Changing people movement in North East Victoria

Transport Minister Peter Batchelor today said a massive State Government injection into transport infrastructure would change the way people moved around North Eastern Victoria.

Mr Batchelor said 58 new transport projects in the region totalling more than $34 million would lead to better roads, better public transport services, and more convenient transport options.

The projects are funded through the annual State Budget and the recently announced Meeting our Transport Challenges $10.5 billion transport action plan.

“The Bracks Government has undertaken the biggest-ever upgrade of Victoria’s regional rail network,” Mr Batchelor said.

“We intend to continue investing in regional Victoria to make places like Seymour, King Valley, Shepparton and Wodonga even better places to live, work and raise a family.”

Mr Batchelor said strong population and economic growth was creating greater demand for transport services, and placing more pressure on the road network.

“By 2031, provincial Victoria is expected to grow by more than 350,000 people – more than the current combined populations of Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.

“The Government has already made significant investments in transport infrastructure across provincial Victoria to ensure people continue to want to live, work and invest in our regions,” he said.

“The challenge ahead is to cater for the growing demand of those needing to travel to work and other activities within provincial centres or from outlying towns, as well as those travelling to jobs in Melbourne.

“The package of works this Government will deliver over the financial next year covers a wide range of transport initiatives – from upgraded school bus stops to multi-million dollar road projects.”

Mr Batchelor said $4.5 million in public transport projects in North Eastern Victoria for this financial year include:

· Completion of the Moving Forward bus program which includes delivery of a new bus service between the Cheshunt and Wangaratta and Town Bus Network upgrades at Shepparton, Wallan & Wangaratta;
· $770,000 for improvements to School Bus Interchanges at Mooroopna, Tallangatta, Rutherglen & Wodonga under the Rural School Bus Safety Program; and
· Improved Bus Infrastructure facilities at Benalla, Kilmore, Seymour, Shepparton, Wallan, Wangaratta & Wodonga.

Mr Batchelor said the VicRoads budget for 2006-07 also featured $30.48 million for roads projects in North Eastern Victoria, including:

• $3.38 million for new improvement projects, including:
• Intersection safety improvements on Mt Buller Rd & Mansfield - Woods Point Road, near Mansfield ($722,000)
• Run off road safety improvements on Wodonga - Yackandandah Road ($465,000), Beechworth - Wangaratta Road ($2.8 million) and Whittlesea - Yea Road ($1.23 million)
• Bridge improvement works ($255,000)
• $4.8 million this year for 18 road safety projects under the Safer Roads Program;
• $22.3 million for general road maintenance to ensure the infrastructure is able to meet demands for years to come; and
• $255,000 distributed to municipalities in school crossing subsidies.

Other important projects that have already commenced include:

• Safety improvements to the Peter Ross Edwards Causeway ($10 million)
• the $500 million Albury Wodonga Hume Freeway Project
• Run off road safety improvements on the Hume Freeway ($988,000)

“These investments are laying the foundations for a better way of life for people in North Eastern Victoria,” Mr Batchelor said.

“These projects, combined with the effect of the new extended V/Line timetable and completed road projects such as new Traffic Signal Linking in Shepparton ($165,000) and the rehabilitation of the Murchison Bridge ($1.4 million), you can see that north eastern Victoria is powering ahead.”

Mr Batchelor said $18.3 million would also be spent over the next three years around the State helping Victorian communities get the most out of existing community transport services.

“The program will support up to 30 local councils and will help communities coordinate the use of available resources, such as public transport, school buses, and volunteer drivers.”

Local news updates - Over the fence - August 2006

Shepparton East Football Club go for broke

29.Aug.06: Former Shepparton Football Club Coach and current Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, will assist Shepparton East Football Club Gerard Doyle with training this Thursday night.

Shepparton East who lost last weeks final after being seven goals up at three quarter time have called on Sykes to inject the will to win into the team.

Sykes, after 54 games with Fitzroy, coached Shepparton Football Club to two premierships in 1972 and 1973 with teams of modest ability but with a fierce desire to win.

Training commences at 6pm at Shepparton East Football Ground, Central Avenue, Shepparton East.

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Anti fluoride group tries again

26.Aug.06: WANGARATTA’S Anti-fluoride Group has ramped up its attack on fluoridation plans for the city early next year. Group chairman Noel Ryan said it had launched a public campaign calling on people to stop buying fluoride toothpaste and for an investigation of chemicals in North East rivers.

“We’re doing freedom of information requests on the details of all tests on water quality of the Murray, King and Ovens rivers for the past five years,” Mr Ryan said.

“I think we’ll be surprised by what chemicals are already in there. “We’ve already got fluoride in our food, in toothpaste and it occurs naturally in water anyway — how much fluoride do we need?”

Part of the nation-wide body Quality Water, the Anti-fluoride Group this week reaffirmed its commitment to stop construction of the city’s fluoridation plant due to begin at the end of next month. Tenders for the Wangaratta and Wodonga plants closed on Tuesday. ... Border Mail article here

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Wangaratta CFA members off to US fires

22.Aug.06: A team of local CFA members are headed for the United States for a 35 day deployment. Led by Stewart Krellszheim seconded as a Divisional Commander, the team of 4 fire fighters leave on August 25th and are due back towards the end of October.

We wish them a safe deployment and expect to hear some interesting stories on how the US fire fighters operate in their bushfires ... as well as their off duty exploits. ... Border Mail article here

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Boost to King Valley Infrastructure

19.Aug.06: The constant power dropouts experienced in the King Valley may have been addressed with SP AusNet installing new equipment around Wangaratta so that less people will be affected by blackouts.

Together with the announcement that a public transport bus service to Wangaratta three days a week, the valley may be coming out of the backwoods and into the '20th century'.

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Paranoia

16.Aug.06: Did you see this article in the border mail? “He seemed to get the phone out when ladies or girls walked past,” the witness said. He wasn’t getting the phone out of his pocket when men walked by." It is a sad world when the population of a rural area react in this way to an everyday occurrence.

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Spring is here and the weeds are waking up

13.Aug.06: Now is the perfect time of year for rural landholders to inspect their roadside for weeds. Council, together with Landcare groups, provides coordinated control of weeds on rural roadsides. If you would like to include your roadside as part of this program, please contact your local Landcare group. Landcare groups are listed on Council's website in the Community Directory or contact the North East Regional Landcare Coordinator on (02) 6043 7600. For further information about Council's weed control program, please contact Council's Sustainability Program Coordinator on (03) 5722 0888.

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RCoW Night Inspections of the Road Network

13.Aug.06: The Rural City of Wangaratta advises residents that night inspections of its road network will commence on Monday 14 August, 2006. The purpose of the inspections is to identify road signage that is illegible at night. The inspection process will mean that a number of signs will be photographed. The inspection vehicle will be clearly identified with twin flashing warning lights. Motorists are requested to exercise extreme care when in proximity of this vehicle. Further information can be obtained by contacting Brett Direen - Manager Works & Operations on 0419 870 146.

Let us hope they notice the absence of the red and white reflectors that have disappeared over recent years.

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Thieves preparing early for King River Cod season

09.Aug.06: Sometime on Sunday night, possibly Monday morning, thieves cut their way through a fence at Turner Fishing and Metal Recyclers, forced entry to the business and proceeded to steal specialist cod fishing equipment. If they go cod fishing out of season, they will be breaking the law.

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Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs. (a brain teaser for you)

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn\'t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs psas it on.

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Ratepayers want their councillors to have a voice.

04.Aug.06: A week-long web poll run by the Chronicle saw more than 100 residents vote in favor of rural city councillors being able to speak at any time on council-related issues. They make up an overwhelming majority of the constituents, with only seven voting against the suggestion and seven being undecided.

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New V/Line timetable begins in September

04.Aug.06: V/Line has announced its new 2006 Timetable, which will take effect from early September. Download and print your copy here. (pdf file - 225K)

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CFA updates on Sooty's USA adventures

FIGHTING IN THE USA:
Region 23 CFA updates on operations officer, Stewart
Kreltszheim, on the fire
ground in the USA.Update 26/8/06:
Stewart Kreltszheim (Sooty) arrived safely at Boisie in Idaho USA, after 20 hours travelling.

The Australian crew will most likely be working a group of fires known as "The Tripod Complex" which is local to Boisie. All are in good spirits and looking forward to the challenge ahead.

We will endeavour to keep you updated and I am sure that these fires can be viewed through Google.
(Gregg Paterson - CFA Wangaratta)

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News Reports:
Firefighter faces arson charges in Idaho wildfire
... Fire managers say an age-old irony associated with wildfires in the West is that ... Terry Edwards, deputy state fire marshal in Idaho, said "an excuse to get a ...
Wildfires spare no region across dry Idaho
... In all, wildfires have charred a 300,000-acre patchwork in the state during this dry summer. Smoke from numerous fires burning in southwestern Idaho and ...
Wildfires rage in western United States
BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Wildfires have intensified in Washington, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon, the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, said. ...
USA hasn't seen a fire season like this in six years

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Off to fight wildfires in USA

WANGARATTA firefighter Stewart Kreltszheim is flying out of Sydney this morning (Friday 25 Aug)on his way to help in the fight against fires sweeping across the United States of America.

The Region 23 Country Fire Authority operations officer is part of an Australia/New Zealand support contingent to the USA, helping battle more than 250 wildfires.

Strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity has fanned fires in Idaho, California, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Texas, Nevada and Washington State.

"A lot of the fires are in the wilderness and a lot of the fires are at altitude," Mr Kreltszheim said.

Thwaites ensures rural electorate backlash

You will be incensed when you read the article below. For the deputy premier to dump the blame for our wild dogs’ curse squarely on the community is insane ... expecially with the State Election just a few months away.

This is the same non-bending minister who, yesterday on ABC Goulburn Murray, dismissed the plight of irrigators who received no water allocation this year but still required to pay 100% of their water allocation fee.

It is also the same minister bent on the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan. And when Bracks retires, Thwaites would be the leader - God forbid he becomes the premier!

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ARTFUL DODGER
Thwaites dumps blame for our wild dogs’ curse squarely on community
BY BRAD WORRALL

FARMERS and hunters are to blame for the plague of wild dogs running amok in Victoria, the State Environment Minister John Thwaites said yesterday.

He also rejected aerial baiting as a solution and dismissed evidence from a five-year trial in southern NSW that backed its use.

The minister said that study was irrelevant to the North East.

Yesterday Mr Thwaites was asked whether his Government would accept responsibility for injury or possible death when someone is attacked by wild dogs.

It was a question tabled by the Tallangatta Valley Progress Association earlier this month and until yesterday still unanswered.

“Wild dogs are there because people have done the wrong thing and allowed dogs to get away,” he said.

“It’s a community responsibility as well as the Government’s.

“We have spent more than any previous government on dog control.

“We’ve doubled the dollars and 5000 dogs have been trapped or shot in recent years.

“In most areas the attacks are on the decrease.”

Yesterday Tallangatta Valley farmer Kim Bucholtz doubted any of his neighbours had contributed to the wild dog population.

“We are too busy trying to get rid of them, I’m surrounded by traps, we’ve shot five dogs in the past month and we are still losing calves,” Mr Bucholtz said.

Mr Thwaites also said people were “kidding” themselves if they thought aerial baiting would solve the wild dog problem.

“It is not the panacea to the problem it is |just an addition to the armoury,” Mr Thwaites said.

“And aerial baiting needs further research.

“It wouldn’t be wise to impose aerial baiting without proper scientific analysis.”

Trials in NSW have deemed the baiting safe for native animals and the program has expanded in that state.

But Mr Thwaites said those results could not be transposed on the North East.

“We were influenced by the study in southern NSW but we have different native wildlife and are uncertain what effect the baiting would have on areas like the Tallangatta Valley,” he said.

“We have different native animal populations.”

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Minister ‘has no idea’
MPs lash Thwaites on wild dog issue
BY MARK MULCAHY

THE Victorian Environment Minister, John Thwaites, has no real concept of the wild dog problem, it was claimed yesterday.

The member for Benambra, Tony Plowman, said he was shocked by comments made on Friday by Mr Thwaites on a crucial issue and he was radically wrong.

Mr Thwaites said when visiting the area that farmers and hunters were to blame for the plague of wild dogs and rejected aerial baiting as a solution despite a five-year trial in southern NSW that backed its use.

Mr Plowman said Mr Thwaites was “pandering to the Green preference” and had played down the significance of aerial baiting in wild dog control.

“He has no concept of the real situation and it has been shown that by reducing predators there is an increase in wildlife,” Mr Plowman said.

The member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, said the time has come for the introduction of aerial baiting and it was an integral part of wild dog control as shown in NSW.

Dr Sykes said Mr Thwaites was “cringing under the Greens’ pressure” and the Government has to take responsibility for its vermin and weeds on its extensive tracts of land.

A member for North Eastern Province, Bill Baxter, said Mr Thwaites was “completely out of touch and so far removed from reality”.

Mr Baxter said the terrain in NSW where aerial baiting was so successful was identical to the Upper Murray and Tallangatta Valley.

Mr Plowman spoke in Parliament last Wednesday about the wild dog and weed problem.

He said he had recently spoken to a wild dog expert who has been aerial baiting in the New England area of NSW for the past 40 years.

There are large numbers of tiger quoll in the area with the virtual eradication of dogs.

Mr Plowman said the baits were dropped along trails travelled by dogs, foxes and feral cats.

He said by baiting along those tracks it kept the feral population “to a minimum”.

Mr Plowman said aerial baiting was far more successful than ground baiting because dogs were sensitive to the human smell left behind with ground baits.

“We are spending probably three times more than we need to on the invasion of wild dogs on to private land because were are not controlling them on public land,” Mr Plowman said.

“Unless we are prepared to control them on public land, we will never overcome the problems on private land.”

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Aerial baiting 'no miracle solution' for wild dogs

The Victorian Government says aerial baiting will not solve the wild dog problem in the north-east of the state.

It is investigating introducing baiting but is concerned the baits will kill the native quoll.

The New South Wales Government says aerial bait testing in the state's south-east has proved successful and not had too much impact on the native quoll populations.

But Environment Minister John Thwaites says aerial baiting is not the miracle solution.

"This is not some sort of panacea and people who think that aerial baiting is removing the problem are kidding themselves," he said.

"It is one possible addition to the armoury that we can have but the best things that we can do is trapping out there with the wild dogs, which we are doing now, and that is having a significant difference."

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Sustainabilty and Global Issues - August 2006

Trees offset cars’ gases

30.Aug.06: Alessi Group paid for 10,000 trees to be planted at a property near Yerong Creek to absorb greenhouse gases emitted by the cars they sell each year. ... Border Mail

Shaping a Sustainable Future - National Press Club Address

30.Aug.06: We are at the cross-roads, deciding the broad direction of our future. Will it be the clean, green road of a sustainable future? Or will it leave our children a dreadful legacy of climate change, radioactive waste and derelict land? ... more

Michael Pascoe's unshakable faith in the market

29.Aug.06: Michael Pascoe is one of the best financial journalists in the country, and he writes some great stuff for Crikey which is generally spot on. He gets it mostly right below, but his unshakable faith in the market will be sorely tested by the twin threats of peak oil and climate change: ... more

First brand in Australia to ensure cars are climate neutral

29.Aug.06: Buyers of new smart cars in Australia are automatically enrolled in smart Australia’s Carbon Zero program, independently run by two different Australian organizations: Climate Friendly and Greenfleet. ... more

Natural gas overlooked in fuel market

29.Aug.06: In all the debate, one fuel seems to have been overlooked - a fuel that's even cheaper, less polluting, has a proven track record and one that Australia has in abundance. It's natural gas, the kind that fuels your stove at home. ... 7.30 Report

PM sceptical on global warming

29.Aug.06: PRIME Minister John Howard says he is sceptical of the more gloomy predictions about human-induced climate change, sparking claims he is not taking the issue seriously enough. ... Herald Sun

Bowser prices too high: analyst

29.Aug.06: FUELtrac managing director Chris Cable today said the international refinery price drop of 11 cents a litre in the past three weeks had not been passed on to motorists. ... Herald Sun

Aust urged to reduce oil dependence

28.Aug.06: An American energy expert is pushing for Australia to sign up to an international protocol to reduce its dependence on petroleum. ... ABC Online

Petrol forecast to drop to $1.15 by Christmas

28.Aug.06: Motorists will be handed a welcome Christmas present with the price of petrol to drop to $1.15 by the festive season, a prominent economist has predicted. ... Herald Sun

Construction begins on Swan Hill ethanol plant

27.Aug.06: Site works will start this morning on a $80 million ethanol plant at Swan Hill, in north-west Victoria. The plant at Woorinen South will be Australia's first purpose-built ethanol plant and will produce 90 million litres of ethanol a year. ... ABC Online

When oil dries up

27.Aug.06: How bad will it be? If Heinberg is to be believed, the impending dislocation caused by the end of the oil era will be about as bad as it gets. ... Sydney Morning Herald

Acid rain polluting one third of China

27.Aug.06: Acid rain caused by sulphur dioxide spewed from factories and power plants affected a third of China's vast land mass last year, posing a threat to food safety, according to a Chinese parliamentary report ... and we eat that stuff! ... The Independent

Bracks' water recycle claim a 'big swindle'

27.Aug.06: BILLIONS of litres of water are being wastefully dumped into Port Phillip Bay each year by the Bracks Government, which has been accused of misleading Victoria about the amount of water it recycles. ... Sunday Age

LPG car travels Australia on $1000 fuel

26.Aug.06: The challenge, backed by Ford Australia, involved a 23 day, 14,000km lap around mainland Australia, taking in all state and territory capitals, on a fuel budget of $1,000 or less. ... The Age

Climate blamed for early springs

25.Aug.06: A Europe-wide study has provided "conclusive proof" that climate change is responsible for spring arriving earlier each year, researchers say. ... BBC News

Richard Heinberg on Phillip Adams' Late Night Live

25.Aug.06: "Over the last few years we've all been hearing about Peak Oil - the time when the international production of this much needed fossil fuel reaches its highest point, and reserves begin declining. There's debate about when this will happen - some say it will be up to 30 years, while others say we could see it this decade. But in an industrialised world reliant on oil for so much production and international trade - what can be done to prepare for the inevitable depletion of oil whenever it does arrive? ... ABC podcast mp3

ASPO-5 5th International Conference on Oil and Gas Depletion

25.Aug.06: The Fifth International Conference of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO-5) was held on July 18-18 2006 in San Rossore (near Pisa) in Italy. Over 250 people attended the 25 talks presented by international experts and discussed the numerous poster presentation. ... more

Scientists flock to test 'free energy' discovery

24.Aug.06: A man who claims to have developed a free energy technology which could power everything from mobile phones to cars has received more than 400 applications from scientists to test it. ... more

Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP) Primer

23.Aug.06: An Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP) is a local plan for dealing with Peak Oil. It goes well beyond issues of energy supply, to look at across-the-board creative adaptations in the realms of health, education, economy and much more. ... more

Carbon Sequestration - latest news updates

22.Aug.06: John Howard is banking on carbon sequestration - or burying carbon dioxide underground - as Australia's answer to global warming. Here are a few articles on the development of the process. ... more

Oil prices on rise till 2010: Petroleum Review

21.Aug.06: THE price of oil would continue to rise until world oil production peaks in 2010 with any weather or political disruption able to cause a spike in price, an oil expert said today. ... more

Another El Nino on way: forecaster

21.Aug.06: FARMERS hopes of an end to the big dry may have been dashed, with research predicting a strong chance of the dreaded El Nino weather pattern returning. ... more

Nothing in fuel package to bring down prices

21.Aug.06: FEDERAL Labor will use the two-week parliamentary break to critically road-test John Howard's $1 billion energy package, designed to offset the effect of rising petrol prices on motorists. Already the Opposition is convinced it's hitting serious political potholes. The package comes under the category of "being seen to do something". Howard himself admitted before bringing down the measures - the centrepiece of which was a subsidy worth up to $2000 for LPG conversions - that he could make up for the spike in fuel costs only "at the margins". ... more

Iraq war drove petrol up 10c: Rudd

21.Aug.06: "Because of the Iraq war, Australians are now paying five to 10 cents per litre more than they would have otherwise be paying," Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said in Brisbane. ... more

Anti Fluoridation website - background information

20.Aug.06: “Over the past ten years a large body of peer-reviewed science has raised concerns that fluoride may present unreasonable health risks, particularly among children, at levels routinely added to tap water in American cities.” - ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP, July 2005

"I am quite convinced that water fluoridation, in a not-too-distant future, will be consigned to medical history." - Dr. ARVID CARLSSON, Winner, Nobel Prize for Medicine (2000). ... more

Richard Heinberg & David Holmgren on Peak Oil & Permaculture

18.Aug.06: n August-Sept 2006 David Holmgren will be joined by Richard Heinberg, leading environmental educator from California on a public speaking tour explaining the truth and opportunities from the coming end of cheap energy.

As well as taking the message to a larger public audiences in big capital city venues, this tour aims to make clear the sustainable alternatives to the "war that will never end in our lifetimes" and the "something will save our unsustainable addictions" stories which are the default reactions to the realities of peak oil. ... more

QLD: Beattie's ethanol challenge to PM

18.Aug.06: MOTORISTS throughout Australia will enjoy cheaper fuel and the nation will reduce its dependence on fluctuating oil prices if John Howard accepts a challenge from Queensland Premier Peter Beattie to mandate ethanol in all petrol. ... more

Global warming prompts need for wine reforms

18.Aug.06: Winemakers are being warned to come up with a strategy to help them cope with global warming. Adelaide wine lawyer Will Taylor says climate change is the biggest long-term issue facing the industry and winemakers will need to change what they grow and where they grow it. ... more

Growing Oil: Brazil's Biofuels Future

18.Aug.06: Brazil may soon become the world's first biofuels economy. Indeed, Brazil has made kicking the oil habit a national priority, on par with redistributing digital technologies to its people. ... more

Council tackles issue: when will oil run out?

17.Aug.06: The City of Yarra is hosting a free information evening about Peak Oil and its implications for local communities. The event will be held on 28 August 2006, 6pm to 8pm, Richmond Town Hall, 333 Bridge Road, Richmond. Now, there's something the RCoW could do for us! ... more

Australian governments simply do not get it!

16.Aug.06: The state governments are proposing "carbon trading" on greenhouse emissions. That does nothing to reduce emissions - it just makes them another commodity to sell even though environment groups have welcomed the plan.

The federal governmnet is staying clear of the carbon scheme saying the system would increase the cost of both electricity and petrol.

So far so good! Then they ruin it all by committing to bury carbon dioxide underground. Carbon Sequestration won't save us. There is only one otion ... Reduce consumption!


'Hot rock' energy valued at $10billion

16.Aug.06: The geothermal resource in the Cooper Basin, which straddles the South Australia and Queensland borders, is estimated to be the equivalent of 12 times the gas reserves of the North West Shelf or 60 times bigger than the Snowy Hydro Scheme. ... more

New Australian Solar cells double generation capacity

16.Aug.06: Solar Systems Pty Ltd, Hawthorn, Victoria, have announced an agreement with Boeing Australia Ltd for the supply of Spectrolab solar cells. Solar Systems have already trialed the cells in their CS500 concentrating solar dish installed at a solar power station in Hermannsburg, Central Australia. Simply replacing the existing cells with the Spectrolab multi-junction solar cells increased output from 24kW to 34kW. Solar Systems is planning to use the technology in a solar power station it will build in northern Victoria, with a capacity of 154MW. ... more

US 'knew of Israel bombing plan'

15.Aug.06: Israel and the United States were in close contact about Israel's war on Hezbollah long before it began, a US investigative journalist has claimed. "Israel had devised a plan for attacking Hezbollah, and shared it with Bush administration officials, well before" 12 July, Seymour Hersh wrote. ... more

Fuelling our future
by John Mathews

Can we go “flat out” on ethanol? This is the issue at the heart of current debate over the viability of ethanol and biofuels as potential substitutes for at least a part dwindling of our petrol supplies. So let me look at the issues, as an observer without vested interests. On the positive side, the experience of Brazil demonstrates unequivocally that ethanol can be produced more cheaply than the current cheapest oil - without subsidies. There has been a belated recognition of Brazil’s success now being registered in the international press ... more

Solar cells change electricity distribution

14.Aug.06: Thin solar films can be used in building materials, including roofing materials and glass, and built into mortgages, reducing their cost even further. Inexpensive solar electric cells are, fundamentally, a "disruptive technology," even in Seattle, with below-average electric rates and many cloudy days. Much like cellular phones have changed the way people communicate, cheap solar cells change the way we produce and distribute electric energy. The race is on. ... more

McHummer
from New York Times

During August McDonald's U.S. have teamed up with GM to include a model of the gas-guzzling Hummer in "Happy Meals". The New York Times notes that McDonald's "appears not to have gotten the message" about rising petrol prices. In an attempt to gain mainstream media coverage for its "Hummer of a Summer" marketing campaign, McDonald's organised a lunch-hour parade down Chicago's Michigan Avenue featuring Ronald McDonald on the hood of a Hummer.

Campbell defends climate change efforts

13.Aug.06: The Federal Government has denied it is putting its head in the sand on the issue of climate change ... The Minister for the Environment, Senator Ian Campbell, says Australia is leading the fight against climate change. ...more

No more business as usual

13.Aug.06: ALI SAMSAM BAKHTIARI is a retired "senior energy expert," formerly employed by the National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) of Tehran, Iran. In a recent public address to the Senate of Australia, Bakhtiari stated that "I can see a range of $100-150 [per barrel of oil] not very far into the future." He amplified this statement as follows: ...more

Israel attacked convoy after approving it, UN says

13.Aug.06: United Nations peacekeepers on Saturday denied Israel's assertion that an evacuation convoy it attacked in southern Lebanon had set off without permission, saying the UN had sought and been granted safe passage on a named route.

Israeli forces launched an air strike on the convoy on Friday, killing a Lebanese Red Cross worker and six other civilians and wounding 36 people, among them members of the Lebanese security forces, and destroying a number of vehicles. "It's against the Geneva Conventions, attacking civilians and vehicles with Red Cross symbols," the head of the Lebanese Red Cross, George Kettani, told Reuters on Saturday ...more

Reap the good oil - Sunday Herald Sun

13.Aug.06: Is ethanol the biofuel of the future and is the Federal Government doing enough to develop it as a cheap substitute to petrol, Andrew Bolt asks. We may be driving - on oil we can barely afford - right past the bargain of our lives.

Spring is here and the weeds are waking up

13.Aug.06: Now is the perfect time of year for rural landholders to inspect their roadside for weeds. Council, together with Landcare groups, provides coordinated control of weeds on rural roadsides. If you would like to include your roadside as part of this program, please contact your local Landcare group. Landcare groups are listed on Council's website in the Community Directory or contact the North East Regional Landcare Coordinator on (02) 6043 7600. For further information about Council's weed control program, please contact Council's Sustainability Program Coordinator on (03) 5722 0888.

Confront water challenge - by Malcolm Turnbull

12.Aug.06: We are, as the poet wrote, the land of drought and flooding rain. Our highly variable rainfall made agriculture, even urban existence, precarious until we built large water storages to outlast the droughts. But today, even the massive storages we have built around our great cities are getting low ... more

Barnewatha Biodiesel tank farm takes shape

10.Aug.06: Yesterday two tanks built by Wodonga’s Butko Engineering made the 22km trip down the Hume Freeway to the Barnewatha biodiesel fuel producers tank farm. The tanks are two of about 30 to be built off-site for the plant. Larger tanks are being built at the construction site ... more

Natural disasters 'more likely' -Sunday Age 13.Aug

Natural disasters that have multiplied worldwide since the 1950s will increase in frequency due to climate change, a conference has heard ... Scientific predictions point to a further increase in the frequency and intensity of hazards, with a five-fold global cost increase over the next 50 years, mainly due to climate change and to further concentration of the world's population in vulnerable habitats. ...more (free registration required)

Crude Oil reaches new record price

08.Aug.06: Due to an Alaskan oil rig shutdown, crude oil reached a record $US78.64 a barrel with a warning that petrol prices could hit $1.80 litre ...but Mr Howard says he hopes petrol prices could fall to about $1.15 a litre. Here is why petrol is so expensive. The federal govt just doesn't get it!