MASG News April 29th 2011
Posted on 29 April 2011 by e-news
Goldfields solar Hub
We are very pleased to announce that the first installations for the Goldfields SolarHub started last week! We have had such a fantastic response to our first round of the program. We have had almost 600 registrations of interest to date. Our aim is to have 1000 solar panel systems installed in 18 months and we are well on track to achieve that.
For those that haven’t yet registered to our program, but are thinking about it, we are at the end of our Round 1 offer, but we are in the process of developing a Round 2 offer which will be for installations that occur post June 30. Stay tuned for details.
There is lots more information available on the PV bulk buy in the Newsletter number 3.
Upcoming Goldfields SolarHub Sunny Sessions
Bring your electricity bills and you can discuss what size system and feed-in-tariff would suit your situation, ask about particular tariffs, pay back periods and what to do if you’re in a heritage area. Mike Reeves, the new Goldfields SolarHub Technical Officer for Castlemaine, will be at the Castlemaine Sunny Sessions and Colin Lambie will be at the Bendigo session.
This Saturday 30th April 10am-12noon
Ray Bradfields Room, IGA Carpark of Forest St, Castlemaine
Friday 6th May 10am-12noon
Kristi Harrower Room, BCentral, 45-47 Mundy St, Bendigo
Next Saturday 7th May 10am-12noon
Ray Bradfields Room, IGA Carpark of Forest St, Castlemaine
For more information about this program, visit the Goldfields Solar Hub website or email: info@goldfieldssolarhub.org.au or call 5442 5443
Comfy Homes Tradies’ Mini-Expo
The Mini Expo is building in numbers of so If you are looking for local products and services information, come and find it at the Tradies’ Mini-Expo. Entry by donation.
When: Thursday 12th May Time: 3-6pm (including dinner)@ Castlemaine Uniting Church Hall
Castlemaine RSVP: T: 5470 6978 E: deanna@masg.org.au
Jottings from the Hub Plot
Last Monday the gardening group made a visit to a wonderfully productive garden in Campbells Creek.
The owners of the garden showed us how they effectively manage chooks within their backyard veggie patch. Thanks to Suzanne and Stephen for sharing of their model and their enthusiasm. We all came away inspired!
MASG’s food gardening group work in the garden on Monday mornings from 9 a.m. Our next jobs include a winter tidy up, some more winter plantings and planning a productive garden for the south/west of the garden.
Don’t forget if you have surplus in your garden and would like to share it with others then please come along to our produce exchange on Monday mornings. For further info please contact heather@box311.biz or Peter at bundara@netcon.net.au
MASG members meeting tonight
Friday the 29th April from 5 to 6pm @ The Hub. An informal gathering to discuss and exchange ideas and to catch up on what is going on held on the last Friday of the month.
This month’s theme will be on politics with a report back from Dean on the Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) conference , the 100% renewable energy campaign and what opportunities exist for political support for action on climate change and what role we have in making that happen.
Meanwhile Australians want any money raised from a Pollution price to be spent on renewable energy and fixing the environment
A new poll by ACF shows a clear majority of Australians want the revenue raised by a price on carbon pollution to be used to boost clean energy, help households and rehabilitate our natural environment.
The telephone poll of 1200 people from all states and territories, conducted by Newspoll over the period 15-17 April, found:
• 87 per cent want revenue raised by the price on pollution to be invested in renewable energy innovation
• 77 per cent want revenue to go to households
• 84 per cent want revenue to be used to rehabilitate our environment
• 56 per cent oppose compensation for polluters
• More than half Coalition voters oppose compensation to industry
NEW OPPORTUNITY – GOLDFIELDS SOLARHUB COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
The Bendigo Sustainability Group (BSG) and Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG) is readvertising for a Communications Officer for two days a week for 12 months to undertake communication, engagement, implementation, and evaluation tasks for the Goldfields Solar Hub project. For more information and a copy of the position description, please contact Karen Corr on 0419 006 243 or solarhubspm@bendigosustainability.org.au . Applications close Wednesday 11th May.
100% renewable energy surveying shows that people want action
With over 100 people surveyed to date from doorknocking in the Shire we are getting a clear message that people want action on renewable energy from Government. We are out again this Saturday the 30th of April meeting @ 2.30pm @ The Hub.
We are aiming to survey 500 people to make a clear and overwhelming message to the federal parliament and our local member Steve Gibbons, so if we all do a few we can get there. Can you:
1. survey your household, workplace or street ?
2. Come surveying with us on the National Doorknock Day Saturday May 30th from 2.30pm.
Download the survey recording form, script and other information and contact Dean on 0448 327 791 or dc@masg.org.au
Growing Abundance films and workshops.
1. “ Food for Thought” films
The busy folk from the Growing Abundance project are running a series of films as “Food for Thought . Come along and enjoy interesting films, provocative discussions and seasonal soup – all for $5. The series starts with “ The Gleaners and I (2000, 82 mins)” Sunday 8 May, 5.00pm @ Ray Bradfield Room, Victory Park
2. Preserving Workshops
Quinces: What to do with them. Sat May 7th 10am- 1pm @ Town Hall Frederick St.
Olives: Preserving & pressing. Sat May 28th 11am-2pm @ Uniting Church Hall Lyttleton St
Apples and Pears: Making juice and cider. Sat Jun 25th 11am-2pm @ Town Hall Frederick St.
Costs $20/30 Bookings essential lucy@cch.org.au or 54724842
Connecting Country Education Program 2011
1. Field Days from 9am to 1.30pm, bookings essential as numbers limited, transport provided, meet at Ray Bradfield Rooms, Castlemaine, $10 each session
29th May: Geology and Soils (Phil Dyson)
5th June: Yellow Box Woodlands (Ian Higgins and Paul Foreman)
26th June: Rivers and Streams (Elaine Bayes, Damien Cook and Nick Layne)
2. Evening Talks with supper at 6.30pm and 7pm start @ Campbells Creek Community Centre, Elizabeth Street, Campbells Creek, FREE
26th May: Fungi: Exploring a forgotten kingdom (Alison Pouliot)
25th August: Box Ironbark Woodland: How much fire is enough? (Arn Tolsma)
8th September: The landscape of squatters, miners, selectors and conservationists (Robin Ballinger)
For more information see the Connecting Country website or bookings contact Krista on 5472 1594 or krista@connectingcountry.org.au
VLGA Liveable and Just Toolkit Sessions
Last year’s launch of the ‘Liveable and Just’ toolkit created widespread interest in building community resilience to the complex challenges of climate change. Since then, the VLGA has had many requests from local governments, community organisations and environment groups for support in implementing the toolkit in an integrated way.
During May and June, the VLGA, supported by mecu Ltd, is conducting a series of five workshops in rural and regional areas of Victoria.
These one-day workshops will be hosted by regional local governments, the closest ones are :
Bendigo on Thursday 12 May & Ballarat on Thursday 19 May
Click here for details and a registration form from the Liveable and Just website.
The Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research (VCCCAR) Forums
1. Public forum “Surviving climate change: climate and community resilience in Central Victoria towards 2030” will be held at the Capital Theatre on Sunday, 1 May from 4 to 5.30 pm.
2. 2 day decision makers forum Monday & Tuesday May 2 & 3 @ Capital Theatre, View St, Bendigo
The Keynote speaker is Professor Mike Hulme, the Professor of Climate Change, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia. Registration form, program and additional information are available from their VCCCAR website: RSVP: Bookings are essential. For further information, contact Doug Scobie on (03) 9035 8235 or enquiries-vcccar@unimelb.edu.au. To book, please contact Patricia Ibbotson on 5444 7859 or P.ibbotson@latrobe.edu.au
Connecting Communities: MALLEE & CAMPASPE SOCIAL INCLUSION CONFERENCE
Friday 20th May 2011 in Kerang Valley Resort; 76 Murray Valley Hwy, Kerang
administration@smpcp.com.au
China understand they are at risk and so are drafting legislation to tackle climate change
The Chinese State Oceanic Administration has been reported recently blaming sea-level rise for increased coastal disasters in China, including erosion and storm surges, which have been exacerbated by coastal development. And the Chinese news agency Xinhua has reported on drafting that is underway for China’s for climate change legislation. The announcement of this measure came in March, following the adoption of the climate and energy measures in the twelfth Five Year Plan, and reflects China’s “legally binding domestically” approach to energy and pollution cutting targets. The Chinese public are being asked to provide input on the plans until 30 September.
In the same vein China, the world’s largest energy consumer, aims to double gas’s share of energy consumption to 8 per cent by 2015 while boosting the combined proportion of wind, solar, hydro and nuclear to 11 per cent from 8 per cent. It also plans to start an emissions trading system in six regions by 2015.
Fraccing our farmland on the TV this Sunday on SBS
If you want to get the environmental low-down on fraccing for coal-seam gas, the documentary “Gasland” about the industry in the US is showing on SBS Sunday 01 May 2011 @ 9:35pm
Meanwhile Oil is still very, very profitable….as Exxon earns nearly $10b in first quarter 0f 2011
EXXON earned nearly $10.15 billion in the first quarter. Exxon’s huge profit followed similar results by other oil companies with Royal Dutch Shell PLC, reported $8.1 billion in first-quarter profits, up 60 per cent from a year ago. BP PLC’s quarterly earnings rose 16 per cent to $6.64 billion, ConocoPhillips said net income grew 43 per cent to $2.77 billion and Occidental Petroleum Corp said earnings climbed 46 per cent to $1.43 billion.For all the facts on super profitable oil see the Herald Sun Story.
“It is particularly encouraging that the large developing countries of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa– who together represent the engine of global economic growth– are developing comprehensive laws to tackle climate change”
Xie ZhenhuaVice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s top economic planning body
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