Daily Links Jul 2

Climate change is making it harder to revive damaged land
Instead of restoring the past, ecologists are increasingly focused on the future.
https://www.hcn.org/issues/50.13/climate-change-climate-change-is-making-it-harder-to-revive-damaged-landscapes

What we know about the climate change–hurricane connection
Michael Mann
Some links are indisputable; others are more subtle, but the science is improving all the time.
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/what-we-know-about-the-climate-change-hurricane-connection/

‘Unacceptable’: Energy grid ‘gaming’ cost $3.4billion [$]
Energy minister Josh Frydenberg will ask regulators to investigate “gaming” of the National Electricity Market after a new report found it cost consumers $3.4 billion.
https://www.afr.com/news/unacceptable-energy-grid-gaming-cost-australian-consumers-34b-20180629-h121oc

People suddenly get asthma after moving to Australia and researchers don’t know why
It’s a puzzle that doctors can’t crack: why do otherwise healthy migrants become asthmatic soon after moving to Australia?
https://www.theage.com.au/national/people-suddenly-get-asthma-after-moving-to-australia-and-researchers-don-t-know-why-20180629-p4zok6.html

Next-gen power solution: ‘Give consumers stake in grid’ [$]
Australians deserve to have a financial stake in their utilities which would allow them to earn money off energy they sold back to the grid, according to the Open Cities Alliance.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nextgeneration-power-solution-is-to-give-consumers-stake-in-electricity-grid/news-story/f94ab7f334de4b16b0f262cfdd5d8ea0

Future of Australian forests is vital to our own
John Van Der Kallen
Forests add value to our lives in so many ways.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5497317/future-of-australian-forests-is-vital-to-our-own/?cs=97

Turnbull’s Kill Bill drama can’t hide his failure to sell his NEG to his own backbench
David Tyler
Is it back to the future? Or is it déjà vu?  The Coalition fails to win over its coal lobby to its Clayton’s National Energy Guarantee, (NEG) a huge defeat, this week, eclipsed only by the uproar of a pliant media when Bill Shorten rethinks his tax cut repeal.
http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/turnbulls-kill-bill-drama-cant-hide-his-failure-to-sell-his-neg-to-his-own-/

Smart city planning can preserve old trees and the wildlife that needs them
Philip Gibbons
Mature trees have horizontal branches that are attractive to wildlife and birds.
https://theconversation.com/smart-city-planning-can-preserve-old-trees-and-the-wildlife-that-needs-them-98632

Customers in revolt over big bad bag ban [$]
Piers Akerman
Shopping giant Woolworths and the major political parties have one big thing in common — they’ve been infected with the septic anti-capitalist green policy gene.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/piers-akerman-customers-in-revolt-over-big-bad-bag-ban/news-story/b4a2402183f96e4c55c18fcd2a4badfa

Heartless ad cold comfort for aged, poor [$]
Andrew Bolt
The cold kills, especially the old. The SBS ad telling old people not to turn on their heaters in winter is not just stupid, pointless and heartless — but it’s potentially lethal.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/andrew-bolt-global-warming-ad-cold-comfort-for-aged-and-poor/news-story/8dea9fc3a873d7ecf841a1da51d5707b

Size matters and voters want a say [$]
Rita Panahi
Population is a key issue for the vast majority of Australians. And voters deserve to be heard on the size of Australia’s future population — whether governments like it or not.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/rita-panahi/rita-panahi-voters-want-a-say-on-australias-population-growth/news-story/140be16ffe92205bafbf63617af31d8e

Residents could face more sky rail pain as expert says work needed
The $1.6 billion sky rail in Melbourne’s south-east may be set for further expansion, costing millions more dollars and reviving residents’ fears of large-scale home acquisitions.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/residents-could-face-more-sky-rail-pain-as-expert-says-work-needed-20180621-p4zmr3.html

City of Melbourne discussion paper floats idea for shops and companies to take back their waste [$]
Taxing non-recyclable plastic and paper and forcing shops to take back their rubbish have been floated as waste reduction measures by the City of Melbourne.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/city-of-melbourne-discussion-paper-floats-idea-for-shops-and-companies-to-take-back-their-waste/news-story/b5cb389f438f635e1fb38e281dd48fd6

If we don’t act it will soon be the not-so-Great Ocean Road
Nicola Philp
The Great Ocean Road is the most visited tourist attraction in Victoria, outside of Melbourne. Look if we’re honest, it’s really the 12 Apostles that most people are heading for, but the offerings along the way aren’t shabby either. However, we are well on our way to major disaster unless short and long-term plans for its future are developed fairly expediently.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/if-we-don-t-act-it-will-soon-be-the-not-so-great-ocean-road-20180629-p4zogz.html

‘Shocking’: NSW government cops audit scolding over catchment inaction
The Berejiklian government ignored warnings by an auditor for two years that it in needed to address rising salinity at Sydney’s main reservoir.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/sustainability/shocking-nsw-government-cops-audit-scolding-over-catchment-inaction-20180701-p4zouu.html

London transport hubs could inspire Central Station’s $955m revamp
One of the architects behind London’s Kings Cross station modernisation said the makeover should “act as a precedent for Central Station”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/london-transport-hubs-could-inspire-central-station-s-955m-revamp-20180701-p4zou0.html

Labor’s M4 cash-back pledge a ‘con’, Premier warns
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has scorned the NSW Opposition’s pledge to reintroduce the cash-back system on Sydney’s M4 motorway, labelling it a “con” that would only benefit a select group of motorists.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/labor-s-m4-cash-back-pledge-a-con-premier-warns-20180701-p4zote.html

Govt considered building bridge from Acton for light rail to Woden
While Kings Avenue has been repeatedly thrown up as an alternate way for light rail to move south to Woden, another option was considered.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/govt-considered-building-bridge-from-acton-for-light-rail-to-woden-20180626-p4znv4.html

Light rail stage two scrutiny a welcome departure from binary debate
Canberra Times editorial
The inquiry into the Civic to Woden route brings with it a wider perspective of this city-changing project.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/light-rail-stage-two-scrutiny-a-welcome-departure-from-binary-debate-20180701-p4zovi.html

Coal gets a new lease on life
Courier Mail editorial
A strong international market for our coal means the Adani project will be on a more sound economic footing and the Galilee Basin can be opened up fully to development and production.
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/editorial-strong-coal-market-means-full-development-of-the-galilee-basin-and-lots-of-jobs/news-story/d0f17d9dbd00f85c0e0e45c8906bf148

So what routes are in the mix for a Mt Wellington cable car?
Cascade Brewery has rejected its land for use on the preferred route for Hobart’s proposed cable car up Mt Wellington. These are the remaining options.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-01/mt-wellington-cable-car-route-options-after-cascade-brewery/9923270

Plastic straws on new waste hit list
The State Government will refocus its war on waste on new targets after the ban on lightweight single-use plastic bags came into force yesterday.
https://thewest.com.au/news/environment/plastic-bag-ban-plastic-straws-on-new-waste-hit-list-ng-b88882928z

Clean fuel? Methane leaks threaten natural gas’ climate-friendly image
Executives from natural gas companies call their increasingly cheap and plentiful fuel the world’s best answer to climate change: it produces about half the carbon dioxide of coal when burned in a power plant and it can fuel trucks, trains and ships.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gas-conference-methane/clean-fuel-methane-leaks-threaten-natural-gas-climate-friendly-image-idUSKBN1JP27E

The dirty little secret behind ‘clean energy’ wood pellets
US communities near pellet mills complain of fumes while experts say burning wood is a ‘disaster’ for climate change.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/30/wood-pellets-biomass-environmental-impact