Daily Links May 7

Toxin linked to motor neuron disease found in Australian algal blooms
Brendan Main, University of Technology Sydney
Cyanobacterial blooms and algae are common in water bodies around the world. However, Australia is yet to monitor the growth of neurotoxins in our algae.
https://theconversation.com/toxin-linked-to-motor-neuron-disease-found-in-australian-algal-blooms-95646

Time to take stock of Australia’s fuel security
Josh Frydenberg
In the last 10 years, three of Australia’s seven domestic refineries have closed and our domestic production of liquid fuels has declined by a third.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/time-to-take-stock-of-australia-s-fuel-security-20180506-p4zdos.html

Art of winemaking at risk
Sam Plunkett
Australia is one of the hottest and sunniest continents on the planet. Our warm temperatures mean that by nature we grow grapes with a lot of sugar. In winemaking, the more sugar there is in a grape – the higher the alcohol content in the wine. But climate change is taking this to extremes.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5382534/protecting-a-gift-of-nature-from-climate-change-issues/?cs=97

Energy debate exposes elitism [$]
Jennifer Oriel
Liberal left’s love of everything green will lead to further divisions in the Coalition.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/just-what-is-so-wrong-about-affordable-energy/news-story/c325f8305a0166e9fc5145e8bb93d6b4

Onshore gas debate heats up again as Pallas searches for new supplies
Victoria’s rising gas prices have sparked a search for underground gas storage sites that could be drawn on to cushion consumers against future price spikes.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/onshore-gas-debate-heats-up-again-as-pallas-searches-for-new-supplies-20180506-p4zdof.html

Victorian regulator to audit energy companies over estimated bills
Victoria’s Essential Services Commission will investigate energy companies for issuing bills based on estimates rather than meter readings.
https://www.theage.com.au/environment/sustainability/victorian-regulator-to-audit-energy-companies-over-estimated-bills-20180504-p4zdg1.html

Pollution from coal-fired power plants should be reviewed: NSW EPA
The state’s five coal-fired power stations are allowed “unnecessary variation” in their pollution and operate “well below” licensed limits, providing scope for more consistent and tighter controls, the Environment Protection Agency has found.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/pollution-from-coal-fired-power-plants-should-be-reviewed-nsw-epa-20180503-p4zd3m.html

Ausgrid offers power cuts [$]
The biggest NSW biggest power network, Ausgrid, has offered to cut revenue by $874 million over the next five years.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/ausgrid-offers-874-million-revenue-cut-to-lower-power-bills/news-story/81eca2879a30427810670ca81e10cdbf

Save the planet instead? Rail co switches tracks [$]
They can’t even build the light rail, yet the Spanish contractor holding Sydney to ransom has embarked on a star-studded social media mission to save the world led by Aussie heart-throb Liam Hemsworth to “start a conversation about climate change”.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/spanish-light-rail-contractor-accionas-social-media-mission-to-save-the-world-with-celebrities/news-story/d0de56f42d83998cf35295c261aebfb6

The Sydney Metro Northwest tunnels — death traps in the making
John Maconochie
Gladys Berejiklian and Sydney Metro have cut dangerous corners when it comes to emergency evacuation plans
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/the-sydney-metro-northwest-tunnels–death-traps-in-the-making,11463

Cable car: Richard Flanagan’s speech in full
The cable car company says the Hobart public support the cable car—if this is support I’d hate to see what the opposition looks like.
http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/cable-car-richard-flanagans-speech-in-full-/

Was Vanessa Goodwin’s cancer caused by Wentworth Park, Howrah?
Poppy Lopatniuk
Environmental issues caused the death of Vanessa Goodwin and the Tasmanian Government is trying to hide the truth
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/was-vanessa-goodwins-cancer-caused-by-wentworth-park-howrah,11450

WA’s worst water guzzlers warned to clean up their act, or see increase in bills
Perth’s worst water guzzlers will be hit with up to a 16 per cent jump in their water bills unless they clean up their act.
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wa-s-worst-water-guzzlers-warned-to-clean-up-their-act-or-see-increase-in-bills-20180506-p4zdnf.html

Bushfire threatening homes near WA mine
A watch and act has been issued for people near the Western Areas mine site near in Forrestania in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/bushfire-threatening-homes-near-wa-mine/news-story/715b108e313a61911d0f56f29d9065bf

New law to tackle electric cars’ silent menace to pedestrians
Sound emitters will give warning of vehicles travelling at low speeds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/06/new-law-combats-silent-menace-electric-cars

California to become first U.S. state mandating solar on new homes
California is about to become the only state in the nation mandating that virtually every new home have solar panels by 2020.
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/05/04/california-to-become-first-u-s-state-mandating-solar-on-new-homes/

Will online shopping change cities themselves? [$]
Rex Jory
The huge rise in online shopping has already had a huge effect on bricks-and-mortar shops — but maybe the bigger impact is still coming. What will it mean for our cities themselves?
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/rex-jory-online-retailers-will-have-a-huge-effect-on-the-world-and-may-end-cities-as-we-know-them/news-story/118af19cea77e629fdedf9851e94695c