Issues related to the Environment, Climate Change, Water and Energy
Late last year (on 21 December 2009), the ACT Minister for Energy released for discussion the ACT’s Draft Sustainable Energy Policy 2010-2020. The draft policy sets out ideas for reducing the ACT’s dependence on fossil-fuel generated electricity with the aim of meeting the ACT Government’s target of a carbon neutral Canberra by 2060. Consultation is now open and is due to close on 5 March 2010 and the purpose of this email is to invite the North Canberra Community Council to submit comments on the draft policy.
In the 8 January 2010 edition of the Canberra Times, journalist Susannah Metherell has written a somewhat humourous article about a noisy koel that is keeping residents of Dooring Street awake at night. The article is reproduced below: Call of the koel driving Dickson residents cuckoo The reason is the male koel, a member of the cuckoo family, which has a distinctive, repetitive mating call, that rings throughout the neighbourhood all night.
The ACT Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water are soliciting public comment on the proposed Dickson and Lyneham Wetlands Project. The Canberra Integrated Urban Waterways team are working with consultants to design the proposed Dickson and Lyneham wetlands. As well as providing water quality improvements and increased urban aquatic habitat, these water features will supply stormwater to irrigate playing fields in Canberra’s inner north.
Prime News published the following article about a native tree that has come down in Watson. The local resident had been warning the ACT Government that the tree was potentially dangerous for several years, yet there had been continued inaction. The story is reproduced below:
The following article has been reproduced from ABC Online: SMS bushfire warnings to be trialed The ACT Government will trial the new national telephone bushfire warning system on Thursday. Phone and text messages will be sent to people who live in Turner, O’Connor, Lyneham, Hall and Hume. Emergency Services Minister Simon Corbell says if the test goes well the system will be activated soon after. “This is an important capability for our emergency services,” he said. “It’s not a silver bullet, it’s not the only way emergency warnings will be sent to people in the event of an emergency but …
The ACT Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission is seeking public input to the Electricity Feed-in Premium Rate Determination Issues Paper. On 30 October 2009, the Minister for Energy, Simon Corbell MLA, requested the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to provide advice to assist with determination of the premium rate paid for electricity supplied by compliant renewable energy generators to the distribution network under the provisions of the Electricity Feed-in (Renewable Energy Premium) Act 2008. The referral is subject to the provisions of the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission Act 1997.
The ACT Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water is inviting the public to comment on the Proposed Dickson and Lyneham Wetlands. Have your say about the design and facilities including art, interpretive signage, shade structures and bird viewing locations for the project. When: Wednesday 16 December 2009 (5.30pm – 7.30pm) Where: Majura Community Centre, Rosevear Place, Dickson For more information contact the Urban Waterways Coordinator, Edwina Richardson by email edwina.richardson@act.gov.au or phone 6207 5520.
ACTPLA has released the Sustainable future workshop findings report for public comment. The report contains key outcomes from a series of workshops held under the Sustainable future program. These workshops gathered together some of Australia’s leading thinkers, community members and government and industry representatives to draw out ideas on how to make our city and the ACT more sustainable, particularly in regard to future planning. Those ideas are synthesised in the report, which has been released so people in the community can provide ACTPLA with their feedback.
On 26 November 2009, WIN News provided addtional information of the Asbestos Exposure incident on Rankin Street in Campbell. This was previously reported on this website in the following article: “Campbell residents potentially exposed to loose asbestos”
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Read more“WIN News: Coverage of Asbestos Exposure on Rankin Street Campbell”
