Carbon capture offers a false hope that we can sustain our use of coal
Cam Walker
Last week, the Andrews government announced it was launching a “world-first” project to produce hydrogen in the Latrobe Valley.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/carbon-capture-offers-a-false-hope-that-we-can-sustain-our-use-of-coal-20180420-p4zaq5.html
Today’s Celebration
Oklahoma Day – United States of America
Earth Day – http://www.earthday.org/
World Allergy Week – http://www.allergyimmunology.org.au/support-aifa/worldallergyweek
More about Apr 22 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_22
Climate Change
Tokelau’s first newspaper aims to inform locals about climate change
Chiefs and local leaders from the tiny Pacific territory of Tokelau herald the launch of the island nation’s first ever local newspaper that claims to meet international standards.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-21/tokelau-newspaper-aims-to-inform-locals-about-climate-change/9680392
National
Federal government sets sights on August approval for National Energy Guarantee
Federal energy minister Josh Frydenberg says he is confident of securing state governments’ support for the National Energy Guarantee, with a final decision now timetabled for August.
https://theconversation.com/federal-government-sets-sights-on-august-approval-for-national-energy-guarantee-95374
Frydenberg’s NEG challenge is like climbing Everest with no oxygen
Party colleagues, the states and Labor are the big obstacles in energy minister’s push for the national energy guarantee
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/21/frydenbergs-neg-challenge-is-like-climbing-everest-with-no-oxygen
Energy policy consensus is not what the Libs need
Peta Credlin
By failing to get agreement on their so called National Energy Guarantee at Friday’s energy ministers meeting, the Turnbull Government might just have kept their political prospects alive, as well as our chance to make the best use of Australia’s abundant natural resources to secure our economic future.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/rendezview/energy-policy-consensus-is-not-what-the-libs-need/news-story/4f33f396f8d62df8651a5ddb8804cfa2
Victoria
$1 a week — that’s how much the recycling crisis could cost ratepayers
Victorian homeowners will ultimately bear the brunt of China’s decision to ban foreign waste, with the state’s peak local government body estimating ratepayers will be stung an extra $60 a year to cover recycling costs.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-21/victorian-councils-consider-rate-rise-to-tackle-recycling-crisis/9680058
Tollway trim still fails to impress opponents
Government opts to reduce impacts of the North East Link on landmarks including Heide gallery and on residents by burying off and on-ramps at great cost.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/fresh-designs-reduce-some-tollway-impacts-but-opponents-not-impressed-20180420-p4zauk.html
Plan to bring more free trams to Melbourne [$]
Tram trips within the City of Melbourne’s boundaries would all be made free of charge if frontrunner candidate Sally Capp is elected lord mayor.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/lord-mayoral-candidate-sally-capp-pledges-to-extend-free-tram-zone-to-entire-municipal-boundaries/news-story/e49e3deb5e583c2641eff6d3065200e0
Eastern Freeway to become 18-lane super highway [$]
The Eastern Freeway would be expanded to a whopping 18 lanes, while a “spaghetti junction” will be built underground to avoid a massive interchange according to new plans.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/eastern-freeway-to-become-massive-18lane-super-highway/news-story/a5ef28797613b8e7cff7b6c7db6e48a1
Labor’s cash splash to help reduce your power bills [$]
Every Victorian household will be paid $50 for visiting a state government website that helps them find better electricity and gas deals.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/labors-cash-splash-to-help-reduce-your-power-bills/news-story/9f0869a7906bf57fec6d51397bc75a09
Carbon capture offers a false hope that we can sustain our use of coal
Cam Walker
Last week, the Andrews government announced it was launching a “world-first” project to produce hydrogen in the Latrobe Valley.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/carbon-capture-offers-a-false-hope-that-we-can-sustain-our-use-of-coal-20180420-p4zaq5.html
New South Wales
Sydney’s light rail chaos: who is to blame for delays and cost blowout?
It was designed to be ready for the NSW election but the premier is facing a bitter court battle and an increasingly disgruntled public
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/21/sydneys-light-rail-chaos-who-is-to-blame-for-delays-and-cost-blowout
Barilaro sees nuclear future, Labor criticises lack of detail
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has not ruled out one day having nuclear reactors in his home electorate of Monaro, near the ACT.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/barilaro-sees-nuclear-future-labor-criticises-lack-of-detail-20180420-p4zaty.html
ACT
Locals angry at building site waste blanketing Gungahlin suburb
Moncrieff residents are calling on the ACT government to clean up building site waste blowing into their suburb from nearby developments in Taylor.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/locals-angry-at-building-site-waste-blanketing-gungahlin-suburb-20180421-p4zaxs.html
Ask Fuzzy: Our water supply top drop
Question: Do I need a water filter in Canberra?
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/ask-fuzzy-our-water-supply–top-drop-20180420-h0z25i.html
Queensland
Bill stress surges to all-time high [$]
Electricity bill stress has reached its highest ever level among Queenslanders, with nearly three-quarters worried about their ability to meet future costs.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/record-high-number-of-queenslanders-worried-about-power-costs/news-story/ec3c4801d7229d4f98c6ee689ba66427
Fracking not as bad as we think? [$]
Fracking has not caused any significant damage to Queensland’s groundwater despite controversy surrounding the practice, the State Government says.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/fracking-hasnt-contaminated-queensland-groundwater-in-six-years/news-story/863b5e79a21c4d91ad9e5d273c1329ca
How Metro will change South Brisbane [$]
South Brisbane’s congested cultural precinct will be given a makeover under newly unveiled designs for the council’s Brisbane Metro plan.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/first-glimpse-of-metro-plans-cultural-centre-makeover/news-story/189f5960dc92fdbfcbe14ac78248e59e
No waste levy pledge thrown in bin [$]
Sarah Vogler
Ipswich City Council this week handed the Palaszczuk Government the perfect excuse to break a promise when it shocked residents by dumping its recycling program.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/palaszczuk-governments-pledge-of-no-waste-levy-in-this-years-budget-thrown-in-bin/news-story/88cf6e0fb91caf025da4180448b7e582
South Australia
Read this: it’s rubbish [$]
Lainie Anderson
China will no longer accept and recycle waste from other nations — so SA should take advantage of this lucrative industry.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/lainie-anderson-its-a-rubbish-idea-and-sa-should-cash-in-on-it/news-story/c826f26ebc0803f7f3fa82786958b5e2
Tasmania
From ghost town to boom town: How northern Tasmania is turning into a mountain biking mecca
The Blue Derby mountain bike network opened in 2014, and last year 30 thousand riders from around the globe visited to ride what is being touted as one of the hottest trails in the world.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-21/world-class-mountain-bike-trail-transforms-derby-from-ghost-tow/9677344
Sustainability
World leaders welcome North Korea’s nuclear test halt
North Korea’s move to suspend nuclear and missile tests effective immediately is being welcomed by global leaders as a step in the right direction, but Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the rogue nation has made promises in the past and then “failed to honour them”.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-22/north-korea-suspension-of-nuclear-testing-welcomed-around-world/9684136
Grassland plants react unexpectedly to high levels of carbon dioxide
Plants are responding in unexpected ways to increased carbon dioxide in the air, according to a 20-year study conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/uom-rbg042018.php
Soil Metals Linked With Cancer Mortality
Epidemiologists and geologists have found associations between esophageal cancer and soils where lead is abundant, lung cancer and terrains with increased copper content, brain tumor with areas rich …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180420122857.htm
Rare Earth Magnet Recycling Is a Grind — This New Process Takes a Simpler Approach
A new recycling process turns discarded hard disk drive magnets into new magnet material in a few steps, and tackles both the economic and environmental issues typically associated with mining …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180420122904.htm
Sweden’s solution for charging electric cars is bold, but flawed
Rick Greenough
This new Swedish smart road will feel familiar to anybody who has played with slot car racing toys.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/sweden-s-solution-for-charging-electric-cars-is-bold-but-flawed-20180421-p4zawn.html
Nature Conservation
Tiny Microenvironments in the Ocean Hold Clues to Global Nitrogen Cycle
A new study shows that nitrogen-feeding organisms exist all over the deep ocean, and not just in large oxygen-depleted ‘dead zones,’ changing the way we think about the …
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180420170610.htm
What a giant snake can teach us about designing cities for the future
A surprising amount of biodiversity can persist among the skyscrapers, housing estates, shopping malls, parks, and greenbelts that constitute our modern cities.
https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?e=a3b5ecde32&u=228c18608b6eb3bd8fc42327e&id=e3a1bc8632
Maelor Himbury