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CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
TheNSWDepartmentofPlanning:DraftHunterRegionalPlanandDraftPlanforGrowingHunterCity–ClimateActionNewcastleReviewandSubmissionClimateActionNewcastlehasreviewedthesePlansprimarilyinrelationtoclimatechangemitigation,andadaptation.Eachsectionofthesubmissionincludesrecommendationsandquestionsthatshouldbeaddressed,andfallsunderthefollowingheadings:• Summary• Climatechangemitigation• Coal• Coalseamgas• Renewableenergy• Transport• Nativevegetation,habitatandpreventingspeciesextinction• Climatechangeadaptation• UsefulnewsandreferencesAnyquestionsregardingthissubmissioncanbeforwardedto:TheCommitteeClimateActionNewcastlePOBox2359DANGARNSW2309can@climateaction.org.au
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
SummaryTheDraftHunterRegionalPlanandaccompanyingDraftPlanforGrowingHunterCityarebothoutofstepwithimportantcurrenttrendsandfactorssuchas:• theurgencyforclimatechangemitigationbyeverylevelofgovernment• thestructuraldeclineofthecoalindustryandneedforsustainableeconomicrestructuring• thelackofeconomic,environmentalandsocialviabilityforcoalseamgas• therapiduptakeandavailabilityofaffordablerenewableenergy• AustraliabeingattheforefrontofthegreatestrateofspeciesextinctionsincethedinosaurageFromaclimatechangepointofviewthePlansareconcerningbecause:• thePlansbarelymentionclimatechangeanddonotaddressclimatechangemitigation• thePlansexplicitlysupporttheon-goingexpansionofcoalminingandexport
o attheexpenseofclimatesafetyo attheexpenseofothersustainablesectorsthatcouldflourishintheHuntersuchasrenewable
energyandagricultureo indenialofthestructuraldeclineofthecoalindustry
• thePlansexplicitlysupportthedevelopmentofthenewcoalseamgasindustryintheHunterdespiteo marketdeclineandassetwritedownsacrossthesectoro atmospheric/environmentaldamageo beingunfeasibleduetoalackof‘sociallicence’inthecommunity
• thePlansshownoincreaseinpublictransportlinksorserviceso despitethebenefitstoreducinggreenhousegasemissionsfrommorepublictransporto despitetheincreasingdifficultyofplanningandinstallingthispublictransportinfrastructureas
citydevelopmentencroaches–especiallyformodessuchasHighSpeedRail• thePlanscontainnoclearcommitmentstofosterthedevelopmentofrenewableenergy-whichmay
seetheHuntermissoutonthehugeenvironmentalbenefitsandeconomicopportunitiesthatmaybeprovidedbyREifitisplannedforanddevelopedatthesoonesttime
• Theplansevidenceafatalisticapproachtothedeclineinnativevegetationandcriticalhabitatinsteadofplanningtoprotectthesehabitats.
o Despitethethreatofclimatechangetothreatenedspeciesandaneedtoallowabufferofprotectionthroughsavingthehabitatthatisleft
o Despitethereleaseofcarbonemissionsfromlandclearingo Withanunscientificover-relianceon‘off-sets’(evenwhenthereisno‘like-for-like’vegetation
remainingtooffset)andwithanunrealisticrelianceonminingrehabilitationtoenhancecorridorconnectivity
o Nonewnationalparkareasoutlinedtoensurehabitatprotectiono Buildinghomesingreenfieldsites(bushland)isgivenpreferenceinthePlansbutcouldbe
avoidedthroughmoreurbanconsolidationandincreaseddensityinexistingareas,buildingsmallerhouses,andtallerbuildingsandrenewingolderdevelopedareas
• Climatechangeadaptationisnotexplicitlyaddressedandishousedunder‘naturalhazards’.Ofthis:o Thereisanindicationthatthefundingofcoastalmanagementstrategiestoprotectexisting
communitiesandinfrastructurefrom‘naturalhazards’willfallontoCouncilsandaffectedcommunities.Thisneedstobeexplicitlydefined,ensuringequitablefundingmechanismswillbedeveloped–especiallygiventhatpollutingindustrieswhichexacerbateclimatechangearecurrentlybeingadvantagedandencouragedbytheNSWGovernment.
o RespondingtotheeffectsofextremeheatisnotaddressedatallinthePlans
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
Climatechange-mitigationAnurgentanddrasticreductioningreenhousegas(GHG)emissionsisrequiredtomaintainasafeclimate-inlinewiththerecentParisAgreementtargetoflessthan2degreesincrease(sincepre-industrialtimes).Already,substantialchangesareoccurringtoEarth’sclimateataround1degreeincreaseandmanyscientistswarnthatwemaysoontoreach‘tippingpoints’intoirreversibleclimatechaos,andtheyencouragemoreambitioninourgreenhousegasmitigationtargets.ThisshouldbeactivelyplannedforbyeverylevelofGovernment–andatthescaleoftheApolloProjectorSnowyHydroSchemetobecommensuratewiththelevelofurgencyandthreat.However,ClimatechangemitigationisnotaddressedatallintheHunterPlans.Infactclimatechangeisbarelymentioned,andwhenitis,thereisnoreferencetomitigation,onlyadaptation(whichishousedunderthe‘naturalhazards’heading).TheHunterPlandoesmentiondiversifyingtheHuntereconomy,butatthesametimeemphasisesplanningsupportandbusinessconfidenceforthecoalminingandcoalseamgassectorsinthelongterm.ThisisatoddswithreducingGHGemissionsandthecurrentclimatecrisis.Itisalsoatoddswiththestructuraldeclineofthecoalindustryandtherapidriseandavailabilityofrenewableenergytechnologies.ContentintheAdaptNSWwebsiteindicatesthattheNSWGovernmentdoesrecognisetheseriousnessandurgencyofclimatechange,andthatitisinfactforcedbyanthropogenicgreenhousegasemissions,andyetthereisnoindicationineitheroftheHunterPlansthattheNSWDepartmentofPlanning(DoP)isattemptingtorespondtothisinformationbyplanningtomitigatethethreatofgreenhousegasemissionstotheclimate.Whichbegsthequestion:iftheNSWMinsterforPlanningandthestaffoftheNSWDoPdonotseeitastheirroletotranslatetheinformationaboutclimatechangeintopracticalplansforthestructuraltransitiontoalowcarboneconomyinNSWandtheHunter;thenwhichStateofficersshouldwebelookingtoforthisplanning?ReferenceismadeinthePlanstodiversifyingtheHuntereconomy,whileatthesametimestatingclearsupportfortheemissions-intensivesectorsofcoalminingandcoalseamgasintothe“longterm”.Carbonintensiveindustriesplaceotheridentifiedsectorsthatmightsupportdiversificationatrisk,suchas:• allagriculturalenterprisesincludingviticulture,equineindustriesareatriskfromdrought,flooding,
erraticandunpredictablegrowingseasons,andincreasedwildfire.• oysterfarming–oceanacidificationisathreattotheshellgrowthofoysters.(Incidentally,pollution
fromtheWilliamtownRAAFbasemayalsobeanissueforthisindustryintheHunterEstuary.)• freightandpublictransportlinksarepronetodisruptionfromfloodingacrossraillinesandroadsand
increasingwildfireeventsRecommendationstoaddressclimatechangemitigation:
• RespondtotheclimatechangeadvicefromtheNSWOfficeofEnvironmentandHeritage,theCSIRO,theAustralianBureauofMeteorology,theIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange,NASA,theGoddardInstitute,andeveryotherreputableclimatescienceinstituteintheworld;byactivelyplanningtomitigateclimatechange.
• ImplementmeasuresseeninotherStateandCityplansinAustraliaandacrosstheworldsuchas:o tangiblestrategiestorapidlytransitiontheHuntereconomyawayfromcarbon-intensive
industriessuchasmining;andplantowardazerocarboneconomyo settingatargetdateandplanforachieving100%renewableenergyintheHunter
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
o settingatargetdateandstrategiesforthepeakandreductionofpercapitagreenhousegasemissionsofHunterresidents
o settingtargetsfordecreasingpercapitaconsumptionofelectricity–drivingenergyefficiencyo devisingmeasuresforreducingemissionsfromtransport,wasteandagricultureo committingtononewcoalmineso committingtoincreasinglocalmasspublictransportlinkso committingtoanincreaseinelectrifiedintra-citymasspublictransportlinkswhichmayinclude
highspeedrail• MoreexplorationofdiversifyingtheHuntereconomybymeasuressuchas:
o Commitmentsandsupportfordevelopingrenewableenergyprojects-ofallscaleso Pro-activelyre-establishingmanufacturingandenergy-intensiveindustriesthatcanbepowered
byrenewableenergy,takingadvantageoftheresidualHunterskillsbaseandPorto Re-fundingtertiaryeducationinstitutionsandtrainingentitiesthatmayenablethecreative
artssector(suchastheHunterTAFE)o AdvocatingforadequatefundingfortheNewcastleCSIRO,HunterMedicalResearchInstitute,
theUniversityofNewcastleandotherscienceandresearchentitiesthatdriveinnovationandeconomicresilience
o Ensuringadequateinfrastructure(suchasfiber-opticbroadband)tostrengthenthedigitaleconomy
• StopprioritisingthecoalandcoalseamgassectorsandplacingothersectorsoftheHunter,andthehealthoftheenvironment,atrisk.
• Promotebusinessconfidenceforsustainablelow-carbonsectorssuchasrenewableenergygeneration,insteadofforthecoalandcoalseamgassectors
CoalPollutionfromcoalexportsisAustralia’sbiggestcontributiontodangerousclimatechange.Burningandminingcoalisemissions-intensive,andarelianceonthecoalsectorisweakeningtheresilienceoftheHuntereconomy.Itisalsocausingirreversibledamagetotheland,waterandbiodiversityoftheHunter.Australiaandcountriesaroundtheworld,haveagreedtokeepglobaltemperaturerisetonomorethan2°Coverpre-industriallevels(notingwearealreadyataround1°Cincrease).Todothis,scientistsadvisethatmostoftheworld’sfossilfuelreservesmustbeleftintheground,unburned,tokeepglobaltemperaturerisetonomorethan2°C.SeeReference‘UnburnableCarbon’.Coalisinpermanentstructuraldecline,andtheemphasisintheHunterPlanonsupportingthegrowthofthecoalindustryintheimmediateandlongtermisnegligentandoutofstepwithinternationaltrends.TheinfrastructureoftheHunterValleyCoalChainissettobecome‘strandedassets’.
HunterPlanPage19.Action2.1.1“Coalminingwillbeanongoingpriorityindustry,predominantlyduetoitsexportvalue.Overthecomingdecades,theregionwillcontinuebenefittingfromtheeconomicandemploymentflow-oneffectsofthegrowthofthecoalminingindustry…”
ItisdisappointingtoreadthattheDoPplanstoentrenchthecoalindustryintheHunterintothefuture.Itislongpasttimetogetanewplanforhowto“growthelargestregionaleconomyinAustralia”.Thecoalexportsectorisinpermanentstructuraldeclineandtheemphasisongrowingthecoalindustryisatoddswith:coal’sstructuraldecline,withtheriseofrenewableenergy,withcommunityresistancetocoalmineexpansion,andwiththeurgentneedtomitigateclimatechange.
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
Themessagefromclimatescienceisthatweneedtoleaveallremainingcoalinthegroundanddrasticallyreduceourcarbonemissionsnow.• ProjectionsbytheCSIROandtheBureauofMeteorologyhave“veryhighconfidence”that
temperatureswillriseacrossAustraliathroughoutthecentury,withtheaverageannualtemperaturesettobeupto1.3Cwarmerin2030comparedwiththeaverageexperiencedbetween1986and2005.
• Temperatureprojectionsfortheendofthecenturydependonhowdeeplygreenhousegasemissionsarecut.Theworldiscurrentlytrackingatthehigheremissionsscenario,meaningatemperatureincreaseofbetween2.8Cand5.1CinAustraliaby2090.
• The“business-as-usual”approachtominingandburningfossilfuelsissettopermanentlyheatAustraliamorethantherestoftheworld,whichwillaverageatemperatureincreaseof2.6Cto4.8Cby2090.
AllreferencestodiversifyingindustryandworkopportunitiesintheHunterPlanarewelcomebutneeddetail,emphasisandurgency:it’saplan-to-planwhilerepeatedlycitingacommitmenttothecoalindustryinthelongterm.
HunterPlanPage15.“Principle3.Protecttheenvironmentandrespondtoclimatechangeimpacts.“Thecitywillprovidetheessentials–cleanairandwater.”
Thissectiondoesnotinanywayaddress‘climatechangeimpacts’andshouldbere-written.Intheinterestofcleanair,theimpactofcoaldustontheresidentsofNewcastleandthosealongtheHunterValleycoalchainshouldtobeadequatelyinvestigatedandaddressed.Lastyear'sNationalPollutantInventory(reference)foundthatair-bornecoaldustfromcoalmineshaddoubledinfiveyearsandtripledinten.ThePortofNewcastlecouldbere-gearedtowardmanufacturingandagriculturalexports;andawayfromcoalloading–beginningwiththeclosureofPWCSCarringtonTerminal;andbynotconstructingtherecentlyapprovedTerminal4project.Inadditiontoclimatechangeimpacts,coalmininghashadheavyimpactsonlocallandandwatersystemsintheHunter,includingsaltandheavymetalpollution.Manyvoidshavenotbeenrehabilitatedanddamageispermanentandanon-goingwasteofland.Morestringentrehabilitationrequirementsneedtobeputinplaceforallexistingandhistoricminingoperations–withclearfundingarrangementsthatdonotfallbackonthepublicpurse.RecommendationsinrelationtocoalminingintheHunter:
• Respondtotherisksandthreatofclimatechangeandcommitto:o nonewcoalmineso thephaseoutofminingandajobsrestructuringplanfortheHunter
• Committotheclosureandre-purposingthePortofNewcastlecoalloadingfacilities–beginningwithPWCSCarringtonTerminal
• Placemorestringentrequirementsonmineownerstoensuretheadequaterehabilitationofhistoricandexistingmines.
• Promotethesamelevelofplanningandbusinessconfidenceforrenewableenergyandlowcarbonsectorsthatcoalandcoalseamgascurrentlyreceive.
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
CoalSeamGas
HunterPlanPage18.Direction2.1Promoteinvestmenttogrowregionalruralandresourceindustries.TheHunterhasundevelopedpotentialtosupplycoalseamgasresourcesinitsHunterandNewcastlecoalfieldsandtheGloucesterBasin…”
AfterthewithdrawalofAGLandaclearlackof‘sociallicence’expressedbythecommunity,itisasurprisetoseetheGloucesterBasinmentionedinthePlanandthestrongemphasisonexpandingcoalseamgasintheHunterisnotwelcome.TheCSGindustryhasproventobeenvironmentallyrisky,andnotthelow-emissionsenergysourcethatthosechampioningthesectororiginallyclaimedittobe.AnApril2015AustralianEnergyMarketOperatorreportoutlinesthatnogasshortageisexpectedduetolowerthanforecastedconsumptionslevels.Theindustryisexport-marketdriven,andwithenergyefficiencymeasuresandtherapidriseofrenewableenergy,thegeneraldemandforgasisdecliningandcouldhalvewithinadecade.IfunnecessarygasinfrastructureisbuiltonthebasisofinflatedgasdemandprojectionsthenunnecessarynetworkcostswillbepassedontoNSWhouseholdsandbusinesses,ashappenedwithelectricitypricesoverrecentyears.
HunterPlanPage19.(Bluebox)DevelopingalternativeenergysourcesintheHunterInthecomingdecades,coalminingwillcontinuetobeapriority…..Newopportunitieswillalsoemergewithintheregion,allowingtheHuntertodiversityitsenergysectorthroughthedevelopmentofalternativeenergysources,includinggasandrenewables.“…proposedgasextractionprojectsintheGloucesterBasin.”
CSGisoutdatedandoperatorssuchasAGLhavealreadypulledoutinGloucesterandarescalingbackacrosstheboard.Wastecoalminemethanemayhavearoleifitiscapturingexistingfugitiveemissions-howeverisnotrenewableandshouldinsteadbeplacedunderthegasparagraphofthisbox.MoreplanningworkneedstobeappliedtodevelopingrenewableenergyinandfortheHunter.
Page22.“PetroleumExplorationLicence(PEL)buy-backscheme(underwhichtheNSWGovernmentrecentlypurchasedlicencesintheHunterValleyandsouthernLakeMacquarie)
Licencebuy-backsareexpensiveandwastefulforthetaxpayeranditwouldbelessriskytonotissueanymorelicencesforGSGinthefirstplacetoavoidthisscenariorecurring.RecommendationsinrelationtoCoalSeamGas:
• DoPshouldrespondtothelackof‘sociallicence’,economicandenvironmentalviabilityforCoalSeamGas,theabandonmentoftheGloucesterProjectbyAGLandDartEnergyinSaltAsh,andassetwrite-downsacrosstheindustry.
• CoalseamgaswellsshouldnotbefurtherdevelopedintheHunterandnonewlicencesissuedtoavoidfuturelicencebuy-backsandstrandedassets.
• Coalseamgasisnotalow-carbontechnologyandpreferenceshouldbegiventothedevelopmentofcleanrenewableenergy.
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
RenewableEnergyForclimatechange,social,andeconomicreasons,theworldisshiftingrapidlyfrompollutingenergyfromfossilfuelstorenewableenergy.Asnationsacrosstheworldbecomeenergy-independent,thedemandforimportedortradedenergywillfall–leavingAustralia’sgreenhouse-intensiveeconomyexposed.Ontheotherhand,numerousstudieshavenowshownthatitisfeasibleforAustralia’sdomesticenergysupplytobepoweredby100%renewableinaslittleas10years.SomestudiesalsociteAustraliaashavingthepotentialtobeaRenewableEnergySuperPower(BZE2015)withtheopportunityofattractingenergy-intensivetrade-exposedindustriesandproducingrenewableenergycommodities.ThemorerapidlyrenewableenergycanbedeployedinAustralia,NSW,andtheHunter;themoresecuretheeconomywillbe,andthelessimpactwewillhaveonclimatechange.ThereareacoupleofwelcomereferencestodevelopingrenewableenergyintheHunterPlans,howevertheyarenotbackedupbyanycredibleplanningdetailorcommitmenttobuildingandsupportingrenewableenergyonanyscale.
HunterPlanPage18.“Direction2.1Promoteinvestmenttogrowregionalruralandresourceindustries“TheHunterhasundevelopedpotentialto...developlarge-scalerenewableenergyprojectsfromwind,solarandgeothermalsources.Supportingtheseindustriestoestablishandgrowwillcapitaliseontheregion’sexistingenergysupplyanddistributioninfrastructure(forexamplepowerstationsandtransmissionlines)aswellasitsindustryexperienceandexpertise.”
Page23.“theNSWGovernmentwill:developanalyticaltoolstoidentifyandmaplarge-scalerenewableenergypotentialbuildingonnewinformationsuchastheAustralianGovernment’sAustralianRenewableEnergyMappingInfrastructure,asitbecomesavailable.”
• Whenwilltheabovemappingandanalyticaltoolsbeproducedandlanduseproposalsandcommitmentsforrenewableenergydevelopmentbeannounced?ThefederalRenewableEnergyMappingprojectreferredtoappearstonowbecompleteandthatinformationisalreadyavailable.
• Replacingcoalfiredgeneratorsandusingtheexistingcentralisedgenerationinfrastructureiswelcome,howeverthesestatementslackplanningdetail.
• Whyareonlylarge-scalerenewablesmentionedintermsofwindandsolar?DoestheNSWGovernmentseeanyroleforitselfinaccommodatingandfosteringmediumandsmall-scalewindandsolar?
HunterPlanPage23.“workwithcouncilsandindustrytoidentifyandsupportopportunitiesforsmaller-scalerenewableenergyprojectssuchasthoseusingbioenergyorwastecoalminemethane,supportinggreaterenergysecuritywithintheregion.”
• WastecoalminemethaneisnotrenewableenergyandshouldbeintheGassectionifanywhere• Smallscalewindandsolararenotablynotmentioned• Bioenergyandforestryproductsenergygenerationisnotnecessarilyconsideredrenewable.More
detailisrequiredhere.
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
Generalcomments• Thegame-changingrapidriseofrenewableenergyisnotaddressedintheHunterPlans.Dowewant
renewableenergysuchasthemassiveuptakeofrooftopsolartobedisruptive,orwellplannedandaccommodatedtoinstillinvestorconfidenceandthegrowthofthissector?
• WewouldliketoseetheNSWGovernmentbemorepro-activewhenitcomestomitigatingclimatechangebyswitchingoffandreplacingtheHunter’scoal-firedgeneratorsassoonaspossible.
• TheHunterPlanshaveawait-and-seetonetowardrenewableenergy,whileothercountriesintheworldarerapidlymakingconcretemovestoestablishthemselvesasrenewableenergycentres.ThereisalimitedtimeopportunityofgettingaheadonscalingupREtoattractenergy-intensivebusinessestoestablishinNewSouthWales.
• TheNSWRenewableEnergyActionPlanisnotreferencedintheHunterPlans.AccordingtotheNSWRenewableEnergyActionPlanReport,Since2008,growthinelectricitygenerationfromwindandrooftopsolarphotovoltaic(PV)hasbeen“particularlyphenomenal”,withwindgenerationincreasing21timesandsmall-scalesolarPVgenerationincreasing40times.
o HowcanthisNSWPlanandthesefindingsbetter-relatetotheHunterPlans? • Moreplanningneedstobeevidencedinrelationtoaccommodatingdistributedenergygeneration
throughmorerooftopsolar,microgrids,batteryandenergyefficiencymeasures.• TherearenorenewableenergyreferencesorenergyreportsinEndnotesindicatingalackofattention
tothisarea.o ApplyingfindingsfromtheSmartGridSmartCityprojectwhichwasrolledoutinNewcastle
maybeusefulRecommendationsinrelationtoRenewableEnergy:
• AdatetargetandtangiblestrategiesforpoweringtheHunter(andNSW)with100%renewableenergyshouldbeatthecentreofthesePlans,withclearidentificationoflanduseproposalsandcommitmentsforrenewableenergyconstruction.
• TangiblestrategiestorapidlytransitiontheHuntereconomytowardarenewableenergyzerocarboneconomyshouldbeincludedinthePlansincluding
o Attractingenergyintensivetrade-exposedindustriestotheHuntero Theproductionandexportofrenewableenergycommodities
• Renewableenergyplanningthatincludesmediumandsmall-scalerenewableenergy(includingaccommodatingrooftopsolar)shouldbeofferedinadditiontorealisticplanningforthelarge-scalerenewableenergygenerationthatismentionedinthePlans.(TheNewcastleCSIROmightbeagoodsourceofadviceforthis.)
• WastecoalminemethaneisnotrenewableenergyandshouldbemovedintotheGassection• Moredetailshouldbeprovidedonproposedbioenergy–especiallygenerationfromforestryproducts.
o IsutilisingmethanegasfromanyofHunterWater’swastewatertreatmentfacilitiesbeinginvestigated?SeeMelbourneWater’sWastewaterTreatmentPlantinWerribee
o ThePlansshouldinsomewayrelatetotheNSWRenewableEnergyActionPlano MoreplanningandworkwithAEMOneedstobeevidencedinrelationtoaccommodatingthe
growthofrooftopPVanddemandsideparticipation,microgrids,batteryandenergyefficiencymeasures.
o Distributionnetworkaugmentation-upgradestotheexistingdistributionnetworks.o ThePlanscouldrelatetothelocalfindingsoftheSmartGridSmartCityenergyefficiencyand
networkingprojectwhichwasrolledoutinNewcastleo ThereisanemphasisthroughoutthePlansonpromotingbusinessconfidenceforcoalandcoal
seamgas,includingdetailedresourcemapping–insteadrenewableenergyorotherviablesectorsshouldbepromoted,mappedandresourcedinsuchapro-activeway.
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
TransportIncreasingtheavailabilityofmasspublictransportisimportantforreducinggreenhouseemissionsfromtransport.Electrifiedrailandlightrailservicesaswellaselectricvehiclescanbepoweredby100%renewableenergy.Transportinfrastructurehasalargeinfluenceonurbangrowthpatternsandsurroundingland-useandshouldbeplannedattheearliesttime.TherearenonewpublictransportservicesorlinksproposedineitheroftheHunterPlans.Theonlynewtransportlinksproposedinthisplanaretwonewroads(onethroughnativebushlandinthecentreofNewcastle,andanotheracrossawetlandthatiscontiguouswiththeHexhamSwampNatureReserve);andtheproposedreplacementoftheNewcastleraillinkwithlightrail–andnodetailisprovidedonthelightrail.Itisknownthateverynewlinkgeneratesmoretripsthrough‘induceddemand’.Thereforeanyincreasedtravellinksshouldbethroughlow-emissionstechnologysuchaselectrifiedsystemspoweredbyrenewableenergy.Encouragingwalkingandcyclingisgoodbutasanadjunct,notsubstituteformasspublictransport.Nopracticalorconceptualdetailisprovidedonhowwalkingandcyclingwouldbeencouraged.Establishingelectricvehiclecharginginfrastructureshouldbeexploredgiventheincreasedavailabilityofthesevehiclesandanemphasisonroadtransport.
HunterPlanPage15.Action1.1.1DeliveraPlanforGrowingHunterCity“TheNSWGovernmentwill-deliverametropolitanplanforHunterCityto2036that:identifiesacity-widetransportnetworkthatimprovesoptionsforpublictransport,walkingandcyclingoptionsinadditiontoaddressingpinchpointsintheroadnetwork”
• Whatdoes“identifyingacity-widetransportnetwork”mean-beyondprovidingmapsforwhatis
currentlyinplace?• Isaplanforanetincreaseinmasstransitservicesandnetworkbeingdeveloped?Ifsowhenwillitbe
placedonpublicexhibition?• Whatdoes“improvingoptionsforpublictransport”meanwhentherearenonewpublictransport
servicesoutlinedinthisplan?• Howwillwalkingandcyclingoptionsbeimproved?(notingthatwalkingandcyclingarenotpublic
transport)HunterPlanPage36.“Direction2.3Enhanceinter-regionaltransportconnections”
• ThissectionoutlineswhatcurrentlyexistsforfreightservicesandreferencetotheNewcastlefreight
bypasshowevernodetailisprovided.
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
HunterPlanPage36.Direction2.3“TheAustralianGovernmentisinvestigatingopportunitiesforahigh-speedrailnetworktoreducetraveltimebetweencapitalcitiesalongtheeastcoast.
Thehighspeedrailstandstoreplaceemissionsintensiveairtravelandlong-distancedrivingalongthebusyEastCoastroutesofAustralia.ReferencetoFederalplanningforHighSpeedRaillinkingcapitalcitiesiswelcome–howevernoNSWcommitmentorresourcingisofferedviatheHunterPlans.Giventheenormousbenefits,yetsubstantialland-useimplicationsaHSRstationwouldhaveonanyareaitisplaced,moreworkurgentlyneedstooccuronthisattheStatelevel.• WhatistheNSWGovernment’spositiononfacilitatingHighSpeedRail?Isanyplanningorresourcing
supportforHighSpeedRailbeingprovidedwithintheDoPorotherrelevantNSWDepartments?• IdentifyingexactlywhereintheHuntertheHighSpeedRailservicewouldstopshouldbeidentifiedat
thesoonesttimeasitwillhaveaverylargeimpactonlanduseinthesurroundingareaandthecity
HunterPlanPage36.“Action2.3.2diversificationofgateways–airportandPort”
• WhataretheplanningimplicationsoftheprivatisationofthePortofNewcastle?DoestheNSWGovernmentretainplanningcontrolofthisareaandcanplanningforthisareabefreelyrealised?
• Nopublictransportlinksuchaslightrailisproposedfortheairport.Increasedcartravelinthisareaplacestheremainingkoalapopulationatriskoflocalextinctionandthelackoftransporttotheairportisaninconveniencetovisitorsandresidentsalike.
HunterPlanPage37.Figure10:Inter-regionaltransportconnections
• Thismapoutlinestheexistingnetworkonly.Therearenonewinter-regionalpublictransportproposed• HunterPlanPage38.ReferstoFigure10.FutureTransportCorridors,howeverFigure10isactually
labeledInter-regionalTransportConnectionsandoutlinesnonew/futuretransportlinks.
Page15.HunterCityPlan“Direction1.3EnhanceCity-widetransportTheNSWGovernmentisinvestingintherailnetworktomanagecongestionforbothpassengerandfreightservices.Thiswillbesupportedbywalkingandcycling,androadandrailnetworkstoprovideattractivetransportoptions.”
• ApartfromthebasicsafetyandamenitymaintenanceoutlinedintheHunterRegionalTransportPlan
thereisnoevidenceofinvestmentinincreasingthecapacityoftheHunternetwork.• Whereandwhenisinvestmentinthepassengerrailnetworkoccurring?• Whereandwhenisinvestmentinfreightservicesoccurring?• Areanyspecificmapsandplansavailable?AndifsocantheybeintegratedintothisPlan?Ifnotwhatis
thetimingandprocessfortransportnetworkplanning?• Howiswalkingandcyclingbeingsupported?
Page15.HunterCityPlan“Action1.3.1Integratelanduseandtransportplanningtoencouragemoreefficienttravelpatternsandsustainablemodesoftransport”“TheNSWGovernmentwill:workwithCouncilsandcommunitiestoalignandprogresstransportplansforHunterCity,givingprioritytoimproving:publictransport,walkingandcyclingconnectionstokeydestinationsandopenspace;andconnectionsbetweenstrategiccentresandtransportgateways.”
• HowandwhenwilltheGovernmentworkwithCouncilandcommunitiestoproducetransportplansandinvestinimprovingpublictransport?
• Ifintegratedcity-widetransportplansarestillnotdeveloped,onwhatplanningbasiswastheraillinktoNewcastleremoved?
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
Page23.HunterCityPlan:“Investments:IntroductionofLightRail–NewcastleCityCentreTheNSWGovernmentisinvestigatingoptionstointroducelightrailservicestoNewcastle.ThepreferredrouteannouncedinMay2014,willlinktheWickhamTransportInterchangewithPacificPark,activatingHunterandScottStreets…”
• Whenwilltheplansforthelightrailbefinalisedandimplemented?• Willplansforalightraillinkbepartofabroadercity-widenetworkasproposedbyNewcastleCity
Council“ConnectingNewcastle–OurUrbanRenewalVision2016”.• Willsubstantiallyreducinggreenhousegasemissionsascomparedtoexistingtransport,beameasure
ofsuccessinNewcastleandHuntertransportplanning?RecommendationsinrelationtoTransport:
• SubstantiallyreducinggreenhousegasemissionsfromtransportshouldbeadriverandmeasureofsuccessforNewcastleandHuntertransportplanning
• AradicalupgradetomasstransportandnetworkplanningisrequiredandshouldbeprovidedforHunterCity,withintheHunterValley,andforInter-cityservices.Thisshouldinclude:
o ThroughoutNewcastleviakeysitessuchasJohnHunterHospital–inlinewiththesortofplanproposedbyNewcastleCityCouncilintheConnectingNewcastle–OurUrbanRenewalVision
o AplanandtimelineforthelightrailthatisproposedtoreplacetheNewcastleraillineo Anindependentfeasibilitystudyforelectrifiedrail,tramorlightrailservicespoweredby100%
renewableenergyo IfaFederalstudyofinter-cityeastcoastHighSpeedRailisbeingreferenced:
- whatistheDoPpositiononthisproject?- isanyplanningorresourcingsupportforHSRbeingprovidedwithintheDoP?- whereintheHunterwouldtheHighSpeedRailstop?- whatland-useplanningwillbeconductedaroundthesiteoftherailstop?
• ExplorationofinfrastructureforrechargingelectricvehiclessuchastheWAElectricHighwayproject.o ConductafeasibilitystudyforpoweringEVsintheHunterby100%renewableenergy
• Figure10:Inter-regionalTransportConnectionsneedstobecorrectedtoFutureTransportConnectionsasitiswrittenonPage38-anditshouldincludetheidentificationofactualfuturetransportlinks.
• Detailshouldbeprovidedforhowthetwonewroadslinksoutlined,willnotbedetrimentaltothenativebushlandandwaterwaysatGeorgeMcGregor-JesmondParkinthecentreofNewcastle,andtotheHexhamSwampNatureReservefortheproposedM1link.
o Alternativetransporttotheselinksshouldbescopedbeforetheyareconstructed• Moregeneraldetailneedstobeprovidedfor
o whatismeantby“improvingoptionsforpublictransport”whentherearenonewpublictransportservicesproposedinthisplan?
o whatismeantbypublictransport“efficiency”improvements?o whatismeantby“identifyingacity-widetransportnetwork”?o howwillthementionedwalkingandcyclingoptionswillbeimproved?o whatistherouteofthefreightrailcityby-passandwhenwillitbebuilt?o whyisno(trainorlightrail)publictransportlinkproposedfortheexpandingNewcastle-
Williamtownairports?o whereandwhenisinvestmentinfreightservicesoccurring?
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Nativevegetation,habitatandpreventingspeciesextinctionAsstatedinthePlans,theHunterishometodozensofuniquethreatenedspeciesandnativeforestcommunitiesthatfaceextinction-mostlyduetothedegradationofhabitat.Climatechangewillincreasinglydrivechangestohabitatandcontributetospeciesextinctions-thereforeallcriticalhabitatsshouldbeidentifiedandprotectednowtohelpfuture-prooftheHunter’snativespeciesfromextinction.Nativevegetationisalsoimportantforgrowingandstoringcarbon–whileclearingnativevegetationiscurrentlynegatingcarbonabatementeffortsinAustraliaThereisaclearlackofcommitmenttopreventspeciesextinctionsintheHunterPlansandanover-relianceonunprovenmechanismssuchasbiodiversityoffsetting.Speciesextinctionsdon’tjusthappen–theyarethedeathofathousandcuts.AndtherearefartoomanycutstobiodiversityinthesePlans.
Page35.Action2.2.3“opportunitiestogrowindustrieswithinthe…HunterEconomicZone…BeresfieldandBlackHill.”
• TheaboveareasallcontainendangeredLowerHunterSpottedGumIronbarkforestcommunities,whichareimportanthabitatforthreatenedspeciesthecriticallyendangeredRegentHoneyeaterandSwiftParrot.
• TheHunterEconomicZoneinKurriKurrihasbeenidentifiedasparticularlyimportantforthesebirds,andarecentinjunctionondevelopmenttosavethehabitatindicatesthatitslanduseshouldbechangedfromindustrialtoNSWNationalPark.
Page49.Direction3.1Protectthenaturalenvironmentandbiodiversity“Landuseplanningcan…supportimprovedenvironmentaloutcomesbydirectinginvestmenttoconservingorenhancingbiodiversityvalues,tooffsetunavoidableimpactsofdevelopmentinlocationsthathavebeenidentifiedforgrowth.Theuniquenessoftheregion’sbiodiversitymeansthatitmustoftenbeconservedinplace.Inlinewith…legislation.”“incorporatinglandwithhighconservationvaluesintotheCity’snetworkofopenspaces.”“theNSWGovernmentis…supportingstreamliningofthebiodiversityassessmentandoffsettingprocessestosupportgrowthintheruralandresourceareas.”
• When“unavoidableimpacts”inlocations“identifiedforgrowth”arecitied–itbegsthequestion,what
happenedtothelanduseplanning?Howisit“unavoidable”?o Itisamatterofpriority–andpreventingspeciesextinctionsshouldbeprioritisedo Isthereamapoftheseareas?o Whyweretheseareasidentifiedforgrowthiftheyhaveimportantbiodiversityvalues?Ifthe
treesarestillstandingtheyshouldbezonedforprotectionnotdevelopment.
• Vegetation“offsets”havenotbeenproventoprotectspeciesfromextinction–especiallyasoutlined“theuniquenessoftheregion’sbiodiversitymeansthatitmustoftenbeconservedinplace”
o TheDoPneedtoactuallylistentothisadviceandplantonotencroachoncriticalhabitat.
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Page52.Figure12.FocusAreasforSustainingRegionalHabitatConnectivity“Enhanceconnectivitythroughrehabilitationofminessites”“Sustainconnectivitythroughrurallandmanagement”“Sustainconnectivitythroughwhole-of-lifecycleplanningformining”“Enhanceconnectivitythroughdeliveryofurbantransportinfrastructure”“Sustainconnectivitythroughdeliveryofgreenfieldreleaseareas”
• Whereis“Sustainconnectivitythroughprotectinghabitat”?• ThepurposeofthisFigureisnotclear-asthetitleis‘sustaininghabitatconnectivity’andyetitfocuses
ontransportconnectivity• Miningisincompatiblewithsustaininghabitatconnectivity• ‘Greenfieldrelease’isactuallylandclearingandisalsonotcompatiblewithsustaininghabitat
connectivitynorcarbonabatement• Relianceonminingrehabilitationtoenhanceconnectivityisnotviable–goingonhistoricalefforts.• WhatrurallandmanagementactivitieswillbesupportedbytheNSWGovernmenttoenhance
connectivity?
HunterCityPlanPage16-17.ObjectivesfortheHunterCityGreenGrid“identifiesnewopenspaceinlandreleaseareas”
• TheGreenGridpicturesanddescriptionsarepromisinghowevertheydonotrelatetoanydetailinthe
Plan.o WhenwilltheplanningdetailandmechanismsbehindontheHunterCityGreenGridbe
exhibited?o Howwillactivitiessuchaspromotinggreenskillsandencouraginglocalfoodproduction,
healthyeating,improvingairquality,urbangreening,actuallybeeffectedbytheNSWGovernment?
• Aretheidentified“newopenspaceinlandreleaseareas”actuallyremnantcreeklinesandsteepareasnotabletobebuilton?Willthesebeviablehabitatsoncethelandis“released”andbuiltupon?
• Smallerlotsizes,urbanconsolidationandincreaseintownhousesandbuildingheightsinsomeareasarenotdiscussedinthePlanandshouldbeexploredinsteadoftheunsustainableexpansionintoNewcastleandtheHunter’sremainingnativebushland.
• Alongwiththeover-clearingofhabitat,weedsandanimalpests,climatechangewillincreasinglyimpactontheresilienceofnativespeciestosurviveextinction.Allremainingcriticalhabitatsshouldbeexcludedfromdevelopmenttoensurespeciessurvivalinthelongter,
o Pleasedefineinplanningtermswhatisan“unavoidableimpact?”Andwhathasbeentheroleofplanninginsuchcases?
o Whataretheactualsiteswhereplanninghasalreadydecideddevelopmentwilloccurdespitetheimpactsonbiodiversity?Isthereamap?
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ClimatechangeadaptationChangestoclimateandweatherpatternsarealreadyoccurring,andwillincreaseinseverityduetothelagtimeforgreenhousegaspollutionthatisalreadyintheatmosphere.CoastalcommunitiessuchasNewcastle,LakeMacquarieandPortStephens,areparticularlyvulnerabletosealevelrise,coastalerosionandstormsurge.Awayfromthecoastwildfireanddroughtarethreatstolifeandproduction.Theeffectsofincreasedfloodingeventsandextremeheatwillalsohavenegativehealtheffectsonallhumanandanimalpopulations.TheSternReview–theEconomicsofClimateChange2006warnedthatmitigatingclimatechangewouldbealessdisruptiveandlessexpensiveapproachtoclimatechange,thancarryingonwithbusinessasusualandrelyingonexpensiveadaptationmeasures.TheReviewestimatedthattheeconomicimpactofunmitigatedclimatechangewouldcostbetween5%and20%ofeachnationsannualGDP–largelyininfrastructureadaptationsandemergencyresponses.• TheHunterPlansandtheAdaptNSWwebsiteindicatethattheNSWGovernmentistakingthemore
expensiveanddisruptiveapproachtoclimatechangebyrelyingonadaptationinsteadofmitigation-andnotmovingawayfromfossilfuelmininganduses.
HunterPlanPage71.Direction4.3Buildtheregion’sresiliencetonaturalhazards• ClimatechangeadaptationisnotexplicitlyaddressedinthePlans.Allmattersrelatingtoadaptationare
housedunderthe‘naturalhazards’section–withnoconceptuallinkmadebetweenanthropogenicgreenhousepollutionandtheincreaseinseverityof‘naturalhazards’.Readingthissection,it’sasiftheclimateisjustchangingallbyitselffornoparticularreason.
Page73.“Councilswillremainpredominantlyresponsibleforidentifyingandmanagingthesethreats.TheNSWGovernmentwillsupportcouncilstodevelopevidenceandprovidestrategicadvicetoinformdecision-making.”Page74.Bluebox-CoastalReformProcess“Sustainablefundingandfinancingarrangements…basedonasetofcost-sharingprinciplestofairlyandtransparentlyidentifywhobenefitsfromproposedcoastalmanagementactionsandwhoshouldcontributetothecosts.Tosupportthenewapproach,theOfficeofEnvironmentandHeritagewillreviewvariousfundingandfinancingmechanismsforusebycouncils.”
• ThefocusoncoalandgasdevelopmentinthisPlanwilldriveclimatechangeand‘naturalhazards’thatrequireadaptationandyettheNSWGovernmentseemstobewashingitshandsoftheimpacts.
• Beyondprovidingdatamanagementanddecision-makingtools,itappearsthattheDoPandStateGovernmentisleavingadaptationmeasures(“naturalhazards”)toLocalGovernment,fortheexpensiveandpoliticallychallengingtaskofplanningforadaptationmeasuresisnotfeasible.
o Arecoastalcommunitieslikelytobeseenasthosewho“benefit”fromcoastalmanagementactionsandtobethoseimposedupontofundthesemeasuresthroughratesorlevies?
o Whatisthetimelineforproduction/exhibitionoftheOEHfundingmechanism?o Hastheconceptof'polluterpays'beencanvassedtofundclimateadaptation/response?
• Respondingtotheeffectsofextremeheatfromclimatechangeisnotaddressedatallintheplan.
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RecommendationsinrelationtoClimateChangeAdaptation• WecallontheNSWGovernmenttostopexacerbatingtheriskofclimatechangebyincreasingcoaland
gasminingandreducethelong-termexpenseanddifficultyofclimatechangeadaptation• Refundingandfinancingarrangementsforcoastalmanagementstrategies(akaclimatechange
adaptationmeasures)o Atimelineforthedevelopmentofthesefundingarrangementshouldbeindicated.o Theonusfordeliveringandfundingadaptationmeasuresshouldnotbeonlocal
governmentoraffectedcommunitieso Apolluterpaysmechanismshouldbeexploredandreportedupon
• PlanningforrisingsealevelsandtheprotectionofforeshoreinfrastructureandcommunitiesshouldbeexplicitlyoutlinedinthePlans
• PlanningfortheeffectsofextremeheatfromclimatechangeshouldbeexplicitlyoutlinedinthePlans• Supportingcouncilsshouldinclude:
o fundingtodesignandbuildnewinfrastructureo politicalandorganisationalsupportifplannedcoastalretreatisrequired
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UsefulnewsandreferencesAfewreallygoodplansAP2AnewclimatechangestrategyandactionplanforACThttp://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/581136/AP2_Sept12_PRINT_NO_CROPS_SML.pdfIncludeschapterson:
- Meeting2020emissionsreductiontarget- Reducingresidentialsectoremissions- Ensuringafairsocietyinalowcarboneconomy- Reducingnon-residentialsectoremissions- Reducingtransportsectoremissions- TransitioningtoLargeScaleRenewableEnergy- Developingacleaneconomy- Adaptingtoclimatechange
GreenVancouver-websitehttp://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver.aspx GreenVancouverCityStrategyhttp://vancouver.ca/files/cov/renewable-city-strategy-booklet-2015.pdf “Goal–toget100%ofourenergyfromrenewablesourcesbefore2050Already the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per person of any major North American city.” Climatechange–theurgencyforactionUnburnableCarbon–whyweneedtoleavefossilfuelsinthegroundhttp://www.climatecouncil.org.au/unburnable-carbon-why-we-need-to-leave-fossil-fuels-in-the-groundTrueShocker–spikeinglobaltemperaturesstunsscientists-SMH13March2016http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/true-shocker-spike-in-global-temperatures-stuns-scientists-20160313-gni10t.htmlClimatechangewillhitAustraliaharderthanrestofworldstudyshows26January2016http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/26/climate-change-will-hit-australia-harder-than-rest-of-world-study-showsNSWGovernmentClimateChangeMaterialsNSWGovernmentActiononClimateChangehttp://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/About-climate-change-in-NSW/NSW-Government-action-on-climate-change
• allaboutadaptationandgearinguptorespondtoemergencyevents• nothingonclimatechangemitigation
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
ObservedGlobalClimateChangehttp://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/About-climate-change-in-NSW/Evidence-of-climate-change/Observed-global-climate-change
• Goodstatementsandlinksclearlyoutliningclimatechangebeinghumaninducedandanurgentissue
• ThereisnoresponsetothisintheHunterPlanCausesofClimateChangehttp://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/About-climate-change-in-NSW/Causes-of-climate-change
• Thispagespellsoutanthropogenicclimatechange• NoattempthasbeenmadetoaddressanythisintheHunterPlan.
NSWEmissions–GreenhouseGasAccountinghttp://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/About-climate-change-in-NSW/NSW-emissions/Greenhouse-gas-accounting
• ThispagespellsouttheemissionssourcesofNSWNoattempthasbeenmadetoaddressanyoftheseintheHunterPlan.
CoalandstrandedassetsAneyetothefutureascoalslidesdownhill–NewcastleHeraldEditorialMartinRush8March2016http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3777787/an-eye-to-the-future-as-coal-slides-downhill/Abbottbetshouseoncoal,aspricecrashes.AndPlanBis?http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/coal-price-crashes-abbott-relies-fossils-plan-bMining,oilandgastofacefurtherheadwindsintheNewYearasChinaslowshttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-04/2016-mine-oil-gas-outlook-subdued/7063246CoalSeamGas-strandedassetsandsociallicenceAGLenergyabandonsgasproductionandexplorationhttp://www.smh.com.au/business/energy/agl-energy-abandons-gas-production-and-exploration-20160203-gml73w.htmlNoShortTermGasSupplyExpected-AustralianEnergyMarketOperatorreportApril2015http://www.aemo.com.au/News-and-Events/News/News/2015-Gas-Statement-of-OpportunitiesTheDashforGasCouldSeeDemandInNewSouthWalesFallToHalf-TAIhttp://www.tai.org.au/content/dash-gas-could-demand-new-south-wales-fall-halfCoalSeamGasbytheNumbers–ABChttp://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/coal-seam-gas-by-the-numbers/“Coalseamgasusesenormousamountsofwater,oneofAustralia'sscarcestresources.”“Coalseamgasminingproduceshugeamountsofchemicalsandsaltasbyproducts”
CLIMATE ACTION NEWCASTLE INC • PO Box 2359 Dangar 2309 • t/f 8588 1260 • www.climateaction.org.au
Coalseamgasandsociallicencetooperate–UniversityofMelbournehttp://www.icpublicpolicy.org/conference/file/reponse/1435215007.pdfCoalseamgasdebateismorethanhotair–UniversityofMelbournehttps://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/coal-seam-gas-debate-is-more-than-hot-airPublicTransportGeneratedTrafficandInducedTravel–implicationsfortransportplanning.Litman2015http://www.vtpi.org/gentraf.pdf“Trafficcongestiontendstomaintainequilibrium.Congestionreachesapointatwhichitconstrainsfurthergrowthinpeak-periodtrips.Ifroadcapacityincreases,thenumberofpeak-periodtripsalsoincreasesuntilcongestionagainlimitsfurthertrafficgrowth.Theadditionaltraveliscalled“generatedtraffic.”Generatedtrafficconsistsofdivertedtraffic(tripsshiftedintime,routeanddestination),andinducedvehicletravel(shiftsfromothermodes,longertripsandnewvehicletrips).Researchindicatesthatgeneratedtrafficoftenfillsasignificantportionofcapacityaddedtocongestedurbanroad.”RenewableenergyBZERenewableEnergySuperPowerhttp://media.bze.org.au/resp/bze_superpower_plan.pdfRenewableenergyjobsfallby27%overfouryearshttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/15/renewable-energy-jobs-fall-27-four-yearsNSWRenewableEnergyhttp://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/537197/NSW-Renewable-Energy-Action-Plan-Annual-Report-2014.pdf“TheNSWGovernmenthasreiterateditssupportfortheachievementofanational20%(41,000gigawatthours)RenewableEnergyTarget(RET)overanextendedperiodoftimeinasubmissiontotheRETreview.TheRETlowersthecostofenergyforcustomers;supportsacompetitivemarket;assistsinenergysecuritythroughdiversification;andmanagestherisksassociatedwithrisinggasprices.IwouldliketothanktheAustralianRenewableEnergyAgency(ARENA)andtheCleanEnergyFinanceCorporation(CEFC)fortheirextensivesupportofinnovativeprojectsinNSW.”http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/about-us/news/2015/five-minutes-with-amy-kean“..thelocalenergytradingtrialinWilloughbyCityandByronShireCouncils.Theprojectaimstoleveltheplayingfieldforlocalenergyandprovideeconomicbenefittocommunitieswithsmall-scalesolar.Iwouldliketoseeamethodologyestablishedforcalculatinglocalnetworkchargesandrulechangestoimproveopportunitiesforsmall-scaleelectricitygeneratorstodistributeandsellelectricitylocallyusingcost-reflectivepricing arrangements. BiodiversityOffsettingDoesoffsettingworktomakeupforhabitatlosttomininghttp://theconversation.com/does-offsetting-work-to-make-up-for-habitat-lost-to-mining-27699