer Matthew Swiderek, said he was very nervous before taking the stage.

“It is my first time doing it at this time – I’ve only started dancing this year,” he said.

‘Excellent crowd’

Meanwhile, Tribal of Jubal managed to get the crowd on their feet and dancing to its fusion of Papua New Guinea traditional music and western tunes.

Tribal of Jubal performers in dressing room after the show. Photo: Jin Kok

Ben Hakalitz, founder of Tribal of Jubal said the crowd was excellent.

“I love the Brisbane crowd and it’s a real multicultural setting, so people come here to expect something different every time,” he said.

He says Tribal of Jubal was formed in 2007 and fuses contemporary Melanesia rhythms with Western music by combing traditional and Western instruments.

Mr Hakalitz said the Brisbane Ethnic Multicultural Arts Council (BEMAC) a sponsor of the festival, first approached them to come and perform.

“It’s great, it’s fantastic, it’s the first time we have done the show with this line-up,” he said.

“We usually have one section and a keyboard player but we could not bring them all in so we had to do a different set.

“Hopefully if they like this, we will come with a full band next time – three horns – trumpet, trombone and saxophone and a keyboard.”

President Dr Maria Tomasic said Australia must move forward from Kevin Rudd’s apology in 2008.

Indigenous groups rally for rights. Source: Emily Carter (used with permission).

“The apology two years ago was a very important thing and it had great significance to Indigenous people in Australia but unless it’s followed up with some real changes I think that it could end up being seen as a hollow gesture,” Dr Tomasic said.

Dr Tomasic has worked in remote communities.

She said the amendment to the constitution is part of a much needed multi-faceted approach.

“In terms of the constitution I think that recognising all Australians as equals will ensure Indigenous people don’t feel a sense of alienation and marginalisation,” Dr Tomasic said.

Aboriginal activist Sam Watson doesn’t see how changes to a federal form will help.

He said it’s ”unadulterated, boulder-dash and garbage.”

“Aboriginal people need very real relief in terms of health, housing, education and employment; we need a treaty to be signed that will acknowledge Aboriginal people as human beings and our very sacred connection to country,” Mr Watson said.

Despite the changes made to the Queensland Constitution which now includes Indigenous people, Mr Watson sees no improvements.

“Over the past 12-14 months since the constitution was changed there’s been an actual increase in the arrest rates, an increase in the incarceration rates for Aboriginal people and an increase in the death in custody rates,” Mr Watson said.

Psychologists like author Dr Pat Dudgeon agree with the college in challenging the constitution.

Dr Dudgeon believes the move would restore self-worth within the community.

“Having Aboriginal people included politically would acknowledge them as human beings, that they are part of this society and I think it would increase the collective of self esteem and the psychological participation within society,” Dr Dudgeon said.

During September, major department store David Jones started to stock Christmas-related goods, such as decorations, cards and gift wrapping, and food.

David Jones has been selling Christmas-related goods since September. Source: ourbrisbane.com

David Jones has referred to this move as keeping up with international retail trends.

The Queensland Consumers’ Association’s president, Cherie Dalley, said “department stores view Christmas – and many other festive events – as a simple way to increase profits.”

“Christmas should be a time for celebrating,” added Ms Dalley.

“Even if you are not religious, it should be about celebrating relationships with family and friends, not just spending money.”

Religious meaning

The Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane spokesperson, Adrian Taylor, believes “There is not enough tinsel in the world to detract from the true meaning of Christmas.”

Mr Taylor described Christmas as an “amazing phenomenon”, and one which commercial giants, such as Myer and David Jones, have claimed for their “special moment for business”.

Despite what many shoppers would consider as a money-making venture, Mr Taylor said department stores are not the only ones preparing for Christmas months ahead of its celebration date.

“Each and every parish across the country has a liturgy preparation team beginning their work just as early,” said Mr Taylor.

“In schools, ‘Carols by Candlelight’ events and the telling of the Christmas story occur three to four weeks before the church holds [these types of events],” added Mr Taylor.

In Mr Taylor’s opinion, Christmas has not turned into a money-making venture.

However, he does believe there has been a societal shift in the celebration process.

“Christmas does not need to be ‘funded’; it needs to be celebrated with the true meaning as the focus of the celebrations.”

“This does not need to include turkey, treats and tinsel,” said Mr Taylor.

Of those from a Christian-based faith – Roman Catholics, Protestants and members of the Orthodox Church – Christmas is viewed not as a single day, but as a whole season.

“Christmas festivities are a time to remember Christ’s birth and celebrate his presence among us,” said Mr Taylor.

Commercialisation?

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) ‘A Statistical look at Christmas’ media release, shopping for the festive season peaks in December.

In 2009, Australians spent 58 million dollars on Christmas-related goods. Source: Andrew Dernie

In 2009, Australians imported 58 million dollars worth of Christmas-related goods, and spent another 10 million dollars on Christmas lights.

 “People are influenced by advertising and they tend to believe you can show your affection by giving gifts,” said Ms Dalley.

The ABS reported retail spending increased by 26 per cent during December last year, with a noticeable 64 per cent increase in department store bought goods.

Ms Dalley believes: “People’s attitudes are changed by department stores’ policies.

“We seem to go from one festive event to another with no respite.

“Advertising occasions such as Christmas well ahead of time is obviously extending the profit making period.”

Larry Olsen analysing the form at Eagle Farm. Source: Jemma Cutting

A famous saying in racing is that weight can stop a train. In 1987, Larry Olsen made one of the most inspirational comebacks in racing history. After five bouts with retirement due to ongoing weight problems, the Queensland jockey beat his demons and the critics to win the most famous two-mile handicap in the world.

These days, you’ll find former champion Larry Olsen at Brisbane race meetings, providing commentary for Sky Channel.

Born in 1948 and raised at Nudgee Beach in Brisbane, Olsen “was always mad on horses…working with them before and after school.” He dreamt of nothing but being a jockey. 

It was with trainer Mal Barnes where he “first learnt to ride ponies,” and a life-long passion was invoked. By the age of 13, Olsen had left school to pursue riding full-time.

“When I was 14 I could become registered so I started riding track work at Eagle Farm,” he says.  

At just 15, Olsen had earned his first race ride at Sydney’s Canterbury Racecourse in 1963, and his first win came in a three horse race at Gatton; ironically, it would be at the same track he would stage his final comeback decades later.

Let the weight battle begin

Young Olsen’s promising career had already begun to be plagued by his battle to ride at the then minimum of 47 kilos.  Today the minimum for jockeys is 53kg, with allowances.

“When I was a kid around 17 or 18, I would jump on the scales and be about nine stone (57kg); I was up and down all the time.  I suffered a lot with not being able to ride.”

Termed a “heavyweight” jockey, come race day Olsen was “lucky to get a couple of rides, whereas the lightweights could ride a full book.”

There were many occasions Olsen felt close to defeat, “Even if you were 51 kilos in those days you were considered heavy, these blokes today jump on the scales at 53 and think they’re a lightweight.

“Then I picked up the ride on Triton, who I won my first major race on, the 1972 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.”   Triton and Olsen then went on to beat all before them in the celebrated Epsom Handicap, beating the famous grey Gunsynd.

But the battle with the bulge continued to dog his otherwise burgeoning career.  “I always struggled to ride below 51 kilos, any day I could be 57 and then try and ride 51 so you can see how bad it was.” 

When asked how this was possible, Olsen replies he “did it wrong, a lot of sweating and dieting.  You’d starve yourself for days and sweat it out when you could eat, you’d eat your head off it was just like a toilet seat up and down, up and down,” he laughs.

Worth the weight: Olsen aboard Kensei at Eagle Farm in 1988. Source: Ross Stevenson, with persmission

Another early retirement

Between 1981 and 1983, Olsen repeatedly gave the game away and returned, no fewer than five times.  Finally, when the colt Best Western he was riding for Bart Cummings retired to stud, Olsen seemingly retired for good.

“There was a period around 1983 when I really gave it away.  I moved to my dairy farm in Kyogal where I milked over 160 cows.”  During his three year hiatus, Olsen and his wife Maureen sold the dairy farm and moved back to the Brisbane suburb Fig Tree Pocket in 1985. They opened the first Horseland store (a saddlery business) in Queensland.

It was here that the next stage in Olsen’s career began. “I lived about eight kilometres from the shop and I started walking and then running.  By this time the weight scales had been raised and thought I might be able to get back into racing.” 

Not many people believed he could make the comeback again, Olsen admits his weight had climbed to over 80 kilos.  By the time it was Christmas 1986, Olsen was down to 51 kilos. 

Olsen approached respected Brisbane trainer Pat Duff and started riding work for him at Eagle Farm.“I hadn’t been on a horse for three years but Pat was great, and I had my first ride for him at Gatton for him. I think I rode two seconds.”

Larry Olsen aboard Kensei the 1987 Melbourne Cup winner. Source: Ross Stevenson, with permission

He’s back and better than ever before

Before long, he found himself riding doubles and trebles all over Brisbane.  Eventually with further tweaking of the diet and exercise routine, Olsen dropped to 49 kilos and began his climb back to the top of the riding ranks.  “I was in Sydney and I won the Epsom Handicap again and was lighter than I had ever been in my life and I could ride anything, compete with the others, fit and well because I was doing everything right.”

On the first Tuesday in November 1987, Olsen finally achieved his childhood dream and rode the Les Bridge trained chestnut Kensei to victory in the 1987 Melbourne Cup.  A clever, tactical ride saw Olsen guide his mount along the fence in the dying stages, to surprise the leaders and race favourites, Empire Rose and the blue-blooded Rosedale, trained by Bart Cummings.

“It’s a lovely feeling and I could never, ever ride a better race than I did that day. Most are great rides but I had to pull that one out. To win something like the Cup, well nothing’s bigger than that, nothing.”

On the same day, Olsen was found guilty for ‘not letting a horse run on its merits’ and was subsequently disqualified for a year and warned off all racecourses.  “I had three rides that day, I rode two winners and the other horse I rode was Sound Horizon, who I’d won the Epsom on the start before…but the stewards charged me.  I appealed to the racing authorities and fought it and beat it, which I had to: it was just a joke.”

The affair left Olsen with a very sour taste in his mouth and much lighter in the pocket.  Later in the same season, he famously out-smarted fellow jockey Jim Cassidy in the 1988 Golden Slipper to win on Star Watch.

Larry Olsen now spends racedays interviewing trainers and jockeys for Sky Channel. Source: Jemma Cutting

The final curtain call

After returning to ride in Brisbane, Olsen finally hung up his irons in 1998, when he was 50-years-old.  “There was a meeting at Eagle Farm and one thing I was riding there was a 100-1 shot and I thought to myself what am I doing here?”

Olsen privately decided it would be his last ride as a professional jockey.  “I didn’t tell anyone I just came back and packed my port.  I didn’t think I would ever last that long, I thought by 18/19 there was just no way I could stay a jockey but along the way I persevered.”

Olsen believes the weight scales were raised too late in his career and if he was starting off today, he’d be much more competitive.   “But I can’t complain about my life. I had a wonderful time as a rider I rode all over Australia, overseas in Singapore, Hong Kong, England and represented Australia on a couple of occasions.”

With an interrupted career spanning 35 years, Olsen amassed over a thousand winners, 24 of them at Group One level.   

In 2007, he was inducted into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame.

“It doesn’t matter where I go I’m accepted.  When you win a race like the Melbourne Cup it’s just wonderful thing in your own mind and the recognition goes far and wide because even if you travel over the world, everyone knows the race that stops the nation.”

The camera and speaker system has the ability to send messages and images of distressing situations back to a localised unit.

Text messages are sent to on-call lifeguards who are aware they are to immediately respond to the alarm.

The cameras will be placed along infamous ‘black spots’ where lifesavers are unable to patrol.

Beaches included in the proposed plan include Noosa’s ‘unofficial’ nudist beach at Alexandria Bay,  which has seen three deaths since 2003.

Nude activist Dario Western supports this plan and feels it should not affect nudists wanting to visit the beach.

He says they are already aware that they are on display and are doing nothing to warrant extra attention.

“I don’t really have a problem with it, I have been a nudist for the past 20 years and have been going to Alexandria Bay since 1991.

“For the most part, everyone there is very well behaved.”

Widely known for its nudist culture, Alexandria Bay is a popular destination on the North Coast. Photo source: Rachel Claxton.

Surf Lifesaving Coordinator at the Sunshine Coast Aaron Purchase is positive the cameras will improve their ability to better patrol beaches.

“It’s something that Surf Lifesaving Queensland have had in place for a few years.”

“At the moment the introduction is more about the technology surrounding the equipment and what they can and can’t do.”

He’s confident the community will support the plan as it’s helping to keep beaches safe and enjoyable.

“In general the feedback that we have had has been quite positive, majority of the people understand that our aim  is to have zero preventable deaths and injuries across our beaches.”

Sunshine Coast resident Sharon Wells supports this decision.

“There are still plenty of hours that aren’t patrolled, so I think it is still necessary to have the Surf Lifesavers there for protection during the busier periods but using surveillance as an extra precaution is a great idea.

Gold Coast beaches have already begun a three to six month trial of the cameras and Surf Lifesaving Queensland will introduce them along the Sunshine Coast immediately after.

The current trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of the camera’s abilities and is taking place for the most part on beaches at Surfers Paradise.

Gold Coast resident Brock Langley says the cameras are promoting a safer image for Queensland beaches.

“We are known for our beaches and tourists come from all over to spend time on them. This is helping to make everyone on these beaches feel that little bit safer.”

Parklands is the host of the Big Day Out music festival, which is likely to move interstate upon its closure in 2013. (Image courtesy of aeryxz)

The plea comes after the State Government revealed its ultimate vision for Parklands to be a Transit Oriented Development acting as a support centre for the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.

The redevelopment will contain a low-cost, high-density housing proposal and will see the closure of Parklands in June 2013.

It may also be used to accommodate athletes if the Gold Coast wins the 2018 Commonwealth Games bid.

Parklands was originally zoned by The Queensland Government to be a Health and Knowledge Precinct to contain The Gold Coast University Hospital project, before it was realised that Griffith University and University Hospital project did not require the land.

LNP member for Gaven Dr Alex Douglas, who is supporting the petition, says the critical issue is the loss of a venue for communities who use Parklands.

“I think the aspects are multi-dimensional. The Show Society is losing its site, The Indoor Sports Centre, and The Harness Racing Club is having their whole club closed and no replacement of it,” he said.

“What people don’t know is besides these three main groups there’s literally thousands of groups who use the space.”

Dr Douglas is also concerned about the loss of The Big Day Out festival, which will be moved interstate upon the closure of Parklands.

“For the Gold Coast it is our biggest young-person event every year,” he said.

“It also drives tourism, it basically gets people in the habit of just being able to go to The Gold Coast and we’re going to lose all of that – the state will lose it.”

Contrary to the petition’s suggestions, spokesperson for the Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe ensures the development will boost employment and will not leave the Gold Coast Show without a site.

“The redevelopment of the State Government owned Parklands site as a vibrant office, retail and residential precinct could generate a total of up to 6380 jobs and an estimated $550 million per annum,” he said.

“The state government is currently investigating a number of options for an alternative showgrounds site on the Gold Coast. The leading option is at Carrara.”

Spokesperson for Save Parklands Action Group and Gold Coast Show board member Peter Johnston says the State Government has in fact offered this site to the Show Society an alternative, before it was determined unsuitable.

“The Gold Coast Show was offered 12 hectares of the Carrara Floodplain,” he said.

“12 hectares… is around about half the size of those required to conduct the activities currently being done at the Gold Coast Show.

“That tells me 104 years of Gold Coast Show history is now seriously in jeopardy.”

Plan for action

In addition to losing a venue, the communities based at Parklands are losing patience waiting for a proper answer on the State Government’s plans for the site.

In fear that the people of the Gold Coast have been sold out, Mr Johnston says everybody is being kept in the dark.

“The Government will not tell us why it is necessary for them to rip out this major infrastructure to put a village in for a commonwealth games that is going to last three weeks,” he said.

Mr Johnston says the government has alternative options and he is suspicious the move is about selling state assets.

“Parklands has an estimated value of between $75million and $100 million and it’s our understanding the state government is looking for partners to develop that land and sell it,” he said.

“The only commercial sense it makes in any way we look at it is the fact the state government are looking for funds.”

According to Dr Douglas, the state government owes keeping Parklands to the people of the Gold Coast.

“The reasons the show society agreed to move out was because if the hospital or the university needed the space for the knowledge precinct, and neither of them do,” he said.

“The government has no right to resume the title and they should withdraw.

“It does not belong to them and it is held in deed of trust for the benefit of the community that it serves.”

Despite the tension, Mr Hinchliffe’s spokesperson reiterates that there will eventually be a suitable site for the Gold Coast Show to resume operations.

“The Parklands site is state owned land,” he said.

“In 2007 the Government announced that the Parklands site would be transformed into the Gold Coast Hospital and Knowledge precinct… The Government announced on a number of occasions that as part of this process an alternative site for the Gold Coast Show would be identified.”

Queenslanders can have their say in the debate by signing the e-petition on the Queensland Parliament website.

From left: Cameron Scott and Calum Shand, Bonvoy Apparel designers. Photo: Calum Shand

Sunshine Coast young designers, Calum Shand and Cameron Scott have chosen to launch their clothing label, Bonvoy Apparel, purely online in effort to reach their technology savvy target market.

A recent Roy Morgan survey shows four in 10 Australians bought a product or service online in the year ending June 2009, a significant increase of 800,000 shoppers from the previous year.

According to Mr Scott, the internet is the most effective and economic catapult for Bonvoy Apparel, which is marketed at 17 to 27-year-olds.

“When we started off we were particularly looking at a business on the internet, purely because of the benefits from it,” Mr Scott said.

“It’s cheaper to run as you don’t have the upfront cost and running costs.

“I don’t think that you can have a fashion label these days and not have it online.

“It’s kind of the expected especially with the target audience that we go for, we have to be online.”

Mr Shand said to start an online business requires attractive marketing and smart accounting, in addition to commitment.

“You need to be able to have a website, have nice graphics that will attract the people to the products initially, and behind that the profits and the accountancy,” he said.

“I think that’s all you really need, and obviously some inspiration and dedication.”

Bonvoy Apparel vows to always remain online but the young designers have a few tricks up their sleeves in grabbing attention at markets and in stores.

“We’re looking at setting up old school and quirky tables [at markets], with Bonvoy beach balls to draw attention,” Mr Shand said.

“We’re also getting the beach balls for festivals and letting them loose,” Mr Scott said.

Bonvoy Apparel models. Photo: Calum Shand

“It’s all about getting the stores to know us before we go in and pitch to them.

“We have A3 posters going out soon, approximately 200 all over the Sunshine Coast.

“It’s even down to the small things like getting our friends to walk into stores and ask for Bonvoy Apparel, before we actually walk in ourselves.”

Security of online websites

Chief Technical Officer of Stratsec Nick Ellsmore, a cyber security consultant, said Internet security is a key issue for many online businesses, however many do not fully understand the complexities.

“Application security has become a significant area of investment for many firms seeking to improve the security of their online presence, but on the other hand, many developers still do not fully appreciate what is required to develop a secure web application,” Mr Ellsmore said.

Mr Ellsmore said Paypal and alike services have allowed online merchants to improve the security of their payment options.

“Certainly PayPal, and other services like it, have helped to improve the security of many web applications, through removing the need for the developers of those applications to build in custom payment processing facilities,” he said.

Starting an online business

Small business advisor and author of Five Pillars to Business Success, Dr Greg Chapman said online businesses are no different to those offline, and a website should merely be seen as a marketing tool.

“It doesn’t matter whether it is an online or offline business, same principles apply as before the internet,” he said

“I think a lot of people, especially clothing designers, get caught up with the notion of setting up a visual website and no one comes along.

“A website is a marketing tool, rather than a business itself.”

Establishing credibility with the market audience and the media is important to succeed online according to Dr Chapman.

“Google ads are not the most credible method in creating traffic as anyone can post them,” he said

“It is more credible to get offsite publicity such as through newspapers or magazines.

“I think all businesses these days need a website, they seem less credible if they don’t have a website.”

Dr Chapman says an online business can save money in designing its own website, but its professional appearance is crucial as it also reflects the site’s security levels.

“You can save money by doing their own online development, but if you chose to go on the cheap a lot of the time it will look cheap,” he said.

“For online payments the site needs to look and be reputable, and it needs to have a security certificate and the little lock in the corner of the browser.

“Not everyone will know these things, but most people can smell a non-reputable site.”

Dr Chapman believes it is more difficult to start a clothing business online than a music business as people can try what they are buying with music samples.

“There are some businesses harder to run online rather than offline, such as clothing businesses where people want to try on the clothes or shoes,” he said.

“A good strategy to have is to have a website in addition to a store, so that people can try on your clothes and get their size.

“CDs and music on the other hand may be easier to sell online as people know who their favourite artist is.”

Roy Morgan research shows 12 per cent of all CD, DVD and HiFi sales were made online in the 12 months to July 2010, ahead of 11 per cent of all book sales.

Path for online success

Entrepreneur and founder of RedBalloon, Naomi Simson started her online business nine years ago with little knowledge of the Internet.

“I had a marketing background and I started [RedBalloon] with no experience of online businesses,” Ms Simson said.

“Nine years ago when we didn’t really know much about the Internet, we didn’t know exactly what we were doing, we just had to try everything.”

Starting a small business depends more on personality of the entrepreneurs than their skills and experience according to Ms Simson.

“A lot of people with no experience start successful businesses,” she said.

“It depends more on personality.

“How tenacious they are, how interested they are, how committed they are, how good can they make the customer experience.”

Like Dr Chapman, Ms Simson believes the Internet is a marketing tool and a well-established business plan is essential for success.

“An online business is like any other business,” she said.

“The Internet is just a facilitation, you still need the infrastructure.”

Bonvoy Apparel model. Photo: Calum Shand