Seemingly some of our fellow countrymen and women demanding the immediate abandonment of Australian coal mining are unaware of the fact that we live in a world where regularity of energy resourcing is absolutely essential. Australia is blessed with a reliable energy source sufficient to service our needs for hundreds of years; high-quality coal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mining is responsible for about 60per cent of Australia’s export earnings and about 75per cent of Australia’s electricity generation. Hopefully sometime soon R&D into renewable energy will deliver genuine alternatives to coal as an energy source.
But to demand coal mining be abandoned now ignores the fact that base load electricity supply from solar, wind or tidal sources is currently nothing more than a pipe dream. Closing down Australian coal mines based purely upon an argument that by doing so will save our planet’s environment is also specious and would result in a societal and economic disaster.
On a par perhaps with the consequences should OPEC and all other oil producing nations decide to save our planet by capping their oil wells. Then again with Australia having the world’s largest uranium reserves could going nuclear be an option?
Barry Swan, Balgownie
There is great excitement that fans of the Eagles and Dockers are getting a fantastic, state-of-the-art Perth stadium to watch their games. Even better they know that the WA government is looking after their safety by incorporating hundreds of tonnes of high quality BlueScope steel in the structure! Conversely, I am really struggling with the concept that within 100kilometres of the Port Kembla steelworks the NSW government is busily importing every last kilogram of steel for multiple infrastructure projects. Whose side are they on?
Alastair Waters, Fremantle, WA
In view of the threat to Wollongong jobs and the likely impact on the community I would think that the mayor’s time would be better spent staying in Wollongong supporting Arthur Rorris in his unremitting battle to save what is left of BSL and Wollongong’s future.
If the council has all this spare money let them put it in a fund to support all the unemployed workers.
Lesley Snow, Wollongong
The obvious answer to Gareth Ward’s lament of lost business opportunities is for the proponents of the indoor ski resort and the Kembla Grange shopping outlets to get together.
The configuration of the ski park plan lends itself admirably with some minor adjustment to appear as a giant green and gold bell frog when situated on the Kembla Grange flood plain. This will make it acceptable to environmentalists with the shopping outlets being incorporated within the hotel entertainment precinct.
Construction of an adjacent multipurpose sports stadium and Olympic-standard kayak course in Mullet Creek will enhance the project. Mum and dad can attend the horse races while the kids ski. Hotel guests have rail transport virtually at the door and regular shuttle services to Wollongong, Shellharbour and our beautiful beaches will be a tourism boon. Maybe we could even convince our university to finance an entertainment centre incorporating the conservatorium of music with a first for Wollongong – ample free parking for everyone. Bring it on!
Eric Davies, Keiraville
