Buckingham unrealistic
I am not sure if the heading ‘Heatwave a clear warning’ of the letter by Jeremy Buckingham, Independent, NSW MP is as clear as his story outlines (Examiner, Letters, January 31) .
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True we are experiencing a very hot summer, also true we experienced a very cold winter. To suggest Australia phases out coal power and leads the world in clean solar power sounds good but will not happen this century. Jeremy Buckingham refers to us, I'm presuming he means the Hunter, as a quarry, well this quarry survives on coal.
In fact we export a significant percentage of Asia's coal requirement and if we were to stop this export because we wish to save the world, then heaven help Newcastle, and the greater Hunter Region in terms of employment. Australia is the world’s largest exporter of coal (2017) amounting to 37 per cent and returns roughly $40US billion, Indonesia is a distant second with 16 per cent of world export – figures obtained on internet sources.
The climate change wagon which Jeremy Buckingham is flogging would work if he had a platform to lobby governments around the globe who most pollute e.g. China 30 per cent, USA 15 per cent, Europe 10 per cent and India 7 per cent in fossil fuel emissions, to change and start implementing alternative energy fuel.
Australia would make no (OK 1.25 per cent) difference in carbon emissions to the world’s total output. Not withstanding the Select Committee on the supply costing of gas and liquid fuels for the electricity supply on which Mr Buckingham sits in Parliament, and has in my recollection never published an alternative to coal. Perhaps the product that most politicians are too frightened to talk about and is in plentiful supply – uranium – of which once again Australia is a world leader (third behind Kazakhstan and Canada) in its supply yet we barely scratch the surface in potential earnings.
George Anderson, Medowie
Also read: Letters to the Editor, January 31
Time to have your say
Please make a submission to www.ipart.nsw.gov.au or P0 box K35 Haymarket, NSW 1240 between February 7 and March 7, objecting to the proposed Special Rate Variation by Port Stephens Council .
The council has approved rate rises of 7.5 per cent every year for seven years and it is to remain permanently in the rate base.
This is your last chance to OBJECT. The council must live within its means. It is unfair that ratepayers are being asked to pay hundreds of dollars per year for projects that are not necessary.
Robyn West, Fingal Bay
Also read: Letters to the Editor, January 24
Wasn’t broke, why fix it
I couldn’t help but notice the resurfacing of Nelson Bay Road around the Frost Road turn-off and again near Marsh Road.
Several kilometres of smooth road in great condition has has been given an overnight top coat of tar and course gravel making the road rougher and noisier to drive on. What’s the point top coating a road in good condition when other roads like Foreshore Drive are falling apart with potholes?
Perhaps this road funding could have been allocated better.
Michael Bott, Corlette
Offer advertisers feedback
Recently while approaching a town in the Cotswolds, England, it was apparent that there were no large roadside advertising placards informing me of restaurants, fast food outlets, estate agents, fish shops etc, unlike the informative road entrance to Nelson Bay.
I had to park my car and walk around the town looking for a cafe or pub for a meal.
Fortunately, when arriving in Nelson Bay, visitors can pre-plan their meals or property purchase while driving in. These businesses spend good money on this advertising service.
It is incumbent on all of our growing population to patronise them and give them feedback, otherwise, this roadside service may be removed.
George Allen, Nelson Bay
MAKING NEWS