HAS it not occurred to Angus Taylor that his boss's threat to step in and build a gas-fired power station at Kurri Kurri is influencing AGL to drag its feet over building its own at Tomago ('Heating up', Newcastle Herald 6/3)? AGL is obviously making a commercial decision. They can see the pace of renewable installations, know renewable power is cheapest and see the number of big batteries going in, including their own at Liddell, pictured.
They know full well that the price of gas will go up, not down, if they have to rely on tightly-held coal seam gas from Narrabri. They must know that Colongra, the biggest gas-fired power plant in NSW, only ran for 54 hours last year. On top of all this, they must be wary of further government intervention in the energy market destroying their business case.
AGL may even be thinking about the alternatives. We currently have an artificial construct of off-peak hot water, designed purely to use excess power from coal power stations that can't easily reduce their output. Why not heat water at 2pm, when we often have excess solar power and some players are even being prevented from putting their solar power into the grid? Ausgrid tells us that heating water accounts for over a third of energy use in the average household.
What about running Snowy Hydro 1.0 more often, instead of only when the price is high? Put that excess solar to good use and pump water up to the higher reservoir during the day, then generate hydro electricity during the night. Customers like Tomago Aluminium tell us they don't care where their power comes from, they just want it stable.
AGL are clearly cautious about being left with a stranded asset despite the fact that their biggest customer is right next door to their proposed plant at Tomago. Despite already having a gas pipeline delivering gas to the vicinity, unlike Kurri. Despite running the Newcastle Gas Storage Facility at Tomago, with 30 000 tonnes of gas as back-up. Despite being far more advanced along the planning process than Kurri's proposed power station. If AGL, with all the advantages over Kurri, can't easily commit to a gas-fired station then nobody should. It is clear that the federal government's decision making is ideological, not commercial. It appears designed to pay back the government's gas industry donors, rather than bring down power prices.
Janet Murray, Buttai
Don't stay silent on a vital stage
I MUST say I thought the two articles in Saturday's paper, Damon Cronshaw's on the Screaming Jets ('Rock anthem hits major anniversary', Herald 6/3) and Scott Bevan's on Rick Pointon ('Rick's Rock 'N' Roll 'N' Words', Weekender 6/3) were essential reading for any Novocastrian. I would definitely recommend those articles to any live music lovers and even more so to absolutely anyone who has done absolutely anything to oppose live music in Newcastle.
I'm saddened that there are so many people living in Newcastle who either don't know or simply don't care about the city's vastly rich musical history. Decades ago, Newcastle's live music scene was something that was even more enviable than it is now, with more nights to enjoy live music, as well as many more venues. With a band on every corner, it would've been inconceivable in the '70s, '80s and '90s to imagine the CBD to ever be almost completely devoid of live music. The scene is seeing a resurgence of sorts now, but with archaic licensing/lockout laws, more and more new apartments and the noise complaints of brand new residents given such high priority, it can often prove quite difficult for artists to be given the opportunities they deserve to perform.
Adz Carter, Newcastle
Tree change leaves some trouble
I HOPE those at the council who are still insistent on the footpath tree planting scheme saw Monday's storms; trees blowing over everywhere. I have tried to stop planting in my area, but it all fell on deaf ears. It is disconcerting that the people obsessed with this program soon distance themselves when the trees come down. They just leave their poor decisions up to the good folk at the SES to clean up their mess, and insurance companies to come to the rescue.
Greg Lowe, New Lambton
A bright idea that's worth floating
THERE has been discussion recently on Hunter Water's direction concerning its water supply. The options included new dams, desalination, recycling, storm water collection and reduced loss by leaks and poor management. One of the main losses is by evaporation. Grahamstown loses as much by evaporation as is used by consumption of its precious water.
There are many examples overseas where solar panels float on lakes or reservoirs. These on their own reduce evaporation and therefore increase the effectiveness of the water storage. They also obviously produce electricity without taking up valuable agricultural land. Moreover they increase the productivity of the panels by having a cooling effect which increases output.
So if money is going to be spent to improve our water security why not compromise, reduce evaporation and earn money at the same time? Just a thought.
Greg Rendle, Rankin Park
Time to take stab at self-reliance
ANOTHER lesson: do not rely on offshore supply. Now is the time that the government should set up our manufacturing base and have everything Australian made. The Italians have shown us very clearly that we run second or third in the supply chain. Fair enough, they are considering their own first. It is also time that Australia does the same. No more foreign aid, no more consideration for other countries; make our own, grow our own and give only what is not needed. This country is big and tough enough to stand up for ourselves. Demand the respect that others demand from us and build our own manufacturing base as other countries have. Time to stand up and be counted.
Dennis Crampton, Swansea
Shot at less fortunate was wide
BRYN Roberts is way off course (Short Takes, 8/3). That $1100 JobSeeker was fortnightly, not weekly. The basic dole payment is just under $600 a fortnight, just under $300 a week, soon to be increased to a little over $300 per week. That extra $500 a fortnight (not weekly) was an economic stimulus payment, not just another "welfare" payment. If a worker is doing 38 hours a week at let's say $25 per hour, he/she should be grossing around $950/week. Mr Roberts' comment might help to fuel some anger towards other less-well-off sectors of society, but to claim that someone on the dole is better off is pure garbage.
David Laurie, Glendale
Grass is greener ... and longer
THE grass area on reserve and walkway on Kestrel Avenue, Mount Hutton is so long that it is now above my head in parts, and I'm 165cm tall. The council did respond to my email, but nothing has been done about it. People walk their dogs along this walkway and it has had snakes in the past. It's so long you would have no chance to get your dog or yourself out of harm's way if one was to come out at you. Something needs to be done. It has never been left this long before and I've lived here for over 15 years.
Amanda Samuel, Mount Hutton
SHORT TAKES
I ADMIRE Meghan and Harry for leaving the Royal Family. It should be our turn next.
Bill Slicer, Tighes Hill
LIBERAL politician Alex Hawke should not waste his time or taxpayers' money visiting Newcastle this week. With an election looming they have zero chance here and hopefully everywhere else given their mess.
John Bonnyman, Fern Bay
WHY did the Maitland Super Show cost an affordable $2 for admittance yet the Newcastle so-so show bore an unnaturally high $30 to enter?
Bryn Roberts, New Lambton
JUDITH Ireland is the deputy political editor of the online news service The Conversation. Her recent message is profound, that it has been "a devastating, shambolic and unprecedented week in Australian politics." She refers to an article by Michelle Grattan who suggests Porter will struggle with "the Caesar's wife test". My doubt is whether his denial will pass the pub test.
Pat Garnet, Wickham
IF you are far enough to the right, everyone else looks 'lefty'. That could explain why Peter Devey considers Amanda Vanstone to be 'left-leaning' (Letters, 06/03). It's ironic that the war on ABC 'bias' is being led by our most blatantly biased media platform, the Murdoch press. Of course denialists will deny this but that's par for their course.
Michael Gormly, Islington
BY claiming that Amanda Vanstone is left-leaning clearly indicates where Peter Devey (Letters, 6/3) lies on the political spectrum. I'm sure most people would challenge his assertion. Along the same vein too, for Greg Hunt to use the Institute of Public Affairs (Short Takes, 6/3) as an authoritative source is laughable. They are much further right of centre than the ABC is to the left.
Lloyd Davies, Stockton
CONGRATULATIONS to City of Newcastle lifeguards and Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club members who rescued two children from a very dangerous surf at Newcastle beach last weekend. The lifeguards involved in the rescues deserve the highest recognition from the City of Newcastle, their employer. A great team effort by everyone involved.
Dave Edwards, Adamstown Heights
HOW about term limits for state and federal politicians. Ten years and you have to move on. Politics should not be a profession. Long-term so-called professional politicians hold sets of power for too long.
Brian Markson, Charlestown
WE sure do need more diversity within our federal Parliament and the states are no better, in particular honest and people with morals and ethics that will stay with them not disappear after a couple of years.
