CLIMATE control is very much in the news lately and finally it seems there's at least a degree of common purpose.
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That's a good development but perhaps we should now proceed with caution and be careful what we wish for.
Many see the target of zero emission as an impossible dream, a feel good throwaway line. Only time will tell.
In Europe this year there are already serious problems for everyday citizens and industry through vaguaries of clean energy.
And worse, some countries are tackling their own emissions targets by relocating industries to China. Nice.
Then there's the propaganda of many years of rosy promises of countless new jobs from clean energy. Apart from the fortunate few there are at present no jobs; wind farms, solar farms, battery farms (like what's coming to Brays Lane at Wang). All zilch!
The Mayor of a northern NSW town last week lamented on ABC that an anticipated jobs boom from a clean energy project hadn't eventuated.
"The only jobs are cutting the grass beneath the turbines," she said.
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Then there's The Greens this week saying everyone will need to switch to plant based 'meat' to help with the insurmountable methane problem from flatulent farm animals.
Have you ever tried a plant based rissole? It's being over kind to say it's an acquired taste.
Pursuing emissions reduction is a worthy crusade but put away the rose coloured glasses. And don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
The wreckers
THE biggest show in town at present is the Wang power station demolition where the giant structure is being carefully dismantled bit by bit.
But it's not the first time our power industry has faced the wrecking ball. The first local power station at State Mine Gully was demolished (what scrap metal thieves hadn't already 'liberated') around 1970.
It was a job far removed from today's requirements with much of the work done by simply pulling down the walls with a steel cable hooked to a dozer (as pictured).
Today's OHS people would be horrified. Things had progressed considerably years later when the older A and B Sections at Wang were taken apart.
Now we're on station demolition number four. Something of a growth industry really.
Silence isn't golden
THINGS seem to have gone ominously quiet on the issue of Sydney waste being incinerated in our area. And not a word at political level either. Let's not be lulled into a sense of 'it'll go away'.
Maintain the rage or it will be a case of 'come in sucker'. Wonder what the emission target is for a waste incinerator.
Real and present danger
IT might be necessary to urgently introduce some rules, including timed allocated age groups, for the new pump track at Endeavour Park.
Conflict between fast moving older kids and their BMX stunts and the younger kids on bikes and scooters has the obvious potential for serious danger.
It's great asset but rules are urgently needed, with occasional policing by Council rangers.
Departed
HAS anyone done a head count of how many local businesses didn't survive the lockdown? Seems to be noticeably more empty shops than there were when lockdown began.
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