Lessons from Germany’s industry
Germany's brown coal industry in the famous Rhineland region, which inspired Sir John Monash to build the State Electricity Commission using Latrobe Valley coal, still packs some punch, despite the drive towards more renewables. And the carbon dioxide being produced by the region’s modern brown coal power stations can be redirected into a number of industrial uses.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia supports movement to address rural road safety
Rural Road Safety Month urges all road users to fix the alarming issue of rural road crashes. September is Rural Road Safety Month and with over 90 per cent of camping trips regional, this is an important message.
Abandoned wind farms going cheap
What would it cost? And what is the carbon footprint of the physical effort to remove the footing of one of the many 200m tall wind turbine towers soon to be seen scattered across the Wheatbelt? ... I wonder how many of the Greenpeace activist types have watched the doco Thrown to the Wind about the whale deaths off the East Coast of the United States?
Statement from AEMO
In last Tuesday’s edition, the “Buloke Times” published a report from a reader, critical of the visit by Transmission Company Victoria to the area of the VNI West. Subsequently, the “Times” received the following statement from a spokesperson for Australian Energy Market Operator, AEMO: “The landholder liaisons were on their way to an appointment with a local landowner, who had spoken with them the previous day and agreed to meet and receive some information on the project ..."
Pasin ponders phone towers
Member for Barker Tony Pasin would prefer a different funding method than the “all or nothing” approach of Telstra’s Connect Limestone Coast project. The $40 million project involves 27 phone towers scattered across the region, each costing $1.5 million.
Regional Victorian Power Alliance visits Murrabit
It was a full house as Victorian and NSW community members gathered in the Murrabit Hall to hear from Vicki Johnson and Gavin Ronan from the Regional Victorian Power Alliance (RVPA). The RVPA was created in May 2023 after communities who had been battling the Western Renewables Link … expanded to include VNI West impacted communities.
Undergrounding report released
As state and federal governments continue their push to renewables, the mad scramble to build 10,000 kilometres of new power lines by 2030 has rural communities across the eastern seaboard not only gravely concerned about the social and environmental impacts, but also methodology. Last week, the NSW parliamentary inquiry into the feasibility of undergrounding HumeLink was released...
TMR extends consultation for north-south bypass
The Department of Main Roads and Transport has extended the initial community consultation period for feedback on the proposed Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor. The initial round of community consultation has been extended to the 13th of October.
Just get some advice!
Recently, two mature peppercorn trees in White Cliffs were removed to make way for water pipes. Shirley Evans (nee Riley), who now lives in Wilcannia, was born under one of those trees in 1937. She says, 'When I was an adult I went back to that tree a few times with Mum ... I was really disappointed to think that they'd cut that tree down.'
New Lismore private hospital
Clarence Valley residents will benefit from an increased level of health and aged care in the Northern Rivers with the news a new private hospital will be built in the region. The Catholic Diocese of Lismore has announced a new private hospital will be built at Lismore and the existing St Vincents private hospital will be transformed into an aged care facility.
Marinus Link cable agreement another significant step forward: Barnett
…Marinus Link has agreed to a capacity reservation agreement for a high-voltage direct current cable with Prysmian Powerlink … “This agreement ensures production and offshore installation capacity for one cable of the Marinus Link project, a 750MW cable system, with negotiations continuing for the second 750MW phase": Minister for Energy and Renewables, Guy Barnett.
Labor have lost their way on energy: Young
Liberal Member for Franklin, Dean Young, said Labor’s thought bubble of a price cap is a dangerous threat to our energy security. “Labor talks up supply issues but want to interfere in the market with price caps, damaging competition and causing supply to drop,” Mr Young said.
Nine new murals brighten highway journey
Nine murals on nine overpasses on the Pacific Highway between Woolgoolga and Ballina have brightened the drive. The artworks depict nine stories from three Aboriginal nations of the region – Gumbaynggirr, Yaegl and Bundjalung.
Showdown at farms along VNI West
Jacinta O'Sullivan. Wednesday, August 30, Transmission Company Victoria ran into approximately 30 farmers and local supporters as they continue to stealthily door knock landowners in the area of the VNI West. Several pensioners, isolated and absent landowners have been targeted by the state appointed company Transmission Company Victoria in an attempt to blindside locals who will live with the 80-metre transmission lines in their local community.
Civic leaders to push for roads, housing, health and education
The region’s mayors and CEOs will work together to access investment for improved roads, housing, health and education. That was one of the key messages from Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross who recently welcomed the various civic leaders to Naracoorte.
Vandalism worry
Vandals have wreaked havoc on a newly renovated $250,000 Market Square Playground, which was scheduled to open to the public this week. Naracoorte-Lucindale Council confirmed damage to the newly fitted equipment, including the soft flooring.
Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail Project: feasibility study launch
It was a chilly start to the day at Joyces Creek last Thursday morning as a group comprising Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards, Ripon MP Martha Haylett, members of the Rail Trail group and representatives of both Mount Alexander and Central Goldfields shire councils met. The still water and shady trees, with the rail bridge towering overhead, lent a special atmosphere to the launch.
Youth Centre officially in hands of Council
Remote Concrete NT officially handed over the keys to the Tennant Creek Youth Centre to Barkly Regional Council this week. Remote Concrete NT’s Managing Director Jared Baldwin met with Acting Mayor Russell O’Donnell met at the site for the celebratory occasion on Wednesday.
Country concerns ignored in power tower push: NSW Farmers
NSW Farmers has accused the state government of ignoring the concerns of regional communities, with the Premier reportedly vowing to build enormous overhead powerlines across the state. Media reports on Thursday revealed the Premier told a Business Sydney event that overhead powerlines were the only option...
Steam on track for 2024
Recent DownsSteam steam engine trials have been successful through Wyreema, likely to be followed by passenger journeys in the region as soon as 2024. A couple of weeks ago, C16 Steam engine 106 went on its maiden trip having departed Drayton station at 10am before a large crowd of train enthusiasts.
Ocean Beach to close next year for club redevelopment
Patricia Gill. Ocean Beach will close in February for a sea wall and surf club redevelopment which is estimated to take two years to complete. The closure will coincide with the natural closure of the Wilson Inlet sand bar and the subsequent settling of ocean currents at the beach ... Work would initially start with the demolition of the patrol room and kiosk so the new sea wall could be constructed.
South Australian Government opposes southern ocean offshore windfarm zone: Close, Scriven
The State Government has recommended South Australia not be included in the Commonwealth’s proposed offshore wind farm zone that runs from Warrnambool in Victoria to Port MacDonnell … State Government has expressed concerns about the potential impact construction of an offshore windfarm in that area could have on South Australia’s southern fisheries and marine environment.
