7 August 2010
A second quarry for Williamsdale?
Williamsdale farmers, Brett and Michael McDonald, have announced plans for a second quarry on their land at Williamsdale. The news of this proposed hard rock quarry was publicised on ABC radio earlier this week when the McDonalds made a new pitch to change the route of the water pipeline to Googong Dam.
According to the McDonalds, the current alignment of ACTEW's planned water pipeline from the Murrumbidgee River to Googong dam would "sterilise" a potential rock quarry on the farm. They say the proposed quarry would be worth around $1 billion to a developer and $2.6 million in royalties to them and have called for increased compensation from ACTEW. Brett McDonald says ACTEW intitially told them it would pay $10,000 for removing the accesss.
ACTEW and local residents say that this is the first they have heard of the quarry reserve and the McDonald's plans to exploit the resource.
Speaking on ABC radio, ACTEW Chief, Mike Sullivan, said that he believed that the announcement of the proposed quarry was a "
negotiating position, in terms of the compensation for the easement".
The existing quarry on the McDonalds land, which is currently operated by Hansons, was established in the late 1990s. It was the subject of objections from local residents of both Burra and Williamsdale. Yarrowlumla Shire Council approved the development application for the quarry.
Related links:
7 August 2010
Field of eight to contest Eden Monaro
Eight candidates will contest the seat of Eden Monaro at the Federal Election to be held on 21 August 2010.
The field includes the sitting Member, Dr Mike Kelly (ALP), Burra resident David Gazard (Liberal), and Palerang Councillor Catherine Moore (Greens). The other candidates are from the Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group), Liberal Democrats (LDP), Family First and two Independents candidates.
Dr Kelly won the seat in 2007 with a recorded swing of 6.7%. An electoral boundary change during this term of Parliament, which removed the area around Tumut and added in the coast town of Bateman 's Bay, has resulted in his margin cut to 2.3%.
The candidates as they will appear on the ballot paper are:
Candidate |
Party |
Website |
| QUILTY , Olga |
Liberal Democrats (LDP) |
LDP website |
KELLY, Mike |
ALP |
MikeKelly.alp.org.au |
GAZARD, David |
Liberal |
David Gazard |
FRAGIACOMO, Frank |
Independent |
|
BUCKLEY, Ray |
Independent |
|
GRADWELL, Tom |
Family First |
|
BENNETT, Ursula |
Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) |
|
MOORE Catherine |
The Greens |
greens.org.au/edenmonaro |
Related links:
16 May 2010
Burra resident to contest Eden-Monaro
Burra resident, David Gazard, has won Liberal Party preselection to contest the marginal Electorate of Eden-Monaro at the federal election due later this year.
Mr Gazard is a former journalist and previously worked as a press secretary for John Howard, Tony Abbott and Peter Costello while the Coalition was in government. He is founding parter of
founding partners of Advise, a specialist communications and government relations consultancy. Mr Gazard is a regular contributor to the online opinion forum, The Punch.
After winning preselection, Mr Gazard told the Sydney Morning Herald that he believed that the seat can be won from Labor.
"My experience in politics tells me that every fight is tough ... but I've just got to get my head down and do what I need to do," he said.
"People in the seat are fed up with the waste and mismanagement they've seen from this government," he said, raising concerns about the botched insulation scheme, government debt, and rising interest rates.
Eden-Monaro is held by Labor's Mike Kelly who secured a 6.7% swing in the 2007 election to take the seat from the sitting member Gary Nairn. A electoral boundary redistribution since the last election has resulted in Kelly's 3.4% margin being trimmed to an estimated 2.3%. The new electoral boundaries include Bateman's Bay (previously in the electorate of Gilmore) and a loss of Tumut and Tumbarumba, which return to the electorate of Riverina.
Palerang Councillor and former deputy Mayor, Catherine Moore will contest the election as The Greens candidate. Ms Moore has previously contested the State seat of Monaro on behalf of The Greens.
Related links
10 March 2010
Rural residents raise concerns about proposed zoning options in Palerang LEP
Palerang Councillor, Dr Anne Goonan, has written an open letter to residents regardinzoning options in the new Palerang Local Environment Plan (LEP):
You may be aware that currently Council is working on the preparation of the first Palerang Local Environmental Plan (LEP). Since amalgamation, Palerang council has been working with multiple LEPs inherited from its different shires such as Yarrowlumla and Tallaganda.
The basic LEP template/document is provided by NSW Department of Planning, and is the same for all NSW Councils — with mandatory sections and clauses where Councils can put their own 'stamp' on the document by adding in specific additional requirements.
The NSW Government template has range of zones to allow for many different types of land usage with objectives that characterize each particular zone. Zones can be included or excluded as appropriate.
What is concerning residents is the apparent rezoning by Palerang staff of the current rural residential areas to Zone E4 — Environmental Living, while another rural-residential type zone, Zone RU4 - Rural Small Holdings, has been excluded (see descriptions of these zones below).
On the Palerang website you can see the starting LEP document currently under discussion. Council additions are in red print, and though small and hard to read, there are maps at the back of the document (bigger maps can be seen at the Council offices).
If you have concerns about the zones that are being applied to your land, you have an opportunity at this early stage to have your say, either addressing Council/Councillors at one of the Extraordinary Meetings being held for LEP disucssions.
You can also email Council and all Councillors, or write to the General Manager at PO Box 348 , Bungendore NSW 2621.
This is an important stage in getting the basics right — before the 'Draft' leaves Council hands.
Please be proactive if you have concerns about how your land will be zoned, and make your views known.
Cr Anne Goonan
About Zone E4 —Environmental Living zone
The Zone E4- Environmental Living zone has two mandatory objectives (see first two dot points below). Palerang additions are in italics. Activities are also listed.
-
to provide for low-impact residential development in areas with special ecological, scientific or aesthetic values;
-
to ensure that residential development does not have an adverse effect on those values.
-
To encourage the retention of the remaining evidence of significant historic and social values expressed in existing landscape and land use patterns.
-
To minimise the proliferation of buildings and development that is visually intrusive and ensure compatibility with the existing landscape character
-
To ensure that the development and management of the land has proper regard for the environmental constraints of the land and has a neutral or beneficial impact on environmental assets including waterways, riparian land, wetlands and other surface and groundwater resources, soil fertility, remnant native vegetation, and potential and existing fauna movement corridors
-
To provide for the effective management of remnant native vegetation, including native vegetation regeneration, noxious and environmental weed eradication, and bush fire hazard reduction
-
To ensure that development does not unreasonably increase the demand for public services or public facilities
-
To minimise conflict between land uses within the zone and land uses within adjoining zones
(2) Permitted without consent
Home occupations
(3) Permitted with consent
Bed and breakfast accommodation; Building identification signs; Businessidentification signs; Cellar door premises; Community facilities; Dwelling houses ; Dual occupancies; Earthworks; Electricity generating works;Emergency services facilities ; Environmental protection works; Extensive agriculture; Farm buildings; Flood mitigation works; Home based child care;Home business; Home industries; Intensive plant agriculture; Neighbourhood shops; Places of public worship; Recreation areas; Roads; Roadside stalls;Secondary dwellings; Waste or resource transfer stations; Water recycling facilities
Prohibited
Industries; Service stations; Turf farming; Warehouse or distribution centres;
Any other development not specified in item 2 or 3
About Zone RU4 — Rural Small Holdings
The other rural residential type zone (Zone RU4 - Rural Small Holdings) that has so far been excluded from the current LEP draft has the following mandatory objectives:
-
To enable sustainable primary industry and other compatible land uses.
-
To maintain the rural and scenic character of the land.
-
To ensure that development does not unreasonably increase the demand for public services or public facilities.
-
To minimize conflict between land uses within the zone and land uses within adjoining zones.
9 February 2009
Palerang seeks comments on working-draft LEP
Palerang Council will hold the first of several special council meetings this Thursday to consider the working draft of the Local Environment Plan (LEP).
Palerang Deputy Mayor, Richard Graham has written to residents seeking their views on the newly-released Draft Local Environment Plan (LEP). With his agreement, we publish the text of his letter to residents:
Dear Constituents and Friends,
I'm writing to bring your attention to the business papers for a special series of Council meetings that begin this Thursday [11 February 2010]. This is the first time that the councillors will be considering the working-draft LEP document prepared by the planning staff.
You may be interested in perusing the draft document and see not only what is proposed for the whole of the shire but also your own property. The internet link to the document is below. From the maps starting on page 108 you should be able to locate your property and see what zoning the staff propose (note the zone letters such as RU1 or R2). Then starting at the bottom of page 19 you'll find the proposed land uses for your zone. This section sets out what will be permissible and not permissible.
With regards to subdivision, you can find staff's minimum lot size proposal starting at the bottom of page 8. Additional proposed conditions begin at page 50.
The meeting is open to the public and starts at 4pm and you are welcome to attend. You are also welcome to speak (up to 3 minutes) at the start of the meeting if you would like to make any comments about the proposal, whether generally or specifically about your property. If you also have any particular zoning recommendations or requests that you would like the councillors to consider, you could let us know your thoughts.
Presently the meetings are scheduled to be the second and forth Thursday of the month until the work is completed. It's not certain how many meetings will be required - it could be several or we might be surprised and it only takes a few. So if you have something, which you what to have considered, I suggest you get it into the discussion as soon as possible.
I'm writing to you as an individual councillor and not as an official Council communication. I wanted to make sure you and other interested parties didn't miss out on this very important process that will shape the development, lifestyle and economic aspirations possible in Palerang for years to come.
All the best,
Richard Graham
Related links:
6 January 2010
Federal Government announces digital TV plans
The Federal Government has announced plans to
implement a satellite service to provide digital television to viewers in regional blackspot areas.
Under the plan,
all free-to-air digital television services, including the original three commercial and two national channels, as well as new digital services such as ABC2, ABC3, SBS TWO, GO!, 7TWO and ONE HD, will be available to all Australians.
The satellite service will provide regional viewers with access to the local news currently broadcast in their TV licence area via a dedicated local news channel. Under an agreement reached with all television broadcasters across Australia, broadcasters will upgrade more than 100 existing regional analog 'self-help' transmission facilities to operate in digital, while the Government will fully fund and build a new digital satellite broadcasting service for regional viewers who are unable to receive digital television from those facilities.
The TV antenna on Mt Urila is classified as a 'self-help' transmission faciliity (maintained by Palerang Council), but it is unknown if it will be one of the sites to be upgraded.
The Government is currently consulting with broadcasters to identify the list of 'self-help' sites to be upgraded to digital for announcement in the first half of 2010.
According to a media release issued by the Minister for
Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, viewers who currently rely on 'self-help' sites that will be upgraded by broadcasters under this agreement will simply need to install a high definition set-top-box to access a full suite of digital television channels.
Any regional households not able to receive digital television from the upgraded 'self-help' sites will be served by the new satellite, which will also carry the full suite of digital channels. In order to access the new satellite service, these households will need to install a satellite dish.
"The Government will provide a satellite conversion subsidy to eligible households currently served by 'self-help' transmission sites which are not upgraded to digital by the broadcasters," Senator Conroy said. About 155,000 households in areas across Australia where councils have funded retransmission towers will be entitled to a $300 subsidy on a satellite receiver that would normally cost about $600.
The analog signal in Canberra and surrounding areas is to be switched off in the first half of 2012. Approximately 350 households in Burra and Urila would benefit from the digital upgrade to the TV antenna on Mt Urila.
Related links:
1 January 2010
Are you connected?
NSW Parliamentary committee seeks the views of the bush
The NSW Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Broadband in Rural and Regional Services is conducting an inquiry into the availability of telecommunications (including broadband) and other technology services in rural and regional communities.
The inquiry has a particular focus on:
-
Differences between advertised service availability and consumer experiences of service levels;
-
Gaps in service provision in particular regions; and
- Options for improving service availability.
Submissions from individuals, groups and suppliers are invited. Submissions close on 26 February 2010.
For more information about the inquiry, visit the inquiry home page on the NSW Parliament website.
1 January 2010 Transforming Life Outside Cities: the Potential of Broadband Services
The NSW Legislative Assembly's Broadband in Rural and Regional Communities Committee is conducting an inquiry into the benefits and opportunities for rural and regional communities of having access to telecommunications (including broadband) and other technology services.
The committee is seeking submissions from the public with a particular focus on:
-
improving government services and efficiency in service delivery, including in the areas of education, health and justice services;
-
improving the level of engagement of rural and regional communities in public life through new technologies; and
- investigating the potential economic benefits from new technology on commercial and business opportunities in rural and regional communities.
Submissions close on 26 February 2010. For more information, visit the inquiry home page on the NSW Parliament's website.
24 November 2009 ACTEW considering "early upstream" outfall option
ACTEW is conducting environmental studies into an "early upstream" outfall of the the proposed Murrumbidge to Googong water pipeline into the Burra Creek at the end of Williamsdale Road. A number of submissions from the public favouring this option were presented to ACTPLA and the NSW Department of Planning during the public exhibition period for the project's EA and EIS.
The early upstream option is an alternative to the current proposal to build the outfall into Burra Creek near the bridge on Burra Road. If adopted, up to seven private properties in Macdiamid and Lagoon Roads would be be spared from having the pipeline easement and associated earthworks. This section of the pipeline is particularly contentious for landholders as it passes close to existing homes and would see the construction of eight noisy air valves.
The early upstream outfall is proposed for Burra Creek near to and upstream of the low-level vehicle crossing on Williamsdale Road (see photo below). A mini-hydro generation plant that will generate approximately 30% of the electricity used to pump the water would be constructed on the disused part of Williamsdale Road that was by-passed when the road was realigned in 2007. A schematic drawing of the alternative outfall and mini-hydro plant supplied by ACTEW's Water Security Project is available to download in PDF format (204KB).
Above: Site of proposed "early upstream" outfall into Burra Creek, near the low-level crossing on Williamsdale Road. Burra Road can be seen on the other side of the creek.
Below: Site of proposed mini-hydro plant near the proposed "early upstream" outfall for the Murrumbidgee to Googong pipeline. The hydro plant would be set into the cut and screened from view with plants and some earth mounding.
The early upsteam outfall option would reduce the length of the pipeline by approximately 1.7 km. This will result in significant savings for ACTEW in the form of reduced construction costs and fewer landholders to compensate for loss of amenity and disruption during the construction period. ACTEW have indicated that they would negotiate with landholders to undertake the rehabilitation of approximately 2km of Burra Creek downstream from Williamsdale Road including weed eradication, planting suitable indigenous vegetation, and the stabilising the creek bank in two locations. This work would be in addition to the proposed community legacy funds that are to be made available.
Other benefits of the early upstream outfall are:
-
Removing the need for blasting near Lagoon homestead;
-
Reduced traffic hazards on Burra Road during the construction process, especially where the pipeline would pass under the road near the bridge; and
-
Reduced risk to European heritage sites such as the original Lagoon homestead site;
ACTEW's Water Security Project will be consulting directly with landholders near to the proposed early upstream outfall and Native Title owners of crown land. ACTEW are are keen to hear community views on the early upstream option. Further information about this proposal, including artist/architectual impressions of the outfall and mini-hydro plant are being prepared for public exhibition.
For further information contact Adina Cirson, Community Engagement and
Stakeholder Management Leader, ACTEW
Water Security Project on
6248 3563 or via email at watersecurity@actew.com.au Related links
10 November 2009
Palerang releases rural lot size discussion paper
Palerang Council staff have prepared a discussion paper on rural lot size averaging to inform the long-awaited Palerang LEP.
The discussion paper was presented to Council at its meeting on 5 November. It notes that the LEP standard instrument
controls all subdivision by the use of a minimum lots size provision and a lot size
map. There is currently no average lot size standard clause in the standard
instrument. The NSW Department of Planning has indicated that rural lot size averaging was unlikely to be allowed in new LEPs and that the
Department intended to release a guideline or practice note to this effect.
The Cooma-
Monaro LEP 1999 (Rural) and the Yarrowlumla LEP 2002 are
understood to be the only LEPs in NSW to apply averaging in the general rural zone,
although averaging provisions applying in rural residential zones are a feature of 22
rural LEPs.
The discussion paper canvasses advantages and disadvantages of minimum lot sizes versus average lot sizes under the broad headings of administrative/planning, environmental and agricultural.
The paper is available to download as part of the Business Papers for Palerang's November meeting (PDF 2 MB). The rural lot size discussion paper and associated information starts at page 103.
13 October 2009
Queanbeyan seeks community views on Edwin Land Parkway extension
Queanbeyan City Council (QCC) is giving the community a chance to have their say on the extension of Edwin Land Parkway by placing the plans on public exhibition for 30 days, beginning on Tuesday 13 October 2009. During this time residents will be able to view the plans, gather information and comment on its construction. Plans will be on display at the Queanbeyan Library at 257 Crawford St, Karabar Shopping Centre, and Jerrabomberra Shopping Centres during the consultation period.
Council will also be holding two public information sessions where residents will have the opportunity to look at the plans and ask QCC Council officers about the project. The first session will be held on Tuesday 27 October between 3pm and 7pm at the Queanbeyan Conference Centre, 253 Crawford St and the second on Thursday 29 October at the Jerrabomberra Community Centre between 6pm and 7.30pm.
The Edwin Land Parkway extension will be a two-lane single carriageway road which will extend from the existing termination point of Edwin Land Parkway located at the roundabout on Numeralia/Stringybark Drive in Jerrabomberra and connect through to Old Cooma Road just south of Candlebark Road past Barracks Creek Bridge in Karabar.
Work will also include realignment of Old Cooma Road. This will involve a new crossing over Barracks Creek, straightening the road and raising the road approximately one metre. This will improve the alignment and safety of Old Cooma Road. The intersection of Old Cooma Road and Edwin Land Parkway will be a controlled intersection using traffic lights.
The road will be constructed as a single carriageway to match the existing Edwin Land Parkway, with the exception of an additional slow lane for the climb from Old Cooma Rd.
The new section of Edwin Land Parkway will be approximately 2.3km in length and will have street lighting along the entire alignment. There will be an off-road cycle and pedestrian path constructed to join with the existing path on Edwin Land Parkway.
In Jerrabomberra, the roundabout on Numeralia/Stringybark Drive will remain in place. Along its route, work will include the construction of noise barriers, installation of double-glazed windows in two-storey properties and landscaping including the planting of shrubs.
Related links:
12 October 2009
Consideration, but no date for Mt Urila digital TV upgrade
The Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has responded to BURRA's request for funding assistance to upgrade the analog television transmitter on Mt Urila to a digital signal.
In a letter sent to Dr Mike Kelly MP, Senator Conroy has confirmed that households in Burra and Urila have been identified as areas likely to experience "deficit digital signal reception" when the analog signal is switched off in the first half of 2012. Over 350 households in Burra and Urila would benefit from the upgrade.
The Minister has established a Digital Switchover Taskforce within the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy to coordinate Australia's conversion to digital television. The Taskforce will examine the digital conversion of analog self-help retransmission facilities, such as the transmitter on Mt Urila, provided under the Television Black Spots Program.
BURRA is seeking an early decision on the transmitter upgrade so that households can make informed decisions about upgrading their receiving equipment for a digital signal. Some households have been quoted over $1000 for the necessary antenna and electronic equipment to pick up the signal from Black Mountain Tower. This substantial committment by numerous households may not be necessary if the Mt Urila transmitter is upgraded.
Palerang Council, who has responsibility for routine maintenance to the transmitter on Mt Urila and another at Captains Flat have advised that they do not have the $70,000 available to complete the upgrade to the two transmitters. Palerang considers that the upgrade is not routine maintenance but capital expenditure. No budget has been allocated for this work in Palerang’s 2009-10 Draft Management Plan and Budget.
BURRA thanks Dr Kelly for his support and will continue to seek further information about this matter.
Related links:
5 October 2009
ACTEW to respond to EIS issues
Public submissions on the Murrumbidgee to Googong Water Transfer Environmental Assessment have now closed. ACTEW has begun preparing responses to the submissions received and are aiming to finalise and resubmit the EIS/EA before the end of 2009.
A number of issues for ACTEW to address were raised in both the submissions and the information sessions held at the end of August and the first week in September. One issue which was raised by the community was the location, noise emission and operation of air and scour valves that are located at the high and low points of the pipeline. ACTEW is preparing a fact sheet on these valves for distribution in the near future.
ACTEW is continuing negotiations with directly affected landowners about construction access and easement acquisition for some local Williamsdale and Burra properties. ACTEW requires a temporary 40 metre width for construction, and a permanent 15 metre wide operational easement following completion of the project (approximately 18 months from commencement of construction). ACTEW has prepared a Community Update which is available to download here (PDF 118 kb).
Related links:
17 September 2009
Time extended for comments on ACTEW Pipeline
ACTEW have advised that the NSW Department of Planning will accept late submissions on the Murrumbidgee to Googong Water pipeline proposal.
Submissions will now be accepted until 2 October, 2009. The previously advertised closing date was Friday, 18 September 2009.
The formal public exhibition period closes this coming Friday, 18 September 2009 in both the ACT and NSW. The Environmental Assessment continues to be available for download on the ACTEW Water Security project website, ACTPLA website, or the NSW Department of Planning website.
The ACTEW project team are available to answer questions or provide further information about the project. First point of contact is Adina Cirson (telephone 02 6248 3563) or by email to watersecurity@actew.com.au.
ACTEW have advised that they will continue to be available for briefings, presentations or meetings upon request. Regular updates are also posted to the ACTEW Water Security - Major Projects Website
Related links:
5 September 2009
Walter Raynolds elected Palerang Mayor At its September meeting, Palerang Councillors elected
Cr Walter Raynolds as Mayor and Cr Richard Graham as Deputy Mayor for 2009-10
Cr Raynolds first became a Tallaganda Shire Councillor in 1988 and has since served on numerous committees, external organisations and representative bodies throughout his local government career.
Cr Raynolds thanked Councillors for their support in electing him Mayor, adding that it made him feel very humble.
Cr Graham, of Mulloon, was elected to Palerang Council in the local government general elections in 2008. Cr Graham stood as an independent at that election and won his seat on Council with the highest personal vote in the poll.
The positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected annually by Palerang Councillors.
Outgoing Mayor Cr Ian Marjason announced at the August meeting of Palerang Council that
for personal reasons he would not be seeking re-election as Mayor and would not be recontesting his seat on Palerang Council at the next Local Government elections due to be held in 2012. Cr Marjason has served on Palerang Council since its formation in 2004 and was elected Mayor in 2008. He was previously a Councillor and Mayor of Yarrowlumla Shire Council.
Related links:
13 August 2009
Pipeline EIS public exhibition date confirmed
ACTEW have confirmed that the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Murrmbidgee to Googong Transfer project will be on public exhibition from Monday, 17 August 2009.
Both the EA and EIS will be placed on public exhibition in NSW and the ACT for a minimum of 30 days and interested parties will be invited to make submissions.
ACTEW's Water Secruity Pipeline Project will be holding two community "drop-in" information sessions in the Burra Hall in late August. The session date and times are:
- Thursday, 27 August 2009, 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm; and
- Saturday, 29 August 2009, 10 am to 12.00 pm
ACTEW's information sessions are designed to give members of the community an opportunity to inspect detailed plans and ask questions of the Water Security Project team in attendance. Members of the community are invited to drop in at any time during opening hours on either day.
The Water Security Project will also be holding community drop-in information sessions in Canberra and Queanbeyan:
-
Olims Hotel Canberra, Corner of Ainslie and Limestone Ave, Braddon, ACT Tuesday 25 August, 11am-2pm
-
Tuggeranong Community Centre, 245 Cowlishaw Street, Greenway, ACT Tuesday 1 September, 10am-1pm
- R.B Smith Community Centre, 262 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, NSW Thursday 3 September, 10am-1pm
Related link:
9 August 2009
Hazardous materials collection on 27 September
Palerang residents will be able to dispose of any hazardous household materials at a waste collection day at Burra Park on Sunday 27 September. The drop-off point will be at the recycling station at Burra Park and will be open between 8 am and 2:30 pm. Council staff will be in attendance.
Please note: Hazardous materials cannot be left at the recycling station at any other time.
Hazardous waste that can be disposed of on 27 September includes
paints, solvents, organo-chlorine pesticides, garden and home chemicals, old
medicines, gas bottles, fire extinguishers and batteries.
Quantities are limited to 20 litres or 20 kg and should be
clearly labelled and well sealed. If you do not know the contents, label the container 'UNKNOWN CHEMICAL'. Wherever possible keep all chemicals in their original containers and never mix chemicals as this may produce dangerous reactions.
This collection day is co-funded by Palerang Council and the
NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change.
Related link:
- Household Chemical CleanOut guide - includes in formation on labelling and the safe transportation of chemicals (NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change website)
7 August 2009
ACTEW Pipeline EIS community information sessions announced
ACTEW's Water Secruity Pipeline Project has announced that they will be holding two community "drop-in" information sessions for the Murrumbidgee to Googong Transfer (pipeline) Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the Burra Hall in late August.
The session date and times are:
- Thursday, 27 August 2009, 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm; and
- Saturday, 29 August 2009, 10 am to 12.00 pm
The Murrumbidgee to Googong Water Transfer Environmental Assessment (EA) is currently undergoing adequacy review by the NSW Department of Planning. Following this, the EA (NSW) and the Environmental Impact Statement (ACT) will be lodged.
Both the EA and EIS will be placed on public exhibition in NSW and the ACT for a minimum of 30 days and interested parties will be invited to make submissions. It is expected that public exhibition will commence the week beginning 17 August 2009, but confirmation of this date will be sought now that the community drop-in sessions have been scheduled.
ACTEW's information sessions planned for late August are designed to give members of the community an opportunity to inspect detailed plans and ask questions of the Water Security Project team in attendance. Members of the community are invited to drop in at any time during opening hours on either day.
The Water Security Project will also be holding community drop-in information sessions in Canberra and Queanbeyan:
-
Olims Hotel Canberra, Corner of Ainslie and Limestone Ave, Braddon, ACT Tuesday 25 August, 11am-2pm
-
Tuggeranong Community Centre, 245 Cowlishaw Street, Greenway, ACT Tuesday 1 September, 10am-1pm
-
R.B Smith Community Centre, 262 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, NSW Thursday 3 September, 10am-1pm
In related news, ACTEW Corporation has recently received advice that the NSW Government has declared the Murrumbidgee to Googong Water Transfer to be a critical infrastructure project under Section 75 of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. According to a statement on the Water Security website, this recognises the urgent need to implement the project for the benefit of the region. Further information about critical infrastructure status can be obtained on the NSW Department of Planning website at www.planning.nsw.gov.au
Further information about the EIS information sessions will be posted on the BURRA website when available.
Related link:
3 July 2009
ACTEW Pipeline EIS lodged for Adequacy review
ACTEW has lodged the Environmental Assessment in NSW for Adequacy review. This is a four week process.
ACTEW has advised that it anticipates that lodgement of the Environmental Impact Statement will occur simultaneously in NSW and ACT following this review. It this is the case, the Public Exhibition of the EIS / EA likely to begin around 20 August 2009. Community groups and individuals will have 4 weeks to comment on the EIS from the date it is lodged.
Speaking on 666ABC radio this morning, ACTEW's CEO Mark Sullivan said that the Murrumbidgee Catchment Group had asked for the environmental data early so that they had time to fully assess the reports and include this in their comments to the EIS.
If all approvals are given, ACTEW anticipate that construction will commence early 2010 and will take approximately 18 months until operational. ACTEW are still in negotiations with approximately 25 private landholders who will be directly affected by the pipeline traversing their properties.
Related link:
21 June 2009
Federal Minister to consider digital upgrade funding request
Federal MP for Eden-Monaro, Dr Mike Kelly, has referred BURRA's request for federal funding to upgrade the analog television transmitter on Mt Urila to Senator Stephen Conroy,
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy,
for consideration.
In a letter to BURRA dated 5 June 2009, Dr Kelly said that he had made representation to the Minister on the matter and would keep the community advised of progress. BURRA thanks Dr Kelly for his prompt action on this issue.
The analog television signal in Canberra and surrounds will be switched off sometime during the six month period starting 1 January 2012. BURRA is seeking an upgrade to a digital signal in advance of this date so that the many local families who rely on the signal can enjoy the benefits of digital television already available to metropolitan communities a short distance away. The Federal Government has recently made one-off funding grants to improve digital television reception in the Para Escarpment in South Australia, Broadford in Victoria, and King Island in Tasmania.
Palerang Council, who has responsibility for routine maintenance to the transmitter on Mt Urila and another at Captains Flat have advised that they do not have the $70,000 available to complete the upgrade to the two transmitters. No budget has been allocated for this work in Palerang’s 2009-10 Draft Management Plan and Budget.
4 June 2009
Digital upgrade funding sought
BURRA has written to Federal MP Mike Kelly seeking funding to upgrade the analog television transmitter in Burra to a digital signal.
In 2004, the Burra community was successful in obtaining Federal funds under the Television Black Spots Program (TVBSP) to install a television transmitter at Mt Urila. Many residents will remember the work put into this project by locals Betty Bearse and Rob Poole who organised a supporting petition, drafted and submitted the application (including a technical survey). Betty and Rob were also successful in lobbying the Commonwealth agency to amend their original decision and locate the transmitter Mt Urila in preference to Gibralter Hill as this would provide a service to the benefit of more residents.
The antenna on Mt Urila was commissioned in 2005 and continues to provide hundreds of households in Burra and Urila with a vastly improved television reception. When it was commissioned, some households received a free-to-air television signal for the first time. The transmitter is an analog-only signal. A digital signal is transmitted from Black Mountain Tower but due to the topography of Burra and Urila, some households cannot receive the signal without special installations and expensive equipment.
Under the terms of the installation, the Commonwealth Government provided funding for the infrastructure and Palerang Council assumed responsibility for the routine maintenance and the cost of the electricity supply. A transmitter at Captains Flat was installed under the same scheme.
The Australian Government has announced that all free-to-air television broadcasters in Australia will complete the switch from analog transmission to digital-only transmission by the end of 2013. The analog television signal in Canberra and surrounds will be switched off from 1 January 2012.
Palerang Council has advised that the upgrade to the two transmitters will cost $70,000 and have indicated that they do not have funds available to complete this work. No budget has been allocated for this work in Palerang’s 2009-10 Draft Management Plan and Budget.
An upgrade to a digital signal represents a change in technology, something that Palerang Council probably considers to be outside the scope of normal maintenance. While this may be a legitimate claim, the community at Burra wants to ensure that it is not left in a technology backwater. In terms of equity, other local government authorities in metropolitan areas are not required to fund upgrades to digital television signals from their resources.
While the switch-off date for the analog signal is over two years into the future, BURRA is seeking an upgrade to a digital signal in advance of this date so that the many local families who rely on the signal can enjoy the benefits of digital television already available to metropolitan communities a short distance away.
In response to a large number of emails and phone calls from local residents about the transmitter, BURRA contacted Palerang Council. The matter was raised at the Council meeting in December and more recently by telephone with Council officers. Based on Palerang's response, BURRA has written to Dr Mike Kelly, Federal Member for Eden Monaro, to seek Federal Government assistance for the upgrade.
The Federal Government has announced a number of initiatives to address inadequacies in other digital technologies in regional areas, such as broadband, but there does not appear to be any scheme to assist outlying communities to upgrade analog television transmitters to a digital signal. However, the Federal Government has recently made one-off funding grants to improve digital television reception in the Para Escarpment in South Australia, Broadford in Victoria, and King Island in Tasmania.
Residents of Burra and Urila who support this initiative are encouraged to write to Dr Kelly and Palerang Council to express their views.
Hon Dr Mike Kelly MP
Member for Eden-Monaro
PO Box 214
Queanbeyan NSW 2620
Tel: (02) 6284 2211
Fax: (02) 6284 2250
Email: mike.kelly.mp@aph.gov.au
Palerang Council
PO Box 348
Bungendore NSW 2621
Email: records@palerang.nsw.gov.au
Related links:
1 June 2009
Lake FM hits the Burra airwaves
Local wireless broadband provider, Yless4u in conjunction with Bywong resident Alex Colquitt has commissioned a low power FM radio transmitter operating on frequency 88mhz. The intended coverage area is the Burra Valley, with similar coverage to the local Burra TV translators.
The audio content is provided by Alex Colquitt, a resident of Bywong. The audio content is networked to the Mt Urila transmitter
site via the Yless4u network.
Currently, the audio feed is a generic Bywong/Palerang feed under the call sign of Lake FM. However, the capability of providing a specific audio feed has been incorporated
into the networking design. Yless4u are seeking feedback on whether a
specific Burra-centric audio feed is required or of interest to the Burra community.
The LakeFM website has a program guide, the current playlist, and lists the current song and upcoming tracks. Listeners can make an online request from the station's entire music collection. Requests per user are limited to 6 requests in any one hour with up to 24 requests allowable in a 24 hour period.
Looking for a name
Alex and Yless4u have been thinking for a name for the Burra version of the Lake FM station. The Bywong feed is called LakeFM and is probably being not the right name for a Burra
specific audio feed.
Any suggestions for a name for the Burra FM station can be sent to Alex (see below for contact details).
For further information regarding audio content, contact
Alex Colquitt on 0408 635 784,
or by email to alex@bywong.com.au
Related links:
1 June 2009
Facelift for the Burra tennis courts
Work to refurbish the surface of the tennis courts at Burra Park has commenced. The courts will be unavailable for approximately four weeks until earthworks are completed and the court markings replaced.
Over the past week the contractor, A D Vest of Hall, has removed the worn surface of the courts and has commenced spreading and compacting the new decomposed granite surface. The root systems of two large pine trees on the perimeter of the courts were interfering with court drainage and the trees have been removed by Palerang Council. Replacement trees will be planted when work on the court has been completed.
The total cost of the work is approximately $20,000, with $16,000 being allocated from Palerang's share of the Federal Government's Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program. The balance of funding came from the Burra Tennis club and a portion of the Lions Club's gate takings from the Burra Open Garden 's weekend.
 A working bee was held to remove the old court tape markings prior to the commencement of the earthmoving work. When the resurfacing work is completed, the Tennis Club will be calling for volunteers to help replace the lines with new tapes. The netting around the courts will also be replaced as part of this project.
The courts, which were built in the 1950s, were reclaimed from chest-high phalaris and weeds in the mid-1970s by a group of local tennis enthusiasts. Since then, the courts have been maintained by volunteers and are available for community use. Regular Tuesday morning social tennis has been a feature of community life for many years. Unfortunately, the court surface had deteriorated to such an extent in recent years that both social and serious tennis players were deterred from using the courts.
25 May 2009
Minister rejects boundary adjustment proposal
Burra/Urila/Royalla "cash cow" to remain tethered to Palerang
Local residents will continue to pay for a mistake made by the NSW Local Government Minister in February 2004 when local government boundaries were redrawn, leaving the Burra, Urila and parts of Royalla as an outpost.
Despite overwhelming support from the community affected, the current Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry, has rejected BURRA’s proposal for the Burra/Urila/Royalla area to be relocated within Queanbeyan City Council. Nearly 50% of residents signed a supporting petition and of the 30 submissions received by the Boundaries Commission, only two opposed the proposal.
"No compelling reasons"
The report says that in the Commissions view, there are no compelling reasons to suggest that the boundary alteration proposal should be implemented.
The Commission also stated that it considers that implementation of the proposal is likely to have a significant impact on Palerang Council’s financial situation. In the Commission’s view, Palerang Council has demonstrated that it is attempting to continue to provide adequate, equitable and appropriate services and facilities with respect to the proposed transfer area.
Palerang Council evidently argued that:
-
the proposal would result in loss of rates revenue (based on 2007 estimates by Palerang Council) of approximately $571,000 per annum, and an estimated loss of $130,410 in general purpose payments, and:
-
If Palerang Council were to have 621 properties transferred to Queanbeyan City Council, then it would take away a large sum of operating income (rates $571,000 and FAG’s $130,410). Palerang Council may have to contemplate further special rate variation increases.
In effect, our area is to remain within Palerang so that we can continue to fulfill our role as the Shire’s cash cow. Our rates are needed to subsidise Bungendore, Braidwood and Captains Flat ratepayers so they do not have to pay more for the services they use – services like swimming pools and libraries which, because they are so far away from us, we are never likely to access.
The report also included an assertion that "Palerang Council has demonstrated that it is attempting to continue to provide adequate, equitable and appropriate services and facilities with respect to the proposed transfer area". Without having access to Palerang's submission, the community is unable to challenge or confirm this claim.
The full report, dated a 5th January 2009, is available on the Boundary Commission’s website (PDF 385 kb)
Process? What process?
The conduct of the inquiry and the deliberations of the Boundaries Commission have been conducted largely in secret. Although public submissions were accepted, in a departure from usual practice, no public inquiry was held and none of the submissions have been published on the Boundaries Commission's website, apart from BURRA's original proposal.
Communication from the Boundaries Commission has been exceptionally poor. Despite regular inquiries, both written and by telephone, staff from the Boundaries Commission have not been forthcoming with details of the inquiry's progress. A report was, apparently, presented to the Planning Minister, Hon Barbara Perry, in January although she advised representatives of BURRA in February that she had not seen a report "cross her desk".
BURRA was alerted that something had happened when we noticed that our proposal had been removed from the "current proposals" section of the Boundaries Commission website and "archived". A call to the Commission revealed that, while the two Councils have already been informed of the outcome, BURRA and the community (ie the 400 people who signed the original petition and lodged submissions) have not had the courtesy of a letter informing us of the decision.
A lack of process is not exclusively the domain of the Boundaries Commission. While the Community's submission has been in the public arena for a full two years, the ratepayers of Palerang are not privy to the views of Palerang Council nor can some of their assertions be tested.
At its meeting in August 2008, Palerang Council resolved to prepare a draft submission to the Boundaries Commission to be based on acknowledging the BURRA submission and present the draft submission to the newly elected Council at its first meeting in October 2008 for its input (see item 9.1). This did not happen, nor has the Palerang Council submission ever been made public.
What next?
Palerang Council has, apparently, told the Boundaries Commission that it is now open to providing a more equitable share of services and resources to Burra, Urila and Royalla. This is, at least, an acknowlegement that we were being shortchanged previously.
Palerang Council’s 2009/10 Draft Management Plan for is currently open for public submissions. No doubt, Council would be happy to hear your suggestions on how you’d like YOUR money to be spent on providing YOUR area with a fair share of the basic necessities.
BURRA will prepare a detailed response to the Minister’s decision which we will publish on this website shortly. Meanwhile, you may wish to read the Boundaries Commission report and then let the Minister and your local member know what you think of the decision and the process by writing to them at:
The Hon. Barbara PERRY
Minister for Local Government
Level 33 Governor Macquarie Tower,
1 Farrer Place
Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9228 4820
Fax (02) 9228 4484
E-mail office@perry.minister.nsw.gov.au
The Hon Steve Whan MP,
Member for Monaro
110-112 Monaro Street
Queanbeyan, NSW 2620
Phone (02) 6299 4899
Fax (02) 6297 9998
E-mail Monaro@parliament.nsw.gov.au
21 May 2009
ACT Government identifies "preferred" sites for solar farm
The former Ingledene Forest west of Williamsdale has been earmarked by the ACT Government as one of two potential sites for a large-scale solar farm development. The other site is located near the Kowan Forest in the north of the ACT.
The Ingledene site, which was burnt out during the 2003 Canberra bushfires, is a 100 hectare site between the Naas Road and the Murrumbidgee river. It is dissected by Smiths Road and is to the north of Angle Crossing Road. The site is approximately 6 kilometres south of Tharwa and 4 kilometres west of Williamsdale.
The announcement of the sites coincides with the ACT Government’s call for expressions of interest to construct, own and operate the solar facility. The EIO documents related to this project do not preclude the successful tenderer from selecting a different site for the solar facility (see page 4-5). These documents also state that the successful tenderer must cover any shortfalls in output in electricity production at the Solar Facility by using renewable energy (see page 6). The Ingledene site would lend itself to hydro
co-generation drawing water from either the Murrumbidge or Naas Rivers.
ACTEW’s plans to offer land it is acquiring in Williamsdale to the developer of a large-scale solar facility could proceed regardless of this site not being included in the ACT Government’s preferred list. The site is close to a proposed substation and transmission lines and the soon-to-be-constructed Murrumbidgee to Googong water transfer pipeline may make the site more attractive for solar and gas-fired power generation than those nominated by the ACT Government.
Alternatively, the Ingledene or Kowan sites could be used for the "benign" large-scale solar farm while the residents of Williamsdale and surrounds get stuck with a large-scale gas-fired power station. A 210 MW gas-fired power station proposed by ActewAGL and other partners for Tuggernong was rejected by the nearby residents of urban Canberra. Soon after, ActewAGL announced plans for a 500 MW gas-fired power station in Williamsdale and is in the process conducting a feasibility study.
Solar farm community consultation process
The ACT Minister for Environment, the Hon Simon Corbell has announced plans for community consultation for the large-scale solar farm. The plans include announcements in Canberra newspapers and none for media outlets in nearby NSW.
BURRA will attempt to keep residents updated with information about the proposal via this website. However, we believe the onus is on the ACT Government to be good neighbours, look over the border and consult directly with the people of NSW who will be affected by the ACT's development plans in our backyard. We also urge our elected representatives be more proactive in representing the interests of their constituents who will be affected by both the solar farm and gas-fired power generation proposals.
Related links:
6 May 2009
"Lucky" Williamsdale scores the trifecta
A gas-fired power station, an airport and a solar farm planned
A sequence of recent announcements by ACTEW and the ACT Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, has lifted the lid on plans to turn rural land at Williamsdale into an industrial landscape.
An announcement on 17 April by ACTEW CEO Mark Sullivan that land would be made available to construct a solar farm was clearly designed to placate Williamsdale and Burra residents concerned about the construction of a 500 megawatt gas-fired power generation plant in our neighbourhood.
Any chance ACTEW had of brushing away concerns about gas-fired power generation at Williamsdale were delivered a blow by Jon Stanhope on Friday, 1 May when he commented on ABC radio that ACTEW and ActewAGL had plans to construct gas-fired power generation at Williamsdale and that this may hamper an existing plan to construct an airport at Williamsdale. These comments were made in reply to a caller to the ABC's "Chief Minister's Talkback" segment who had asked if the ACT Government would proceed with the shelved 2004 Williamsdale airport proposal.
Mr Stanhope's candid advice to a talkback caller has unwittingly exposed 12 months worth of denials from ACTEW about plans for a gas-fired power station at Williamsdale.
Solar farm announcement raises more questions than it answers
On 17 April, ACTEW announced their intention to offer land they are intending to purchase at Williamsdale to developers of a large-scale solar farm. In a letter sent to residents (PDF 77KB) on ACTEW's water security project mailing list, ACTEW CEO Mark Sullivan said:
. today ACTEW Corporation is announcing it is seeking to be an active participant in the development of commercial solar power generation for the ACT by making available land it owns at Williamsdale.
Members of the Burra and Williamsdale communities have been talking to us about the future use of this land at Williamsdale. I hope the announcement today, reiterated in this letter, reassures you of ACTEW's intentions for this land.
This announcement did not offer much reassurance, particularly since the ACT Government is actively encouraging solar farm proponents to incorporate fossil-fuel generation in their plans. In the April 2009 Solar Farm Q&A briefing, the ACT Government responded thus:
Q2. Will be possible to hybridise the power plant with fossil fuels? Concentrating solar power is possible to hybrid and thus reduce the electricity cost and increase the global efficiency.
A2. Yes, supplementary power generation would be encouraged to be incorporated into the solar power facility as long as the minimum solar energy or equivalent renewable capacity requirements are met.
In other words, the proponents can build the showpiece "benign" solar farm to generate 30 megawatts of solar energy, however, it appears the main game could be the fossil-fuelled (gas) co-generation plant on the same site. A pre-feasibility study of large scale solar generation prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff for the ACT Government recommended gas-fired co-generation and put no upward limit on its generating capacity. ActewAGL are continuing a separate feasibility study into a 500 megawatt gas-fired power generation plant at Williamsdale.
The announcement that ACTEW are in the process of purchasing additional land for a solar farm at Williamsdale seems to make little commercial sense. The ACT Government has not released the preferred sites for the solar farm to the market, so unless ACTEW and its corporate arm ActewAGL have access to information not available to other proponents, it would appear to be highly speculative for ACTEW to purchase land at Williamsdale on the chance that it is one of the suitable sites. Even if it is, why is ACTEW being given a head start on other proponents who may not wish to deal through the ACTEW middle-man?
In light of these questions, BURRA sought more information from ACTEW, specifically:
-
What is the rural block number of the "additional" land purchase? ACTEW have already announced that they were purchasing Block 1653, District of Tuggeranong. Is this the same block?
-
What form of co-generation does ACTEW envisage for the proposed solar farm? Will it be gas, or hydro? If hydro, will it use water from the MGT pipeline? Will ACTEW categorically discard gas-fired as an option?
-
How will ACTEW consult with the nearby communities of Williamsdale, Burra, Royalla, Smiths Road etc? Not everybody who needs to know about this proposal is on the pipeline mailing list.
ACTEW sent a response (PDF 373 KB) that clarified some of these points. We have subsequently asked ACTEW if they have other plans for the land beyond a possible solar farm as it appears to be a highly speculative move to purchase land with no guarantees of the development proceeding. We have had no response to this question.
Where is the land?
The 460 hectare block of land is located between the Murrumbidgee River and the Monaro Highway and includes the current site of the Williamsdale petrol station. When combined with the land purchased in the adjoining Rural Block 1653, the total area in question is over 650 hectares.
Together with Transgrid, ACTEW participated in the purchase of the adjoining 206 hectare Rural Block 1653 for the purpose of constructing a 330,000/132,000V substation to provide a second point of electricity supply into the ACT. The $18.5 million transmission line project is awaiting approval by the ACT Government.
The construction of the substation and transmission lines makes the site more attractive for power generation facilities as it reduces the cost of grid connection and line conditioning for the electricity generator. The proximity of the soon-to-be-constructed Murrumbidgee to Googong water transfer pipeline also makes the site attractive for solar and gas-fired power generation. At a public meeting in Burra in December 2008, the Water Security Project team confirmed that they have been asked to include provision for water supply for a power station at Williamsdale in their plans.
In a statement provided to BURRA, ACTEW advised that it intends to keep the vendor's name confidential "until it is released publicly by the relevant authorities". ACTEW advises that the current occupant of the land will remain until further notice.
We concede that keeping the name of the vendor confidential is honourable, however we question if it is honourable for ACTEW to keep the Williamsdale and surrounding communities that will be affected by these industrial developments in the dark. The community has a right to be kept fully informed of significant changes to their neighbourhood.
Power co-generation options
In a September 2008 pre-feasibility study into establishing a large scale solar facility conducted by Parsons Brinckerhoff for the ACT Government and ActewAGL highlighted the high costs of solar power generation and the variability of solar power generation. Parsons Brinckerhoff recommended gas-fired co-generation to overcome these problems (see page vii and Chapter 5 of the report).
Parsons Brinckerhoff's study nominated key criteria for site suitability of a large scale solar facility. Based on a nominal 22 MW solar thermal development, an area of 120 ha would be required. The reports' preliminary list of requirements of the physical characteristics for a location includes:
-
cleared land with no significant shading from vegetation, structures or hills;
-
level land with only a gentle gradient, preferably north-facing;
-
land suitable for access roads to all parts of the plant to allow regular vehicular access to solar reflectors
-
located as near as practical to a connection point to ActewAGL Distribution's high voltage transmission network;
-
access to a suitable gas supply, suitable for a nominal 22 MW gas-fired generation plant;
-
access to a water supply and waste water disposal;
-
appropriate separation from domestic residences and noise and visual impact-sensitive areas;
-
located so the site is not overlooked by significant population centres;
-
located away from major plumes or sources of dust which could obscure sunlight and coat reflector surfaces with a film that would reduce plant efficiency; and
-
appropriate zoning and environmental considerations.
The site at Williamsdale currently does not have any of the built infrastructure requirements – gas, water or transmission network connections – but, not coincidentally, ACTEW is now working to provide two of these. The Murrumbidgee to Googong water pipeline project would provide water to the site and the grid connection will be available through the TransGrid network connection and substation proposed for the adjoining rural block 1653.
Given that ACTEW and the ACT Government have known about the recommendations in the Parsons Brinckerhoff report for over six months - longer if, as is probable, ACTEW were one of the government agencies that were consulted about possible locations - why have various representatives of ACTEW waved away the prospect of a gas fired power station at Williamsdale and denied any connection to it? On several occasions in public meetings at Burra and on the Water Security Project website, ACTEW have claimed that the water pipeline project is not connected with a gas-fired power station. These statements now appear to be incorrect.
It also brings into question this statement provided to BURRA in April 2009 to explain ACTEW's involvement in a solar facility:
Gas fired power generation is not something which ACTEW is currently considering. ACTEW is seeking to await an energy policy review that the ACT Government has indicated it will conduct. The outcomes from this government review will guide ACTEW's future direction into what kind of generation should be pursued within the ACT. We believe this is also the position of ActewAGL.
ACTEW is splitting hairs. If they are planning to make land available for a solar facility, they are inevitably making land available for gas-fired power generation on the same site.
Williamsdale airport back under consideration
In September 2004, a report into the operational feasibility of an airport at Williamsdale was prepared for the ACT Government by Airport Technical Services Pty Ltd. It envisaged up to 40,000 aircraft movements per annum at the Airstrip.
The report assessed an area of land adjoining the Monaro Highway for its suitability for an airstrip. The area of land is depicted in the photograph below, taken from Airport Technical Services report (Figure 4, page 8). Coincidentally (or not), this is either the same block of land that is now being offered up by ACTEW for a solar and gas-fired co-generation facility, or it is the block next to it.
On Friday, 1 May 2009, in answer to a question from a talkback caller on ABC radio, the ACT Chief Minister agreed to revisit the Williamsdale airport proposal. He noted that ACTEW and ActewAGL's plans for a gas-fired power facility may be an obstacle to the airport.
Mr Stanhope also said that rural and residential developments over the border in NSW were "a problem" for the ACT and their plans for the land . Yes, that's right. we are a problem, not the range of unsuitable, industrial developments that the ACT Government and its agencies want to lob into our neighbourhood far, far away from their own sensitive residents.
BURRA is seeking further information about the ACT Government's progress on the Williamsdale airport proposal.
Consulting with the community
To date, ACTEW have sent a letter to individuals and groups on their Water Security project mailing list about their plans to offer up the Williamsdale land for a solar power facility. Obviously, there are many individuals and communities who will be affected by the solar/gas-fired power plant who are not on the Water Security project mailing list. NSW residents of Williamsdale who live adjacent to the 650+ hectare site have reported that they have had no contact from ACTEW about this proposal. They have heard about ACTEW's plans to industrialise their rural neighbourhood via media releases.
ACTEW have yet to advise whether or not they intend to appoint a community liaison officer for this project.
While BURRA, a volunteer organisation, will continue to publicise any information we discover about planned electricity generation facilities in our midst, the onus is on ACTEW to communicate and consult directly with affected communities.
A larger question remains over the quality of the information that ACTEW is providing to the community. It is obvious that a gas-fired power station in some form has been part of ACTEW's plans for Williamsdale for a long time, at least for the past 12 months. The community discovered these plans in June 2008 when John Mackay, outgoing CEO of ActewAGL announced the plans in the media. We have been digging for information ever since. When asked directly about the proposal by the community, ACTEW and ActewAGL have waved it away as a remote possibility, or in the case of ACTEW tried to deny a connection to it at all.
ActewAGL and the ACT Government have been drip-feeding the communities around Williamsdale with bits of information; the palatable parts that won't frighten the horses. It is high time they came clean.
It is clear that together they have major plans for the area that will change its amenity and character forever. Residents (and potential residents) of Williamsdale and surrounds are entitled to be fully informed of these plans so that they can make decisions about their future. Who would want to invest in property or property improvements if they end up living next to a gas-fired power station or a busy airport?
It is long overdue for our elected representatives to step in and start representing the interests of NSW constituents who are concerned about these inappropriate industrial plans for this area. This observation applies specifically to the NSW Member for Monaro, Steve Whan who appears to be giving more weight to the 'alternative views' of constituents who he tells us support gas fired power generation but, fortunately for them live far away from the proposed site, including distant Bega. Mr Whan would be a better representative of his constituents in Queanbeyan and nearby rural areas if he chose, instead, to apply political pressure to the ACT Government and its agencies to disclose all relevant information that affects his constituents.
Related links
|
