Playing Politics With Parrots

The Australian, Page: 15
Monday, 31 July 2006

IT appears Environment Minister Ian Campbell's posture as protector of endangered wildlife is species-specific. And parrots, as well as politicians he approves of, are at the top of the tree. In April, the minister knocked back a $220 million wind power proposal for Bald Hills, in Victoria's Gippsland region, because it was a threat to the orange-bellied parrot. That all sorts of aggrieved locals did not want wind turbines blighting their landscape had nothing to do with it.

Nor was the fact that Senator Campbell's ministerial mate, Gippsland boss cockey Peter McGauran, reckons wind farms are a waste of space. Or that Bald Hills is in a marginal government seat. No, the minister made it clear his only motivation was to protect the parrot. That's parrot singular, not plural, because Senator Campbell said the Bald Hills project could kill one parrot a year.

On Friday night, the minister was holding the line, telling ABC TV's Latelinethat with only 50 breeding pairs left, all orange-bellied parrots were precious. It is hard to imagine deeper green credentials for any environment minister but the trouble is, rumours of the parrot's demise seem greatly exaggerated. As The Weekend Australian reported, the consultant's report Senator Campbell made much of was not rock-solid certain that the wind farms would reduce the parrot population. And the minister's own mandarins warned protecting the parrot was an inadequate argument for knocking back the Bald Hills proposal.

In exercising his authority, there is no reason to doubt Senator Campbell has acted according to the letter of the law. Whether he has adequately exercised his judgment in balancing the competing needs of his complex portfolio is entirely another issue. Senator Campbell works hard to ensure everybody understands his passion for aspects of the environment. He has fought Japanese attempts to start commercial whaling with all the energy of a Greenpeace zealot.

And his passion for parrots is a matter of record. But there is more to being Environment Minister than promoting particular causes. From wind farms to water storage, pipelines to pulp mills, every new development inevitably upsets people who want their patch to stay the same. By acting to block the Gippsland project on the basis of less than overwhelming evidence, Senator Campbell has provided legions of nimby's with a strategy to stop any development.

There are already suggestions that increasing protection for the orange-bellied parrot could deter development of other wind farms. And if that does not work, people opposed to any development need only learn to whine louder than a wind turbine. That certainly seemed to do the trick in Denmark, Western Australia, earlier this year, when Senator Campbell blocked a wind farm approved by the state Government and which had also won federal funding. But because the locals did not like it, the project, in Liberal Wilson Tuckey's electorate, did not get the tick from Senator Campbell.

And not a parrot in sight. It seems the minister is stronger on politics than policy. He can bang on about the importance of wind energy all he likes, but while he blocks proposals that upset some people or might - might - kill wildlife, his ability to handle the competing interests inherent in his portfolio will be suspect. On Lateline, Senator Campbell said the survival of the orangebellied parrot was not being taken seriously, with people making inappropriate allusions to Monty Python's famous dead Norwegian Blue.

It could be worse. At least nobody is suggesting transferring Senator Campbell to a post that may better suit him - say, Minister for Silly Walks.

Merinos no baa to turbines

The Sunday Age, Page: 20
Sunday, 30 July 2006

DO SHEEP have feelings? Do they suffer from too much noise? No, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has ruled in a bizarre case involving farmers Ann and Andrew Gardner, 400 fine-wool merino sheep, and opponent Macarthur Wind Farm Pty Ltd. At the centre of the case is a conflict about land use. Macarthur plans to build a wind farm next door to the Gardners and the Gardners, it appears, tried to stymie the wind farm by proposing to build two "farm-stay" units on their property, near the Victorian township of Macarthur.

The local council approved the Gardner's farm- stay units, but at VCAT, tribunal member J.A. Bennett knocked back the proposal, barely hiding his irritation about the squabble, saying it had "all the hallmarks of a riveting novel!" "It is apparent from the tenor of their submission that Mr and Mrs Gardner remain implacably opposed to the proposal for a wind energy facility on the adjoining property," Mr Bennett ruled. "I find it almost incomprehensible that Mr and Mrs Gardner would deliberately choose to locate two 'farm-stay units' so close to the boundary with the site for the proposed Macarthur wind energy facility. "And what about those extra special merino sheep? Well, the incensed Mr Bennett was just as hard on them.

He did not accept that merino sheep were any more sensitive than any other common or garden sheep, or horse, or human for that matter. "Each species has a 'normal' range of hearing with some individuals being more sensitive to noise than others," he ruled. "I would expect the same response with sheep as with any other animal. In other words, for the sheep to become used to the sound of wind turbines and for them to adapt accordingly.

I do not accept that the emotional wellbeing of sheep will be so adversely affected that their productivity will drop in the manner suggested by Mr and Mrs Gardner. "The merinos will just have to resort to... well, counting sheep.

Conserve energy to avoid a crisis

The Taipei Times
Friday, Jul 28, 2006, Page 8

Advertising Prices for electricity, gasoline, natural gas and cars, as well as train and plane tickets, have gone up recently. According to media reports, rising prices set against fixed salaries means that we are all getting poorer by the day. Indeed, fossil fuels are a limited resource, and with developing countries rushing to industrialize, intensified competition for resources and constant wars in the Middle East, oil prices are soaring. Summer temperatures in Taiwan have hit 37oC and torrential rains have followed. Global temperatures are rising every year, and the research data shows that the average global temperature has risen by 0.6oC over the past 100 years. The increase has been faster in recent years, and it is estimated that temperatures will have risen by between one and several degrees by the end of this century.

By then, the globe's climate will have undergone great change, with frequent floods and droughts. Melting polar ice caps will have caused sea levels to rise by several meters, inundating most of today's ports. Frequent forest fires will speed up the warming of the earth's surface and mankind will experience unprecedented disasters.

The current over-use of fossil fuels is creating a global greenhouse effect, leading us closer to irreversible environmental disaster.

To minimize the greenhouse effect, the UN is promoting the Kyoto Protocol, which places national restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. Although Taiwan is not a signatory to the agreement, 98 percent of our energy is imported, and we have to abide by the regulations to avoid international sanctions. The general public should understand this and the need for a campaign to promote reduced carbon emissions and energy conservation.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we could use green renewable energy sources such as biomass, solar power, wind power, geothermal heat or nuclear power.

Biomass energy uses ethanol made from fermenting plants. With minor adjustments, engines can run on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol. The high cost can be offset with the application of more advanced technology, but scientists estimate that even if all land not used to plant grain was used to grow plants to make ethanol, it would still only provide 30 percent of global energy needs.

Solar-powered batteries are even more costly, but are still a favored option. The pollution created by the chemicals used in the process of manufacturing such batteries, however, must be dealt with. Wind power and geothermal power have advantages and shortcomings, but location and seasonal restraints mean that it will be difficult for these options to be used universally.

Nuclear power, meanwhile, scares many people because it is widely associated with nuclear weapons, and we also lack a good method for handling radioactive waste. More serious, uranium supplies are limited, and if countries start to use large amounts of nuclear power, uranium supplies will soon be depleted.

The energy needed to extract usable uranium from low-grade uranium is too great and is not offset by the energy produced. Breeder reactors can solve the fuel problem, but because of worries that such reactors may be used in the production of nuclear bombs, the international community will not deregulate their use. Although closed breeder reactors could be used, it is very difficult to predict when that technology will be mature.

The method bringing the greatest practical economic benefit is to simply save energy. If, when we were children, we were taught the habit of saving energy, it would not be difficult to reduce energy use by 10 percent or 20 percent. Not only would this help solve energy shortages, it would also reduce personal expenditures, as well as national expenditures -- to the tune of billions of dollars in foreign currency.

By setting the air conditioner to 28oC instead of 23oC, we can reduce energy usage by 30 percent, and by buying a small car instead of a large one, we might cut the use of gasoline by half. By taking the bus we use even less gas. There is no need to have all the lights on in the evening or to use warm water when taking a shower during summer. Furthermore, walking shorter distances instead of taking the car is both healthy and a money-saver.

A large part of our energy is consumed by industry and business, and corporate leaders should be constantly thinking about how to move from energy-hungry manufacturing into the knowledge, service and cultural industries. Businesses that develop energy-saving home appliances, machinery and manufacturing processes will be highly profitable.

Although implementing taxes and price restrictions is the most effective strategy when trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption, such policies will meet with opposition from many quarters. Widespread promotion in the media will make the general public accept such policies.

Tsong Tien-tzou is a former director of the Institute of Physics at Academia Sinica and currently a fellow at Academia Sinica.

Cost focus returns to green plan

The Weekend Australian, Page: 11
Saturday, 29 July 2006

THE widening gap in the approaches of the federal and state governments to delivering a greener energy future threatens to be counter-productive and expensive. The Victorian Government's commitment that by 2010 about 10 per cent of its electricity consumption will be from renewable sources runs counter to the federal Government's decision not to increase the national mandatory renewable target (MRET). MRET, introduced in 2001, requires the sourcing of 9500 gigawatt hours of extra renewable electricity a year by 2010 through to 2020.One reason for the federal Government's decision not to expand MRET is that it feared it represented a longterm subsidy to windpower, which would lead to higher electricity prices.

The Victorian Government has no such qualms and is committed to having up to 1000 megawatts of wind energy installed in environmentally acceptable locations by the end of this year, a plan somewhat stymied by party politics and the concern of federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell for the fate of the orangebellied parrot. But something is missing in the debate: if renewable energy is the future why aren't we all adopting it?Access Economics argues that the assumed increase in windpower in the Victorian electricity system, and associated electricity prices, is projected to impose economic costs in the Victorian economy equivalent to $108 million in 2010.Access made the point that to achieve the best result for emissions reduction on a national basis a number of approaches to abatement would have to be adopted, not just establishing mandatory targets. But according to the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, VRET will cost the average household about $1 a month and will be offset by cost reductions, while the overall impact on business costs is estimated to be less than 0.1 per cent.

The renewable energy debate is again becoming fast and furious, but this time it is the states making the running in the absence of a clear national policy to encourage alternatives to using fossil fuels.

Wind farm ban a marginal call

The Weekend Australian
July 29, 2006

NO one was talking about the orange-bellied parrot when Environment Minister Ian Campbell declared, two days into the last election campaign, that the Bald Hills wind farm - smack in the middle of prime marginal seat territory - was in trouble. With the 52-turbine project in the heart of Victoria's Gippsland a stormy local issue, Liberal candidate Russell Broadbent was anxious for Campbell to rule a line through the $220million proposal in a bid to steal a march on his Labor rival in the area.

While the rare parrot was yet to fly into the picture, Campbell insisted he had "undoubted powers" to veto the wind farm. Three days before polling day, Campbell delivered for Broadbent - writing to agitated local voters, urging them to send a message to Labor that they were not "happy to play host to increasing numbers of wind turbines in your region".

While Campbell formally put Bald Hills on hold three days after Broadbent won the seat, it was not until April this year that he killed off the wind farm, citing the threat to the orange-bellied parrot, an issue that Broadbent now admits was not on the radar in the 2004 campaign.

The Weekend Australian can reveal that not only did Campbell reject his own department's advice to approve the wind farm, he kept on commissioning studies despite being told that further research was inappropriate and that the threat to the bird was "negligible".

He eventually found a study he was happy with.

But the author of the Biosis report relied on by Campbell has told The Weekend Australian that no parrots were seen at Bald Hills; that he was unaware of the closest sighting; and could not accurately predict the bird's collision rate with the wind turbines.

Dispite the growth in wind farms in part being driven by the Howard Government's Mandatory Renewable Energy Targets, they have been a growing political wedge for the Liberals. Cabinet ministers, including Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran, whose seat of Gippsland neighbours Broadbent's, have reacted to community opposition to attack the wind industry and Labor's support for it.

"We can't figure out why Campbell's done this," said Stephen Buckle, the managing director of the project developer Wind Power. "Why is he so desperate to keep an election promise in a marginal seat? Maybe it comes from Howard who says to his ministers that we have to protect marginal seats at all costs."

Campbell has argued that he acted because Biosis found the turbines could result in up to one extra parrot death each year. But author Ian Smales said he never intended to find out the number of birds that would be killed at Bald Hills and that the one death was the potential impact of 23 wind farms, built and unbuilt.

Moreover, the predicted death rate was only an "informed scenario" and "should not be construed as being anything other than a possibility within the context of the overall cumulative modelling project".

Documents seen by The Weekend Australian show that, weeks after the last election, Campbell's department commissioned consultants to review all research done in the previous two years into the impact of Bald Hills on birds.

The company, Latitude 42 Environmental Consultants, was asked to examine the likely impact on listed and threatened migratory bird species; the relevance of bird-strike modelling and the need to do further species-specific surveys.

Its draft December 2004 report was clear-cut, finding the site did not support an abundance of birds; had few, if any, listed threatened species; and low numbers of listed migratory species. It ruled out the need for further research, saying "more sophisticated modelling would seem inappropriate and unlikely to yield meaningful predictions".

"Additional species-specific surveys are unlikely to add much value or additional information in terms of (legislative) requirements, and any impacts on bird populations appear likely to be negligible."

Over the next three months, Buckle sought information from Campbell's department about when the minister would make a decision. By March last year, the department was telling Buckle that before Campbell could make a decision, he wanted another study. This time it would not just be on Bald Hills, but on the cumulative impact of all existing and proposed wind farms in Tasmania, Victoria, NSW and South Australia on a range of migratory birds.

The department told Buckle in May that it expected to receive the information by the end of June, and Campbell would then be able to make a decision.

Campbell has defended the broad review, saying it was necessary because of the growing interest in wind farms and the need to understand the collective harm they might have on listed species. The work conducted by Biosis went against the earlier consultants' advice and investigated individual bird species, including the parrot. It was not finished until January.

Biosis found the mortality rate on all the wind farms - built or not - on the parrot would be "very small". However, in findings subsequently seized on by Campbell, it said given that the parrot already had a high probability of extinction,"almost any negative impact could be sufficient to tip the balance against its continued existence".

"In this context, it may be argued that any avoidable deleterious effect - even the very minor predicted impacts of turbine collisions - should be prevented," the report says.

But it added that such action would have "extremely limited beneficial value to the conservation of the parrot" without addressing much greater adverse affects operating against it.

Two months later, Campbell had still not made a decision. On March 10, he received written advice from Gerard Early, a departmental first assistant secretary, recommending he approve the wind farm.

Early's detailed advice, seen by The Weekend Australian, says that based on all the available research, including the Latitude 42 and Biosis reports, the impact on listed threatened and migratory species was "acceptable".

Early told Campbell the harm to the parrot was likely to be "negligible and there is no threat of serious or irreversible damage" to the bird given "no orange-bellied parrot has been recorded there; there appears to be no suitable habitat on the site; (and) even through the assessment report has noted the occasional parrot may fly across the site in the migration season, it is not considered to be a major migration passage".

Early said that if the minister considered there was the threat of a serious or irreversible impact on the parrot from the wind farm, he would need to rely on the Biosis conclusion that any negative impact on the parrot would threaten its continued existence. He said Campbell would have to rely on the difficulty in identifying parrots in the wild given their size and very small numbers.

Campbell could also argue that there appeared to be good parrot foraging habitat 35km east and west of the site,"which may add strength to the view that the site is a migration passage". In this context, Early said, the minister may choose to have Wind Power resubmit the proposal or grant the application provided wind turbines are not within 2km of the coastline.

But, critically, he added: "On balance, these options are not supported by the department". "Both of these approaches would represent a lowering of the previous threshold for unacceptable impact on the orange bellied parrot, particularly as there does not appear to be direct evidence of any impact on the orange-bellied parrot at Bald Hills."

The options might be seen as inconsistent with the approach to other wind farms that have previously been approved at Portland in Victoria and Woolnorth and Musselroe in Tasmania. "It would have ramifications for all coastal development in western Tasmania, Victoria, southern NSW and southeast South Australia," Early wrote.

By the time Early's advice landed on Campbell's desk, Buckle and his partner, Andrew Newbold, had had enough, and had decided to take Federal Court action to force a decision. The legal action hastened the process and Campbell announced in April that the wind farm had been torpedoed.

He seized on small aspects of the Biosis report to justify his decision. Denying that he was playing politics, he declared the "alarming" report showed the wind farm would hasten the parrot's "extinction from the planet". This was despite other wind farms, which posed a bigger threat, being approved by the Howard Government.

Four Victorian wind farms were okayed in 2002 although they were found to have a significantly higher kill rate - one every five years. Unlike at Bald Hills, parrots were spotted on one of the sites last year.

In written answers to questions from The Weekend Australian, Ian Smales, the Biosis report author, said identifying the number of birds that might be killed at any one wind farm such as Bald Hills was "not the intent of our work".

"The scenario used in our modelling for a particular site. .. is simply an informed scenario for the purposes of modelling," he said. "It should not be construed as being anything other than a possibility within the context of the overall cumulative modelling project."

The report assumed parrots would make 15 migrant passages through the site each year. But Mr Smales said he could not say how often the parrot would pass through the site. "We do not have any data on which to base an answer on this," he said. "None were observed in fauna assessments of the site (done by others) but the species is very cryptic and rather unpredictable in its occurrences in Gippsland."

Wind Power has challenged Campbell's decision in the Federal Court, arguing it was denied natural justice because the minister did not give the company an opportunity to respond to the Biosis report. It argues no reasonable person could have made Campbell's decision given the Biosis findings. Buckle and Newbold say they have spent $1.6 million on the project, first submitted for approval in 2002.

"Campbell's had every bird expert in the country and potentially in the world, because these Biosis guys are world-renowned experts, tell him that there is no orange-bellied parrot issue," Newbold said. "This has ramifications for industries other than the wind farm industry. If you take an overall Australian view of this, this is not how we should be governed. This type of decision does nothing to promote the Liberal Party ethos of backing the little bloke."

Broadbent acknowledged that Campbell's intervention helped him and that was why he wanted the minister to speak out. "Absolutely, but only under the powers he has," he said. "I was lobbying him to make sure every effort we could make to knock off the wind farm would be looked at. There was no guarantee given. No deal was made with Campbell. "Even when I was elected, he never ever once gave me the nod or a wink that he could do anything about this wind farm."

Policies questioned

The Standard (Warrnambool), Page: 6
Saturday, 29 July 2006

THE Liberal Party's policies for country Victoria could see a clamp on new wind farms and a reduction in the number of poker machines. But are these really the right solutions? While poker machines have created gambling problems for some people, for others they are a fun social outlet. They can also be an attraction for visiting tourists. Would reducing their number in Warrnambool solve any gambling problems? Not likely.

Wind farms should be encouraged as an alternative form of energy. Although their siting in pristine coastal or tourism areas must be regulated and the views of local residents considered, governments should be advancing the concept.

Farmers embrace wind as politicians quarrel

The Ballarat Courier, Page: 7
Thursday, 27 July 2006

A GROUP of Waubra farmers has embraced the green light for what will become the state's second largest wind farm. The farmers, who will each reap $7000 per wind turbine as part of the $400 million 128-turbine project, yesterday took Energy and Resources Minister Theo Theophanous on a tour of the site. The State Government last week announced that construction of the project, which will generate 192 megawatts on land leased from the farmers, will begin in September, with the project set to take two years to complete. Glenbrae farmer Lawrence Gallagher, who will have six turbines on his property, said the turbines would be scattered across about 30 different properties.

"It will help our income," he said."We grow potatoes and sheep and lambs and crop."It will help us drought proof the farm plus we will be able to do some environmental work, like planting more trees and fixing up fences and everything like that."We are pretty happy about it.

"Mr Gallagher said the turbines would be a win-win situation for the Waubra community, which will receive $500 per turbine. "It's about $64,000 for the fire brigade, footy club and primary school. The community's fairly happy." Mr Theophanous attacked the Federal Government over Senator lan Campbell's decision to over-ride the State Government, refusing the wind farm in South Gippsland because of a chance it could threaten the orange-bellied parrot.

"We're saying to Senator Campbell, for heaven sakes wake up," he said."We have got climate change coming in Victoria and in the world and we want to get these projects up to try and do something about it." Mr Theophanous also criticised Federal Treasurer Peter Costello's comments yesterday on SAW, after he defended Senator Campbell's decision, adding bluntly that he thought wind farms "looked ugly." I wouldn't want one in my street, I wouldn't want one in my own backyard," Mr Costello said.

"If I had a backyard like this one, that we are standing on in Waubra, I would be very happy to have one in my backyard," Mr Theophanous said. Liberal candidate for Ripon Vie Dunn said wind farm environmental impacts, such as the orangebellied parrot, were cause for concern. Mr Dunn said he was also concerned about a lack of community consultation and the long term impact of wind farms."Is this the best option for us or are there better options for our area?" It's about $64,000 for the fire brigade, footy club and primary school. The community's fairly happy.

Uni to study Hopetoun's power

The Weekly Advertiser, Page: 7
Thursday, 27 July 2006

The University of Ballarat has received a grant of $100,000 to study Hopetoun's power demand and to investigate renewable energy alternatives in the area. The State Government grant has been allocated to the National Centre for Sustainability Ballarat, which is based at the university."The project partners will research the capacity of community-owned renewable energy generation of Hopetoun, particularly from windpower," NCS manager Dennis Olmstead said."The study will investigate Hopetoun's current and projected power demand, collect wind speed data and investigate potential local alternative renewable energy technologies.

"It also will research waste management needs and practice, investigate potential sustainable industries for Hopetoun and develop a template for use in other communities."Mr Olmstead said he looked forward toworking with Hopetoun residents and businesses to improve the town's energy system."This will be a great opportunity for everyone in Hopetoun," he said."Through this project, we aim to investigate the possibility of developing permanent, secure provision of renewable energy for the Hopetoun area.

"We are delighted both to receive this grant from the State Government's Sustainability Fund and to be able to embark on this project.".

Morawa's sustainable future

Midwest Times, Page: 6
Thursday, 27 July 2006

MORAWA has taken a step forward in replacing the region's ageing electricity infrastructure by investigating a range of alternative sustainable energy resources.

The excessive cost of replacing the old power system, which has proved unreliable in the past, prompted the Morawa Shire, along with the Wongan-Ballidu, Dalwallinu and Gingin Shires, to look into the advantages of solar and wind energy. Morawa Shire CEO Gavin Treasure said there were concerns in the town that the current 40-year-old power supply did not allow for regional growth.

"The town cannot possibly grow. Even if million dollar projects were lined up to locate here the quantities of power supply, line capacity and infrastructure won't allow it," he said. Mr Treasure said there would be rich flow on benefits for the community from using solar or wind powered energy. He said the initiative would allow Morawa to have 24-hour reliable power, resulting in cost savings and adequate light for sporting and recreational facilities and hospitals."

"The provision of a locally driven and financed energy supply system would provide opportunities for local investment, employment, innovation and wealth creation," he said.

"In effect, revenues would be kept local and reinvested into the community creating additional economic activity and associated returns."There would even be potential for excess power generation to be on-sold on a commercial basis back into the grid."The four Shires have submitted an application for funding to employ a project manager who would investigate local options and the potential of an integrated sustainable energy system. They would also weigh up the technical feasibility and scope for each Shire and explore tailor made systems for each user community.

Following community consultation and acceptance, the project manager would lobby for State and Federal Government support for the projects."For any community in rural and regional locations, this system bodes well for development, modernisation, staying ahead of growing dependency on electricity and reliability of power supply," Mr Treasure said. "This innovative project is the only way to go; we all deserve a clean and healthy lifestyle."

Clean, green capital

The Border Watch, Page: 8
Wednesday, 26 July 2006

THE South East is leading the way in the production of green energy. With dozens of wind turbines already generating electricity near Millicent, the latest bid to explore the use of hot rocks to generate renewable energy is another step forward for the region. Geothermal Resources has secured five licences to drill holes between Robe and Penola to research the heat intensity of rocks. With dwindling coal resources and gas supplies, geothermal energy has the potential to play a significant role in the reduction of environmentally harmful greenhouse gasses.

The Federal Government has flagged its support by granting the company $2.4m. Although it will take several years before electricity is created, the long term benefits will flow through to future generations. With the South East quickly earning a reputation as a producer of clean, green energy, it is well positioned to further capitalise on other opportunities in this growing market.

Windfarms no threat to birds

www.abc.net.au
Tuesday, 25 July 2006

If wind farms are a hazard for birds, Glen Leman is yet to see any of the casualties. Leman is the Owners Site Representative at the Lake Bonney Windfarm, and has been working around the turbines since the scheme began.

"I've never seen an orange-bellied parrot and I've never seen any dead ones," he says.

"I've never seen a dead bird. Every time you see a bird flying around the wind farm, it's always a bit lower than the blades or well and truly in between the two turbines that they might be flying between."

The orange-bellied parrot has already been used to halt one windfarm. And the bird could soon give windfarm developers between south Gippsland and the Murray Mouth headaches.

But Leman has different concerns. The normally quite hills surrounding Lake Bonney are a hive of activity at present with earth being moved, roads being carved and cables and concrete foundations being laid. It's all preparation for the South East's latest windfarm development – the second stage of the Lake Bonney windfarm that will see a further 53 wind turbines erected between now and 2008.

This civil engineering needs to ready by November. This is the arrival date of the project's first batch of turbines and the 600 ton crane that will set them up. (Erecting them can take two days, though strong winds can cause delays.)

It's only been two years since stage one was completed. But in that short time, the output capacity of the turbines has doubled. These new ones can power, at capacity, 1,600 homes each, When completed, the Lake Bonney project (which doesn't include the 23 turbines in the neighbouring Canunda windfarm) will be able to power up to 100,000 homes at capacity.

The improvements are thanks to a better gear box set-up and better computer controls (computers set the turbines in position to catch the optimum amount of wind).

And Leman believes we could see the output double again over the next two years. "I believe there's some development happening over in Europe to get up to 5 megawatt machines. So, yes, there's always that striving for bigger and better machines."

The extension of the Lake Bonney project is significant when you consider there are only 505 wind turbines in the country. It will confirm the South East as the green energy capital of the country. It could also be the most windfarm friendly place in the country, with some farmers even jesting to Leman that there is plenty more room on their property for some extra turbines (farmers are paid a considerable amount for the use of their land).

"In South Australia we have more of a positive outlook to the windfarms."

But the South East is still some way from being greenhouse-neutral (creating as much energy from renewable sources as total energy it consumes). These wind projects generally only operate at about 30 per cent of capacity over a year. Also, industry uses much more power than households.

But if those behind the Lake Bonney project can get the government – state or federal – to guarantee to buy more of the green power under the MRET scheme, turbines could soon extend all the way to Mount Benson.

Parrots depending, of course.

HREA welcomes its 300th member

The Advocate - Daylesford Hepburn Shire Edition, Page: 8
Wednesday, 26 July 2006

MARLENE Bonnici became the 300th member of the Hepburn Renewable Energy Association last week, strengthening the association's drive for a community wind farm at Leonards Hill. HREA president PerBernard said he was thrilled to welcome Ms Bonnici, and presented her with Tim Flannery's book The Weather Makers. Ms Bonnici said she joined the HREA because she believed in renewable energy."I went on the bus trip (to the Challicum Hills Wind Farm) and was impressed by the turbines," she said.

Mr Bernard said the HREA's project partner was developing a Hepburn Community Wind Park.

Interest high in wind-farm challenge

The Examiner, Page: 14
Thursday, 27 July 2006

Tasmanians should watch a Federal Court challenge over wind-farm development in Victoria carefully. Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell has created political problems for himself with his decision to block a Victorian wind-farm project. The Federal Court is hearing a legal challenge by the Victorian Government and the wind-farm developer against Senator Campbell's veto of the project in South Gippsland. In April, Senator Campbell's argument for rejecting the project was that he needed to protect the endangered orangebellied parrot.

However, that decision is being challenged and further questions have been raised that mere politics, not the fate of an endangered species, had the most influence. The court heard that Senator Campbell's decision had been made against the advice from his own department, which said the Gippsland wind-farm development would have posed no threat to the parrot. Even the report that Senator Campbell did use to support his action said there had been no confirmed sightings of the parrot at the wind-farm site. To highlight the inconsistency in this decision, the Victorian site was seen as having even less potential impact on the parrot than the existing Tasmanian wind farm at Woolnorth.

Critics say the biggest influence on this decision was political, after the Government used local opposition to the project to win a seat off Labor in 2004.Treasurer Peter Costello has weighed into the debate on Senator Campbell's side, saying he thought wind farms "looked ugly" and he would not want them in his street. It was a clumsy argument. Coal-fired power stations aren't exactly a good look either.

The Federal Government line should not be surprising since it has effectively backed coal-fired power over genuine incentives for renewable energy. That move has torpedoed further wind-farm development in Tasmania. This State has an interest in seeing Senator Campbell do more to explain his decision.

Campbell wind farm decision political: Labor

abc.net.au
Wednesday, 26 July 2006. 16:01 (AEDT)

Labor's environment spokesman Anthony Albanese has accused the Federal Environment Minister of lying about his reason for blocking the Bald Hills wind farm in Victoria.

In April, Senator Ian Campbell overrode the Victorian Government and refused the Bald Hill wind farm because of a small chance it could threaten the orange bellied parrot. Mr Albanese says its now clear the decision was political."The Minister lied to the Australian public when he said that this decision was based upon sound advice," he said."It's very clear given the Minister's own department indicated to him that there was no evidence of this orange bellied parrot being in the vicinity of the Bald Hills wind farm project.

" Victoria's Attorney-General Rob Hulls says Senator Campbell must explain his decision."His own independent report means his rejection of a $220 million investment was a nonsense, he has to explain why it was he really rejected the Bald Hill wind farm and why it was he went against his departmental advice," he said. The office of Senator Campbell says it is inappropriate to comment while a case brought by the wind farm proponent is before the Federal Court.

Wind farmers hope for shift in renewable energy targets

abc.net.au
Wednesday, 26 July 2006. 15:32 (AEDT)

The wind farm sector is holding out some hope the Federal Government will consider alternative renewable energy targets.

Roaring Forties managing director, Mark Kelleher, says industry representatives have been meeting key players in Canberra. Mr Kelleher says while the Federal Government will not increase Mandatory Renewable Energy Targets (MRET) there could be other avenues yet to be explored."We've been slightly encouraged by the fact that they're definitely acknowledging that they understand the situation the industry's in and which it's about to close unless something's done," he said."Whilst it's clear they won't change their mind about increasing MRET they've indicated some open mindedness to some alternative mechanisms.

"Roaring Forties has put its Heemskirk wind farm project on the west coast of Tasmania on hold because of the Federal Government's decision not to lift renewable energy targets. Roaring Forties is talking to the Tasmanian Government about introducing legislation to increase renewable energy targets. The Victorian Government is to impose its own renewable energy targets. Mr Kelleher says there has been good discussions with the State Government about setting renewable targets locally.

"As Victoria's done we're talking to them about that," he said."We've had Energy Minister [David Lewellyn] take the baton in his hand and went up and had direct talks with the federal Industry Minister [Ian] Macfarlane to see what could be done to enable some further projects to go ahead here, and in particular for Musselroe," Mr Kelleher said. Meanwhile, representatives from Roaring Forties will go to China in October to showcase its achievements. Mr Kelleher says the company's had great success in China since entering that market a year ago.

Wind farmers hope for shift in renewable energy targets

abc.net.au
Wednesday, 26 July 2006. 15:32 (AEDT)

The wind farm sector is holding out some hope the Federal Government will consider alternative renewable energy targets.

Roaring Forties managing director, Mark Kelleher, says industry representatives have been meeting key players in Canberra. Mr Kelleher says while the Federal Government will not increase Mandatory Renewable Energy Target s (MRET) there could be other avenues yet to be explored."We've been slightly encouraged by the fact that they're definitely acknowledging that they understand the situation the industry's in and which it's about to close unless something's done," he said."Whilst it's clear they won't change their mind about increasing MRET they've indicated some open mindedness to some alternative mechanisms.

"Roaring Forties has put its Heemskirk wind farm project on the west coast of Tasmania on hold because of the Federal Government's decision not to lift renewable energy targets. Roaring Forties is talking to the Tasmanian Government about introducing legislation to increase renewable energy targets. The Victorian Government is to impose its own renewable energy targets. Mr Kelleher says there has been good discussions with the State Government about setting renewable targets locally.

"As Victoria's done we're talking to them about that," he said."We've had Energy Minister [David Lewellyn] take the baton in his hand and went up and had direct talks with the federal Industry Minister [Ian] Macfarlane to see what could be done to enable some further projects to go ahead here, and in particular for Musselroe," Mr Kelleher said. Meanwhile, representatives from Roaring Forties will go to China in October to showcase its achievements. Mr Kelleher says the company's had great success in China since entering that market a year ago.

Minister exposed on parrot

The Australian, Page: 1
Wednesday, 26 July 2006

FEDERAL Environment Minister Ian Campbell ignored explicit advice from his own department that stated a $220 million windfarm posed no obvious threat to an endangered parrot and should be approved. Senator Campbell vetoed the project despite warnings from one of his top bureaucrats that using the orange-bellied parrot to stop the windfarm could have widespread ramifications for coastal development in four states. The Department of Environment and Heritage told Senator Campbell on March 10 this year there did "not appear to be direct evidence of any impact on the orange-bellied parrots" from the Bald Hills windfarm, in Victoria's Gippsland. The advice, written by department first assistant secretary Gerard Early, recommends Senator Campbell approve the windfarm subject to a range of standard conditions.

In supporting the windfarm, the department is believed to have rejected two other options. The first was to approve the project provided its turbines were 2km from the coastline. The second option was to reject the proposal and ask the developer to resubmit an application that avoided any impact on the orangebellied parrot. It is believed Mr Early found that "on balance" these options were not supported by the department.

"Both of these approaches would represent a lowering of the previous threshold for unacceptable impact on the orange-bellied parrot, particularly as there does not appear to be direct evidence of any impact on the orangebellied parrot at Bald Hills," he wrote. The Australian understands Mr Early wrote that these options might be seen as inconsistent with the approach to other windfarms that have previously been approved at Portland in Victoria and Woolnorth and Musselroe Bay in Tasmania. "It would have ramifications for all coastal development in western Tasmania, Victoria, southern NSW and southeast South Australia," he wrote. "A consistent approach should be adopted for all development proposals in the orange-bellied parrot's migratory range and, as such, a lowering of the threshold may attract criticism in relation to other developments.

"Despite the advice, Senator Campbell rejected the proposal. On April 3 this year, he wrote on the advice: "Proposed project not agreed. "Senator Campbell informed the developer, a company called Wind Power, of his decision on April 4, provoking a political storm about whether the windfarm genuinely posed a threat to the parrot. It also sparked debate about the minister's performance and the Government's environmental approval process.

Victorian Planning Minister Rob Hulls said yesterday Senator Campbell's decision to ignore his own department was further evidence the windfarm - a hot political issue in the federal seat of McMillan during the 2004 election campaign - had been blocked for "purely political reasons". "Senator Campbell has been exposed again," Mr Hulls said. "Not only did he ignore the overwhelming evidence in his own, publicly available scientific reports that windfarms pose a negligible risk to the parrots, he also rejected his own department's recommendations. A spokeswoman for Senator Campbell last night released a statement, insisting he made his decision based on an independent report that found "the impact of wind turbine collisions on the orange-bellied parrot, though small, could be sufficient to tip the balance against its continued existence".

The report examined the impact on migratory birds of 23 current and proposed windfarms in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, showing the orange-bellied parrot was likely to be extinct within 50 years. It showed the parrot didn't regularly fly near Bald Hills, and predicted that Continued-Page 2From Page 1 seven if all 23 of the wind farms were built in the three states, the impact would be "very small, even barely noticeable", possibly causing up to one extra death a year. The minister declined a request for further comment. The federal Government had refused a Victorian Government application under Freedom of information to release the departmental advice.

Mr Hulls and federal Opposition environment spokesman Anthony Albanese demanded the advice be released. "The Howard Government is setting dangerous precedents for arbitrary, political interference in infrastructure development," Mr Albanese said. The revelation that Senator Campbell's department had recommended the wind farm be approved came yesterday during Federal Court proceedings initiated by Wind Power Pty Ltd. The company is seeking to have the wind farm rejection set aside and for it to be reconsidered by the department.

Minister may face court

The Age, Page: 5
Tuesday, 25 July 2006

A FIGHT over the orange-bellied parrot could land Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell in court. The developers of a rejected $220 million Gippsland wind farm will apply today in the Federal Court to subpoena Senator Campbell, which would force him to appear next month to explain his decision to veto their development. In April, Senator Campbell invoked a rarely used environmental law to block the 52-turbine Bald Hills wind farm, arguing it posed too great a risk to the parrot, even though his own consultant's report found that banning all wind farms in southeastern Australia would have only a marginal impact on saving the parrot from extinction. A spokeswoman for Senator Campbell said: "It would be inappropriate to comment.

Fuel plan beset by fossilised thinking

The Australian, Page: 8
Tuesday, 25 July 2006

AUSTRALIA is perfectly placed to be the real energy superpower: the instigator and global leader in renewable electricity production. A country bathed in sun and ferociously windy in many locations, Australia could, with political will and vision, usher in a safe, carbon free and nuclear-free future. Instead, both Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition leader Kim Beazley seem fixated on the continued mining and burning of coal: a strategy which, at this juncture in the world's history, is environmentally contraindicated. Anyone who has seen Al Gore's extraordinary film An Inconvenient Truth will realise that the world must, urgently, stop burning fossil fuel.

Indeed, a draft report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, presently circulating among Australian scientific, business and environmental groups, predicts global temperature increases of 0.3 to 3.5C degrees by 2050, and a sea level rise of 6m should the Greenland ice cap melt. Life as we know it is in jeopardy, but the politicians proceed unimpeded on their march over the climate-change cliff, ignoring these stark facts and their ecological implications.

Equally alarming as his continued endorsement of the coal industry, Howard's answer to global warming is the expansion of Australian uranium mining, value-added enrichment of uranium, nuclear power for Australia and the possible storage on this continent of much of the world's radioactive waste. For his part, Beazley has announced plans to expand uranium mining. Never mind that the nuclear fuel cycle - encompassing uranium mining, milling, enrichment, reactor construction and decommissioning, and radioactive waste storage for 500,000 years - creates large quantities of global warming gases, including CO2 and CFC. Do Howard and Beazley not know, or worse, are they choosing to ignore, that nuclear power will have grave public health consequences, bestowing, as it will, leaking, long-lived nuclear waste facilities to future generations, a legacy that will engender epidemics of genetic disease and malignancies?We need politicians with knowledge, energy and courage who will move beyond the fossil fuel and nuclear eras.

Is it possible to make that leap with available technology? Yes. A recent invention in solar power by Professor Vivian Alberts at the University of Johannesburg, which uses a micro-thin metallic film, has made solar electricity five times less expensive than solar photovoltaic cells. For the first time, solar electricity is economically feasible and cheaper than coal. Australian entrepreneurs, subsidised by the federal Government, should develop this technology as fast as possible.

Every old building and house in Australia should be retrofitted with solar panels, and all new buildings similarly equipped. As solar technology becomes cheaper and more efficient, a huge market in Indonesia, the Philippines and India will emerge. A rising GDP, with thousands of people employed in a safe, clean industry, would usher Australia into a new era of prosperity and global leadership in the 21st century. In the US, farmers are making more money building wind farms than growing food in a rapidly growing alternative energy market.

Australia could emulate Denmark where wind electricity, which has minimal greenhouse gas emissions, supplies at least 20 per cent of the country's needs. But in 2004, the Prime Minister, working with uranium and coal mining interests, devised a way to pull the rug from under the burgeoning Australian wind power industry. Some campaigners aiming to discredit wind power have links to well-known deniers of climate change. British nuclear industry allies are also known to be connected to Australian anti-wind power groups.

Tidal power, geothermal energy, co-generation and biomass combined with conservation are some of the resources yet to be explored by Australia. According to a Bostonian Synapse Energy Economics study, electricity conservation in the US could save 28 per cent in energy efficiency. Similar figures apply to Australia. In other words, for the first time in human history, all electricity can be generated by a combination of renewable carbon-free and nuclear-free technologies.

But the forces opposing these promising developments are very powerful and have the eye and ear of the PM and Labor leader. We need, above all, politicians who are scientifically and medically knowledgeable, not just lawyers, business men and former humanities academics who seem not to comprehend the immensely dangerous problems threatening the survival of our children, descendants and 30,000 other species that cohabit this planet.

Helen Caldicott, a pediatrician, is president of the Nuclear Policy Research Institute. She is author of Nuclear Power is Not the Answer to Global Warming or Anything Else.

Grant to study power demand

The Ballarat Courier, Page: 3
Monday, 24 July 2006

THE University of Ballarat has received a grant of $100,000 to study Hopetoun's power demand, and to investigate renewable energy alternatives in the area. The State Government grant has been allocated to the National Centre of Sustainability, Ballarat, which is based at the university. Centre manager Dennis Olmstead said the project partners would research the capacity of community owned renewable energy generation at Hopetoun, particularly from wind power. "This study will investigate Hopetoun's current and projected power demand," he said.

Ararat backs energy target

The Wimmera Mail-Times, Page: 8
Friday, 21 July 2006

THE Wimmera could benefit from a State Government introduction of a mandatory renewable energy scheme. The State Government has introduced the scheme where electricity retailers must gather at least 10 per cent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2016.Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Bill Braithwaite welcomed the State Government's introduction of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target scheme. He described the scheme as a 'step in the right direction'.

Mr Braithwaite said the city would now sit down with government officials and renewable energy companies to discuss the impact of the legislation and any opportunities for further regional development. Ararat is home to the Challicum Hills wind farm. The farm's owner Pacific Hydro also welcomed the State Government's decision. Spokeswoman Emily Wood said the company was pleased with the decision but did not have any current plans to further develop Challicum.

"But we've got several other projects in Victoria under development and this announcement certainly supports those plans," she said. But Ms Wood said the company still faced tough legislation in order to develop wind farm projects in Victoria."This new legislation will not change any of the processes or the current stringent requirements," she said."We will also continue to be involved in community consultation.

"A multi-million dollar wind farm is also set to go ahead after the State Government introduced the scheme. Acciona Energy, a division of the Spanish Acciona Group, announcedthis week it would start construction on the $400-million project at Waubra, north of Ballarat. The managing director of the company's Australasian operations Brett Thomas said the decision was a direct result of the State Government's introduction of a Victorian Renewable Energy Target scheme. Mr Thomas said the scheme ensured the company's investment in renewable energy.

'"The announcement of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target by the State Government has given us the confidence to commit $50 million to commence construction of the 200-megawatt wind farm," he said. Mr Thomas said the project would provide jobs to Waubra and surrounding districts during the wind farm's construction set to begin in September. He said construction would take two years. Mr Thomas said the company would also now consider other developments in Victoria.

Ararat backs energy target

The Wimmera Mail-Times, Page: 8
Friday, 21 July 2006

THE Wimmera could benefit from a State Government introduction of a mandatory renewable energy scheme. The State Government has introduced the scheme where electricity retailers must gather at least 10 per cent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2016.Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Bill Braithwaite welcomed the State Government's introduction of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target scheme. He described the scheme as a 'step in the right direction'.

Mr Braithwaite said the city would now sit down with government officials and renewable energy companies to discuss the impact of the legislation and any opportunities for further regional development. Ararat is home to the Challicum Hills wind farm. The farm's owner Pacific Hydro also welcomed the State Government's decision. Spokeswoman Emily Wood said the company was pleased with the decision but did not have any current plans to further develop Challicum.

"But we've got several other projects in Victoria under development and this announcement certainly supports those plans," she said. But Ms Wood said the company still faced tough legislation in order to develop wind farm projects in Victoria."This new legislation will not change any of the processes or the current stringent requirements," she said."We will also continue to be involved in community consultation.

"A multi-million dollar wind farm is also set to go ahead after the State Government introduced the scheme. Acciona Energy, a division of the Spanish Acciona Group, announcedthis week it would start construction on the $400-million project at Waubra, north of Ballarat. The managing director of the company's Australasian operations Brett Thomas said the decision was a direct result of the State Government's introduction of a Victorian Renewable Energy Target scheme. Mr Thomas said the scheme ensured the company's investment in renewable energy.

'"The announcement of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target by the State Government has given us the confidence to commit $50 million to commence construction of the 200-megawatt wind farm," he said. Mr Thomas said the project would provide jobs to Waubra and surrounding districts during the wind farm's construction set to begin in September. He said construction would take two years. Mr Thomas said the company would also now consider other developments in Victoria.

Wind turbine for Hopetoun

The Esperance Express, Page: 12
Thursday, 20 July 2006

Two remote Western Australian towns - Hopetoun and Denham - are cutting their diesel fuel consumption and improving environmental outcomes through increased electricity generation from two new wind turbines.

Minister for the environment and heritage, Senator Ian Campell, said the wind turbine expansion was supported by $1.8 million Australian government funding through the renewable remote power generation program.

"Hopetoun and Denham are two towns where wind generation of electricity is making a big difference to their economic and environmental health," senator Campbell said. "In Hopetoun, the expansion project will provide an additional 1100 magawatt hours each year. The town will reduce its annual diesel consumption by 220,000 litres and prevent around 600 tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere."

Both projects include the installation of additional "low load" diesel generators specifically designed to integrate with the wind turbines, which allow more wind generated electricity to be included in the power suppy.

"With development of the Ravensthorpe nickle mine, nearby to Hoptoun, clever technological solutions were needed to ensure future high quality electricity supplies. These supplies are now assured in the town will benefit from the economic boost the mine brings."

Winds of profit blow for Waubra landowners

The Age, Page: 5
Wednesday, 19 July 2006

LAWRENCE Gallagher was grinning yesterday despite a cold, strong wind that was doing its best to cut into his bones. For Mr Gallagher - and 29 other farmers and landowners in the Waubra region just north of Ballarat - that wind means money. Their properties will be the location for Spanish group Acciona's 128-turbine wind farm. Mr Gallagher will have six turbines on his 320 and 200-hectare properties.

At $7000 per tower a year, indexed for inflation, that's an extra $42,000 income. "We see them as drought-proofing our property," he said. Like many farmers in the region, Mr Gallagher runs sheep and lambs, and harvests potatoes. The past decade has been a killer, with the last year particularly dry.

Only last weekend's rain put a nice green tinge on the bare hills and paddocks. The dry weather has also made Mr Gallagher, 44, more conscious of global warming, with the threat of future drier seasons. He sees the wind farm as a way to help cut carbon dioxide emissions.

"It's a start. I know China and India and others will be creating emissions, but we are making a start to fix the problem," he said. Mr Gallagher is also happy that the wind farm will bring money to the community in Waubra, which will receive $500 per tower. The primary school, fire brigade, horticultural society and football club will be among the beneficiaries. Locals will also have the chance to obtain some of the jobs that will be available to maintain the turbines.

Mr Gallagher acknowledged that there had been opponents of the wind farm. "They thought land and house prices would be badly affected, but that hasn't happened," he said.