Coalition is aiming to change Australia's environment laws before review is finished

The environment minister, Sussan Ley, has flagged the government may change Australia’s national environment laws before a review is finished later this year.

Environment minister Sussan Ley hopes to introduce ‘early
 pieces of legislation’ before the independent review of the
EPBC Act is finalised.

Ley said she would introduce “early pieces of legislation” to parliament if she could to “really get moving with reforming and revitalising one of our signature pieces of environmental legislation”.

It follows business groups and the government emphasising the need to cut red tape as part of the economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis, and comes as the businessman Graeme Samuel chairs an independent statutory review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. An interim report is due in June, followed by a final report in October.

When the review was announced, the government said it would be used to “tackle green tape” and speed up project approvals.

Read the story from The Guardian by Lisa Cox - “Coalition is aiming to change Australia's environment laws before review is finished.”

What would a ‘climate diet’ look like in Australia?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) declared that it is crucial for all sectors to rally against global heating, and targets to slow it down simply can’t be achieved without addressing food production and land management.

Australia was recently flagged as one of the countries with the greatest potential to reduce diet-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Switching to more plant foods is considered
paramount for planetary and human health.

Millions of people around the world are hitting the streets this year in support of students who  demanding an end to fossil fuels. But we can also strike with our forks: global food production contributes around a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental degradation also goes hand-in-hand with the global pandemic of chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. This double whammy includes other factors associated with industrial monocrops, such as pesticides and fertiliser.

So tweaking dietary habits is a win-win for people and the planet. But just what would a climate-friendly diet look like?

Read the story from The Guardian by Natalie Parletta - “What would a ‘climate diet’ look like in Australia?”

Solar lease step forward for Shepparton

Greater Shepparton City Council has flagged its intention to enter into a lease with Goulburn Valley Community Energy on a $40 million solar farm for GV Link land south of Mooroopna.

The proposed lease would be for a 25-year term, with the option to extend the lease for an additional 25 years.

GVCE Mooroopna Solar Pty Ltd indicated to the council that the proposed solar farm would be able to generate up to 23 MW per year.

The lease is for the GV Link land east of Toolamba Rd and the railway line, for the purposes of construction and use as a solar farm, the council said.

Councillors this week voted to provide public notice of the council’s intention to enter into a lease agreement.

GVCE chief executive Geoff Lodge described the council’s decision of intention to lease the land as a ‘‘significant milestone’’ for the project.

‘‘They now need to advertise that; that’s a significant step for us.’’

Mr Lodge estimated the proposed facility would feature 62 000 panels across a 30 ha area.

He said it could provide enough electricity for 6500 homes at any one time and provide more than 100 construction jobs in building the facility.

A council statement said it had also been in receipt of a number of investment inquiries in relation to the leasing of land at the GV Link site. Council officers recognised an opportunity to make the GV Link land east of Toolamba Rd available for a large-scale solar farm, the statement continued.

Council chief executive Peter Harriott had last year been optimistic of the first sod being turned on the project last year.

More than six months later, the council had said while the tender process had been completed on the project, confidential negotiations were continuing.

‘‘A lease for the proposed solar farm at the GV Link site east of Toolamba Rd has now been negotiated and council is proposing to lease the land to GVCE Mooroopna Solar Pty Ltd, being a ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ which consists of Goulburn Valley Community Energy Pty Ltd (GVCE) and AKUO Energy Pty Ltd,’’ a council statement read.

‘‘Council officers will now progress to the next stage of the process which consists of advertising council’s intention to enter into a proposed lease with the SPV.’’

An advertisement will be made, with public submissions invited for a month from January 4.

‘‘The proposed lease is subject to a number of conditions relating to the planning and development of the solar farm, which include but are not limited to: obtaining approvals and finance and entering into Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with relevant parties to purchase the electricity generated by the solar farm,’’ the statement continued.

‘‘The proposed lease would not commence until the SPV has received all approvals and secured PPAs and obtained the required finance for the project with a financial institution.’’

Mayor Kim O’Keeffe said the subject land east of Toolamba Rd had been set aside for water detention as part of the future GV Link project and council officers felt that the area north of the proposed water detention basin could be suitable for a solar farm.

The council had last year hoped the solar development would be capable of producing a minimum of 10 MW, and that the facility might help reverse uncertainty caused by extra energy costs estimated as being in the millions for some businesses.

At this week’s meeting, Cr Bruce Giovanetti said it was ‘‘really great this project is getting off the ground,’’ and that it had been in the works for ‘‘quite some time.’’

Mr Lodge anticipated about 12 months of detailed designing, including planning approvals, ahead of a further 12 months to construct the facility.

The principal terms of the lease endorsed by councillors include annual rental to be $30 000 plus GST, subject to CPI adjustments at regular intervals and a market review on exercise of the option.

Story from The Shepparton News - “Solar lease step forward.”