Newcastle Herald readers have their say: Connecting the dots on where gas will go

People are scratching their heads wondering why the Colongra gas peaking power station on the Central Coast is not being used to provide electricity to the east coast grid when we have shortages.

Instead, Tomago Aluminium is required to shut down or reduce operations to prevent blackouts. Yet, at the same time, the owners of Colongra, Snowy Hydro, are pushing to build another gas peaking power plant at Kurri Kurri.

With both power plants only projected to operate for about two per cent of the time, and currently, not offsetting electricity shortages when they occur, it doesn't appear logical.

Irrespective of the amount of time it will run, the Kurri Kurri plant requires a secure gas supply.

It needs to be connected to the Sydney-Newcastle gas pipeline to ensure adequate continuous gas supply in the event of "unforeseen circumstances" requiring the plant to operate for longer periods.

Much has been said about the supposed gas shortage on the east coast with proposals to develop the Pilliga gas field, and a pipeline to connect to Newcastle, and the offshore gas field, PEP 11, between Newcastle and Sydney.

The federal minister has refused to cancel the licence for the PEP 11 offshore exploration area despite saying months ago that he would make a decision "soon".

Once these gas reserves are accessed, which I believe will be announced shortly, it will be discovered that our gas peaking plants, operating at only two per cent of the time, don't need all the gas being produced and we may as well export it, from a terminal at Newcastle or Sydney, for sale overseas.

With the number of proposed onshore and offshore gas projects being pursued by the federal government, the idea of a "need" for gas-fired peaking power plants, justifying the development of gas fields, will probably arise all around the country.

FINALLY, a bit of common sense; a new gas-fired power station is to be built as a peaking plant. Although rather small, it's a step in the right direction and the promise of being used only 2 per cent of the time should keep most renewable crusaders happy. However, considering renewable energy sources work on average, a proven 25 per cent of the time, thus will never improve, it stands to reason if power stations are to close, 2 per cent will need to be 100 per cent, and even then there will be a massive shortfall of power supply.

Common sense says renewable resources working 25 per cent of the time will never replace power stations that need to work 100 per cent of the time, even hydro pump systems and battery storage that's used during daylight hours for peak demand means they must be recharged during off peak times by power stations.

At present renewable energy is providing up to 15 per cent of our power, and over time if enough money is spent, it may produce the same output of a power station for 25 per cent of the time. Unfortunately it will never cover the other 75 per cent, it's physically impossible. Unfortunately, there is already heavy investment in renewable energy, which draws a lot of influence and respect. Why not use this influence for a good cause and start developing ways to capture carbon emissions, as power stations are one of many who emit large amounts of carbon?

THE federal government has committed $600 million to proceed with the Kurri Kurri gas-fired power plant.

Listed on the NSW Major Project Planning Portal website as "Critical State Significant Infrastructure", the project is on exhibition and open for submissions until June 9.

As presented, the power plant will utilise dual fuel generation units running predominately on natural gas with diesel oil as a back-up.

In the project proposal it is stated that the plant will require a new gas pipeline connection and receiving station to be provided by a third party and subject to separate planning approval.

Consequently the project presented is incomplete. Should the connecting pipeline not be approved the power plant must operate on diesel oil and the emissions generated will be significantly greater that what are presented in the Environmental Impact Statement.

If NSW is destined to experience gas supply shortages, as a consequence of favouring exports over domestic supply, then viability of the Kurri Kurri plant will be dependent on other supply projects.

These projects include the Narrabri Gas Project, Hunter Pipeline and Newcastle Gas Import Terminal. These highly contentious projects will have environmental, social and economic consequences far in excess of those presented in the Kurri Kurri project.

Dividing up major projects and submitting the individual elements for planning assessment is unconscionable and misleading as the full cumulative impacts of the activities are not presented in their entirety.

This represents a major flaw in the government planning assessment process. It is time for this government to come clean on a few fronts.

PROGRAMS like See What You Made Me Do on SBS are great ways of drawing attention to family violence.

Sadly, women with controlling partners would often be too afraid to watch this type of show. It talks about coercive control where a man goes about controlling every part of his partner's life.

There is often violence or the threat of it. There are other signs of control that add up over years too. These include swearing at and name calling, ridiculing a partner in public, deliberately letting a partner down at the last minute, refusing to share in decision making and blaming a partner when big or small things go wrong. Also, never complimenting or reminding a partner of your love, never thanking and taking them for granted. The inequality women are experiencing today, I believe largely has its roots in religion and centuries of male privilege within cathedrals and churches. In these circles men place themselves in pulpits and give each other positions of power and authority over women and children.

This is then carried into all areas of life. So let's go back to a root cause and smash this type of hierarchical male privilege and begin calling God, Mother God and she rather than God the Father and he. After all God is spirit. And keep saying it until it feels natural. Also, women should be given any role at all within a church. It will be steps in the right direction towards equality of the sexes.

WOULD the lame brains at PETA have the same train of thought if the current mouse plague was a rat plague and bubonic plague was still prevalent? Like many others the common mouse is a feral introduced creature that does not belong here.

NEWS of the mouse plague moving to Sydney is interesting. They will have to compete with the Macquarie Street fat rats for a feed. Hopefully they find a home at Point Piper, the mice will feel at home lots with chief rat Malcolm Turnbull.

I INVITE anyone who is curious about the Foreshore to Cathedral proposal to stand by the foreshore and imagine a 20 metre wide walkway gracefully leading up to the cathedral. Surely this a vision for Newcastle that both local and state governments should embrace

WILL the stairway include any awnings for sun or rain protection? It is already sadly lacking for much of the area. As car drivers are discouraged from accessing the Foreshore and Hill areas by prohibitive parking fees, and/or brief parking periods, how will you attract them to this feature?

SOME time between the Great Depression and WWII several shanty towns were built around Newcastle. With the homeless population growing, l can see this eyesore becoming a reality again. The thought of anyone living in a tent or sleeping in a car should be abhorrent to us all. The lucky country, really!

DID anyone notice the clear skies on Thursday morning (20/5)? Through the morning many planes soared across the sky in all directions, but seemingly similar altitudes emitting long white jet streams. These emissions slowly morphed into what looked like clouds then as they gravitated towards Earth, or us, I thought we were being covered in plane fumes. Maybe we're being vaccinated against COVID-19 without realising it.

WE are all excited about the Eurovision Song Contest. Everyone is in a lather with expectation. I did a straw-poll among friends yesterday regarding their choice. A friend suggested Col Joye and the JoyBoys. Another said Little Pattie. My son said Bon Jovi. Another friend said Billy Joel. Of course, my vote goes to Mantovani. I sincerely hope that at least one of the abovementioned secures a place.

JOHN Rumble, the supremely able superlative US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the equivalent of Titanic's Captain Edward Smith, whose dire warning was also ignored by many, scoops the pool on ending fossil power use, (Letters, 5/20). It's a vast task, breaking with 300 years of uninformed (fossil) power use, and would require time poor heavyweights, gathering together.