Further "hot rocks" exploration

South Eastern Times
Thursday 23/11/2006 Page: 3

INVESTIGATIONS are about to get underway to determine the geothermal potential for so-called "hot rocks" in the Furner district. Geothermal Resources Limited has been granted two geothermal exploration licences in the Otway Basin, taking in almost 1,000 square kilometres of the region.

They expire on October 31, 2011, and exclude the Furner Conservation Park and the Reedy Creek Conservation Park. The licences were recently issued by Dr Barry Goldstein and came into effect on November 1.

Dr Goldstein is the State Government's Director of Petroleum Minerals and Energy Resources and was acting under the authority of Mineral Resources Development Minister Paul Holloway.

It is thought there could be sufficient heat from volcanic eruptions 4,000 years ago in the region to warm water to drive turbines. The "green" electricity generated by such turbines would then be channelled into the national grid. The district is already a major energy hub, thanks to the two wind farms along the Woakwine Range, a peak gas-fired turbine generating plant at Snuggery and the Katnook natural gas plant.

Last November, Sydney-based company Scopenergy was granted a geo-thermal licence for 142 square kilometres in the Lower South East. Scopenergy executives have announced they intend to drill numerous test holes at Mt Burr to determine the extent of the "hot rocks".

If matters go to plan, a small power generation plant could be built at Mt Burr.