[Peakoil] ACT Energy Policy and Climate Change Discussion Papers and Community Consultation

[Alex P]

I intend to go to the consultation at Woden Quality hotel on Tuesday at 
6pm, it is the most convenient session for me held in the evening.

Alex
O4O4873828

ACT Peak Oil
http://act-peakoil.org

On Fri, 31 Mar 2006 10:45:12 +1100, "Adrian Whitehead" 
<ccserac.project1 at ecoaction.net.au> wrote :

> 
> Hi All,
> 
> ACT Energy Policy and Climate Change Discussion Papers and Community
> consultation is now under way.
> 
> In my original email I overemphasised the climate change side of the 
process
> and would like to point out energy is just as important part of it and 
hence
> directly relevant to people interested in Peak Oil.
> 
> It would be great if some people from this discussion list went along and
> put in their two bobs worth at the public meetings.
> 
> As mike pointed out only 3 went to Gungahlin and only 10-13 went to the
> Civic, so a couple of people from peak oil at the next three events would
> have significant impact.
> 
> The Oil peak groups should also do a submission on the energy paper -
> perhaps we can do a wiki version again. Submission is due on the 26th of
> April.
> 
> Energy Document Available from...
> 
> http://www.sustainability.act.gov.au/energy/ACT_energy.html
> 
> Remaining dates...
> 
> Monday, 3 April
>   6:00pm - 8:00pm
>   Conference Room
>   Quality Hotel
>   Woden
> 
> Friday, 7 April
>   2:00pm – 4:00pm
>   Meeting Room 2
>   Belconnen Community Centre
>   Belconnen
> 
> Wednesday 12 April
>    6:00pm - 8:00pm
>    Tuggeranong Bowls Club
>    Tuggeranong
> 
> Some points from the energy document
> 
> Challenge - an Energy policy that will ensure the availability of clean,
> reliable and competitively price priced energy that meets the real [what a
> loaded word] needs of Canberrans in the short and long term.
> 
> Drivers - Reliability [one of four] "ensuring that we have an 
understanding
> of changes in energy availability and trends in energy use and have 
policies
> in place to ensure ongoing supply"
> 
> The bit on oil peak - 
> Oil production and petrol refining in Australia has declined markedly over
> recent years. As early as 2001 Australia was already importing 61% of its
> net
> domestic needs, primarily through the Singapore market and this dependence
> is growing. The relatively minor impact of Hurricane Katrina in late 2005 
on
> Australia’s oil supplies was reflected in steeply increased prices. This
> will
> become a familiar scenario in future.
> 
> According to papers presented to the Geological Society of America,
> Australian domestic oil production will peak this year with USA, South
> America, Europe and the former Soviet Union having already passed their
> peak production capacity. Geoscience Australia has estimated that 
Australian
> crude oil production will decline to half of 2003 levels by 2020. We are
> increasingly dependent upon Asia and the Middle East to meet our liquid 
fuel
> demands. Internationally, increased competition for these dwindling
> resources will reflect in shortages and higher prices. Price rises can be
> expected for all commodities and products derived from oil (plastics),
> transport and foods that require mechanised farming and production.
> 
> It is increasingly clear that an alternative to fossil fuel derivatives is
> required if
> transport and mechanisation of the type, scale and convenience to which
> Australians have become accustomed is to be maintained. The solution may
> lay in more efficient vehicles or better-designed cities or a conscious
> decision
> by all of us to review and downsize our personal transport needs. The 
Policy
> will need to address how Canberrans can influence this mix of solutions 
and
> what impact their selection may have on our city and lifestyle.
> 
> 
> Another bit on oil peak referring to the Cwlths Securing Australia's 
Energy
> Future - 
> 
> Similarly, petrol issues received only passing mention, including a 
comment
> on page 119 that despite increasing demand for oil, there are sufficient
> reserves to supply world demand for around 40 years. If this is our 
national
> deadline for establishing a viable and effective substitute for fossil 
based
> liquid fuels action needs to be taken now.
> 
> 
> Adrian Whitehead
> Water & Climate Campaigner
> Conservation Council of the SE Region and Canberra
> P: 6247 7808
> F: 6248 5343
> M: 0403 735 118
>