Newsletter #4
Dear Members and Supporters,
The federal election is upon us on 3 May 2025. Early voting has opened. How will the result affect us in the beautiful Dungowan Valley?
In all my years I have not experienced an election more crucial for Australia's future than this one in 2025. But also, I have not experienced a time when politicians have shown such complete disregard for the people they are meant to represent and country they are supposed to cherish. We have more methods and means of communication than ever in our history, ironically conveying less and less facts and truth. How do we decide who to vote for?
The Dungowan Creek Alliance came together to stop an ill-conceived pumped hydro plant which, along with equally destructive associated high voltage transmission lines, would desecrate pristine Ogunbil and beyond.
Pumped hydro in Australia is a perceived solution designed to help regulate the intermittent and unreliable nature of energy sources based on wind and solar. It is also important infrastructure to allow a proponent to connect and take advantage of our energy grid to buy power at low price to pump water up a hill, then generate and sell power back into the grid when the price is high. In the case of Dungowan Pumped Hydro, the French govt owned EDF wants to make large profits off our fluctuating energy prices and appalling intermittent power system.
If the Labor government Greens & Teals didn't want to run the whole country on uncontrollable, unreliable energy there would be no need for this plant. Along with unreliability comes escalating electricity prices. Every place that has gone ahead of us in implementing a majority wind and solar energy model, e.g., Denmark, California, Germany, has the highest electricity prices in their region.
Might we be better off with a government whose policies result in no need to build pumped hydro at all?
cheaper, reliable energy sources
which operate on a relatively small footprint
using our existing transmission lines
IN THE NEWS
“French energy giant ordered to switch off wind turbines that kill endangered birds”
Our new ‘neighbours’ EDF aren't as environmentally friendly as they'd like us to believe: EDF were found guilty of ‘destruction of 160 individual bats and birds, in particular lesser kestrels’ at farm in southern France. EDF wind turbines on a farm in southern France have been ordered to shut down after a court ruled they were to blame for killing scores of protected birds and bats...
It is now well documented that wind turbines kill an extraordinary number of birds and bats. In Australia it is estimated wind turbines annually cause the death of 2,000 to 8,000 birds across the country. Certain species, like eagles and raptors are particularly vulnerable due to their flight patterns and habitat preferences.
“EnergyCo to go back to the drawing board”
Our friends at Valley Alliance have been pleased that EnergyCo have finally realised the locals are right, their planned HVTL route alongside Chaffey Dam WILL IMPACT THE SAFETY of multiple communities in our region who rely on it for firefighting water-bombing operations. One very small victory which will in no way alleviate the harm the HTVLs will do running through farms and community on their way to supply intermittent, unreliable and expensive power to the city!
Stay vigilant guys, we are with you.
Once again, this route would not be needed if we completely revised the whole unworkable reckless 'renewables' strategy and instead pursued reliable energy sources which operate on a relatively small footprint, while using our existing transmission lines.
Remember this is a PRIVATE project. EDF cannot compulsorily acquire your land. You can say NO to transmission lines.
NO POWER LINES = NO PUMPED HYDRO