Diddums, Russell

It's always nice to hear someone wingeing louder than myself. When I read of the managing director of Grange Resources carrying on like Henny Penny in Albany's Weekender, well, it just makes me feel all warm inside.

Russell Clarke is worried that the sky will fall in. He's also annoyed that the City of Albany has written to the Environment Minister to express its concerns about the dredging of our channel and dumping the spoils in King George Sound. If Grange have to cart the spoils anywhere else, "the huge cost would be detrimental to the project."

"That is outside (the COA's) jurisdiction," he says. "There is actually an appeals process they can go through to do that, which they chose not to do."

Yes, it is outside their jurisdiction but the Council, like any other group of people, have a right to write to any minister they like. It's called a democracy. And they did try to appeal via official channels, Russell. Their submission was rejected for being eight days late.

"Then we have the Federal Government wanting to put in this Super Profits tax that is going to change the economics of the project," he said. "The Council is wanting to dump further out to sea, the Rudd Government is wanting a super tax and other people are wanting everything else." Bloodsucking vampires, the lot of us.

Russell Clark and Grange Resources have promised the people of Albany all sorts of trinkets and lollies in return for what they term a "terrific project." Already Grange has spent millions investing in real estate. This is a prime example of their commitment to the region - they've bought a farm, so they can mine it.
"Money is being spent, assets are being bought, studies are being done." You know that picture of the skeleton sitting on an armchair, the one that real estate agents like to flourish? The picture of the young man waiting for the price of land to come down? Give us a break, Russell.

"The mine will be spending probably upwards of $3 million into the local economy in one way or another," said Russell. Have a good look at that statement, it's pretty vague and it's the whole extent of promises from Grange that you are getting today. The very same Grange Resources that is nearly 47 percent Chinese owned.

In return for these poxed blankets and beads from Russell and the Albany Port Authority (and haven't these guys been quiet), we allow the Cove to be destroyed permanently, we lose fishing, aquaculture and recreational freedom in King George Sound and we shall witness environmental vandalism on a scale we've not yet experienced in this gorgeous corner of the world.



Quotes taken from The Weekender, May 20, 2010, pg. 3.

So, Who Are We Working For Again?

Even though the proposed dredging of King George Sound is an offensive of the Albany Port Authority, the compensation revenues from diesel-roasted cocoa beans, busted rudders and unexploded bombs are not going to fund this spectacular piece of ditch digging.

So who pays for all this infrastructure? Grange Resources are footing the bill - if they can come up with the cash. Grange have recently been approved to begin extracting iron ore from Wellstead, a tiny hamlet east of here, adjacent to the banksia-encrusted Fitzgerald National Park. Grange need a way to ship that ore to China. Albany's Princess Royal Harbour, being one of the best natural harbours in the world, is the chosen/cursed child.

And who are Grange Resources? Well, try googling 'Grange resources top 20 shareholders' and come to your own conclusion. Here is a piece written by my friend Michelle about these guys:

"I checked the list of shareholders and you guessed it; the Chinese have a huge stake in this. A company called Shagang International Holdings Limited has 40.43% (465,151,278 shares). Another Chinese company called Shagang International (Australia) Pty Ltd owns another 6.33%, so in total the Chinese own nearly 47% ....
.... if you check the shareholder register, you will see that a Singaporean investment company owns another share (call me paranoid)." Michelle Frantom. www.michellefrantom.blogspot.com

On the bright side, real estate prices in the boondocks will skyrocket for a coupla years and homebuyers will be re-inspired after B.H.P.'s unceremonious dumping of a certain south western community. Maybe some enthusiastic soul will even build a brand new supermarket in Wellstead.

Eventually the Cape ships, obese with exportable ore, will chug in and out of the Sound. After The Albany Port Authority has dredged the Sound, our waters will be be dealt their killer blow and the last natural southern part of the Princess filled in with her own spoils.

The money from this project is not going to stay in this country. The Port Authority gets the dredging paid for and Grange Resources gets cheap iron ore. Sometimes the Chinese government's aggressive garnering of food, mineral and water resources is a bit overwhelming.
The Tibetans have been saying that for quite a while now.