Category: Archive

Daylight saving to reduce WA emissions

admin /6 June, 2007

Daylight saving can help cut energy use, as shown by US: but hard data needed for WA trial Western Australia needs hard data on possible energy benefits, rather than emotional arguments, on the daylight-saving issue, said Dr Elizabeth Constable, Independent member for Churchlands, in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia.

Savings add up: I will take only a few moments to make one point. It refers to something that you, Mr Acting Speaker (G. Woodhams) mentioned in your speech a few moments ago when you said that we used a lot more electricity during daylight saving. I will refer to the Energy Policy Act 2005 that was passed in the United State’s Congress. When this legislation was initially presented, one of the points in it was to increase daylight saving by two months because the data showed that with daylight saving, electricity could be saved right across the US. For almost every household it was a tiny saving, but added up across the country the saving was 100,000 barrels of oil a day. That is a really important point for members to know and consider.

Barron River water releases challenged

admin /5 June, 2007

Tinaroo Falls Dam continued to pour nearly double Brisbane’s daily demand into the ocean simply because an inflexible piece of paper called a Resource operations plan (ROP) demanded it, the One Nation Party Member for Tablelands tod Queensland parliament on May 22.

1bn litres water/day into the sea: In the Queensland Legislative Assembly (22/5/07), Rosa Lee Long, said that whilst the south-east was struggling to cope with level 5 water restrictions and level 6 water restrictions were looming as a likely prospect, in the far-north orders were given to open the taps on Tinaroo Falls Dam in the Tablelands electorate and let nearly one billion litres of water out each day to simply run out to sea.

Double Brisbane supply: Earlier this month Brisbane’s average daily consumption of water was just under 590 million litres a day, while Tinaroo Falls Dam continued to pour nearly double that amount out into the ocean simply because an inflexible piece of paper called an ROP demanded it. "Of course we need to ensure that our rivers do not run dry, but this massive artificial daily flood is so strong that it buries farmers’ pumps and foot valves in sand and debris. This causes unnecessary expense to farmers who are then left to cover the costs themselves.

Water release far in excess: This water release was far in excess of anything needed to keep the Barron River running. Even the super-green Cairns and Far North Environment Centre has questioned it. Traditionally, Tinaroo Falls Dam was a reliable dam. But so, too, were the dams around Brisbane. There was no guarantee that Tinaroo Falls Dam would fill again next wet season and make up for these massive releases.

Mine the Water Mining Wastes

admin /5 June, 2007

According to D Roddan from Dalby in a letter to the editor in Queensland Country Life, (24/05/2007, p.20), a source of water in southern Queensland were the gas and coal fields having evaporation ponds, of about 200ha which could be used as giant stills, using the power of the sun and collecting the condensation from Continue Reading →

Brisbane offsets emissions with trees

admin /5 June, 2007

Brisbane City Council (BCC) seeks to establish a regional carbon sink by the provision of associated carbon emission trading funded by individuals and businesses choosing to invest in Council sequestration projects, reports The Australian (19/5/2007, p. 44). The projects: These projects will primarily involve a million tree planting program throughout the Brisbane Metropolitan area. The Continue Reading →

One million Aussies demand global warming action

admin /5 June, 2007

On World Environment Day, Australian environment groups have united to call for strong action and commitments to avoid dangerous climate change ahead of this year’s federal election.

National environment groups and conservation councils across the country are calling for major parties to commit to legislating for substantial cuts to greenhouse gas emissions within 15 years.

The groups have agreed a joint policy agenda with twelve priority actions required to avoid dangerous climate change. The top priority is for Australia to legislate for a national greenhouse gas reduction target of at least 30% below 1990 levels by 2020, and to set a long term reduction target of at least 80% by 2050.

All the groups will be actively campaigning to secure commitments to the targets from major parties in the lead up to the federal election. ACF executive director Don Henry said action to tackle climate change would be a key issue for Australians.

 

Bushfires to wreak havoc

admin /4 June, 2007

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of bushfires in Victoria and more controlled burns are needed to help prevent future disasters, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.

Victoria’s Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin said the state was expected to warm at a faster rate than the global average, bringing an increased fire risk.

"Victoria is expected to experience warmer, drier and longer summers which are very likely to increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires," Mr Esplin told the inquiry.

"The climate change risk is very real and has a major challenge for how we plan, prepare and respond to fire."

The inquiry, held by the environmental and natural resources committee, is examining the impact of public land management practices on bushfires.