Media release – No Turbine Action Group, 7 June 2023
MARINUS DOESN’T ADD UP
PROTESTERS SUPPORT PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
A Central Highlands community group has joined with others protesting outside an industry Renewables Conference at Devonport on Thursday, with calls for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Marinus Project because it doesn’t add up.
Frank and open discussion with the community about the viability of Marinus has not occurred, says Greg Pullen, of Miena.
“With the troubled Basslink interconnector as a living reminder, there’s a growing wealth of evidence which paints Marinus as a debt-ridden white elephant.”
“Many Tasmanians question Marinus because a case has never been presented with any real projections, backed by credible data. Marinus is likely to cost more than $12B when borrowings for a pumped hydro and transmission infrastructure are included, and the real cost of Marinus adopted.”
Basslink and Snowy 2.0 are examples of massive cost blow outs. The implications for state debt, the borrowing capacity of GBEs like Aurora, Hydro and TasNetworks, and future reductions in Commonwealth GST payments are not known.
David Ridley, Chair of ‘Keep the Central Highlands Unique – No Turbine Action Group’ says there are many other unknowns, and supports a Parliamentary Inquiry on Marinus.
“Independent MPs Tucker and Alexander have got it right. Marinus is a dark hole that needs a Parliamentary blow torch applied to see what’s going on.”
“The consequences of a tidal wave of solar, offshore wind farms and massive new batteries on the Mainland need to be understood. Race-to-the bottom pricing imposed on Aurora and Hydro, as well as the extent of subsidies to multinationals and wind farms to make Marinus work, need to be explained.”
“No-Go Turbine Zones must be declared to prevent thousands of wind towers scarring the Tasmanian landscape. Community resistance against wind farms on St Patricks Plains and Robbins Island – both integral to Marinus – will mean a social licence to operate the cable will not occur”.
“The actions by independent MPs Tucker and Alexander are supported, rather than the Government blindly taking Tasmania into a Marinus world of unknowns; of landscape harm; and taxpayer debt.”
