Monday, August 01, 2005
Who said the web wasn't a serious public consultation tool?
Posted by Living with Matilda at 7:25 PM
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This was posted to our Neighbourhood Planning CityShape polling tool yesterday by someone who gave their email address as Still@large.com.

I think it's great, and really shows that the web is a serious polling tool. The monologue style really suits.

Somehow, paragraphs wouldn't have done it justice.

"Whatever happens to Brisbane City will affect how I live; work; shop; and play. I prefer a dispersed pattern 'Multi-centred City' plan due to concerns over supply of services (especially with our ageing population); and how a Natural Disaster (Cyclone); Flu Pandemic; or Terrorist attack (using a low-yield (20-kiloton tactical Nuke?) would affect existing and planned facilities.::::::Note - Accommodation. I'd prefer to see nothing over 3 levels (ground-level garages and utilities; first and second level rooms) due to concerns over evacuation during fires (especially of the elderly; sick; disabled; pregnant; and young children). I'd also like to see ALL new housing with intelligent design features that include environmentally appropriate heating and cooling (solar hot water; etc); and disaster resistant designs (storms; earthquakes; fires; flooding; etc - especially the anti-bushfire house guidelines in Joan Webster's 'bushfire' books; like multiple watertanks with outlets the Fire Brigade can use).::::::Note - Flu Pandemic. 'Forward Planning Estimates' by the WHO (World Health Organisation) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) are that a H5N1 (Avian Flu) Pandemic could infect over a third of the population; killing half of those infected. This equals one-sixth of the population dead; or some 3.5 million Australians dead; all within months. If people must come into the ONE place (CBD) to work; shop; etc; that ONE place becomes a major 'infection node'. If the people can work; shop and play separately; the chance of infection is reduced substantially.::::::Note - Tactical Nuke. Small; man-portable nuclear munitions have yields up to 50 kilotons (more power than both bombs used in WW2 put together). While intended for use against armoured battalions (tanks); these bombs also make ideal 'mass destruction' charges for sabotage of dams; industrial estates; mines; farmlands; etc. A single 20-kiloton bomb detonated at ground level outside the Brisbane GPO would effectively kill everyone within a 2-kilometre radius (over 90% will be dead 'immediately' from the initial blast; with the rest dead within hours or days from serious injuries or radiation); and result in a 'firestorm' that burns everything within a 4-kilometre radius.::::::Reality Check - One of the nukes used in WW2 was roughly 2 feet wide and 10 feet long - a modern bomb with SIMILAR yield will fit inside a large 'backpack'...::::::The local news revealed that some 'country' communities have health centres but no doctors; and that they have no choice but to send patients to the City. I believe that building hospitals and health facilities in the 'outer suburbs' provides a better solution - they are in areas that either do; or WILL need them within a few years anyway; (witness population growth in the North; South and West 'growth' corridors); and provide a quicker alternative for 'urgent' cases.::::::Abundance of health facilities dispersed over an area (even if they're NOT in use) is good insurance in the event that catastrophe befalls the City Centre and the facilities there (how many hospitals; etc are within 5 km of the CBD?).::::::The WHO and the CDC believe Colethat a H5N1 Pandemic may become reality within weeks to months. If not implementing Quarantine regimes even MORE restrictive than those used in the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic; Wherer will twhat plans does City Hall have to bury the tens of thousands of corpses that WILL suddenly need burial? Will there be mandatory use of mass graves?hey be? What 'land use' will be made of the mass gravesites afterwards?::::::In the event that the CBD is destroyed by a small tactical Nuke and with it the Qld State Government; the Brisbane City Council; the Police HQ; the Law Courts; the Head Offices of various Government and Emergency Agencies; etc - what procedures exist for 'Disaster Recovery' when most of the levels of State and Local Governement are no more? Where will the survivors (if any) relocate to? How will the surviving Health Infrastructure cope with the loss of Major Hospitals; let alone the subsequent overloading of what facilities there are with tens of thousands of critically injured?::::::And (God help us all!) what plans are there to evacuate the hundreds of thousands 'downwind' of the blast; those facing the dangers of 'fallout' unless they evacuate; and who may also need 'Stable Iodine Prophylaxis' to prevent Thyroid cancer?"
Posted by Living with Matilda at 7:25 PM






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I am employed by Brisbane City Council. All views expressed in this blog are my own and in no way reflect the views of my employer.
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