The recent rejig of the Marinus Link Project, described by Energy Minister Barnett as “a ripper deal”, has not left many Tasmanians feeling quite so euphoric.
There’s been industry analysis, letters to the editor, debate in online forums, plus comments on radio all indicating that initial worries about a $3.8 billion cost for two cables have not subsided now that half the capacity will be installed for $3.3 billion.
In keeping with their closed-door idea of democracy, the Energy Minister’s statement to Parliament on Tuesday September 5 revealed little more than the press releases of Federal and State spruikers. His referral to the Privileges Committee will be a revelatory procedure, and a shock to an exceedingly autocratic cabinet.
MP John Tucker summed it up with his “smoke and mirrors” analogy, suggesting there was a lot more the Tasmanian public needed to know – not just about the Marinus cable itself, but with the costs of add-ons like the North West Transmission Developments, the Tarraleah power station upgrade and the unmentioned Cethana pumped hydro scheme.
With a reduction in transmission capacity, but not cost, we are assured that two-thirds of the benefits accruing to the Marinus Link Project will still flow to Tasmania. Really? How?
Added to this is Federal Minister Bowen’s assertion that as the Feds now hold 49% of the equity, the structure of the Marinus Link Pty Ltd board will reflect that commitment. Given that the Victorian Government accounts for 33.3% of the equity, the TasNetworks subsidiary now see us relegated to junior partner (17.7%) – and a nervous shareholder at that, given that it has a sell-option built into the deal.
Tasmanians should be very worried that their publicly-owned generation and transmission assets could quite easily be orchestrated to fit Canberra’s zealot-like adoption of the AEMO ‘big grid’ doctrine.
John Tucker is calling for an inquiry by a Joint House Committee.
The Keep Tasmania’s Highlands Unique – No Turbine Action Group has 300 members who question the ‘wind rush’ mentality of the renewables boom in Tasmania. At the moment they are working in focus groups and with experts – from biologists and planners, to lawyers and acousticians – to write submissions proving why the proposed St Patricks Wind Farm is unquestionably in the wrong place.
Why save the planet while destroying our own back yard? We need sensible and sensitive generation projects, where community comes first, and corporate profits last. Expanding our own citizen-owned power assets would be a good start. There seems to be a lake of Federal money available for renewables investment.
Public representations opposing the wind farm must be in the hands of the Central Highlands Council by close of business on Monday, September 25. For assistance in writing a submission expressing your concerns, email [email protected]
The St Patricks Plains wind farm is part of a grand vision which the State Liberal Government has been pushing for half a decade – and which hasn’t adapted to the evolving realities of the geared-up national energy sector.
An email has been sent to MPs asking that they support John Tucker’s parliamentary investigation into the billions in cash and debt needed to fund Marinus, and its integral ‘Battery of The Nation’ components.
Responses from influential – not hackneyed – politicians have been positive, and as daily events expose the bunker mentality of this tired Liberal government, parliament may be approaching a time when decisions made for massive infrastructure spends (and consequent debt) will put Tasmania’s public interest first.
Greg Pullen is a committee member of the Central Highlands No Turbine Action Group (NTAG) and has a keen interest in renewable energy transformation, in particular its benefits for Tasmania. He is a firm believer in the KISS Principle.
