Worst case Hydro Tasmania scenario: constraints on Basslink import; mean water storage could drop as low as seven per cent in May 2009

Lake Gordon was the key hydro storage for Tasmania, said Transend its 2008 Annual Planning Report Transend -in its role as Tasmania state electricity planner - said it did not have time to carry out full scenario studies identified in the 2007 Reliability Review Report, required by the Regulator in April 2008. However one worst case it had modelled, was its Scenario 5 - if drought extended and there were limits to Basslink imports, water levels could fall to seven per cent in May 2009. It had modelled assumptions on gas price, thermal bids, hydro reservoir water values. Carbon costs were not modelled.

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New Premier of Tasmania opens Parliamentary season: water crisis means $100 million to buy Tamar gas plants from Babcock and Brown Power

David Bartlett, Premier of Tasmania, Tuesday, 19 August 2008 told the opening session of Parliament why the State Infrastructure Fund had offered Babcock Brown Power $100 million for two Bell Bay gas plants

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Candanian-based Waratah Coal pays lobbyist a success fee of AUS$500K for getting Queensland Government to declare “state significance” for planned mine, rail, and port in Great Barrier Reef

Canadian-based Waratah Coal said it had paid a lobbyist a success fee of AUS$500K, as 146 040 shares at C$3.36 per share for pursuading the Queensland Government to declare “state significance” for the Waratah planned mine, rail, and port project. A further $2.5 million was offered for more approvals success.

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New Queensland Waratah coal port plan in Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area: plans handymax, panamax, capesize and chinamax vessels

A super port development was planned for a protected environment area intended to have no development. The plan to dig and deliver - to start - 50 million tonnes a year of export coal, was in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and contained Ramsar wetlands.

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Did Snowy Hydro break the rules of its water license when it sold water to irrigators, when the rules say, it may not sell water to irrigators?

While Snowy Hydro had sold water to Victorian irrigators, (Mowamba Borrow) in breach of its license, it was not in breach of the license argued Snowy.

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Total proposes 3D marine seismic survey over a 1,651 km2 at WA-408-P near vulnerable islands

Whilst desktop studies from the DEWHA protected matters search tool revealed 6 threatened, and 12 migratory species in the area of a proposed 3D siesmic survey near Ashmore Reef, Hibernia Reef, Seringapatam Reef, Scott Reef and Cartier Island. Total had argued the impact on the majority of these species will be minimal.

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Shell 2D Marine Seismic Survey plan for WA- 384-P, WA-385-P and WA-394-P in the Southern Exmouth Basin, in whale migration zones

The Shell Guacamole 2D Marine Seismic Survey - 25 km west of mainland Western Australia. - will take place over an estimated 45 day period (allowing for mobilisation and demobilisation) between November 2008 and March 2009, subject to vessel availability and regulatory approval. Shell is committed to undertaking the survey outside the main whale migration and whale shark aggregation period from late March to mid October.

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Coal still King in Queensland: superport plan for World Heritage Area ignores environment restrictions; plans to build in wilderness wetlands

A coal investor group plans showed its huge new port project was set proposed in a protected area listed as a National Heritage Place under the EPBC Act. The proposed coal port - and perhaps eventually, an oil port - was to be built in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (SWBTA), and on areas listed as protected RAMSAR wetlands. The intended area contained three threatened ecological communities, as well as protected wetlands and marine areas.

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Local resistance strong to super-port in Ramsar wetlands and Queensland Heritage area: big electricity, water, land, sea impacts

Public meetings were held this week in Byfield, Queensland, a small town close to the planned Waratah three coal-mines port. The port plan was to drain wetlands, and dredge the ocean.

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