New South Wales Premier confirms ban on uranium mining
Uranium mining ban to stay, says O’Farrell, SMH, Sean Nicholls August 5, 2011The Premier, Barry O’Farrell, has said the state government is no longer considering a proposal to repeal legislation banning uranium exploration and mining in NSW, only days after the government said it was ”under consideration”.In response to a question by the Opposition Leader, John Robertson, about whether the government was considering overturning the ban, Mr O’Farrell, pictured, responded: ”No.’….’Having consulted … we made a deliberate announcement which the Premier has already made here today,” he said. ”We are not proposing to change the law on uranium mining in NSW”…Uranium mining ban to stay, says O’Farrell
Uranium mining to remain illegal in New South Wales
“Uranium mining and exploration is prohibited under the Uranium and Nuclear Facilities (Prohibitions) Act 1986.”
‘No plans’ to lift NSW uranium ban ABC Sydney – Australian Broadcasting Corporation August 01, 2011 The New South Wales Government is adamant it has no plans to overturn a state ban on uranium mining and exploration. Continue reading
On solar energy – Victoria, wind power -New South Wales
5MW Solar Farm Constructed In 6 Weeks, Energy Matters, Renewable Energy News, 20 July 11, “….Last week, the UK’s largest solar farm was fully commissioned and connected to the mains grid. The 4.9MW station was developed by Lark Energy and is located at Hawton in Nottinghamshire. The project consisted of 21,000 solar panels situated on 30 acres of former quarry land and will provide enough energy for the electricity needs of 1,300 homes. As Australia finally begins the journey towards a low-carbon economy in earnest, it’s reassuring to know that solar power can quickly replace a substantial amount of coal-fired capacity. While a 4.9MW solar farm is by no means enough to make up the shortfall created by an early closure of Hazelwood, Environment Victoria recently pointed out there is currently 3,000 megawatts of renewable energy projects approved in Victoria, along with thousands of megawatts of gas projects that could be constructed in two to four years.
How fast Victoria will be able to make the switch away from coal will be largely dependent on the political will to make it happen….
http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=1640
Acciona’s third wind farm in Australia, reve, july 20, 2011, The Gunning Wind Farm, 46,5 MW, is located in New South Wales and represents a 107 million € investment. Acciona’s Chairman, José Manuel Entrecanales, congratulates the Government of Australia for its initiatives to increase the development of renewable sources of energy.
The Gunning Wind Farm is a 46.5 MW wind power plant consisting of 31 Windpower AW-1500 wind turbines. The wind energy project represents an AUD $147 million investment (107 million euros)…..http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=12528
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New South Wales country businesses profiting from energy efficiency
Country areas stand out for the highest number of businesses who are participating, with only North Sydney, Sydney and Marrickville making it into the top 10 regions….
”NSW’s energy-efficiency programs are already helping businesses save over $56 million a year, but we haven’t even started to scratch the surface,” the council’s chief executive, Rob Murray-Leach, said.
”Energy efficiency could save the economy over $5 billion a year … These programs show that people who claim the carbon price will damage the economy are talking pure rubbish.”
NSW businesses cashing in on drive for energy efficiency, Sydney Morning Herald, Ben Cubby, July 16, 2011, THE state’s small- and medium-sized businesses are reaping the benefits of government energy-efficiency programs, saving a combined $70 million in power costs for about $8 million in government subsidies in the past two years, new data shows. Continue reading
New solar technology based on Australian design
The Pluto design is based on the PERL (passivated emitter with rear locally diffused) technology developed at Australia’s University of New South Wales, where efficiencies of 25 percent have been achieved in the laboratory. Unique texturing technology with lower reflectivity ensures more sunlight can be absorbed throughout the day even without direct solar radiation.
Suntech Unveils Pluto and Mono/Multi Hybrid Modules, Two new products show the innovation coming from China’s solar firms. GreenTechSolar, Eric Wesoff, 12 July 11, Suntech (NYSE: STP), the world’s largest solar module manufacturer just launched two new products. Continue reading
Australia’s second Invasion, Aboriginal land for uranium industry
In the Northern Territory, the Gillard government is in effect driving Aboriginal communities into apartheid areas where they will be “economically viable”. The unspoken reason is that the Northern Territory is the only part of Australia where Aborigines have comprehensive land rights; and here lie some of the world’s biggest deposits of uranium..
……The most powerful political force in Australia is the multibillion-dollar mining industry. Canberra wants to mine and sell, and those bloody blackfellas are in the way again. But this time they are organised, articulate, militant. They know it is a second invasion. Having finally uttered the forbidden word, white Australians should stand with them…..
The invasion of Australia Australia’s forbidden word has been uttered at last. And with it is comes a new Aboriginal articulacy, John Pilger, guardian.co.uk, 1 July 2011 The City of Sydney council has voted to replace the words “European arrival” in the official record with “invasion”. Continue reading
Giant solar energy plants for New South Wales and Queensland
Giant solar energy plants to run 100,000 homes, Sydney Morning Herald, Ben CubbyJune 20, 2011 THE two giant new solar power plants slated for Moree in western NSW and Chinchilla in Queensland will mark the first time solar power in Australia is deployed on a scale large and reliable enough to rival coal as a source of ”baseload” energy. Neither plant is close to being the world’s biggest, with much more powerful solar power stations in the US and Spain already under construction, but enough power to run more than 100,000 households will be generated without the use of fossil fuels…. Continue reading
Lucas Heights nuclear reactor safe? well, nearly!
Despite the existence of maintenance plans, “staff argue that maintenance is only undertaken for the most urgent matters,” it said.
The report also recommended the organisation allow staff to report safety problems directly to the radiation safety watchdog and Comcare if managers failed to respond to their concerns….In 2009-10, ANSTO Health had one breach of its licence and 56 radiology “events or near misses.”..
Lucas Heights cleared of safety breaches: report | The Australian, Siobhain Ryan, May 31, 2011 AUSTRALIA’S nuclear research agency has been cleared of safety breaches and a culture of cover-ups in a report tabled in Canberra yesterday. But the Government-appointed panel that authored the report said the Lucas Heights reactor in Sydney’s south was ageing, staff were worried that maintenance occurred only for the most urgent matters, and an even more open approach to reporting health and safety problems should be adopted……. Continue reading
ANSTO making efforts to clean up its tarnished safety image
Nuclear agency safety culture ‘stuck in 70s’ | The Australian, Leigh Dayton, 25 May, 11,“……..Dr Paterson said he was instituting the “safety culture approach” adopted by the nuclear power industry. To assist what he called this “safety journey”, Sydney-based workplace resolutions company CoSolve has been hired. As well, recalcitrant staff are encouraged to move to another ANSTO job.Industry observers will be watching closely, following the Easter weekend incidents involving the handling of low-level laboratory waste and a batch of radioactive molybdenun-99. Dr Paterson disputed allegations they were not handled properly.ANSTO also disputed reports in The Australian last March that staff had been suspended after raising safety concerns and that others were bullied….”
Rural Australia’s enthusiasm for solar and for feed-in tariff
“A sensibly designed scheme would make Australia a world leader in solar power.”…The feed-in tariff scheme’s cancellation comes despite huge interest in solar power across the State.
Wanted: sensible solar, The Land RICHARD FOX, 21 May, 2011 “…….“Australia has an excellent resource for solar, particularly west of the Dividing Range, and consumers have an enthusiasm for renewable energy. Continue reading
New South Wales rally for solar feed in tariff to re-open
Australian Solar Energy Society holds rally to demand re-opening of New South Wales feed-in tariff Solar Server 20 May 11 On May 18th, 2011, the Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) organized a rally in Sydney, Australia to ask the New South Wales (NSW) Government to re-open its Solar Bonus program.The NSW Government has announced that it will not accept applications to the program filed after April 28th, 2011, and has reduced the existing feed-in tariff level for the highest tier.
“AuSES and NSW homeowners are calling for certainty and security,” stated AuSES CEO John Grimes. “The rally is the last chance for solar, because businesses and livelihoods are on the line.”…KW20 | Australian Solar Energy Society holds rally to demand re-opening of New South Wales feed-in tariff – SolarServer
Solar energy in Australia – whacked by the power of polluter lobbyists
The situation in Australia is problematic because renewables, and climate policies in general, are clearly a political football.
A solar policy of ill repute | Climate Spectator, Giles Parkinson, 17 May 11, “…….The renewables industry has experienced multiple policy convulsions over the past decade that have stalled its development, but none may be so damaging as the decision last week by the NSW government to make retrospective changes to its feed-in tariffs. Continue reading
Gladstone “ideal” for Australia’s first nuclear power plant
Chairman backs nuclear power |Gladstone Observer, 26 March 11, NUCLEAR power is a crucial ingredient in Australia’s energy future, says Everald Compton, chairman of the Australian Transport and Energy Corridor.“I am a total believer in the fact this country should have nuclear power,” he said yesterday.Speaking at the Region of Choice Summit in Gladstone, Mr Compton said Australia was well-positioned to establish nuclear power plants.
He said Gladstone could be an ideal region to act as pioneer, although he acknowledged it would take somebody “courageous” to campaign for the move towards nuclear……Chairman backs nuclear power | Gladstone News | Local News in Gladstone | Gladstone Observer
As Australians dither over carbon emissions, seas rise up to our cities
major cities – particularly Sydney – are shown to be under much more immediate threat from sea level rises than previously predicted.
Seas ‘will swamp Sydney yearly‘ | The Daily Telegraph, Simon Benson, 11 March 11, SYDNEY will suffer major sea level inundation events once a year instead of every 100 years, according to an alarming new report on climate change impacts from the Government’s chief adviser. Continue reading
Damning report on safety breaches at ANSTO’s Lucas Heights nuclear reactor
They pay lip service to safety, but they actually do nothing. There’s been many accidents and incidents that they have not reported or investigated.
Report slams Australian nuclear reactor Australian Broadcasting CorporationBroadcast: 08/02/2011 Reporter: John ThompsonA confidential report obtained by the ABC shows that Australia’s only nuclear reactor has under-reported accidents and breached safety precautions. Continue reading
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