The Environment and Climate Change
To be up-dated as issues arise. Feel free to add your comments / requests / opinions in this area. The better informed I am, the better I can represent you and your needs.
I received a request to comment on issues of The Environment and Climate Change…
We are fortunate enough to live in a town that has the honour of being classed as a solar city. Over the past couple of years, Alice Solar City has initiated several projects that encourage private home owners and businesses to adopt more efficient energy practices. We’re building a new home out near the Alice Springs Desert Park that will include all things environmentally friendly..and will offer it to PowerWater and Alice Solar City as a show home.
Now that the Angela Pamela uranium mine project is a ‘no go’ (congratulations to the incumbent NT Government for that decision), we no longer have to consider that. We are still looking at working towards our objections to the Federal Government about the proposed uranium dump at Muckatty Station, north of Tennant Creek. Given that we are a territory rather than a state and that the Federal Government can over-ride our NT legislation, we must continue is our efforts to keep the NT an exclusion zone for waste dumps.
Part of my platform is to work towards NT Statehood…the consultation to be held at the Darwin Convention Centre in November, 2011 will help to gain that sovereignty.
I believe that wind energy is also an opportunity for the NT to help lead the way with renewable technology and will work towards developing this as an option to be explored, developed and delivered.
Climate change is an inevitability…all change is. How we address this is what we, as a community, must deliberate about and aim to deliver better alternatives for our current and future generations.
Developing an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) or evolving a formula for carbon emissions policy (CEP) will be worked through by the Federal Government and others during 2011 and beyond. In the meantime, we should all consider planting as many trees as possible (including fruit trees) in our our yards, local parks and reserves. Remember that Olive Pink Botanical Gardens in Alice Springs can host trees donated by families in memory of loved ones who have passed. A living tribute to a person or pet now passed is a worthwhile investment in our present and future.
Please feel free to add your thoughts…the better the open debate and collective decisions; the better the outcomes.
What about some policy on that Uranium mine? Or the idea to build tall buildings in Alice Springs?
I do not support the mining of uranium anywhere in Central Australia. Nor do I support the storage of radioactive waste here or the transport of it through the region.
How tall is tall? How long is a piece of string? The new Melanka is the dawning of a new era in the Central Australian landscape. We won’t be having sky-scrapers. The Melanka project is not high-rise – it’s medium. Now that we’ve approved buildings to the 5 storey level instead of 3, we have grown the capacity for new growth in the CBD while still maintaining the ambiance and special spirit of our unique town.
So are you opposed to Uranium Mining (as well as Nuclear Energy) in general or just in relation to the Central Australia region? Where do you propose we do store the waste then? When you cut through all the political spin; the low population, relative isolation and geographic stability DO make Central Australia an excellent candidate.
So the Melanka thing is going ahead? That’s great news!
I’m not opposed to the development of uranium mining – just not 20km from Alice Springs with no guarantee that our water supply won’t be affected. The area already decimated by nuclear testing in South Australia in the 1950s is my preferred site for storing waste. It’s already ‘dead’ (have you ever driven through it)?
The dawning of the new Melanka project is a huge positive for development and thriving of Alice Springs. I’m currently considering the option of purchasing one of the penthouse potentials.
Hmmm the place in south Australia would be a really good idea now that you mention it. But if there is uranium in Alice springs it will have already affected our water supply, as far as I can work out anyway (in regards to radiation and such). But it’s nice to here a (future) politician being rationale about it for a change.
A few other issues I’d like to know your opinion on (although they are admititly more federal than state based). How do you feel about the InternetCensorship plan, the R18+ video game rating, the Republic, Boat People/Border Protection and Rudds new supertax?
Climate Change+ environment policy ??