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Today’s Celebration
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Climate Change
King tides and rising seas are predictable, and we’re not doing enough about it
Mark Gibbs, Queensland University of Technology
King tides and rising seas are an increasing and predictable threat, but adaptation plans to limit the damage to coastal property are still not managing the political obstacles.
https://theconversation.com/king-tides-and-rising-seas-are-predictable-and-were-not-doing-enough-about-it-91318
National
Australia’s solar power boom could almost double capacity in a year, analysts say
Solar farm approvals and record rooftop installations expected to ‘turbo-boost’ production
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/11/australias-solar-power-boom-could-almost-double-capacity-in-a-year-analysts-say
Australian power prices worse than banana republics
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/australian-power-prices-worse-than-banana-republics-20180206-p4yziu.html
New retailers pushing power prices down more than government
Competition is driving down power prices faster than regulatory bodies but governments are unlikely to abandon plans to reform the gas and electricity market.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/new-retailers-pushing-power-prices-down-more-than-government-20180208-p4yzqs.html
Energy innovation saves industry
Australia’s energy-intensive industry could become globally competitive again.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/energy-innovation-can-save-heavy-industry-schneider-electric/news-story/2dd7c0291d10d6af847147825b737de6
Gas prices halved, on target
Matt Canavan said domestic gas prices were now broadly in line with those being paid in Asia for Australian gas.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/matt-canavan-says-gas-prices-have-been-cut-in-half/news-story/d39a0e74bc8af31405a9436788b2a9c0
Firms get $50m to keep lights on
Energy users paid $50 million to buy back power to keep the lights on in Victoria and South Australia.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/big-firms-get-50m-in-bid-to-keep-lights-on/news-story/bb7de9bbffb47da15c035fb79a9ada7a
Our coal must rival Trump’s
Resources Minister Matt Canavan has warned that Australia’s energy markets in Asia are under threat.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/our-beautiful-coal-must-rival-trumps-canavan/news-story/08fa1b11775bb2cec8477156a817b2ae
Mining investment crossroads
Australian editorial
Australia must not pass up lucrative export opportunities.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/editorials/mining-investment-crossroads/news-story/55cb696754ceef9a00657e76721d8da6
King tides and rising seas are predictable, and we’re not doing enough about it
Mark Gibbs, Queensland University of Technology
King tides and rising seas are an increasing and predictable threat, but adaptation plans to limit the damage to coastal property are still not managing the political obstacles.
https://theconversation.com/king-tides-and-rising-seas-are-predictable-and-were-not-doing-enough-about-it-91318
Victoria
National heritage listing fails to save St Kilda Road trees
The Federal Government grants permanent heritage listing for St Kilda Road in Melbourne, from the city to St Kilda Junction, but the move comes too late to prevent the removal of trees for the Melbourne tunnel project.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-11/national-heritage-listing-fails-to-save-st-kilda-road-trees/9420174
First trains start running on Melbourne’s controversial sky rail
Premier Daniel Andrews says he is proud of level crossing removals.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/first-trains-run-on-melbourne-s-sky-rail-20180211-p4yzyn.html
New South Wales
Emergency bushfire warning near Orange
The dangerous blaze is burning on Mt. Canobolas near Orange and residents are being told to evacuate.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/38903863/emergency-bushfire-warning-near-orange/
Sydney’s gateway to the world faces congestion woes
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/madhouse-westconnex-to-sydney-airport-construction-threatens-local-gridlock-20180204-h0tnm7.html
Queensland
Baby night parrot sighted in drought-ridden outback Queensland puzzles researchers
The sighting of a newly-hatched night parrot in drought-ridden western Queensland has surprised researchers, raising more questions than answers.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-02-11/night-parrot-breeds-in-dry-conditions/9412600
Labor fires back at Adani Australia CEO over foreign investment claims
Tanya Plibersek rejects Jeyakumar Janakaraj’s claim Bill Shorten casting doubt on future foreign investment
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/11/labor-fires-back-at-adani-australia-ceo-over-foreign-investment-claims
Coal industry sceptical of Aurizon maintenance changes
Coal miners have questioned Aurizon’s plans to be less “flexible” on how it maintains its Queensland rail tracks.
http://www.afr.com/business/infrastructure/coal-industry-sceptical-of-aurizon-changes-to-track-maintenance-after-qca-ruling-20180209-h0vtyl
Why allow muzzling on Great Barrier Reef debate?
Andrew Bolt
Professor Peter Ridd has been ordered to stop attacking the science behind dodgy claims that global warming is killing the Great Barrier Reef. A mainstay of Western civilisation is on trial here
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/andrew-bolt/andrew-bolt-great-barrier-reef-debate-submerged/news-story/6ebbfa8193e449b7e4c08eba8cdd6290
South Australia
Internet, phones costing us more than water, energy each week
South Australians spend more each week on telecommunications than energy, water or gas bills, a report has found.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/internet-phones-costing-us-more-than-water-energy-each-week/news-story/52999eb92b002c74ef54de17e104831f
Tasmania
Greens want halt to fish farm growth
The Tasmanian Greens will implement a moratorium on fish farm expansion if it gets a say in Government after the election.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/tasmanian-greens-call-for-a-halt-to-any-expansion-on-the-states-fish-farms/news-story/e2066de4121f0a495561072f1ff79a25
Labor pledges Launceston gateway as part of $60 million roads policy
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/5221156/labor-pledges-launceston-gateway-as-part-of-60-million-roads-policy/?cs=95
Northern Territory
NT fracking inquiry may recommend major delay in industry resumption
There could be a significant delay in the resumption of fracking in the Northern Territory, with the head of an inquiry considering whether to put the brakes not just on production, but exploration as well.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-11/nt-fracking-inquiry-may-recommend-major-delay/9419460
Western Australia
Perth Children’s Hospital wastewater recycling plant switched off
https://thewest.com.au/news/health/perth-childrens-hospital-wastewater-recycling-plant-switched-off-ng-b88741453z
Rockingham and Australind bushfire warnings downgraded
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/outofcontrol-bushfire-threatens-homes-in-australind-20180211-h0vwo8.html
Waiter – there is a quokka on our table
Daile Cross
It’s clear that tourists love the cute quokkas they encounter. But perhaps it’s time to uninvite them to dinner.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/waiter–there-is-a-quokka-on-our-table-20180208-h0vsln.html
Sustainability
From earplugs to bedroom swaps: how to protect against noise pollution
Everyday hubbub can increase your chance of cardiovascular problems, new research claims. Here are four ways to mitigate the effects of background sounds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2018/feb/11/from-earplugs-to-bedroom-swaps-how-to-protect-against-noise-pollution
How do you build a healthy city? Copenhagen reveals its secrets
The Danish capital ranks high on the list of the world’s healthiest and happiest cities. With obesity and depression on the rise worldwide, here are its lessons for how to combat them culturally
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/11/how-build-healthy-city-copenhagen-reveals-its-secrets-happiness
Another case of Apocalypse Not
Bret Stephens
Environmental crises can be real, but as history has shown rearranging society tends to cause, rather than fix them.
http://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/environmental-alarmism-another-case-of-apocalypse-not-20180210-h0vw3f
Maelor Himbury