Nuclear Australia

Dangerous liaison – USA military base in Northern Territory

Christina MacPherson — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:41:14 +0000

European collapse unlikely, Illawarra Mercury, James Dunn on 14/11/2011 ”……..Of particular interest this week is United States President Barack Obama’s brief visit to Canberra. No doubt there will be lots of speeches about the closeness of the US-Australia relationship.

However, when Prime Minister Julia Gillard reminds Mr Obama that we will see out the Afghanistan operation with them, she will hardly be expressing the views of many Australians.

The recent spate of casualties, seemingly inflicted by the people we went there to help, question the Australian force’s welcome in that country. These attacks may be part of a daring Taliban plot, but they must have a demoralising impact on our troops.

I share with retired General Alan Stretton the feeling that it is time we withdraw from that tortured country.

I am also concerned at the idea of having a US base in the Northern Territory. It risks drawing us into any conflict the Americans involve themselves in.

It sharply weakens our image of independence, and, of course, will not help our important relationship with China. http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/blogs/between-the-lines/european-collapse-unlikely/2356714.aspx

Desalination plant to cost South Australians too much

Christina MacPherson — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 02:18:53 +0000

South Australia may be paying too much for water by:Adelainde Now, David Nankervis :Sunday Mail (SA) November 12, 2011 SOUTH Australians could be paying too much for water because the Government is guessing how much money it needs. And supply charges set by the Government are much higher than other states that operate desalination plants, the independent industry regulator says.

As gardeners gear up for summer, the Essential Services Commission of SA said the doubling of water prices in recent years may have been more than was needed to meet the costs of the plant and other major water infrastructure projects.

The commission expects the same flawed water-pricing process is currently being used by the Government to determine next year’s price rises. The commission said last week that a lack of information presented to Cabinet by SA Water meant the extent of recent price rises could not be trusted “with any real confidence”…. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/desal-we-may-be-

Latrobe Valley coal power plants interested in plan to close down

Christina MacPherson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:58:26 +0000

Latrobe Valley plants’ carbon tax interest The Age, October 22, 2011 The owners of the Latrobe Valley’s Hazelwood and Yallourn power plants have registered their interest for a federal government scheme to pay generators to close under the carbon tax.

The government called for expressions of interest to close down 2000-megawatts of the nation’s dirtiest power generation by 2020.

The removal of the dirtiest power generation in the country is part of the government’s Clean Energy Future plan, which also includes a $23-a-tonne price on carbon from July next year, household assistance and funding for renewable energy projects.

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Expressions of interest were due by October 21 and contracts are expected to be finalised by June 30, 2012.

The owners of Hazelwood and Yallourn as well as HRL, the owner of smaller generator Energy Brix, have applied, Fairfax newspapers report.

There have also been applications by the owners of South Australia’s Playford and Queensland’s Collinsville plants…..

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/latrobe-valley-plants-carbon-tax-interest-20111022-1md1g.html

Climate change denial, astrology, flat earth – popular Australian beliefs

Christina MacPherson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:37:12 +0000

Climate Change Seminar, Yass Tribune 27 Oct 11“………There are a sizeable number of climate sceptics in Australia so it is hardly surprising when it is revealed by the Canberra science communicator, Dr Craig Cormick, in Australia roughly every second person believes in psychic powers such as ESP. One in three believes in UFOs and one in five believes in magic? Also, a 2005 survey published in the Medical Journal of Australia stated that half of all Australians are taking alternative medicines, with one in four not even telling their doctor they are taking them. Other surveys conducted in Australia indicate that about 80 per cent of the population hold at least one paranormal belief, which includes astrology – and the Tribune itself has just recently introduced a column of ‘Your stars with Alison Moroney’ – and one in 10 Americans also said that astrology was ‘very scientific’. In the UK belief in UFOs is about evenly divided into thirds between those who say UFOs have visited the earth, those who say they have not and those who were undecided.

It seems that the climate change sceptics are probably candidates for membership of the ‘flat Earth society’ and would have been howling for the death of Galileo for his alleged heresy in his suggestion that the Earth revolved around the sun and not, as the Catholic church of the time dogmatised, that the Earth was the centre of the solar system and the sun revolved around it!….”

http://www.yasstribune.com.au/blogs/the-way-i-see-it/climate-change-seminar/2337117.aspx?storypage=2

Download Queensland’s Solar Atlas from www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au

Christina MacPherson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:30:52 +0000

.The Queensland Solar Atlas can be downloaded free from www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au

Queensland Solar Atlas helps to build our clean energy future, My Sunshine Coast, 27 Oct 11 Energy Minister Stephen Robertson today unveiled the Queensland Solar Atlas, a new electronic map to assist resource companies to pinpoint the best areas for potential future solar power generation projects.

Mr Robertson said the Queensland Solar Atlas was based on solar irradiance data collected at ground monitoring stations in Roma, Cloncurry and Charters Towers.

“The Queensland Solar Atlas has confirmed the North West, Far North and Central West regions as the best areas for potential future solar power generation projects in Queensland,” Mr Robertson said.

“It may not be a total surprise that these regions have strong potential in terms of solar resources, due to the fact they experience a high proportion of mainly long, hot, sunny days.

“However, the interactive Solar Atlas drills down further to provide more detailed information about the intensity and frequency of the sun’s power in a particular area.

“Companies exploring solar e nergy opportunities in Queensland can also use the Solar Atlas to ascertain what infrastructure is available within each region, as it includes overlays of critical infrastructure such as electricity and gas transmission infrastructure and land and water resources.

“Individual companies use different technologies and what the atlas enables them to do is pinpoint exactly where the infrastructure is that suits their project.”

Mr Robertson said the Solar Atlas clearly details average annual solar radiation information across the state…….Mr Robertson said the Queensland Solar Atlas would better assist the private sector to develop large-scale solar projects, boosting investment opportunities for Queensland and stimulating job creation in the clean energy sector.

“The Solar Atlas forms a key element of the Bligh Government’s strategy to make Queensland the solar state,” he said.

“We want to see this clean energy source incorporated into all aspects of our lives and the Solar Atlas will help deliver this goal……The Queensland Solar Atlas can be downloaded free from www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au

http://www.mysunshinecoast.com.au/articles/article-display/queensland-solar-atlas-helps-to-build-our-clean-energy-future,23514

Northern Australia’s golden opportunity to become S.E. Asia’s renewable energy hub

Christina MacPherson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:28:54 +0000

Climate change and the Top End ABC Radio National, Future Tense, 27 Oct 11“………Stuart Blanch: We’re looking at an Australia-Asia electricity grid connector that builds a high voltage direct current sub-sea cable from the Northern Territory, north into perhaps Timor, Indonesia and into Asia, which we would use to export renewable energy to Asia. Of course, Asia is the developing part of the world, it’s the Asian century, and they have hundreds of millions of people living in energy poverty. They need energy, but for the world’s sake, the world cannot let them develop the way we have and develop in terms of fossil fuels. So we’re saying is, build large scale solar power plants, solar photovoltaic plants around the Top End of Australia, feed that power into the grid, which would help Darwin get greener energy as well, but export it to Asia. And that would help make us a superpower in terms of renewable energy, whereas at the moment a lot of people see us as a superpower for gas, uranium and coal, and that’s, in their view, as it should be. I disagree, I challenge that. Northern Australia can do better, and get off fossil fuels and uranium onto renewables, and we can help Asia to develop, but do it sustainably….

Stuart Blanch: The markets north of Australia are ten, 20, 50 times what they are in eastern Australia. If we build a high voltage cable across to the east cost grid, connecting up to Mount Isa, then down into New South Wales and Victoria, there’s only another 20 million people there. And those economies are trying to get off coal, and looking at solar and wind anyway. So they’re going down that path. Here in the Territory, if we turn our gaze to the north, that’s the Territory’s future. It’s where the Territory government of both political persuasions and the business sector have looked to make money and a future in terms of exporting products, which have real problems now and in the future. Gas and oil release significant carbon pollution in Asia. Let’s stop exporting things which have risks. Let’s export renewable energy. Of course, we have a lot of sun now, that we could start exporting if we can build an electricity grid into Asia….

it’s already been done in parts of the world. Perhaps not on such a scale, but it’s shown the technology and the thinking is actually working. in Europe, Norway and the Netherlands already have an almost 600 kilometre cable linking them, that moves through the Baltic Sea, it’s on the bed of the sea, and allows both countries to trade energy with each other. That’s the same sort of technology we’re talking about connecting Darwin into Indonesia and into Asia. In the Middle East and North Africa there’s a very large project proposing to build a ring of solar power plants around the north of Africa, in the Sahara, and closer to the Mediterranean coast, in countries like Morocco and Algeria, maybe Tunisia in the future, exporting that power through new subsea cables, laid on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, up to countries like Germany and Italy and other parts of Europe, who need to cut their emissions very quickly, and need reliable power, and they’re trying to get off fossil fuels and nuclear power……”

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/futuretense/stories/2011/3347338.htm

Australia’s Liberal Party’s carbon tax bluff damaging to industry

Christina MacPherson — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:46:06 +0000

Power price warning if Coalition cans carbon tax ABC Radio. the World Today, 18 Oct 11 ELEANOR HALL: The Federal Government says the uncertainty the Liberals are now creating over carbon reduction in Australia is locking in higher power prices.

As the Coalition ramps up its warnings to businesses not to invest in Labor’s carbon pricing scheme before the next election, the Prime Minister accused Tony Abbott of bluffing with his threats to repeal the scheme.

She says every living Liberal leader in Australia has supported putting a price on carbon, including Mr Abbott in the past, and that the Coalition will not repeal the carbon legislation if it wins office.

From Canberra, Alexandra Kirk reports….

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2011/s3342125.htm

Uranium and other mining banned permanently in Arkaroola Wilderness

Christina MacPherson — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:52:39 +0000

.Mining ban in region forever Adelaide Now, by: Greg Kelton, State Editor October 17, 2011
ALL types of mining will be banned in Arkaroola under draft laws unveiled yesterday by Premier Mike Rann.On a visit to the Flinders Ranges, Mr Rann said the proposed legislation would be introduced to Parliament this week.

He said the Government had also begun the formal process of applying for National and World Heritage listing for the region.”We are giving the area the highest level of protection that can be afforded by the Parliament of SA,” Mr Rann said.

“The legislation I am introducing this week will protect the cultural, natural and landscape values of a defined area to be known as the Arkaroola Protection Area and will exclude exploration and all forms of mining… http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/mining-ban-in-region-forever/story-e6frea6u-1226167943306

Greens oppose Olympic Dam uranium mine’s weak royalty progam, and no mining tax

Christina MacPherson — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 06:28:24 +0000

Olympic Dam Faces Opposition From Greens Over Royalties, International Business Times, By Esther Thomas | October 14, 2011 BHP Billiton’s $30 billion worth Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine project faced its strongest opposition on Thursday as the Greens slammed an indenture agreement that stipulates royalty payments by the global mining company to the South Australian government over the mining project expansion will remain fixed for 45 years.

The indenture arrangement, which runs up to 70 years, specifically fixes BHP Billiton’s royalties at the existing 5 per cent for uranium and 3.5 per cent for other minerals for the first 45 years. Former Treasurer and Premier Mike Rann signed the agreement with BHP Billiton Chief Marius Kloppers in Melbourne on Wednesday.

However, Greens upper house MP Mark Parnell said the arrangement was too much of an exemption offer for BHP Billiton….. royalties go up and down, mostly they go up,” Parnell said in The Australian. To lock in a company with its own special act of parliament to not have to pay any higher royalties for 45 years is wrong and I think we have sold ourselves short,” he added.

For the agreement to materialise, it must first be ratified by the South Australian government, after which endorsed to both houses of the state’s Parliament by Tuesday next week. But there is a threat it will face proceedings delays, most especially in the upper house, where Labor does not have a majority.

If this happens, the Olympic Dam mine expansion might also face postponements in the commencement of construction works. After Wednesday’s signing, BHP Biliton is required to issue a formal ”project notice” within 12 months upon securing approval of state government legislation. The notice indicates the start of construction works on stage one of the Olympic Dam mine…..

The South Australian deputy premier further said the 45-year indenture agreement was a trade-off with BHP Billiton for accepting to pay those current royalty rates. Ever since the federal government proposed the creation of a mining tax, state governments have debated heatedly on imposing royalties to miners, and by how much. The Olympic Dam mine, however, is excluded as it is a copper and uranium mine project. The mining tax applies only to coal and iron ore miners.

An expensive gamble – BHP Billiton’s expanded Olympic Dam uranium mine

Christina MacPherson — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 06:25:23 +0000

Olympic Dam gamble a boon for SA, Sky News, 14 Oct 11, As corporate gambles go, it’s a monster. If mining giant BHP Billiton approves plans to develop the world’s largest mine at Olympic Dam in South Australia it will spend up to $30 billion with little or no return on its investment for up to 20 years. In fact the company will have to assemble the world’s largest fleet of earth movers and dig for five or six years just to reach the copper and uranium ore body deep underground in the SA outback.

And after all that, BHP-Billiton’s ultimate pay-off will depend on the strength of commodity prices many years into the future…. But according to former SA treasurer and lead state government negotiator on the project, Kevin Foley, it will be worth it.He says suggestions that South Australia will become to the uranium market what Saudi Arabia has been to oil are not far off the mark…..

As its investment grows BHP Billiton will build a new airport at Roxby Downs, a desalination plant, a new power station and hundreds of kilometres of roads and rail lines…….. Legislation supporting the indenture will now go before the SA parliament with both houses expected to sit for an extra week in December to ensure it is passed before the Christmas break. BHP Billiton’s board must then give the project final approval, which is expected in the first half of 2012.

The Greens are vowing to go through the indenture bill line by line and want significant changes to the agreement with the company to better cover environmental concerns, particularly the threats to giant cuttlefish breeding grounds near the proposed desalination plant on Spencer Gulf…..

BHP Billiton has not made much comment on the project in recent days, though it will likely figure prominently at the company’s annual meeting next week. It has ‘noted’ the approvals given by the state and federal governments but made little mention of the indenture agreement. However, it has approved $1.2 billion in pre-commitment funding for long-lead infrastructure and equipment, conditional on parliamentary approval for the indenture legislation.