'Aim for the targets' - Shepparton News

As the Federal Government hints it might step away from a clean energy target, the Goulburn Valley Environment Group believes the target would improve certainty and remove barriers to solar investment in the region.

Tatura's Terry Court - clean energy target a
sound way of managing this
transition to a carbon less economy.

GVEG energy spokesperson Terry Court said the clean energy target, among a raft of recommendations handed down by chief scientist Alan Finkel, was ‘‘a sound way of managing this transition to a carbon less economy’’ and a vital component of the Finkel report.

‘‘We should introduce it and we should not waiver,’’ he said.

He said such a target would give industry incentive and offer a sound policy foundation to facilitate substantial investment.

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg told an energy summit on Monday the government was considering its new policy against a backdrop of the rapidly-falling cost of renewables and storage, greater efficiencies being found in thermal generation and the need for power which can be delivered according to the market’s needs.

A new poll shows nearly threequarters of Coalition voters think the policy is a good idea.

The Australia Institute polling found almost four in five people said the government should introduce a clean energy target to encourage the construction of new clean energy sources.

But the clean energy target recommended by Dr Finkel was unpopular with conservative MPs, who do not want more subsidies for renewables and favour government support for coal-generated power.

‘‘I notice the Coalition has taken on all Finkel recommendations other than this one,’’ Mr Court said.

‘‘I think they’re being driven by some very conservative and naive elements of the Coalition government,’’ he said.

‘‘And some of them are complete and utter climate change deniers.’’

In a speech in London this week, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said climate change may be doing more good than harm.

Mr Frydenberg’s response was blunt: ‘‘Climate change is real.’’ Mr Court said an opportunity existed for bipartisan agreement on a target.

‘‘(A target) that might not be as ambitious, but one that can certainly help provide a sound foundation for investment,’’ he said.

He said large industry wanted the introduction of a clean energy target ‘‘so they know where they’re going’’.

A positive for such a target locally, was several large scale solar instillations being planned for the region, he said.

‘‘If we can get some policy certainty here, more installations will be constructed,’’ he said.

‘‘So they can make that investment. (At the moment) it’s holding back investment.’’

Story from today’s Shepparton News - “Aim for the targets.”

A chance to make a statement

Some hope the new Shepparton Art Museum will make more than an artistic statement, but also provide a shining example of green building design.

The landmark SAM to be built on the shores of Victoria Park Lake has the potential to become a best practice showcase for sustainable buildings in the region, according to a local environment group.

Regional change: The Goulburn Valley Environment
Group hopes the new Shepparton Art Museum at
Victoria Park Lake can be a statement of change in the region.

The estimated two-year build for the $35 million, five-storey facility is set to start next year.

And Goulburn Valley Environment Group president John Pettigrew said some see the building, hoped to be an iconic, postcard entrance to the city from the south, as being ‘‘a statement of change in this region’’.

He said the building could be more than a scene-setting piece of building design, but also a way to promote best practices.

‘‘A statement building, that we are ready to take next step . . , to adapt to a changing climate, to changing market conditions.

‘‘We’ve always seen the SAM building as an opportunity to make a statement.’’

The president was unsure whether opportunities still existed for commentary about sustainable design features, adding the community may well be ‘‘living on trust that those involved in it, have committed as much as possible to those outcomes we think (are) important’’.

‘‘(We’re) keen that SAM is a standout building . . . that we look back on and say, ‘Yeah there wasn’t too many mistakes there . . . they did a pretty good job when took into account the energy requirements’,’’ he said.

Mr Pettigrew understood certain requirements were necessary to protect assets in an art museum, presenting ‘‘limits to what you can do to cut down energy’’.

‘‘We understand in a building like that you can’t necessarily go as far as you would like.

‘‘When you can’t do that, it’s critical that the energy used is renewable energy.

‘‘They’re the sort of things we’ve been keen to get incorporated into the new SAM building,’’ he said.

Mr Pettigrew said it could be possible for off site energy generation for such facilities.

By Thomas Moir on today’s Shepparton News - “A chance to make a statement."

GV environment leader disappointed, but not surprised by US climate decision

by Rhiannon Tuffield (Shepparton News)

The United States, along with such countries as Australia, will dramatically fall behind if climate change continues to be deferred, according to Goulburn Valley environmentalist, John Pettigrew.

as a leader who has repeatedly denied the pansies of climate change, American President Donald Trump’s announcement last week the US would with draw from the Paris Climate Agreement was hardly a surprise for Mr Pettigrew.

John Pettigrew - disappointed, but not surprised
by Donald Trump's Paris climate decision.

Despite his concern, the Goulburn Valley Environment Group president said the move would actually be a positive one for other countries, particularly China and the European Union.

Although he agreed the Paris agreement was important, he believed it was only symbolic, illustrated by the multitude of countries which had not yet met agreed targets, including Australia.

Scientifically, the Paris Agreement was never likely to deliver the immediate drastic changes researcher said the planet needed to avoid danger climate change, but it was a start to set a clear path for future emissions reductions.

“I’m disappointed (the US) pulled out, but I’m not convinced it’s going to make a lot of difference,” Mr Pettigrew said.

“There’s one argument that says it might prove to be a bigger incentive for other countries to do a bit more,  because there will be positives for countries who do move early and adapt.”

Mr Pettigrew said countries such as France and China would become the biggest winners of the Trump decision and would most likely lead the way in areas of technology and manufacturing in renewable energy.

But he would see Australia falling behind as a result of the Federal Government’s slow movement on climate change.

“The opportunities for Australia are enormous, but  the unfortunately the current thinking of our Federal Government is not moving us in that direction,” he said.

“What’s in place federally is not enough to meet the targets, out is not anywhere near securing a safe climate in the future.

“These impacts will come down to economics more than anything else, and I think if we lag behind in the research and development of these renewables, we’ll end up having to purchase them from China instead.”

Chance to consider Victoria's 'broken' nature laws

People will have the chance in Tatura later this month to consider “Where to next?” for Victoria’s broken nature laws.

The Environment Justice Australia workshop will be held on Tuesday, January 24, for two hours from 6:30 pm.

Hosts for the workshop, the Goulburn Valley Environment Group (GVEG), say Victoria’s nature protection laws are broken.

“In 2014, the Andrews Government promised to review Victoria’s main nature protection law – the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act – but to date, very little progress has been made towards reviewing and amending the law.

“Many Victorian communities are concerned about environmental issues affecting their local community but are unsure about what the can do to try and improve the situation,” the group said in a promotional brochure.

The workshop is aimed at building knowledge about environmental protection and laws, including threatened species and vegetation; it will help build a person’s knowledge allowing them to submit petitions about the needed reforms, and show them how they can help build stronger community campaigns to influence stronger protection for Victoria.

Those keen to attend the Tatura Hotel event should register via email at Environmental Justice Australia or phone 8341 3100.

GVEG's president calls for petitions to protect environment groups

A

 plea for people to have their say about tax-deductible donations to environment groups has comes from the Goulburn Valley Environment Group president, John Pettigrew.

GVEG president, John Pettigrew,
calling petition action.

“We unfortunately must briefly pause from protecting the environment to protect our organisations,” he said.

“Please assist with a submission by the 21st of May even if it’s only one sentence of support for the current DGR facility remaining available to environment groups, he wrote on a release.  

The House of Representatives Environment Committee is holding an inquiry into environmental groups who are eligible to receive Tax-deductible donations.

Mr Pettigrew said, “Most of our best known National and International Environment Groups fall into this category and of course includes our Goulburn Valley Environment Group (GVEG).                                                                                                         

“Being a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) allows an organization to access tax-deductible donations to fund important, practical work to protect and improve the natural environment.

“This work inevitably involves advocacy and at times opposition to ill-conceived development and it is predominately this area that has attracted the ire of neo-conservative politics, namely the Abbott government,” the GVEG president said.   He said the Government has the support of mining, energy and petroleum industries that have been consistently attacking environment groups and their supporter base. 

The Committee composed of six Coalition and four Australian Labor Party Members of Parliament and, according to Mr Pettigrew, is already showing all the signs of a witch-hunt.

“Environment groups, including GVEG ask the community for support in defending our organisations from this attack,”

He said submissions, as many as possible, needed to be made by the May 21 indicating support for continuation of this facility which, he added, are, after all, only the equivalent of tax deductible member’s subscriptions and donations to mining, and other industry advocacy organisations.

Submissions should be made to: House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment, PO Box 6021 Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600, or via the government website , or you can phone: +61 2 6277 4580; fax: +61 2 6277 4424; and contact via email at:  environment.reps@aph.gov.au.

People with more questions can contact Mr Pettigrew at: PO Box 207, Shepparton Vic 3632; phone: ph/fax: 03 58 317794; or e-mail: gveg@shepparton.net.au.