Download - Draft Hunter Plan Submission ClimateActionNewcastle 22.03.16...scientists warn that we may soon to reach ‘tipping points’ into irreversible climate chaos, and they encourage more

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TheNSWDepartmentofPlanning:DraftHunterRegionalPlanandDraftPlanforGrowingHunterCity–ClimateActionNewcastleReviewandSubmissionClimateActionNewcastlehasreviewedthesePlansprimarilyinrelationtoclimatechangemitigation,andadaptation.Eachsectionofthesubmissionincludesrecommendationsandquestionsthatshouldbeaddressed,andfallsunderthefollowingheadings:• Summary• Climatechangemitigation• Coal• Coalseamgas• Renewableenergy• Transport• Nativevegetation,habitatandpreventingspeciesextinction• Climatechangeadaptation• UsefulnewsandreferencesAnyquestionsregardingthissubmissioncanbeforwardedto:TheCommitteeClimateActionNewcastlePOBox2359DANGARNSW2309can@climateaction.org.au


SummaryTheDraftHunterRegionalPlanandaccompanyingDraftPlanforGrowingHunterCityarebothoutofstepwithimportantcurrenttrendsandfactorssuchas:• theurgencyforclimatechangemitigationbyeverylevelofgovernment• thestructuraldeclineofthecoalindustryandneedforsustainableeconomicrestructuring• thelackofeconomic,environmentalandsocialviabilityforcoalseamgas• therapiduptakeandavailabilityofaffordablerenewableenergy• AustraliabeingattheforefrontofthegreatestrateofspeciesextinctionsincethedinosaurageFromaclimatechangepointofviewthePlansareconcerningbecause:• thePlansbarelymentionclimatechangeanddonotaddressclimatechangemitigation• thePlansexplicitlysupporttheon-goingexpansionofcoalminingandexport

o attheexpenseofclimatesafetyo attheexpenseofothersustainablesectorsthatcouldflourishintheHuntersuchasrenewable

energyandagricultureo indenialofthestructuraldeclineofthecoalindustry

• thePlansexplicitlysupportthedevelopmentofthenewcoalseamgasindustryintheHunterdespiteo marketdeclineandassetwritedownsacrossthesectoro atmospheric/environmentaldamageo beingunfeasibleduetoalackof‘sociallicence’inthecommunity

• thePlansshownoincreaseinpublictransportlinksorserviceso despitethebenefitstoreducinggreenhousegasemissionsfrommorepublictransporto despitetheincreasingdifficultyofplanningandinstallingthispublictransportinfrastructureas

citydevelopmentencroaches–especiallyformodessuchasHighSpeedRail• thePlanscontainnoclearcommitmentstofosterthedevelopmentofrenewableenergy-whichmay

seetheHuntermissoutonthehugeenvironmentalbenefitsandeconomicopportunitiesthatmaybeprovidedbyREifitisplannedforanddevelopedatthesoonesttime

• Theplansevidenceafatalisticapproachtothedeclineinnativevegetationandcriticalhabitatinsteadofplanningtoprotectthesehabitats.

o Despitethethreatofclimatechangetothreatenedspeciesandaneedtoallowabufferofprotectionthroughsavingthehabitatthatisleft

o Despitethereleaseofcarbonemissionsfromlandclearingo Withanunscientificover-relianceon‘off-sets’(evenwhenthereisno‘like-for-like’vegetation

remainingtooffset)andwithanunrealisticrelianceonminingrehabilitationtoenhancecorridorconnectivity

o Nonewnationalparkareasoutlinedtoensurehabitatprotectiono Buildinghomesingreenfieldsites(bushland)isgivenpreferenceinthePlansbutcouldbe

avoidedthroughmoreurbanconsolidationandincreaseddensityinexistingareas,buildingsmallerhouses,andtallerbuildingsandrenewingolderdevelopedareas

• Climatechangeadaptationisnotexplicitlyaddressedandishousedunder‘naturalhazards’.Ofthis:o Thereisanindicationthatthefundingofcoastalmanagementstrategiestoprotectexisting

communitiesandinfrastructurefrom‘naturalhazards’willfallontoCouncilsandaffectedcommunities.Thisneedstobeexplicitlydefined,ensuringequitablefundingmechanismswillbedeveloped–especiallygiventhatpollutingindustrieswhichexacerbateclimatechangearecurrentlybeingadvantagedandencouragedbytheNSWGovernment.

o RespondingtotheeffectsofextremeheatisnotaddressedatallinthePlans


Climatechange-mitigationAnurgentanddrasticreductioningreenhousegas(GHG)emissionsisrequiredtomaintainasafeclimate-inlinewiththerecentParisAgreementtargetoflessthan2degreesincrease(sincepre-industrialtimes).Already,substantialchangesareoccurringtoEarth’sclimateataround1degreeincreaseandmanyscientistswarnthatwemaysoontoreach‘tippingpoints’intoirreversibleclimatechaos,andtheyencouragemoreambitioninourgreenhousegasmitigationtargets.ThisshouldbeactivelyplannedforbyeverylevelofGovernment–andatthescaleoftheApolloProjectorSnowyHydroSchemetobecommensuratewiththelevelofurgencyandthreat.However,ClimatechangemitigationisnotaddressedatallintheHunterPlans.Infactclimatechangeisbarelymentioned,andwhenitis,thereisnoreferencetomitigation,onlyadaptation(whichishousedunderthe‘naturalhazards’heading).TheHunterPlandoesmentiondiversifyingtheHuntereconomy,butatthesametimeemphasisesplanningsupportandbusinessconfidenceforthecoalminingandcoalseamgassectorsinthelongterm.ThisisatoddswithreducingGHGemissionsandthecurrentclimatecrisis.Itisalsoatoddswiththestructuraldeclineofthecoalindustryandtherapidriseandavailabilityofrenewableenergytechnologies.ContentintheAdaptNSWwebsiteindicatesthattheNSWGovernmentdoesrecognisetheseriousnessandurgencyofclimatechange,andthatitisinfactforcedbyanthropogenicgreenhousegasemissions,andyetthereisnoindicationineitheroftheHunterPlansthattheNSWDepartmentofPlanning(DoP)isattemptingtorespondtothisinformationbyplanningtomitigatethethreatofgreenhousegasemissionstotheclimate.Whichbegsthequestion:iftheNSWMinsterforPlanningandthestaffoftheNSWDoPdonotseeitastheirroletotranslatetheinformationaboutclimatechangeintopracticalplansforthestructuraltransitiontoalowcarboneconomyinNSWandtheHunter;thenwhichStateofficersshouldwebelookingtoforthisplanning?ReferenceismadeinthePlanstodiversifyingtheHuntereconomy,whileatthesametimestatingclearsupportfortheemissions-intensivesectorsofcoalminingandcoalseamgasintothe“longterm”.Carbonintensiveindustriesplaceotheridentifiedsectorsthatmightsupportdiversificationatrisk,suchas:• allagriculturalenterprisesincludingviticulture,equineindustriesareatriskfromdrought,flooding,

erraticandunpredictablegrowingseasons,andincreasedwildfire.• oysterfarming–oceanacidificationisathreattotheshellgrowthofoysters.(Incidentally,pollution

fromtheWilliamtownRAAFbasemayalsobeanissueforthisindustryintheHunterEstuary.)• freightandpublictransportlinksarepronetodisruptionfromfloodingacrossraillinesandroadsand

increasingwildfireeventsRecommendationstoaddressclimatechangemitigation:

• RespondtotheclimatechangeadvicefromtheNSWOfficeofEnvironmentandHeritage,theCSIRO,theAustralianBureauofMeteorology,theIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange,NASA,theGoddardInstitute,andeveryotherreputableclimatescienceinstituteintheworld;byactivelyplanningtomitigateclimatechange.

• ImplementmeasuresseeninotherStateandCityplansinAustraliaandacrosstheworldsuchas:o tangiblestrategiestorapidlytransitiontheHuntereconomyawayfromcarbon-intensive

industriessuchasmining;andplantowardazerocarboneconomyo settingatargetdateandplanforachieving100%renewableenergyintheHunter


o settingatargetdateandstrategiesforthepeakandreductionofpercapitagreenhousegasemissionsofHunterresidents

o settingtargetsfordecreasingpercapitaconsumptionofelectricity–drivingenergyefficiencyo devisingmeasuresforreducingemissionsfromtransport,wasteandagricultureo committingtononewcoalmineso committingtoincreasinglocalmasspublictransportlinkso committingtoanincreaseinelectrifiedintra-citymasspublictransportlinkswhichmayinclude

highspeedrail• MoreexplorationofdiversifyingtheHuntereconomybymeasuressuchas:

o Commitmentsandsupportfordevelopingrenewableenergyprojects-ofallscaleso Pro-activelyre-establishingmanufacturingandenergy-intensiveindustriesthatcanbepowered

byrenewableenergy,takingadvantageoftheresidualHunterskillsbaseandPorto Re-fundingtertiaryeducationinstitutionsandtrainingentitiesthatmayenablethecreative

artssector(suchastheHunterTAFE)o AdvocatingforadequatefundingfortheNewcastleCSIRO,HunterMedicalResearchInstitute,

theUniversityofNewcastleandotherscienceandresearchentitiesthatdriveinnovationandeconomicresilience

o Ensuringadequateinfrastructure(suchasfiber-opticbroadband)tostrengthenthedigitaleconomy

• StopprioritisingthecoalandcoalseamgassectorsandplacingothersectorsoftheHunter,andthehealthoftheenvironment,atrisk.

• Promotebusinessconfidenceforsustainablelow-carbonsectorssuchasrenewableenergygeneration,insteadofforthecoalandcoalseamgassectors

CoalPollutionfromcoalexportsisAustralia’sbiggestcontributiontodangerousclimatechange.Burningandminingcoalisemissions-intensive,andarelianceonthecoalsectorisweakeningtheresilienceoftheHuntereconomy.Itisalsocausingirreversibledamagetotheland,waterandbiodiversityoftheHunter.Australiaandcountriesaroundtheworld,haveagreedtokeepglobaltemperaturerisetonomorethan2°Coverpre-industriallevels(notingwearealreadyataround1°Cincrease).Todothis,scientistsadvisethatmostoftheworld’sfossilfuelreservesmustbeleftintheground,unburned,tokeepglobaltemperaturerisetonomorethan2°C.SeeReference‘UnburnableCarbon’.Coalisinpermanentstructuraldecline,andtheemphasisintheHunterPlanonsupportingthegrowthofthecoalindustryintheimmediateandlongtermisnegligentandoutofstepwithinternationaltrends.TheinfrastructureoftheHunterValleyCoalChainissettobecome‘strandedassets’.

HunterPlanPage19.Action2.1.1“Coalminingwillbeanongoingpriorityindustry,predominantlyduetoitsexportvalue.Overthecomingdecades,theregionwillcontinuebenefittingfromtheeconomicandemploymentflow-oneffectsofthegrowthofthecoalminingindustry…”

ItisdisappointingtoreadthattheDoPplanstoentrenchthecoalindustryintheHunterintothefuture.Itislongpasttimetogetanewplanforhowto“growthelargestregionaleconomyinAustralia”.Thecoalexportsectorisinpermanentstructuraldeclineandtheemphasisongrowingthecoalindustryisatoddswith:coal’sstructuraldecline,withtheriseofrenewableenergy,withcommunityresistancetocoalmineexpansion,andwiththeurgentneedtomitigateclimatechange.


Themessagefromclimatescienceisthatweneedtoleaveallremainingcoalinthegroundanddrasticallyreduceourcarbonemissionsnow.• ProjectionsbytheCSIROandtheBureauofMeteorologyhave“veryhighconfidence”that

temperatureswillriseacrossAustraliathroughoutthecentury,withtheaverageannualtemperaturesettobeupto1.3Cwarmerin2030comparedwiththeaverageexperiencedbetween1986and2005.

• Temperatureprojectionsfortheendofthecenturydependonhowdeeplygreenhousegasemissionsarecut.Theworldiscurrentlytrackingatthehigheremissionsscenario,meaningatemperatureincreaseofbetween2.8Cand5.1CinAustraliaby2090.

• The“business-as-usual”approachtominingandburningfossilfuelsissettopermanentlyheatAustraliamorethantherestoftheworld,whichwillaverageatemperatureincreaseof2.6Cto4.8Cby2090.

AllreferencestodiversifyingindustryandworkopportunitiesintheHunterPlanarewelcomebutneeddetail,emphasisandurgency:it’saplan-to-planwhilerepeatedlycitingacommitmenttothecoalindustryinthelongterm.

HunterPlanPage15.“Principle3.Protecttheenvironmentandrespondtoclimatechangeimpacts.“Thecitywillprovidetheessentials–cleanairandwater.”

Thissectiondoesnotinanywayaddress‘climatechangeimpacts’andshouldbere-written.Intheinterestofcleanair,theimpactofcoaldustontheresidentsofNewcastleandthosealongtheHunterValleycoalchainshouldtobeadequatelyinvestigatedandaddressed.Lastyear'sNationalPollutantInventory(reference)foundthatair-bornecoaldustfromcoalmineshaddoubledinfiveyearsandtripledinten.ThePortofNewcastlecouldbere-gearedtowardmanufacturingandagriculturalexports;andawayfromcoalloading–beginningwiththeclosureofPWCSCarringtonTerminal;andbynotconstructingtherecentlyapprovedTerminal4project.Inadditiontoclimatechangeimpacts,coalmininghashadheavyimpactsonlocallandandwatersystemsintheHunter,includingsaltandheavymetalpollution.Manyvoidshavenotbeenrehabilitatedanddamageispermanentandanon-goingwasteofland.Morestringentrehabilitationrequirementsneedtobeputinplaceforallexistingandhistoricminingoperations–withclearfundingarrangementsthatdonotfallbackonthepublicpurse.RecommendationsinrelationtocoalminingintheHunter:

• Respondtotherisksandthreatofclimatechangeandcommitto:o nonewcoalmineso thephaseoutofminingandajobsrestructuringplanfortheHunter

• Committotheclosureandre-purposingthePortofNewcastlecoalloadingfacilities–beginningwithPWCSCarringtonTerminal

• Placemorestringentrequirementsonmineownerstoensuretheadequaterehabilitationofhistoricandexistingmines.

• Promotethesamelevelofplanningandbusinessconfidenceforrenewableenergyandlowcarbonsectorsthatcoalandcoalseamgascurrentlyreceive.


CoalSeamGas

HunterPlanPage18.Direction2.1Promoteinvestmenttogrowregionalruralandresourceindustries.TheHunterhasundevelopedpotentialtosupplycoalseamgasresourcesinitsHunterandNewcastlecoalfieldsandtheGloucesterBasin…”

AfterthewithdrawalofAGLandaclearlackof‘sociallicence’expressedbythecommunity,itisasurprisetoseetheGloucesterBasinmentionedinthePlanandthestrongemphasisonexpandingcoalseamgasintheHunterisnotwelcome.TheCSGindustryhasproventobeenvironmentallyrisky,andnotthelow-emissionsenergysourcethatthosechampioningthesectororiginallyclaimedittobe.AnApril2015AustralianEnergyMarketOperatorreportoutlinesthatnogasshortageisexpectedduetolowerthanforecastedconsumptionslevels.Theindustryisexport-marketdriven,andwithenergyefficiencymeasuresandtherapidriseofrenewableenergy,thegeneraldemandforgasisdecliningandcouldhalvewithinadecade.IfunnecessarygasinfrastructureisbuiltonthebasisofinflatedgasdemandprojectionsthenunnecessarynetworkcostswillbepassedontoNSWhouseholdsandbusinesses,ashappenedwithelectricitypricesoverrecentyears.

HunterPlanPage19.(Bluebox)DevelopingalternativeenergysourcesintheHunterInthecomingdecades,coalminingwillcontinuetobeapriority…..Newopportunitieswillalsoemergewithintheregion,allowingtheHuntertodiversityitsenergysectorthroughthedevelopmentofalternativeenergysources,includinggasandrenewables.“…proposedgasextractionprojectsintheGloucesterBasin.”

CSGisoutdatedandoperatorssuchasAGLhavealreadypulledoutinGloucesterandarescalingbackacrosstheboard.Wastecoalminemethanemayhavearoleifitiscapturingexistingfugitiveemissions-howeverisnotrenewableandshouldinsteadbeplacedunderthegasparagraphofthisbox.MoreplanningworkneedstobeappliedtodevelopingrenewableenergyinandfortheHunter.

Page22.“PetroleumExplorationLicence(PEL)buy-backscheme(underwhichtheNSWGovernmentrecentlypurchasedlicencesintheHunterValleyandsouthernLakeMacquarie)

Licencebuy-backsareexpensiveandwastefulforthetaxpayeranditwouldbelessriskytonotissueanymorelicencesforGSGinthefirstplacetoavoidthisscenariorecurring.RecommendationsinrelationtoCoalSeamGas:

• DoPshouldrespondtothelackof‘sociallicence’,economicandenvironmentalviabilityforCoalSeamGas,theabandonmentoftheGloucesterProjectbyAGLandDartEnergyinSaltAsh,andassetwrite-downsacrosstheindustry.

• CoalseamgaswellsshouldnotbefurtherdevelopedintheHunterandnonewlicencesissuedtoavoidfuturelicencebuy-backsandstrandedassets.

• Coalseamgasisnotalow-carbontechnologyandpreferenceshouldbegiventothedevelopmentofcleanrenewableenergy.


RenewableEnergyForclimatechange,social,andeconomicreasons,theworldisshiftingrapidlyfrompollutingenergyfromfossilfuelstorenewableenergy.Asnationsacrosstheworldbecomeenergy-independent,thedemandforimportedortradedenergywillfall–leavingAustralia’sgreenhouse-intensiveeconomyexposed.Ontheotherhand,numerousstudieshavenowshownthatitisfeasibleforAustralia’sdomesticenergysupplytobepoweredby100%renewableinaslittleas10years.SomestudiesalsociteAustraliaashavingthepotentialtobeaRenewableEnergySuperPower(BZE2015)withtheopportunityofattractingenergy-intensivetrade-exposedindustriesandproducingrenewableenergycommodities.ThemorerapidlyrenewableenergycanbedeployedinAustralia,NSW,andtheHunter;themoresecuretheeconomywillbe,andthelessimpactwewillhaveonclimatechange.ThereareacoupleofwelcomereferencestodevelopingrenewableenergyintheHunterPlans,howevertheyarenotbackedupbyanycredibleplanningdetailorcommitmenttobuildingandsupportingrenewableenergyonanyscale.

HunterPlanPage18.“Direction2.1Promoteinvestmenttogrowregionalruralandresourceindustries“TheHunterhasundevelopedpotentialto...developlarge-scalerenewableenergyprojectsfromwind,solarandgeothermalsources.Supportingtheseindustriestoestablishandgrowwillcapitaliseontheregion’sexistingenergysupplyanddistributioninfrastructure(forexamplepowerstationsandtransmissionlines)aswellasitsindustryexperienceandexpertise.”

Page23.“theNSWGovernmentwill:developanalyticaltoolstoidentifyandmaplarge-scalerenewableenergypotentialbuildingonnewinformationsuchastheAustralianGovernment’sAustralianRenewableEnergyMappingInfrastructure,asitbecomesavailable.”

• Whenwilltheabovemappingandanalyticaltoolsbeproducedandlanduseproposalsandcommitmentsforrenewableenergydevelopmentbeannounced?ThefederalRenewableEnergyMappingprojectreferredtoappearstonowbecompleteandthatinformationisalreadyavailable.

• Replacingcoalfiredgeneratorsandusingtheexistingcentralisedgenerationinfrastructureiswelcome,howeverthesestatementslackplanningdetail.

• Whyareonlylarge-scalerenewablesmentionedintermsofwindandsolar?DoestheNSWGovernmentseeanyroleforitselfinaccommodatingandfosteringmediumandsmall-scalewindandsolar?

HunterPlanPage23.“workwithcouncilsandindustrytoidentifyandsupportopportunitiesforsmaller-scalerenewableenergyprojectssuchasthoseusingbioenergyorwastecoalminemethane,supportinggreaterenergysecuritywithintheregion.”

• WastecoalminemethaneisnotrenewableenergyandshouldbeintheGassectionifanywhere• Smallscalewindandsolararenotablynotmentioned• Bioenergyandforestryproductsenergygenerationisnotnecessarilyconsideredrenewable.More

detailisrequiredhere.


Generalcomments• Thegame-changingrapidriseofrenewableenergyisnotaddressedintheHunterPlans.Dowewant

renewableenergysuchasthemassiveuptakeofrooftopsolartobedisruptive,orwellplannedandaccommodatedtoinstillinvestorconfidenceandthegrowthofthissector?

• WewouldliketoseetheNSWGovernmentbemorepro-activewhenitcomestomitigatingclimatechangebyswitchingoffandreplacingtheHunter’scoal-firedgeneratorsassoonaspossible.

• TheHunterPlanshaveawait-and-seetonetowardrenewableenergy,whileothercountriesintheworldarerapidlymakingconcretemovestoestablishthemselvesasrenewableenergycentres.ThereisalimitedtimeopportunityofgettingaheadonscalingupREtoattractenergy-intensivebusinessestoestablishinNewSouthWales.

• TheNSWRenewableEnergyActionPlanisnotreferencedintheHunterPlans.AccordingtotheNSWRenewableEnergyActionPlanReport,Since2008,growthinelectricitygenerationfromwindandrooftopsolarphotovoltaic(PV)hasbeen“particularlyphenomenal”,withwindgenerationincreasing21timesandsmall-scalesolarPVgenerationincreasing40times.

o HowcanthisNSWPlanandthesefindingsbetter-relatetotheHunterPlans? • Moreplanningneedstobeevidencedinrelationtoaccommodatingdistributedenergygeneration

throughmorerooftopsolar,microgrids,batteryandenergyefficiencymeasures.• TherearenorenewableenergyreferencesorenergyreportsinEndnotesindicatingalackofattention

tothisarea.o ApplyingfindingsfromtheSmartGridSmartCityprojectwhichwasrolledoutinNewcastle

maybeusefulRecommendationsinrelationtoRenewableEnergy:

• AdatetargetandtangiblestrategiesforpoweringtheHunter(andNSW)with100%renewableenergyshouldbeatthecentreofthesePlans,withclearidentificationoflanduseproposalsandcommitmentsforrenewableenergyconstruction.

• TangiblestrategiestorapidlytransitiontheHuntereconomytowardarenewableenergyzerocarboneconomyshouldbeincludedinthePlansincluding

o Attractingenergyintensivetrade-exposedindustriestotheHuntero Theproductionandexportofrenewableenergycommodities

• Renewableenergyplanningthatincludesmediumandsmall-scalerenewableenergy(includingaccommodatingrooftopsolar)shouldbeofferedinadditiontorealisticplanningforthelarge-scalerenewableenergygenerationthatismentionedinthePlans.(TheNewcastleCSIROmightbeagoodsourceofadviceforthis.)

• WastecoalminemethaneisnotrenewableenergyandshouldbemovedintotheGassection• Moredetailshouldbeprovidedonproposedbioenergy–especiallygenerationfromforestryproducts.

o IsutilisingmethanegasfromanyofHunterWater’swastewatertreatmentfacilitiesbeinginvestigated?SeeMelbourneWater’sWastewaterTreatmentPlantinWerribee

o ThePlansshouldinsomewayrelatetotheNSWRenewableEnergyActionPlano MoreplanningandworkwithAEMOneedstobeevidencedinrelationtoaccommodatingthe

growthofrooftopPVanddemandsideparticipation,microgrids,batteryandenergyefficiencymeasures.

o Distributionnetworkaugmentation-upgradestotheexistingdistributionnetworks.o ThePlanscouldrelatetothelocalfindingsoftheSmartGridSmartCityenergyefficiencyand

networkingprojectwhichwasrolledoutinNewcastleo ThereisanemphasisthroughoutthePlansonpromotingbusinessconfidenceforcoalandcoal

seamgas,includingdetailedresourcemapping–insteadrenewableenergyorotherviablesectorsshouldbepromoted,mappedandresourcedinsuchapro-activeway.


TransportIncreasingtheavailabilityofmasspublictransportisimportantforreducinggreenhouseemissionsfromtransport.Electrifiedrailandlightrailservicesaswellaselectricvehiclescanbepoweredby100%renewableenergy.Transportinfrastructurehasalargeinfluenceonurbangrowthpatternsandsurroundingland-useandshouldbeplannedattheearliesttime.TherearenonewpublictransportservicesorlinksproposedineitheroftheHunterPlans.Theonlynewtransportlinksproposedinthisplanaretwonewroads(onethroughnativebushlandinthecentreofNewcastle,andanotheracrossawetlandthatiscontiguouswiththeHexhamSwampNatureReserve);andtheproposedreplacementoftheNewcastleraillinkwithlightrail–andnodetailisprovidedonthelightrail.Itisknownthateverynewlinkgeneratesmoretripsthrough‘induceddemand’.Thereforeanyincreasedtravellinksshouldbethroughlow-emissionstechnologysuchaselectrifiedsystemspoweredbyrenewableenergy.Encouragingwalkingandcyclingisgoodbutasanadjunct,notsubstituteformasspublictransport.Nopracticalorconceptualdetailisprovidedonhowwalkingandcyclingwouldbeencouraged.Establishingelectricvehiclecharginginfrastructureshouldbeexploredgiventheincreasedavailabilityofthesevehiclesandanemphasisonroadtransport.

HunterPlanPage15.Action1.1.1DeliveraPlanforGrowingHunterCity“TheNSWGovernmentwill-deliverametropolitanplanforHunterCityto2036that:identifiesacity-widetransportnetworkthatimprovesoptionsforpublictransport,walkingandcyclingoptionsinadditiontoaddressingpinchpointsintheroadnetwork”

• Whatdoes“identifyingacity-widetransportnetwork”mean-beyondprovidingmapsforwhatis

currentlyinplace?• Isaplanforanetincreaseinmasstransitservicesandnetworkbeingdeveloped?Ifsowhenwillitbe

placedonpublicexhibition?• Whatdoes“improvingoptionsforpublictransport”meanwhentherearenonewpublictransport

servicesoutlinedinthisplan?• Howwillwalkingandcyclingoptionsbeimproved?(notingthatwalkingandcyclingarenotpublic

transport)HunterPlanPage36.“Direction2.3Enhanceinter-regionaltransportconnections”

• ThissectionoutlineswhatcurrentlyexistsforfreightservicesandreferencetotheNewcastlefreight

bypasshowevernodetailisprovided.


HunterPlanPage36.Direction2.3“TheAustralianGovernmentisinvestigatingopportunitiesforahigh-speedrailnetworktoreducetraveltimebetweencapitalcitiesalongtheeastcoast.

Thehighspeedrailstandstoreplaceemissionsintensiveairtravelandlong-distancedrivingalongthebusyEastCoastroutesofAustralia.ReferencetoFederalplanningforHighSpeedRaillinkingcapitalcitiesiswelcome–howevernoNSWcommitmentorresourcingisofferedviatheHunterPlans.Giventheenormousbenefits,yetsubstantialland-useimplicationsaHSRstationwouldhaveonanyareaitisplaced,moreworkurgentlyneedstooccuronthisattheStatelevel.• WhatistheNSWGovernment’spositiononfacilitatingHighSpeedRail?Isanyplanningorresourcing

supportforHighSpeedRailbeingprovidedwithintheDoPorotherrelevantNSWDepartments?• IdentifyingexactlywhereintheHuntertheHighSpeedRailservicewouldstopshouldbeidentifiedat

thesoonesttimeasitwillhaveaverylargeimpactonlanduseinthesurroundingareaandthecity

HunterPlanPage36.“Action2.3.2diversificationofgateways–airportandPort”

• WhataretheplanningimplicationsoftheprivatisationofthePortofNewcastle?DoestheNSWGovernmentretainplanningcontrolofthisareaandcanplanningforthisareabefreelyrealised?

• Nopublictransportlinksuchaslightrailisproposedfortheairport.Increasedcartravelinthisareaplacestheremainingkoalapopulationatriskoflocalextinctionandthelackoftransporttotheairportisaninconveniencetovisitorsandresidentsalike.

HunterPlanPage37.Figure10:Inter-regionaltransportconnections

• Thismapoutlinestheexistingnetworkonly.Therearenonewinter-regionalpublictransportproposed• HunterPlanPage38.ReferstoFigure10.FutureTransportCorridors,howeverFigure10isactually

labeledInter-regionalTransportConnectionsandoutlinesnonew/futuretransportlinks.

Page15.HunterCityPlan“Direction1.3EnhanceCity-widetransportTheNSWGovernmentisinvestingintherailnetworktomanagecongestionforbothpassengerandfreightservices.Thiswillbesupportedbywalkingandcycling,androadandrailnetworkstoprovideattractivetransportoptions.”

• ApartfromthebasicsafetyandamenitymaintenanceoutlinedintheHunterRegionalTransportPlan

thereisnoevidenceofinvestmentinincreasingthecapacityoftheHunternetwork.• Whereandwhenisinvestmentinthepassengerrailnetworkoccurring?• Whereandwhenisinvestmentinfreightservicesoccurring?• Areanyspecificmapsandplansavailable?AndifsocantheybeintegratedintothisPlan?Ifnotwhatis

thetimingandprocessfortransportnetworkplanning?• Howiswalkingandcyclingbeingsupported?

Page15.HunterCityPlan“Action1.3.1Integratelanduseandtransportplanningtoencouragemoreefficienttravelpatternsandsustainablemodesoftransport”“TheNSWGovernmentwill:workwithCouncilsandcommunitiestoalignandprogresstransportplansforHunterCity,givingprioritytoimproving:publictransport,walkingandcyclingconnectionstokeydestinationsandopenspace;andconnectionsbetweenstrategiccentresandtransportgateways.”

• HowandwhenwilltheGovernmentworkwithCouncilandcommunitiestoproducetransportplansandinvestinimprovingpublictransport?

• Ifintegratedcity-widetransportplansarestillnotdeveloped,onwhatplanningbasiswastheraillinktoNewcastleremoved?


Page23.HunterCityPlan:“Investments:IntroductionofLightRail–NewcastleCityCentreTheNSWGovernmentisinvestigatingoptionstointroducelightrailservicestoNewcastle.ThepreferredrouteannouncedinMay2014,willlinktheWickhamTransportInterchangewithPacificPark,activatingHunterandScottStreets…”

• Whenwilltheplansforthelightrailbefinalisedandimplemented?• Willplansforalightraillinkbepartofabroadercity-widenetworkasproposedbyNewcastleCity

Council“ConnectingNewcastle–OurUrbanRenewalVision2016”.• Willsubstantiallyreducinggreenhousegasemissionsascomparedtoexistingtransport,beameasure

ofsuccessinNewcastleandHuntertransportplanning?RecommendationsinrelationtoTransport:

• SubstantiallyreducinggreenhousegasemissionsfromtransportshouldbeadriverandmeasureofsuccessforNewcastleandHuntertransportplanning

• AradicalupgradetomasstransportandnetworkplanningisrequiredandshouldbeprovidedforHunterCity,withintheHunterValley,andforInter-cityservices.Thisshouldinclude:

o ThroughoutNewcastleviakeysitessuchasJohnHunterHospital–inlinewiththesortofplanproposedbyNewcastleCityCouncilintheConnectingNewcastle–OurUrbanRenewalVision

o AplanandtimelineforthelightrailthatisproposedtoreplacetheNewcastleraillineo Anindependentfeasibilitystudyforelectrifiedrail,tramorlightrailservicespoweredby100%

renewableenergyo IfaFederalstudyofinter-cityeastcoastHighSpeedRailisbeingreferenced:

- whatistheDoPpositiononthisproject?- isanyplanningorresourcingsupportforHSRbeingprovidedwithintheDoP?- whereintheHunterwouldtheHighSpeedRailstop?- whatland-useplanningwillbeconductedaroundthesiteoftherailstop?

• ExplorationofinfrastructureforrechargingelectricvehiclessuchastheWAElectricHighwayproject.o ConductafeasibilitystudyforpoweringEVsintheHunterby100%renewableenergy

• Figure10:Inter-regionalTransportConnectionsneedstobecorrectedtoFutureTransportConnectionsasitiswrittenonPage38-anditshouldincludetheidentificationofactualfuturetransportlinks.

• Detailshouldbeprovidedforhowthetwonewroadslinksoutlined,willnotbedetrimentaltothenativebushlandandwaterwaysatGeorgeMcGregor-JesmondParkinthecentreofNewcastle,andtotheHexhamSwampNatureReservefortheproposedM1link.

o Alternativetransporttotheselinksshouldbescopedbeforetheyareconstructed• Moregeneraldetailneedstobeprovidedfor

o whatismeantby“improvingoptionsforpublictransport”whentherearenonewpublictransportservicesproposedinthisplan?

o whatismeantbypublictransport“efficiency”improvements?o whatismeantby“identifyingacity-widetransportnetwork”?o howwillthementionedwalkingandcyclingoptionswillbeimproved?o whatistherouteofthefreightrailcityby-passandwhenwillitbebuilt?o whyisno(trainorlightrail)publictransportlinkproposedfortheexpandingNewcastle-

Williamtownairports?o whereandwhenisinvestmentinfreightservicesoccurring?


Nativevegetation,habitatandpreventingspeciesextinctionAsstatedinthePlans,theHunterishometodozensofuniquethreatenedspeciesandnativeforestcommunitiesthatfaceextinction-mostlyduetothedegradationofhabitat.Climatechangewillincreasinglydrivechangestohabitatandcontributetospeciesextinctions-thereforeallcriticalhabitatsshouldbeidentifiedandprotectednowtohelpfuture-prooftheHunter’snativespeciesfromextinction.Nativevegetationisalsoimportantforgrowingandstoringcarbon–whileclearingnativevegetationiscurrentlynegatingcarbonabatementeffortsinAustraliaThereisaclearlackofcommitmenttopreventspeciesextinctionsintheHunterPlansandanover-relianceonunprovenmechanismssuchasbiodiversityoffsetting.Speciesextinctionsdon’tjusthappen–theyarethedeathofathousandcuts.AndtherearefartoomanycutstobiodiversityinthesePlans.

Page35.Action2.2.3“opportunitiestogrowindustrieswithinthe…HunterEconomicZone…BeresfieldandBlackHill.”

• TheaboveareasallcontainendangeredLowerHunterSpottedGumIronbarkforestcommunities,whichareimportanthabitatforthreatenedspeciesthecriticallyendangeredRegentHoneyeaterandSwiftParrot.

• TheHunterEconomicZoneinKurriKurrihasbeenidentifiedasparticularlyimportantforthesebirds,andarecentinjunctionondevelopmenttosavethehabitatindicatesthatitslanduseshouldbechangedfromindustrialtoNSWNationalPark.

Page49.Direction3.1Protectthenaturalenvironmentandbiodiversity“Landuseplanningcan…supportimprovedenvironmentaloutcomesbydirectinginvestmenttoconservingorenhancingbiodiversityvalues,tooffsetunavoidableimpactsofdevelopmentinlocationsthathavebeenidentifiedforgrowth.Theuniquenessoftheregion’sbiodiversitymeansthatitmustoftenbeconservedinplace.Inlinewith…legislation.”“incorporatinglandwithhighconservationvaluesintotheCity’snetworkofopenspaces.”“theNSWGovernmentis…supportingstreamliningofthebiodiversityassessmentandoffsettingprocessestosupportgrowthintheruralandresourceareas.”

• When“unavoidableimpacts”inlocations“identifiedforgrowth”arecitied–itbegsthequestion,what

happenedtothelanduseplanning?Howisit“unavoidable”?o Itisamatterofpriority–andpreventingspeciesextinctionsshouldbeprioritisedo Isthereamapoftheseareas?o Whyweretheseareasidentifiedforgrowthiftheyhaveimportantbiodiversityvalues?Ifthe

treesarestillstandingtheyshouldbezonedforprotectionnotdevelopment.

• Vegetation“offsets”havenotbeenproventoprotectspeciesfromextinction–especiallyasoutlined“theuniquenessoftheregion’sbiodiversitymeansthatitmustoftenbeconservedinplace”

o TheDoPneedtoactuallylistentothisadviceandplantonotencroachoncriticalhabitat.


Page52.Figure12.FocusAreasforSustainingRegionalHabitatConnectivity“Enhanceconnectivitythroughrehabilitationofminessites”“Sustainconnectivitythroughrurallandmanagement”“Sustainconnectivitythroughwhole-of-lifecycleplanningformining”“Enhanceconnectivitythroughdeliveryofurbantransportinfrastructure”“Sustainconnectivitythroughdeliveryofgreenfieldreleaseareas”

• Whereis“Sustainconnectivitythroughprotectinghabitat”?• ThepurposeofthisFigureisnotclear-asthetitleis‘sustaininghabitatconnectivity’andyetitfocuses

ontransportconnectivity• Miningisincompatiblewithsustaininghabitatconnectivity• ‘Greenfieldrelease’isactuallylandclearingandisalsonotcompatiblewithsustaininghabitat

connectivitynorcarbonabatement• Relianceonminingrehabilitationtoenhanceconnectivityisnotviable–goingonhistoricalefforts.• WhatrurallandmanagementactivitieswillbesupportedbytheNSWGovernmenttoenhance

connectivity?

HunterCityPlanPage16-17.ObjectivesfortheHunterCityGreenGrid“identifiesnewopenspaceinlandreleaseareas”

• TheGreenGridpicturesanddescriptionsarepromisinghowevertheydonotrelatetoanydetailinthe

Plan.o WhenwilltheplanningdetailandmechanismsbehindontheHunterCityGreenGridbe

exhibited?o Howwillactivitiessuchaspromotinggreenskillsandencouraginglocalfoodproduction,

healthyeating,improvingairquality,urbangreening,actuallybeeffectedbytheNSWGovernment?

• Aretheidentified“newopenspaceinlandreleaseareas”actuallyremnantcreeklinesandsteepareasnotabletobebuilton?Willthesebeviablehabitatsoncethelandis“released”andbuiltupon?

• Smallerlotsizes,urbanconsolidationandincreaseintownhousesandbuildingheightsinsomeareasarenotdiscussedinthePlanandshouldbeexploredinsteadoftheunsustainableexpansionintoNewcastleandtheHunter’sremainingnativebushland.

• Alongwiththeover-clearingofhabitat,weedsandanimalpests,climatechangewillincreasinglyimpactontheresilienceofnativespeciestosurviveextinction.Allremainingcriticalhabitatsshouldbeexcludedfromdevelopmenttoensurespeciessurvivalinthelongter,

o Pleasedefineinplanningtermswhatisan“unavoidableimpact?”Andwhathasbeentheroleofplanninginsuchcases?

o Whataretheactualsiteswhereplanninghasalreadydecideddevelopmentwilloccurdespitetheimpactsonbiodiversity?Isthereamap?


ClimatechangeadaptationChangestoclimateandweatherpatternsarealreadyoccurring,andwillincreaseinseverityduetothelagtimeforgreenhousegaspollutionthatisalreadyintheatmosphere.CoastalcommunitiessuchasNewcastle,LakeMacquarieandPortStephens,areparticularlyvulnerabletosealevelrise,coastalerosionandstormsurge.Awayfromthecoastwildfireanddroughtarethreatstolifeandproduction.Theeffectsofincreasedfloodingeventsandextremeheatwillalsohavenegativehealtheffectsonallhumanandanimalpopulations.TheSternReview–theEconomicsofClimateChange2006warnedthatmitigatingclimatechangewouldbealessdisruptiveandlessexpensiveapproachtoclimatechange,thancarryingonwithbusinessasusualandrelyingonexpensiveadaptationmeasures.TheReviewestimatedthattheeconomicimpactofunmitigatedclimatechangewouldcostbetween5%and20%ofeachnationsannualGDP–largelyininfrastructureadaptationsandemergencyresponses.• TheHunterPlansandtheAdaptNSWwebsiteindicatethattheNSWGovernmentistakingthemore

expensiveanddisruptiveapproachtoclimatechangebyrelyingonadaptationinsteadofmitigation-andnotmovingawayfromfossilfuelmininganduses.

HunterPlanPage71.Direction4.3Buildtheregion’sresiliencetonaturalhazards• ClimatechangeadaptationisnotexplicitlyaddressedinthePlans.Allmattersrelatingtoadaptationare

housedunderthe‘naturalhazards’section–withnoconceptuallinkmadebetweenanthropogenicgreenhousepollutionandtheincreaseinseverityof‘naturalhazards’.Readingthissection,it’sasiftheclimateisjustchangingallbyitselffornoparticularreason.

Page73.“Councilswillremainpredominantlyresponsibleforidentifyingandmanagingthesethreats.TheNSWGovernmentwillsupportcouncilstodevelopevidenceandprovidestrategicadvicetoinformdecision-making.”Page74.Bluebox-CoastalReformProcess“Sustainablefundingandfinancingarrangements…basedonasetofcost-sharingprinciplestofairlyandtransparentlyidentifywhobenefitsfromproposedcoastalmanagementactionsandwhoshouldcontributetothecosts.Tosupportthenewapproach,theOfficeofEnvironmentandHeritagewillreviewvariousfundingandfinancingmechanismsforusebycouncils.”

• ThefocusoncoalandgasdevelopmentinthisPlanwilldriveclimatechangeand‘naturalhazards’thatrequireadaptationandyettheNSWGovernmentseemstobewashingitshandsoftheimpacts.

• Beyondprovidingdatamanagementanddecision-makingtools,itappearsthattheDoPandStateGovernmentisleavingadaptationmeasures(“naturalhazards”)toLocalGovernment,fortheexpensiveandpoliticallychallengingtaskofplanningforadaptationmeasuresisnotfeasible.

o Arecoastalcommunitieslikelytobeseenasthosewho“benefit”fromcoastalmanagementactionsandtobethoseimposedupontofundthesemeasuresthroughratesorlevies?

o Whatisthetimelineforproduction/exhibitionoftheOEHfundingmechanism?o Hastheconceptof'polluterpays'beencanvassedtofundclimateadaptation/response?

• Respondingtotheeffectsofextremeheatfromclimatechangeisnotaddressedatallintheplan.


RecommendationsinrelationtoClimateChangeAdaptation• WecallontheNSWGovernmenttostopexacerbatingtheriskofclimatechangebyincreasingcoaland

gasminingandreducethelong-termexpenseanddifficultyofclimatechangeadaptation• Refundingandfinancingarrangementsforcoastalmanagementstrategies(akaclimatechange

adaptationmeasures)o Atimelineforthedevelopmentofthesefundingarrangementshouldbeindicated.o Theonusfordeliveringandfundingadaptationmeasuresshouldnotbeonlocal

governmentoraffectedcommunitieso Apolluterpaysmechanismshouldbeexploredandreportedupon

• PlanningforrisingsealevelsandtheprotectionofforeshoreinfrastructureandcommunitiesshouldbeexplicitlyoutlinedinthePlans

• PlanningfortheeffectsofextremeheatfromclimatechangeshouldbeexplicitlyoutlinedinthePlans• Supportingcouncilsshouldinclude:

o fundingtodesignandbuildnewinfrastructureo politicalandorganisationalsupportifplannedcoastalretreatisrequired


UsefulnewsandreferencesAfewreallygoodplansAP2AnewclimatechangestrategyandactionplanforACThttp://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/581136/AP2_Sept12_PRINT_NO_CROPS_SML.pdfIncludeschapterson:

- Meeting2020emissionsreductiontarget- Reducingresidentialsectoremissions- Ensuringafairsocietyinalowcarboneconomy- Reducingnon-residentialsectoremissions- Reducingtransportsectoremissions- TransitioningtoLargeScaleRenewableEnergy- Developingacleaneconomy- Adaptingtoclimatechange

GreenVancouver-websitehttp://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver.aspx GreenVancouverCityStrategyhttp://vancouver.ca/files/cov/renewable-city-strategy-booklet-2015.pdf “Goal–toget100%ofourenergyfromrenewablesourcesbefore2050Already the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per person of any major North American city.” Climatechange–theurgencyforactionUnburnableCarbon–whyweneedtoleavefossilfuelsinthegroundhttp://www.climatecouncil.org.au/unburnable-carbon-why-we-need-to-leave-fossil-fuels-in-the-groundTrueShocker–spikeinglobaltemperaturesstunsscientists-SMH13March2016http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/true-shocker-spike-in-global-temperatures-stuns-scientists-20160313-gni10t.htmlClimatechangewillhitAustraliaharderthanrestofworldstudyshows26January2016http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/26/climate-change-will-hit-australia-harder-than-rest-of-world-study-showsNSWGovernmentClimateChangeMaterialsNSWGovernmentActiononClimateChangehttp://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/About-climate-change-in-NSW/NSW-Government-action-on-climate-change

• allaboutadaptationandgearinguptorespondtoemergencyevents• nothingonclimatechangemitigation


ObservedGlobalClimateChangehttp://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/About-climate-change-in-NSW/Evidence-of-climate-change/Observed-global-climate-change

• Goodstatementsandlinksclearlyoutliningclimatechangebeinghumaninducedandanurgentissue

• ThereisnoresponsetothisintheHunterPlanCausesofClimateChangehttp://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/About-climate-change-in-NSW/Causes-of-climate-change

• Thispagespellsoutanthropogenicclimatechange• NoattempthasbeenmadetoaddressanythisintheHunterPlan.

NSWEmissions–GreenhouseGasAccountinghttp://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/About-climate-change-in-NSW/NSW-emissions/Greenhouse-gas-accounting

• ThispagespellsouttheemissionssourcesofNSWNoattempthasbeenmadetoaddressanyoftheseintheHunterPlan.

CoalandstrandedassetsAneyetothefutureascoalslidesdownhill–NewcastleHeraldEditorialMartinRush8March2016http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3777787/an-eye-to-the-future-as-coal-slides-downhill/Abbottbetshouseoncoal,aspricecrashes.AndPlanBis?http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/coal-price-crashes-abbott-relies-fossils-plan-bMining,oilandgastofacefurtherheadwindsintheNewYearasChinaslowshttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-04/2016-mine-oil-gas-outlook-subdued/7063246CoalSeamGas-strandedassetsandsociallicenceAGLenergyabandonsgasproductionandexplorationhttp://www.smh.com.au/business/energy/agl-energy-abandons-gas-production-and-exploration-20160203-gml73w.htmlNoShortTermGasSupplyExpected-AustralianEnergyMarketOperatorreportApril2015http://www.aemo.com.au/News-and-Events/News/News/2015-Gas-Statement-of-OpportunitiesTheDashforGasCouldSeeDemandInNewSouthWalesFallToHalf-TAIhttp://www.tai.org.au/content/dash-gas-could-demand-new-south-wales-fall-halfCoalSeamGasbytheNumbers–ABChttp://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/coal-seam-gas-by-the-numbers/“Coalseamgasusesenormousamountsofwater,oneofAustralia'sscarcestresources.”“Coalseamgasminingproduceshugeamountsofchemicalsandsaltasbyproducts”


Coalseamgasandsociallicencetooperate–UniversityofMelbournehttp://www.icpublicpolicy.org/conference/file/reponse/1435215007.pdfCoalseamgasdebateismorethanhotair–UniversityofMelbournehttps://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/coal-seam-gas-debate-is-more-than-hot-airPublicTransportGeneratedTrafficandInducedTravel–implicationsfortransportplanning.Litman2015http://www.vtpi.org/gentraf.pdf“Trafficcongestiontendstomaintainequilibrium.Congestionreachesapointatwhichitconstrainsfurthergrowthinpeak-periodtrips.Ifroadcapacityincreases,thenumberofpeak-periodtripsalsoincreasesuntilcongestionagainlimitsfurthertrafficgrowth.Theadditionaltraveliscalled“generatedtraffic.”Generatedtrafficconsistsofdivertedtraffic(tripsshiftedintime,routeanddestination),andinducedvehicletravel(shiftsfromothermodes,longertripsandnewvehicletrips).Researchindicatesthatgeneratedtrafficoftenfillsasignificantportionofcapacityaddedtocongestedurbanroad.”RenewableenergyBZERenewableEnergySuperPowerhttp://media.bze.org.au/resp/bze_superpower_plan.pdfRenewableenergyjobsfallby27%overfouryearshttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/15/renewable-energy-jobs-fall-27-four-yearsNSWRenewableEnergyhttp://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/537197/NSW-Renewable-Energy-Action-Plan-Annual-Report-2014.pdf“TheNSWGovernmenthasreiterateditssupportfortheachievementofanational20%(41,000gigawatthours)RenewableEnergyTarget(RET)overanextendedperiodoftimeinasubmissiontotheRETreview.TheRETlowersthecostofenergyforcustomers;supportsacompetitivemarket;assistsinenergysecuritythroughdiversification;andmanagestherisksassociatedwithrisinggasprices.IwouldliketothanktheAustralianRenewableEnergyAgency(ARENA)andtheCleanEnergyFinanceCorporation(CEFC)fortheirextensivesupportofinnovativeprojectsinNSW.”http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/about-us/news/2015/five-minutes-with-amy-kean“..thelocalenergytradingtrialinWilloughbyCityandByronShireCouncils.Theprojectaimstoleveltheplayingfieldforlocalenergyandprovideeconomicbenefittocommunitieswithsmall-scalesolar.Iwouldliketoseeamethodologyestablishedforcalculatinglocalnetworkchargesandrulechangestoimproveopportunitiesforsmall-scaleelectricitygeneratorstodistributeandsellelectricitylocallyusingcost-reflectivepricing arrangements. BiodiversityOffsettingDoesoffsettingworktomakeupforhabitatlosttomininghttp://theconversation.com/does-offsetting-work-to-make-up-for-habitat-lost-to-mining-27699