Battery like a charger on a huge scale
The 150 megawatt battery installed by Engie at the old Hazelwood power station site has just had its first birthday – and the company is very happy with its ability to produce electricity when needed and its financial performance.
Foreign owned and controlled TransGrid is disconnected from regional Australia
The ever-increasing number of stories of the difficulties faced by landowners when dealing with transmission network builder, TransGrid, points to an organisation with no knowledge of, and no interest in learning about, the land, and the peoples living on that land, through which they are building those networks.
Justification and priority assessment determines Kaniva lake not feasible
West Wimmera Shire Council has concluded that construction of a man-made lake in Kaniva is not feasible at this time, following a thorough investigation and cost analysis. Council investigated constructing a 200m by 400m lake at the Kaniva Racecourse Reserve after receiving the idea from the community.
Power restored after Cowalla bushfire while crews replacing poles
Western Power says power has been restored to all 150 customers affected by the bushfire in Cowalla, Wanerie and Karakin. Twenty power poles were destroyed by the bushfire, which was reported at 12.03pm on Tuesday, December 31.
Concrete railway sleepers – a growing blight on the environment: Roger Underwood
Roger Underwood. I had an email from a Queensland mate the other day. “I recently took a train trip from Brisbane to Charleville” he told me, “and there were huge piles of concrete sleepers beside the line to the Toowoomba Range and elsewhere.” I knew exactly what he was talking about. In September 2024 I travelled by train from Perth to Adelaide, from Ballarat to Melbourne and from Melbourne to Sydney. Alongside every railway line along this trip were piles of “used” concrete sleepers.
Transmission lines versus the environment: One family’s story
The Betts/Barbour/Hume family’s 157-year-old agricultural and biodiversity conservation property is at a critical point. It may not survive this latest challenge to its viability. If it fails, it will take with it decades of labour and investment expended on protecting an extremely environmentally, historically, agriculturally and culturally important area.
Work set to start on Steiner high school in the new year
Serena Kirby. Site works will get underway in January for the construction of the $2-$3 million Golden Hill Steiner School high school facilities. The $900,000, 6ha block that adjoins the school was purchased in October by a foundation for school use. Half the block will be used for the new school buildings with the other half to be set aside for three residential lots.
Good signs for Westbrook’s growth
A report presented to a Toowoomba Regional Council meeting last week provides insight into how new water infrastructure might impact growth in Westbrook and other areas ... The report indicates a raw water reservoir connected to the Southern Water Treatment Plant (SWTP), which was announced two weeks ago, could be built within Fernleigh.
Think, question
Ian Penno. Getting around lately and in general discussions mainly with locals, it is satisfying that they are still thinking for themselves and in their own minds questioning the management and direction of our great region, state and country. Courage must be to ask the questions out loud and demand answers ... Water ... Fair go for horticulture transition ... Energy ...
Transmission lines – “Don’t think, do!” – More on the landholders’ fight
Peter Hobbs. This article which is intended to be a follow-up and one motivated by Charltonian Glenda Watts’s Letter to the Buloke Times Editor ... Glenda’s message is simple but significant in the process developed by the Victorian Government underpinning the construction of transmission lines in rural Victoria ... What follows is a dissection of these seven steps outlining [TCV's] shortcomings...
Council chooses company to start work on Mallanganee observatory early next year
Work on the Mallanganee observatory project is expected to start within the first three months of next year. At the Kyogle Council meeting on Monday, December 9, the meeting went into confidential to discuss the tender for the construction of the Mallanganee observatory at the Mallanganee Lookout.
Weld Australia slams Opposition’s nuclear power plan as unrealistic fantasy
According to Geoff Crittenden, CEO of Weld Australia, the Opposition’s plan relies on the misguided notion that coal-fired power stations can continue operating reliabily indefinitely to bridge the energy gap. “It is a fantasy to imagine that coal-fired power stations can keep running without billions of dollars being poured into their maintenance. Many of these plants have already exceeded their design life two- or threefold,” said Crittenden.
Historic sealing projects deliver safety gains, improved reliability for outback motorists
No more precarious and lengthy travel for residents and travellers on Pooncarie Road ... “Central Darling Shire Council appreciates the funding support from the Australian and NSW governments because the road desperately needed to be sealed for road safety reasons,” said Central Darling Shire General Manager Greg Hill. “Now we can keep the road open during wet conditions, benefiting both residents and tourists.
Letter to the Corryong Courier Editor: Poor decisions have caused a catastrophe
Yola Cox. Nestled in the picturesque Tooma Valley, the Mannus Creek and its surrounding environment have long been a lifeline for the region’s farms, families and wildlife. However, a series of catastrophic decisions spanning decades have turned this once-thriving ecosystem into a disaster zone. The Mannus Dam was licensed in the 1980s to Ellis Williams. While the licence suggested the dam would support pisciculture, this promise was never realised.
Dead end on widening Canal Bridge
Sean Cunningham. Narrandera Shire Council will make yet another bid to have the Irrigation Way Canal Bridge en route to Leeton widened or replaced following a number of unsuccessful past attempts. Council has decided to seek support from various road users of the bridge before authorising the mayor to form a delegation to meet the Minister early next year.
Backup power for Lancelin rolled out
Lancelin residents will have backup power from a new high voltage injection unit in the event of long unplanned outages on the network, according to Western Power. Western Power asset management executive manager Gair Landsborough said high voltage injection unit (HVIUs) connect several emergency response generators together, that were monitored and managed remotely, to power a bigger area than would normally be possible when using a single generator.
After more than three years, Naughtons Gap Road is open — and we have the cake to prove it
The road closed signs either side of the landslip on Naughtons Gap Road were removed ... It’s been a long time coming — and it was fitting that the first two cars through on the new road were Paul Connolly’s 1953 FJ Holden and a 1950 Bedford.
Energy transition: at what cost?
An independent report by a leading consultant shows that the Labor’s Party’s ‘renewables only’ energy plan will cost Australians at least $642 billion, according to the federal Opposition. “This is five times more than they have told the Australian people,” Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Ted O’Brien said.
Too expensive and too slow
Environmentalists in Gippsland maintain that nuclear energy is not a viable option for the region because it’s too expensive, its lengthy design and construction time make it too slow to replace coal, and it uses too much water. “Australia boasts abundant renewable energy resources, being the sunniest continent in the world and among the windiest, making renewable energy abundant and affordable,” Gippsland Climate Change Network said in its submission to the House of Representatives inquiry into nuclear power.
Nuclear power essential: Camier
Nuclear power generation in the Latrobe Valley is now essential because of the need for base load power in a balanced system as over-investment in renewables is destabilising electricity supply and increasing costs, according to a retired Morwell scientist. Dr Ron Camier, in a submission to the House of Representatives inquiry into nuclear power, said these increasing costs due to renewables were a primary driver for increasing unemployment and the cost-of-living.
Loy Yang seeks water for mine lake
Water is a key part of the operation of the Loy Yang mine – and will still be a key part of the brown coal mine’s future. The scheduled closure of the Loy Yang A power station in 2035 is looming larger on the horizon, and the water issue needs to be sorted out.
Funding for New England Rail Trail withdrawn by Federal Government
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised the Armidale Regional Council (ARC) that the $5.4m grant received to build the first stage of the New England Rail Trail has been withdrawn. NEMA is the Federal Labour Government body tasked with administering the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Program (BSBR).
