more on the Emissions Reduction Fund

If one concedes that the price on carbon will be removed in favour of the new Australian Government's Direct Action Plan, one has to wonder how it will work and how Australia will reduce carbon emissions.

The Australian Government's Emissions Reduction Fund is proposed to commence operations on 1 July 2014. The fund will apparently be designed to purchase low cost abatement.

I have been thinking about some of the activities which may receive incentives for abatement activities including:

•           re-vegetation and land management

•           soil carbon

•           forestry

•           energy efficiency

•           recycling

•           cleaning up power stations

•           cleaning up waste coal mine gas

•           cleaning up landfill

I wonder where one draws the line between providing incentives to activities where there are already economic, social, moral, legislative or environmental drivers in place.

I also have concerns and reservations on how reliable or verifiable soil carbon is as an abatement activity.  

The wonder if the Direct Action Plan will contain any mechanisms for tying abatement to international development assistance.  

The Government invites public comment on Terms of Reference on the design of the Emissions Reduction Fund. Submissions are required by 5pm (AEDT) Monday 18 November 2013.

Cleaner Environment Plan

The Australian Government's new Cleaner Environment Plan forms an umbrella policy framework for a four pillar approach to National Environmental Management.

·       Clean Air,

·       Clean Water,

·       Clean Land,

·       National Heritage

Clean Air outlines the Australian Government’s aspirations to reach its emissions reduction target (of 5% of Y2000 levels by Y2020) through the Direct Action Plan. 

The new Federal Government has changed Australia's response to climate change from a financial issue (through a liability for a price on carbon emissions) to an Engineering problem.  The Coalition Government seeks to source low cost emissions reductions and improve Australia's environment. This will be done primarily through the Emissions Reduction Fund.

The Emissions Reduction Fund is a central element of the Australian Government's Direct Action Plan. The Fund will provide financial incentives for emissions reduction activities across the Australian economy.

Some of the activities which may receive incentives for abatement activities include:

• re-vegetation and land management
• soil carbon
• forestry
• energy efficiency
• recycling
• cleaning up power stations
• cleaning up waste coal mine gas
• cleaning up landfill.

The Government invites public comment on Terms of Reference on the design of the Emissions Reduction Fund by 5pm (AEDT) Monday 18 November 2013.

The Government is seeking business and community views on the design of the Emissions Reduction Fund including:

·         the likely sources of low cost, large scale abatement to come forward under the Emissions Reduction Fund;

·         how the Emissions Reduction Fund can facilitate the development of abatement projects, including through expanding the Carbon Farming Initiative and drawing on the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme;

·         the details of auction arrangements to deliver cost effective outcomes;

·         the governance arrangements that will support the Emissions Reduction Fund, including the role of key institutions such as the Clean Energy Regulator;

·         the details of the monitoring, verification, compliance and payments arrangements for successful bidders at auction;

·         transitional issues relating to the existing Carbon Farming Initiative; and

·         the design and operation of a mechanism applying to emissions above the business as usual baseline.

Sympathy for Greg Hunt

I am starting to feel sorry for the Honourable Greg Hunt.

Kathleen Noonan wrote an article in the Courier Mail on the weekend about Bimblebox Nature Reserve and Waratah Coal’s China First mine.  

The Galilee Coal project has already been approved by the Qld State Government's Coordinator General, subject to a review by the Federal Government to consider "matters of national environment significance" and perhaps some impacts on water. Ms Noonan encourages those who are a little uncomfortable with any of that 'due process'', to email greg.hunt.mp@environment.gov.au.  

The former Labor Government introduced the water trigger, an amendment to the EPBC Act - the EPBC Amendment Bill 2013 – passed the Parliament on 19 June 2013. The water trigger allows the impacts of proposed large coal mining developments on water resources to be comprehensively assessed at a national level.

Previous Environment Ministers have actively administered the Federal Government's responsibilities to consider matters of national environment significance but it appears Greg Hunt will soon hand those responsibilities back to State Governments.

I also note there are 1 million women putting pressure on Greg Hunt to attend the United Nations Climate Summit in Warsaw this week.

Greg may be a little busy with the Australian Government's new Cleaner Environment Plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Hon Greg Hunt
Minister for the Environment

Dear Mr Hunt,

Congratulations on your re-election to the House of Representatives and your appointment as Minister for the Environment.  It is also great to have someone with your background responsible for the climate portfolio.

It must be disappointing for you, that you are not representing the Australian people at the United Nations Climate negotiations in Warsaw, Poland this week.

It must also be frustrating to be in the spotlight for the Qld Government's approval of the Galilee Coal project. I realise that you now have limited responsibilities for administration of matters of National environmental significance.  I understand the State Governments want to be "one stop shops" for Environmental approvals.

I am grateful that the impacts of the Galilee Coal development on water resources is to be comprehensively assessed at a national level.

I wish you all the best with the implementation of the Cleaner Environment Plan.

Your's sincerely,

Rowan Barber

Bowen CSG pipeline project EIS receives approval

Media Statements

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection
The Honourable Andrew Powell

Monday, March 25, 2013

Bowen pipeline project EIS receives approval

A proposed billion dollar coal seam gas pipeline has been given the go-ahead by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP).

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell said the department had completed its assessment of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Arrow Energy Bowen Pipeline Project.

“The project would involve the construction and operation of a 580 kilometre high-pressure gas pipeline to deliver coal seam gas from gas fields in the Bowen Basin to a proposed LNG plant at Gladstone,” Mr Powell said.

“The department considered the EIS documentation, as well as public submissions, before deciding it was satisfied the environmental impacts of the pipeline would not be unacceptable.

“The buried pipeline route would cross private land, roads, railway lines, watercourses and wetlands. 

“Arrow Energy has outlined a range of practices in the EIS to ensure that activities conducted across various types of terrain and land uses would deliver an acceptable environmental outcome.

“The pipeline will also require an Environmental Authority from the department which will set out enforceable environmental performance requirements during the construction and operation of the pipeline.

“These conditions would ensure commitments made in the EIS are fully implemented.” 

Mr Powell said the pipeline would involve a capital investment of approximately $1 billion and generate around 700 new jobs.

“Over the past twelve months we have consistently said we would work with industry to deliver sustainable economic development while upholding strong environmental standards and this project is a great example of that,” he said.

“While the EIS process is now finalised, Arrow Energy will need to obtain some final approvals from EHP and other government agencies. This project will also require Federal Government approval before construction can commence.”

“The Newman Government is confident we can work with industry to deliver positive economic outcomes for Queensland while protecting our environment.”

[ENDS] 25 March 2013

Media contact: Brooke Hargraves 0458 689 043

cuts to Qld energy sector red tape

I find it curious that the Qld State Government is using the introduction of the carbon tax as the justification for removing funding for renewable energy, gas and energy efficiency programs etc.....

....when the Federal opposition is adamant that it will remove the carbon tax:

Read the following statement from the Member for Caloundra:

Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark McArdle

Friday, March 08, 2013

Further cuts to Queensland energy sector red tape

The Newman Government continues to cut red tape from the State’s energy sector, including closing a program which forces businesses to report their electricity use to government.

Energy Minister Mark McArdle said the State Government was closing  the Queensland Gas Scheme and the Smart Energy Savings Program (SESP) and repealing standards for new coal-fired power stations.

“These schemes, introduced by the previous State Government, have largely achieved what they set out to do and are no longer required,” Mr McArdle said.

“The Queensland Gas Scheme requires electricity retailers to source 15 per cent of their electricity from Gas Fired Generators, to encourage investment in gas fired electricity generation and boost gas production across the state.

“The scheme has served its purpose, with nearly 20 per cent of electricity currently being sourced from gas generators.

“Since Carbon Pricing, introduced  in July 2012,  is achieving similar outcomes, now is an appropriate time to remove duplication and cease the Scheme.

The Smart Energy Savings Program (SESP), requiring businesses using a certain amount of electricity,  to report their energy use to government, will also be closed.

Mr McArdle said Queensland businesses should identify energy savings to boost their bottom lines and not be forced to report these savings to Government.

“This requirement was adding red tape for no reason and the Government will not undertake any compliance activity for outstanding obligations under the SESP.”

Mr McArdle said standards for new coal-fired power stations would be abolished as they had been replaced by the introduction of carbon pricing and  no additional environmental benefit would be achieved by continuing the policy.

“The repeal of these standards will strip away the administrative burden and complexity for investors. It will allow them to select  the most appropriate technology for their needs and brings Queensland into line with all other states and the Federal Government,” he said.

”Also, based on current demand,  it is unlikely there will be a need for an additional coal-fired base load generator in Queensland within the next decade.

The Department of Energy and Water Supply will provide guidance to participants as they transition out of the two closing schemes and help energy providers understand any changes as a result of the repeal of standards on new coal-fired power stations.”

[ENDS] 8 March, 2013

Here we go again #ShaleOil

Media Statements

JOINT STATEMENT

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection
The Honourable Andrew Powell

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
The Honourable Andrew Cripps

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Newman Government approves oil shale industry

The creation of new jobs and broad economic benefits are expected, following the Newman Government announcement that it will allow the development of a commercial oil shale industry in Queensland under strict environmental conditions.

Natural Resources and Mines Minister, Andrew Cripps, said the Government’s new oil shale policy sets rigorous environmental controls on the industry and will allow existing oil shale operator QER Limited to progress its trial plant at Gladstone to commercial stage.

“Queensland currently has around 90 per cent of Australia’s known oil shale resources, which are equivalent to approximately 22 billion barrels of oil,” Mr Cripps said.

“As the world supply of conventional crude oil diminishes, there are strong prospects for oil shale to become the next major source of liquid fuel supplies in Australia, and Queensland is well placed to lead that charge.

“The industry has the potential to create thousands of new jobs in the construction phase alone, and provide royalties and other economic benefits for our regional communities and the broader economy, which is great news for Queensland.”

Minister Cripps said the new oil shale policy would:

• recognise the strategic importance of oil shale to contribute to energy security, and encourage private sector investment in high quality oil shale extracting technologies
• ensure project proponents must first demonstrate their oil shale technology will meet high environmental standards and community expectations
• allow, in general, the consideration and development of other oil shale deposits in Queensland, pending thorough environmental assessment on a project by project basis
• continue the existing 20-year moratorium suspending development of the McFarlane oil shale deposit near Proserpine until 2028

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Andrew Powell, emphasised that strict environmental controls would apply to any proposal to mine and process oil shale.

“To date, there has been extremely limited commercial application of oil shale in Australia and overseas,” Mr Powell said.

“That’s why any proposed oil shale development will be subject to detailed environmental assessments on a project-by-project basis. 

“We will consider these proposals on their merits and require a trial stage to determine the feasibility and environmental performance of any unproven technologies.

“The approval process for any oil shale development will demand that operators adopt best practice environmental management techniques and comprehensive monitoring of the process, its emissions, wastes and impact on the community and environmental settings.

“Under the new policy, existing operator Queensland Energy Resources Ltd (QER) will be able to proceed directly to commercial production, but new entrants to the industry will need to prove their oil shale extraction technologies through trials.

“Importantly, both existing and new operators in the oil shale industry will need to prepare full Environmental Impact Statements for their projects.”

Mr Powell said the QER pilot plant near Gladstone has successfully demonstrated the viability of its processing technology.

“The report into the QER plant demonstrated it operated well within the environmental performance requirements of its Environmental Authority issued by my department,” he said.

[ENDS] 13 February 2013

Media contacts:

Minister Cripps: Jane Paterson             0417 281 754      

Minister Powell: Ken Vernon             0431 027 017      

Further Information:

Oil shale is a fine grained sedimentary rock containing organic matter called kerogen. It is a completely different industry and extraction process to shale gas or shale oil.

Hydrocarbons are derived from oil shale that has been mined and then heated in a processing plant.  This process produces vapours which are condensed and converted into synthetic crude oil, and then refined to produce ultra-low sulphur transport fuels.

How much carbon tax will Brisbane City Council pay?

Captain Quirk is blaming the Carbon Tax for Brisbane City Council rate rises.... He has said: "rise could have been kept to 2.6 per cent, or $31.48 a year, if not for costs associated with the carbon tax, including landfill charges."

I am trying to work out how much Carbon Tax we will pay.


Brisbane City Council's NGER's data.

Registered Corporation	Total scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions(t CO2-e)	Total scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions(t CO2-e)	Total energy consumption (GJ)
Brisbane City Council1	263,920	18,271	2,504,217

So we are looking at:

282,191 t CO2-e

At $23 a tonne:

$6,490,393.00

1: Brisbane City Council has voluntarily provided information to the Greenhouse Energy Data Office (GEDO) concerning GreenPower renewable energy purchases, voluntarily surrendered Renewable Energy Certificates or offset scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions totals. This information has been published on the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website – www.climatechange.gov.au/reporting.

Councilor Victoria Newton (‏@VictoriaNewton) directed my attention to information about capture of methane emissions from landfill: http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/emissions-from-landfill-facilities-2/ Apparently there is no charge in 2012/13 2 help deal with the changes...

rio plus 20

In the opening lines of Paul Hawken's Blessed Unrest, he writes:

"...people are curious to know what is happening in their world, but no speaker wants to leave an auditorium depressed, however dark and frightening a tomorrow is predicted by the science that studies the rate of environmental loss. To be sanguine about the future, however, requires a plausible basis for constructive action: you cannot describe possibilities for that future unless the present problem is accurately defined  ....."

This week will see more than 100 Heads of State gather in Rio de Janeiro for the third World Summit on Sustainable Development: "Rio Plus 20".  I won't be there in person but I have Peter Allen playing in my head and my two year old has loaned me her maracas.  My beloved wife and my two daughters keep smiling at me.....

When my Baby, When my baby smiles at me I go to Rio De Janeiro 
My-oh me-oh 
I go wild then I have to do the samba, then la Bamba 
Now I'm not the kind of person with a passionate persuasion for dancin' or romancin' 
But I give in to the rhythm and my feet follow the beat of my heart 

When my baby, when my baby smiles at me 
I go to Rio, De Janeiro 
Me salsa fellow 
When my baby smiles at me 
She shines the lanterns of my life 
And I am free at last what a blast! 
Whoa 

When my baby, when my baby smiles at me 

McArdle's Charter [Water & Energy]

10 April 2012


The Honourable Mark McArdle MP
Minister for Energy and Water Supply
Level 13, Mineral House
41 George Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000



Dear Minister

Ministerial Deliverables

Congratulations on your success in the electorate of Caloundra and thank you for accepting my invitation to serve Queensland as the Minister for Energy and Water Supply.

Our electoral success was achieved with a strong cohesive CanDo team committed to real change, and your contribution to the team played a significant part. Queenslanders have voted for change, and it is critical that we respect the trust bestowed on us by delivering on our commitments to grow a four pillar economy, lower the cost of living by cutting waste, deliver better infrastructure and better planning, revitalise front line services for families, restore accountability in Government and work towards our goal of achieving 4% unemployment in six years.

For this reason, I am writing to each Minister outlining my expectations of the priority tasks to be achieved to deliver on our election commitments. You and your Department have a vital role to play in the reform program, as reflected in the following tasks for which I am requesting you to take responsibility.

I expect that at all times Ministers will demonstrate to the public the capabilities and behaviours that will define us as the Government we undertook to be – united, energetic, disciplined and ethical. I refer you to the Queensland Cabinet Handbook, the Queensland Ministerial Handbook, the Queensland Executive Council Handbook, the Queensland Parliamentary Procedures Handbook and the Queensland Legislation Handbook.

Contribution to the 100 Day Plan
The following are the specific tasks relevant to your portfolio which you need to achieve in the first 100 days of Government.
• Freeze or lower the standard domestic tariff (Tariff 11) to address soaring electricity bills as part of cost of living relief (to take effect from 1 July 2012) in consultation with the Treasurer (First 30 days).
• Act to put the cost of the carbon tax on electricity bills.
• Start the process to amalgamate bulk water entities as part of our Four Point Plan to Reduce Water Prices.


First Term Tasks
In addition to these early milestones, the following tasks within your area of ministerial responsibility are to be achieved within the first term of Government.
• Implement all LNP election policy commitments relevant to your portfolio.
• Identify wasteful expenditure that could be redirected to front line services.
• Work to create a strong future for Energy in Queensland with a stable, clear legislative framework for industry.
• Investigate and identify infrastructure requirements to ensure the further growth of the Energy and Water sector, and the continued provision of these services to Queenslanders.
• Alongside key stakeholders and the Department, work to develop and foster the creation of clean energy alternatives.
• Undertake discussions with the Federal Government and Federal Opposition about the negative impact that the Carbon Tax will have upon Queensland jobs and industry.
• Ensure the Department leads the way in ensuring the world’s best social and environmental performance.
• Develop and implement policies and initiatives that ensure departmental resources are principally engaged for frontline service delivery and to remove unnecessary red tape.
• Work with the electricity industry to deliver initiatives that incentivise customers to reduce electricity consumption and thereby lower their cost of living.
• Commence proper planning for Queensland’s future water needs and work to create a sustainable water supply that will cater for Queensland’s population increases and ensure this planning meets the needs of households, industry and agriculture.
• Hand back control of water distribution and retailing to local councils.
• Write off any non-performing water grid assets to reduce sharp price rises.
• Adopt a 40 year price path to repay the former Bligh Labor Government’s $7 billion water grid debt over the economic life of the assets.
• Rigorously ensure your Department is aware of our overarching plan to cut Government waste and inefficiency.
• Implement the LNP’s election commitment for sustainable public sector growth.
• Implement the LNP’s election commitment to reduce red tape.
• Continue to establish effective working relationships with stakeholders and other interest groups relevant to your portfolio areas.
• Deliver consolidation of bulk water entities.

Could you please consult with your Director-General to ensure these goals are understood by the Department and that systems are in place to monitor and report on progress towards their achievement, so that you are able to update Cabinet regularly. In this regard, the Department of Premier and Cabinet will be responsible for coordinating reports to Cabinet on progress, and will assist your Department with proposed reporting formats.

I intend to review this charter and your efforts to implement it regularly.





Finally, I congratulate you again on your appointment and I look forward to working closely with you as a Ministerial colleague as we implement our policies and achieve the goal of providing a CanDo Government to get Queensland back on track.

Yours sincerely





CAMPBELL NEWMAN
PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND

Public consultation opens for Arrow Energy EIS

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Public consultation opens for Arrow Energy EIS

The public is invited to have its say on the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed multi-billion dollar Arrow liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Gladstone.

Arrow CSG (Australia) Pty Ltd is proposing to build a 300-hectare LNG facility on Curtis Island, in the Port of Gladstone.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the release of the EIS was a major milestone for the project, and if approved, would provide a jobs bonanza for Gladstone.

“The Arrow Energy plant would provide huge economic benefits to the state, and employ up to 3715 people during construction and 450 people during operation,” Mr Seeney said.

“And it would stimulate further investment in the expanding coal seam gas industry, which is steadily increasing its share of the Australian energy market.

“The project’s assessment will be managed by the Coordinator-General who will look at all issues and associated impacts on behalf of the state government.

“If approved, operation of the plant could begin as early as 2017.”

Coordinator-General Barry Broe said it was a large, complex project involving local, state and federal government approval processes and one which would potentially impact on a number of environmental values.

“Consequently, in June 2009 the Coordinator-General declared it a ‘significant project’ for which an EIS is required,” Mr Broe said.

The Curtis Island facility is expected to have a capacity of up to 18 million tonnes of LNG per annum, through a staged development.

A nine kilometre-long feed gas pipeline would be needed from the Gladstone City Gate, traversing Port Curtis via a tunnel under the seabed.

Dredging of the sea bed of Port Curtis and the riverbed at the mouth of the Calliope River is also required to provide access to marine facilities on Curtis Island, and the mainland.

Coordinator-General Barry Broe said he encouraged members of the community to have their say on the EIS.

“The EIS will be available for public comment for six weeks from Monday 16 April 2012.

“For a copy of the EIS, people can download the document from www.arrowenergy.com .

“Alternatively, people can obtain a free copy on DVD or purchase a printed copy by calling 1800 038856 or emailing: arrowlng@arrowenergy.com.au .”

The EIS will also be on public display (subject to local opening hours) between 16 April and 28 May 2012, at:

• Agnes Water Library: 3 Captain Cook Drive, Agnes Water
• Boyne Island Library: Cnr Wyndham and Hampton Drives, Boyne Island
• Calliope Library : Don Cameron Drive, Calliope
• Gladstone Regional Council, 101 Goondoon Street, Gladstone
• Gladstone Regional Library: 39 Goondoon Street, Gladstone
• Miriam Vale Library: 34 Roe Street, Miriam Vale
• National Library: Parkes Place, Canberra
• State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane

All public submissions must be in writing and received by the Coordinator-General via by 5pm on Monday 28 May, 2012.

Post: The Coordinator-General
c/o EIS Project Manager – Arrow LNG plant
Significant Projects Coordination
Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
PO Box 15009
City East Qld 4002

-ENDS-

Media contact: John Wiseman – 0409 791 281