Candidates come out
Pakenham Gazette
by Jade Lawton
17 November 2010
Showing posts with label neil rankine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label neil rankine. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
desalination will cost us dearly
Samantha Dunn – Upper House candidate for Eastern Victoria
Neil Rankine – Lower House candidate for Bass
“The only time the true price of desal water will be revealed to Melburnians, is when it arrives on their bills,” said Greens upper house candidate Samantha Dunn as she joined with Neil Rankine, candidate for Bass on the steps of parliament at Watershed Victoria's, 'Scrap the Desal' rally. “Only then will Victorians realise they’ve been duped by Brumby and his Ministers into believing the desalination plant is the answer to Melbourne’s water woes”, said Samantha.
Samantha Dunn and Neil Rankine at the Scrap the Desal Rally on the steps on parliament.
The Greens know there are much better options for securing water for Melbourne, it rains more in Melbourne than what Melburnians consume. A recent 2007 study found “rainwater tanks are five times more energy efficient than desalination plants. Most Australian houses are suitable for a rainwater tanks and in Melbourne 72% of existing houses have potential for a rainwater tank whilst fewer than 6% of the houses in Melbourne have water tanks.”
From left to right: Sue Pennicuik - Greens MLC for Southern Metropolitan, Samantha Dunn - Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria, Greg Barber - Greens MLC for Northern Metropolitan and Neil Rankine - Greens candidate for Bass.
“People are starting to realise that the government is making us pay dearly for fresh water, produced in the most expensive and carbon intense way, only to have it flushed down our toilets. There is more than enough recycled water available to flush every toilet in Melbourne and run most businesses, but at the moment this precious resource is being flushed out to sea”, said Mr Rankine.
The Greens have a sensible water policy to secure Melbourne’s future water supply. Water conservation, re-use and recycling should be prioritised over energy and capital-intensive strategies such as seawater desalination or long-distance pumping. It is possible for our cities and towns to use a diverse range of water sources including tanks, urban storm water and recycled wastewater, to achieve water supply security and waterway health.
“We can pay out the Brumby government's contracts with the desalination consortium, secure our water supplies and still be better off, according to Kenneth Davidson, former economics editor for The Age newspaper. Water supplies can be secured from recycling already underway and from stormwater harvesting projects as upgrades to Melbourne's stormwater infrastructure is undertaken”, said Mr Rankine.
The desalination plant will create 1.2million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions during operation. It will generate an additional 70,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing waste from the plant. It will intake 380,000 small marine organisms per second whilst discharging 8,800 litres of brine per second.
“Not only is this an economic disaster for the family budget it is an environmental disaster for Victoria’s coastline,” said Samantha.
“The desalination plant will cost tax payers dearly. Not only in a $5.1 billion construction bill and escalating water costs. It will dump 50,000 tonnes of toxic waste every year and secure big profits for overseas companies - why would we want it?” concluded Samantha.
Neil Rankine – Lower House candidate for Bass
“The only time the true price of desal water will be revealed to Melburnians, is when it arrives on their bills,” said Greens upper house candidate Samantha Dunn as she joined with Neil Rankine, candidate for Bass on the steps of parliament at Watershed Victoria's, 'Scrap the Desal' rally. “Only then will Victorians realise they’ve been duped by Brumby and his Ministers into believing the desalination plant is the answer to Melbourne’s water woes”, said Samantha.
Samantha Dunn and Neil Rankine at the Scrap the Desal Rally on the steps on parliament.
The Greens know there are much better options for securing water for Melbourne, it rains more in Melbourne than what Melburnians consume. A recent 2007 study found “rainwater tanks are five times more energy efficient than desalination plants. Most Australian houses are suitable for a rainwater tanks and in Melbourne 72% of existing houses have potential for a rainwater tank whilst fewer than 6% of the houses in Melbourne have water tanks.”
From left to right: Sue Pennicuik - Greens MLC for Southern Metropolitan, Samantha Dunn - Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria, Greg Barber - Greens MLC for Northern Metropolitan and Neil Rankine - Greens candidate for Bass.
“People are starting to realise that the government is making us pay dearly for fresh water, produced in the most expensive and carbon intense way, only to have it flushed down our toilets. There is more than enough recycled water available to flush every toilet in Melbourne and run most businesses, but at the moment this precious resource is being flushed out to sea”, said Mr Rankine.
The Greens have a sensible water policy to secure Melbourne’s future water supply. Water conservation, re-use and recycling should be prioritised over energy and capital-intensive strategies such as seawater desalination or long-distance pumping. It is possible for our cities and towns to use a diverse range of water sources including tanks, urban storm water and recycled wastewater, to achieve water supply security and waterway health.
“We can pay out the Brumby government's contracts with the desalination consortium, secure our water supplies and still be better off, according to Kenneth Davidson, former economics editor for The Age newspaper. Water supplies can be secured from recycling already underway and from stormwater harvesting projects as upgrades to Melbourne's stormwater infrastructure is undertaken”, said Mr Rankine.The desalination plant will create 1.2million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions during operation. It will generate an additional 70,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing waste from the plant. It will intake 380,000 small marine organisms per second whilst discharging 8,800 litres of brine per second.
“Not only is this an economic disaster for the family budget it is an environmental disaster for Victoria’s coastline,” said Samantha.
“The desalination plant will cost tax payers dearly. Not only in a $5.1 billion construction bill and escalating water costs. It will dump 50,000 tonnes of toxic waste every year and secure big profits for overseas companies - why would we want it?” concluded Samantha.
Monday, June 7, 2010
phillip island talks sustainability
It was great to talk to Phillip Island community members along with Neil Rankine, Greens Lower House candidate for Bass, at the Sustainability Festival in Cowes.
Samantha Dunn and Neil Rankine talk sustainability down at Phillip Island.
Community members were keen to speak to Neil and myself about the lack of infrastructure at a local level, but at a broader level about the lack of action on Climate Change.
The desalination plant in Wonthaggi dominated conversation, it would be the issue that people were keenly concerned about, recognising that there were far more sensible water solutions for Melbourne.
I heard more than once, people say "I've voted Labor all my life, but this time I'm not going to". The Greens got a terrific welcome from locals who are looking for accountability and innovation from government.
Samantha Dunn and Neil Rankine talk sustainability down at Phillip Island.
Community members were keen to speak to Neil and myself about the lack of infrastructure at a local level, but at a broader level about the lack of action on Climate Change.
The desalination plant in Wonthaggi dominated conversation, it would be the issue that people were keenly concerned about, recognising that there were far more sensible water solutions for Melbourne.
I heard more than once, people say "I've voted Labor all my life, but this time I'm not going to". The Greens got a terrific welcome from locals who are looking for accountability and innovation from government.
More and more people are seeing that Greens values are mainstream values and that we offer a positive plan for Victoria.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
meet samantha dunn and neil rankine at phillip island this weekend
Come down to the Sustainable Living Festival and meet local Greens candidates running in the upcoming state election.Neil Rankine for Bass and Samantha Dunn for Eastern Victoria will both be there to chat all things Green.
I look forward to seeing you there, come over and say hello.
Details are:
What: Sustainable Living Festival
When: Sat 5 June 2010 9:30am - 3:00pm
Where: Cowes Cultural Centre, 91-96 Thompson Avenue, Cowes, Phillip Island
Cost: gold coin donation
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
