A deal to save Australia’s wind and solar industry could be scuppered by last minute demands by the Abbott government, despite it making headway with the opposition on an agreement to reduce the renewable energy target. The government and Labor emerged from talks in Melbourne on Friday to say they had the basis for an …
Along with other proposed changes to the RET, the issue of RECs for native forest waste incinerators is expected to return to parliament, with crucial cross bench senators Ricky Muir and Jackie Lambie vocal in support. Changed conditions in forest markets could mean this has a bigger impact on Australian renewables that it has in …
A report from the Department of Environment has revealed VicForests’ contractors needlessly destroyed rainforest canopy in East Gippsland The department visited the area last month to investigate claims VicForests had illegally logged rainforest on the Erindurra Plateau. The report, released by the Government on Friday, reveals the investigators were unable to conduct a proper physical …
Since the East Gippsland RFA was signed in February 1997, we have seen: licences issued for unlimited woodchip exports from the region a five year permanent blockade of the Goolengook heritage listed old growth forest. Hundreds of people were arrested. Politically and financially this was costly to the government and what remained was eventually protected. …
Production has finally begun at Australian Paper’s $90m Maryvale recycled paper mill, aiming to help drag the embattled company into profit by the end of the year. Maryvale’s opening comes two months after the company decided to shut down the Shoalhaven specialty paper mill with the loss of 75 jobs, and launched a wide-ranging turnaround …
A plan to approve the burning of public native forests for electricity generation is back on the federal agenda. It could be passed on May 12 when parliament resumes. Planned changes to the Renewable Energy Target (RET) will include approval of forest furnace electricity to be defined as ‘renewable energy’. When the ALP were in …
Long-term exposure to air pollution is linked with brain shrinkage. Not surprisingly, a US study shows that with only a small increase in fine particulate matter pollution (known as PM2.5) a clear association was evident of brain damage linked to impaired cognitive function. Anyone who had to endure the Morwell mine fire smoke, or the …
In 2011, a downed power line sparked the massive Las Conchas wildfire that roared through homes and scorched 156,000 acres of forest in the Jemez Mountains. And that was just the beginning of the damage. In the weeks that followed, rains washed tons of ash and sediment off the blistered slopes into the Rio Grande, …
In early April, VicForests decided to move from Healesville to a cheap prefab in Woori Yallock. They’ll take 30 staff there including some from Melbourne. They’ve been cutting corners and fat to save money for ages and this is the latest move – cheaper rent in Woori Yallock than Bourke St. CEO, Robert Green said …
