OUR neighbours in the Blue Mountains regularly get their world heritage knickers in a knot on a range of issues - coal mines, airports, fast food ventures and stuff.
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But currently there's something a bit more unusual in the way of campaigns mounted by, it's a bit of a mouthful, 'The Blue Mountains Action Group Protecting Life From 5G'.
They claim the emerging telecommunications network is 'the largest biological experiment ever' and that's really saying something.
If that's not enough there is even a documentary ominously titled '5G Apocalypse - The Extinction Event'.
Dramatic stuff and it's all there on posters (illegally) plastered on poles in the Lithgow CBD.
But if you want to get involved you're too late; the screening in Katoomba was a couple of weeks back.
If you believe the warnings from BMAGPLF5G the radiation might be implicated in just about every medical condition known to man. Except perhaps hay fever.
Disclaimer: Your columnist admits to not being an expert on apocalyptical matters.
Jumping through hoops
THERE was interesting news tucked away in the advertising pages of the Lithgow Mercury last week. And it was also possibly puzzling to anyone not directly involved.
Centennial Coal wants to increase its workforce at Clarence Colliery by 100 well paid jobs.
Now that's a 25 per cent increase on the present employment and one would expect it would be well received by a city centric government that professes, lamely or otherwise, its support for regional development.
But not so fast!
First Centennial has to jump through hoops under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and apply for Ministerial approval.
But that's not all: Centennial is also seeking approval (under the same Act) to haul more coal to its Wang loader to help maintain critical supplies to Mt Piper during what it terms emergency situations'.
The bid to negotiate the usual bureaucratic tangle has no doubt been prompted by current geological problems at Springvale min.
Strolling The Trail
THEY breed 'em tough (or perhaps a little troppo) in far north Queensland and every now and then they set out to prove the point.
The National Trail runs the length of The Great Divide traversing three eastern States and a considerable length passes through our backyard.
Surprisingly regularly the super fit (or troppo) take the challenge on foot, cycle, horseback, or on at least one occasion, by camel.
Along the way they rest up on farms like that of Hampton identity Ian Litchfield.
A little while back Ian provided a camp for a bloke walking the full length of the trail The Trail from Cairns to Victoria.
Impressive, but wait, there's more.
Last week Ian had a surprise call from the same Queenslander who's now walking BACK through Hampton to Cairns, now accompanied by two mules, a donkey and a dog.
Ian felt that's an effort that deserved dinner at the Tarana Pub at the weekend and we can't argue with that.
Anyone feel like taking the challenge?
