Category: Archive

Major bushfire outbreaks reflect a dogged refusal of everyone involved to learn from experience

admin /7 December, 2005

Tragically, says The Land (1 December 2005, p.14), debate in
the aftermath of major bushfires tends to polarise along conventional
environmental or political “battle lines”. Parliaments, Coroners and
the Council of Australian Governments held inquiries and released
reports which offered only minor variations on the reasons for the
horror fires of 1897, 1912, 1926, 1933, 1939, 1944, 1949, 1951, 1957,
1960, 1967, 1968, l969, 1977, 1980 and 1983.

 

How SA small businessman won 37pc cut in back-bill after meter failed to record peak electricity

admin /7 December, 2005

The Electricity Industry Ombudsman of SA (EIOSA) tells in its 2004/05
annual report how a small businessman won an almost 40 per cent cut in
a back-bill from his electricity supplier due to a metering fault.

Mr K’s company had received an electricity
back-bill of $27,420. He had contacted the electricity retailer but was
not satisfied with the explanation given and sought EIOSA’s assistance.

Australian Biodiesel Group to become third biofuels company to list on stock exchange

admin /7 December, 2005

Later this month Australian Biodiesel Group would become the third
alternative fuels company to attempt to list on the Australian Stock
Exchange, reported The Australian Financial Review (3/12/2005, p. 46).

Australian Biodiesel’s $20 million capital
raising, which would close next week, has been heavily oversubscribed,
possibly because it is the only company in Australia producing
biodiesel in commercial quantities.

Melbourne temperatures to rise 1.4 degrees in next 25 years; links to air conditioning power drain

admin /6 December, 2005

The Victorian Government has released figures showing that temperatures
in Metropolitan Melbourne could increase by up to 1.4 degrees celsius
over the next 25 years, with the findings linked to the increasing
demands being placed on the electricity supply system by
air-conditioners, reported The Age (5 December 2005, p.14).

This raised major issues in terms of
greenhouse gas emissions, and placed pressure on the capacity of the
electricity supply system over summer. In addition, it was estimated
that 12 per cent of Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions were already
caused by commercial air-conditioners.

Southeast Qld gardeners up in arms as Brisbane Council grants pool owners permission to use hoses

admin /6 December, 2005

Nursery owners were asking why pools would be unaffected by the next
level of water restrictions while the gardening industry could be
“brought to its knees”, reported The Courier Mail (5/12/2005, p. 5).

Owners of permanent pools and
spas would still be allowed top-ups with unattended hoses three days a
week under level three restrictions – but gardeners would no longer be
able to use hoses or sprinklers but would have to use buckets.

Green Waverley Council wants to tighten controls on new air conditioner installations

admin /6 December, 2005

Residents in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs could swelter more than usual
this summer under a council plan to ban automatic approval of air
conditioners, reported The Daily Telegraph (3 December 2005, p.3).