Island bright sparks beat electricity price boost

It was predicted and it has happen: the cost of electricity is going through the roof. The price freeze bought in by the Queensland LNP government has been crushed by a massive increase this year.
The draft determination of the Queensland Competition Authority relased this week forecasts

•  21.4% price increase for the common household tariff (Tariff 11) and 
• 15.7% for small business customers (Tariff 20) across Queensland.

From the reaction of the Queensland Government lead on this matter, Tim Nicolls, you would have though that this was something new and unpredictiable.  The fact is that we have known that the prices would rise for many years. The Australian The Australian Energy Market Commission predicted all of this in its 2010 paper on future price rises so everyone, the Governments, the wholesalers, the retailers and the consumers knew it would happen. The LNP had no hope of shifting the deck chairs around in order to prevent the rise, its freeze promised in the election last year has melted in the face of reality. This reversed the policies of the previous government which was one of alerting us to the trend and gently pushing us, with free usage checks and encouraging solar installation, towards a sustainable use of power.

Here is the Commission's predicted breakup in order of magnitude:

• Distribution services - 41% contribution
• Wholesale electricity -19% contribution
• Retail electricity -14% contribution
• Renewable Energy Target (LRET/SRES) - 11% contribution
• Transmission services - 8% contribution
• Feed-in tariffs - 3% contribution
• Other jurisdictional schemes - 3% contribution

So its the grid and the cost of conventional (read coal-fired powerplants) that are 60% of the increase. The grid is old and needs replacement.  Carbon tax and feed-in tariffs are a small percentage in comparison. 

Although demonized by the entrenched suppliers, renewable energy which includes rooftop solar contributes only 4.5% to additional electricity costs. 

Here on the islands, many did take notice and grabbed the generous subsidies being offered by both the State and Commonwealth to install solar panels on their roofs while they were on offer.  That is why, today, we have the highest density of solar panels in the State and will be somewhat cushioned from the increase later this year.

And the good news is that the cost of putting more solar on your roof is continuing to come down.  The Macquarie Group, one of the most hard headed investors in Australia has pointed out that, based on world trends, rooftop solar is now "unstoppable"  Looking at the German market, the Macquarie experts say:

"ever-increasing prices for domestic and commercial customers as well as rapid solar cost declines have brought on the advent of grid parity for German roofs. Thus, solar installations could continue at a torrid pace”

For once, the islands, thanks to the efforts of people like +Rod Young in organising the big group buys of solar panels a few years back, is well ahead of the curve and laughing all the way to the bank with their canny investment in panels ticking up the kilowatts on our roofs.  What is more we have a bunch of tradies skilled up in the installation and servicing of panels.
Now, if we could only figure a way of getting to all that power when the grid goes off the air like it did a month ago.

Stradbroke poll results faked?

Accurate reporting in the 1980s by the Courier Mail, gave
an accurate portrayal of where the bridge was supposed
to go.  This was later abandoned when the two private
firms who proposed the bridging found that the offering of
land on Stradbroke would not be profitable.

Just after Christmas is known as the silly season in Australian journalism.  A time when the cream of the journalists take leave because there is little real news.  Everyone is on holidays and the second stringers are left to make something out of what scraps of news are available.
At that time beat ups are common and all kinds of diversions--such as hitting the streets to interview anyone and everyone on burning questions are the stuff of the news.  Of late, dubious online polls have become part of the mix.
So it was no surprise that when Queensland Education Minister, John-Paul Langbroek suggested in an unguarded moment,  a bridge to Stradbroke might have to be reconsidered in the future, the Courier Mail went to town.
Strong denials came from local member Peter Dowling, the responsible Queensland Transport Minister, Scott Emerson, and the Mayor of Redlands, Karen Williams that such a course was not on the cards but the bridge fanatics ran away with it.

January poll by Courier Mail

The Courier Mail's online poll initially found a balance of for and against but suddenly, a few days after the start of the poll, the number of people wanting the bridge exceeded 17000 while the no vote remain virtually unchanged.
I was attacked at the time on the BayJournal for daring to suggest that the results may have been corrupt.  One said:

your post smacks of bias and paranoia. When are you going to admit the majority obviously supports a bridge and the ongoing infrastructure it will facilitate. You have used polls before to justify your argument, but only if they promote your opinion. I say you are only seeing what you want to see.

Well now we have proof that polls run by News Limited have been adulterated.
Tonight on MediaWatch, the ABC's well respected media watchdog, showed that News Limited has not only been hacked and many polls have been falsified but that it has not done anything about them when the issue was pointed out.  See the full segment with supporting evidence here. 
Just because polls are published by a major media organisation, doesn't make them true.

Storms: a "Titanic" moment?

A false sense of security

The usual monthly Russell Island Association meeting on Saturday was not a happy one.
We were all smarting from the storms and particularly from the loss of power for four days but most of all from not knowing what was going on.

It was not supposed to be like this: the power outages of the past were supposed to have been fixed by the building of a substation on the island. 

Many people on Russell had a Titanic experience.

It wasn't just the smelly mounds of frozen meat and other food being taken to the dump or the trees being ripped up: it was not knowing what was going on.

Unlike the mainland where the radio stations were keeping householders reasonably informed about local problems, we had nothing or worse, misinformation about when and what services would come on line:

• Russell Island's only retail food store, closed suddenly when the blackout came in an effort to save the cold stock.  No generator backup and no explanations.
• Without power and no hand pumps, the only service station was closed too. Thus there was a wild rush to the mainland to pick up more fuel for generators.
• We soon ran through what ice was available from the local liquor store
• The Bowls Club remained open because it had by some miracle power on.  Those who knew were able to find refuge there and contributed to a giant cook out to keep people fed.  But many were in the dark and assumed that it, like most of the rest of the islands was shut down.  
• RSL Club, that was shut tight and was not online until a day after power was restored. Up until the power cut, it had been a rallying point with the big screen television giving news of what was happening in the wider world.
• It was next to impossible to find out when and where ferries might arrive so people could not plan shopping trips to the mainland--even if they could get there through the downed trees and powerlines.

On Macleay, it was nowhere near as bad because at least one of the foodstores had a generator and the Council was able to keep it running with a delivery of fuel. 

But the biggest problem was just not knowing. No disaster recovery centre had been set up for the island. No emergency routines had been put in place despite appeals for many years for some clear plans to be put in place. 

It would be easy to blame the victims here: every household should have had enough to see them through but we are not talking about a normal population here.  The population has doubled on Russell in the last ten years and seen an influx of urban dwellers rather than people used to the rigours of isolation that the older residents were prepared for. If you hadn't noticed it is almost impossible now to buy a phone that will work without being plugged in.  Smartphones died as batteries petered out. Even if you did get through to the electricity people you were given wildly optimistic times for power restorations.

And there are aspects that are only just coming to light: many of the newly installed and mandatory household sewerage plants require power to operate--how much damage has been done to them and consequently to the environment is not known. 

This was systemic failure.  We didn't hit an iceberg but we were victims of the same kind of thinking both from authorise and at a personal level.  When the Titanic went down, enquiries found the deficiencies and safety at sea was vastly improved.  Will we learn the same kind of lesson from this minor disaster or will it all be forgotten until the next time?

The only retail establishment open on Russell after the storm was the local bottleshop.

Council and State send teams to the islands

Mobile outreach squads have been sent to the islands to help people get assistance. Yesterday hundreds heard through the grapevine that help was arriving and besieged the teams.
Their first priority was food but the teams came only with forms to  fillout.
Island organisations are asking why the disaster recovery plans promised over two years ago following the floods did not seem to be in place.
This is the official press release:

Mobile Outreach Teams from the Queensland Government Department of Communities will be operating again today on Macleay and Russell Islands. There will also... be representatives at the centres from Lifeline, Red Cross and Redland City Council.

Russell Island
Time: 10am-6pm
Location: Bay Islands Community Centre, 55 Jackson Road.

Macleay Island
Time: 10am- 5.30pm
Location: Macleay Island Community Centre, Cnr Southsea Terrace & High Central Road.

All Redland residents experiencing hardship can contact the Department of Communities on 1800 173 349 or visit the Queensland Government website. http://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/financial-assistance/

Please note assistance is provided under an application and assessment basis only managed by the Queensland Government

Peace returns

Dawn breaks on a new week. The Australia Day weekend storms that wrought destruction on South East Queensland are replaced by what promises to be a magnificent dawn. Yes,  on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, there is much to be done but the electricity is being restored, the boats are being rescued from the mangroves, the barges and passenger ferries are back in operation and the local fire brigades and SES have done a cracker job in clearing the debris from the roads. We did escape the worst.

Cruiser up on Redland Bay shoreline

Someone improvised with found containers to clear some of the way.

Sad. An adolescent Morten Bay Fig up rooted.

Pathway now rocky presents a big job for Council worker

Another

And another

And another

And another

And another

And another

And even more

Of course it isn't all sweetness and light, travelling in from Russell Island to Victoria  Point following the shoreline revealed much destructive force from the ex-tropical cyclone. " Not as bad as '74" I was assured by an old resident on the ferry.
Still, I counted nine yachts and cruisers beached on the islands and along the mainland. The normally fast shaded cycle and walking route up to the Redland Bay Golf Club was a miserable lumpiness of broken trees, seaweed, plastic bottles and  large stones flung up by the storm surge and hard onshore wind. The pleasant little playground and fitness area was a mess with its shade cloths shredded and trees uprooted.

Emergency services and Council are working well

A few minutes ago, my house and half of the population on Russell Island, lost power.
This post is being tapped outto you from my my smart phone in the roaring wind of a black night knowing that it could get worse before it gets better.
But what is a great solice is that Redland Council and the State's Emergency Management seen to really have it together this time around, giving a blow by blow description of what is happening out in that nervous darkness as the worst of the storm approaches.
Check it out for yourself here

Southern Moreton Bay people, take up the brace position!

The spinoff of Cyclone Oswald is coming in fast over the next 24 hours for the people of the Bay.  What has been visited on Bundaberg and Gympie is about to hit us.
For the latest information bulletins the best place to go seems to be the Council's website.   Here is a sample of the emergency alerts on the site.  It seems that Emergency Management Queensland has learnt the value of the internet during the Brisbane Floods of 2011:

Severe weather update: 8.40pm Sunday 27 January 2013  

The Victoria Point Pontoon has been returned to its original position and secured. A Council crew will check on the pontoon again when it is daylight.

Council is aware of fallen trees in a number of locations across the Redlands. In many cases, Council crew have marked the trees and will remove them when it is safe to do so. We ask residents not to try and remove any fallen trees themselves. Please stay indoors in these dangerous weather conditions.

Sands bags are available at the Redland City Council depot at South Street, Cleveland. They are no longer available from the Redlands SES headquarters.

Severe weather update: 6.40pm Sunday 27 January 2013

Power outages, blocked railway line, sandbags in Redlands

Damaging winds and rainfall are expected to intensify this evening in the Redlands.

More than 2600 Redland households are experiencing power outages including more than 2400 on the Southern Moreton Bay islands of Macleay, Russell and Karragarra.

Energex advised a total of 2626 households in the Redlands were without power as at 5.45pm. Areas included the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, Mount Cotton, Sheldon, Thorneside and Thornlands.

If you are not in one of these areas and are experiencing power loss, contact Energex on 13 62 62. Check the Energex website to see if your area is already reported.

 I would be amiss if I didn't mention the usual advice from Emergency Management Queensland:

• Move your car under cover or away from trees. 
• Secure loose outdoor items. 
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees. 
• Beware of fallen trees and powerlines. 
• Avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters. 
• Keep clear of creeks and storm drains. 
• Surf Life Saving Australia recommends that you stay out of the water and stay well away from surf-exposed areas. 
• Check your property regularly for erosion or inundation by sea water, and if necessary raise goods and electrical items. 
• For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500. 

Storm force on Moreton Bay

BITS ferry A.L.Robb storms through through the white out on Sunday

Yacht washed up on Karragarra shoreline

I don't want to sound panicky but it ain't a good day out on the water: visibility is poor, the water very choppy and the wind is blowing the rain horizontal.  The Bureau of Meteorology updated its warnings for Moreton Bay at 3:25 pm:

Storm Force Wind Warning

Double Island Point to Point Danger, including Moreton Bay

E to NE winds 40 to 45 knots, reaching 45 to 50 knots during Sunday. Scattered squalls to 75 knots.

Seas 4 to 5 metres, reaching 6.5 metres south of Noosa. E to NE swells 4 metres, increasing to 5 metres on Monday. Waves and swell breaking dangerously inshore.

At least three boats have been torn from their moorings around the islands.  The ferries and the barges are still running--but for how much longer? Only one of the BITS ferries is still going but if conditions continues will probably stop before dark closes in.

Branch across road on Karragarra Island

On land it ain't all that good either.  Branches are down during the afternoon power was lost on Macleay and Russell. The SupaIGA supermarket on Russell is closed to preserve the frozen food.
The Redland City Council has just issued this update:

Evacuation of campers at Flinders Beach and Main Beach, North Stradbroke Island, is under way due to strong winds and high rainfall and the island’s ferry services have been cancelled.

Karen Williams

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Redland City Council had established an evacuation centre at Pt Lookout Community Hall.

“Council is assisting Straddie Camping with the evacuations of 62 campers – 50 from Flinders Beach and 12 from Main Beach,” Cr Williams said. 

“Many will stay at council’s evacuation centre at Pt Lookout community Hall, while others are seeking accommodation through real estate agents.

“Red Cross personnel are also making their way to the evacuation centre to offer assistance.

“We were concerned about falling trees and the effects of high rainfalls in the Flinders Beach and Main Beach camping areas.

“Council has been advised all barges and ferries to and from North Stradbroke Island have currently been cancelled for the remainder of the day.

“Similarly, Council has been advised that the last vehicle ferry service at 4.45pm from Redland Bay to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands of Karragarra, Macleay, Russell and Lamb islands would be cancelled, as would the barge’s 6pm return trip from Russell Island to Redland Bay.”

Local Disaster Management Group activated

Cr Williams said the Redland Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) had this morning been activated and was coordinating responses across the city.

“Residents should be prepared for severe weather conditions, including wind speeds up to 125km/hour and 200mm-300mm of rain in a few hours,” she said.

“The advice is that the system is moving faster than it has been previously – this means the period of rainfall we experience in the Redlands may be less, but it will be a time of intense rainfall, potentially up to 200mm to 300mm.

“There has been a lot of damage in the north from mini tornado conditions and I want all Redland residents to be prepared and stay safe. 

“People need to stay away from the water’s edge, from drains and fallen powerlines. Please do not sight-see at the water’s edge.”

Council’s Operations Centre is open and can be contacted on 3829 8752 for emergencies relating to the flooding of roads and fallen tree limbs.

Fennell to take legal action against Courier Mail over allegations

Steven Fennell of Macleay Island who has been helping Police in their investigation of the sudden death of Lisalotte Watson has sent me the following press release from Phoenix House on Wednesday:

“The Australian Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) funded the Community Development Group Limited (which sponsored the organisation Phoenix House Australia) under the Volunteer Grants program 2009

FaHCSIA is not investigating the use of this grant funding.

Evidence of expenditure of the grant funding was provided by the organisation and FaHCSIA is satisfied that funds were used in accordance with grant guidelines”.

This recent communication from FaHCSIA confirms earlier advice from FaHCSIA that Steven Fennell is not; and was not under investigation for fraud at the time of the allegation made by the Brisbane Courier Mail. 

Phoenix House wishes to advise those sponsors and supporters that have been contacted by the the QPS (Queensland Police Service) that Phoenix House seeks to take legal advice regarding the allegation that some police officers that have strongly suggested (without investigation or interview with Phoenix House) that Phoenix House is other than a bona-fide and registered Self Help Organisation. 

Phoenix House also intents to support Mr Fennell in his complaint to the CMC regarding actions that Mr Fennell says have caused his business to suffer considerable losses and his voluntary position at Phoenix House to be attacked without merit."

See Courier Mail and Bayside Bulletin stories.  The FaHCSIA website is here and the Phoenix House Macleay Island website is here

Islanders reject levy for Translink deal

The Southern Moreton Bay Islands is once more in uproar about a transport issue.  This time it is not so much about the proposed extension of Translink to cover the passenger ferry services to the islands but how the Council intends to pay for it--a yearly levy of $88 on every island block. The SMBI Forum was already campaigning for better transport and now has more reason to carry its message from the islanders to the Council in a deputation to the Council on Friday.  This is the uncut press release from the SMBI Forum--editor.

Councillor Mark Edwards: "This could be the thin end of the wedge

A packed meeting of the SMBI Forum on Tuesday  night strongly rejected Redland City Council's proposed $88 levy on ratepayers to pay for the extension of Translink to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands of Karragarra, Macleay, Lamb and Russell.

Trevor Hulbert, Chair of the SMBI Forum speaking at the meeting on Russell Island, said: “While we welcome the idea of the extension of Translink to the islands, we deplore the cynical cost-shifting exercise by the State and Council to pay for this much needed service.”

The SMBI Forum meeting was attended by delegates from 14 island-based organisations and over 50 Friends of the Forum and islanders deeply concerned about the proposal.

Member associations had canvassed their members and delegates reported on their concerns at the meeting.

Len Hurkmans, of Karragarra Island Ratepayers and Residents Association reported that some members thought it “criminal” to levy only island ratepayers, “especially when people who own land on the islands already pay exorbitant rates for services they don't use”. Overall, he said, members “do not support this proposal and prefer to continue as is with the current user-pays system”.

Dave Tardent of SMBI Museum echoed this sentiment: “It is difficult to work out whether as proposed it would actually benefit islanders to be in Translink.”

Michael Skopal of Bay Islands Conservation said many islanders do not use ferries and $88 is significant to them. Some feared that it could be a cynical move and that ferry costs would be raised again shortly after Translink was introduced. He concluded, “Few will benefit.”

Brian McComb of Macleay Island Lions said: “The consensus of members was that this was an unfair system that was proposed. The cost should be spread across all ratepayers not just islands.”

Col McInnes of Karragarra Yacht Club echoed the sentiment, saying that for his membership two points stood out. One was the unfairness of having to pay on vacant blocks of land, and secondly that the cost of current and future Translink extensions should be shared across the Redlands, not just the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

Tony Cotroneo of Bay Islands Community Services stated: “We started getting calls as soon as this was announced before Christmas. One person was concerned that they would not be able to transport their pets on the ferries any more.”

Stewart Sommerlad of Bay Islands Men's Shed said: “A fair proportion of our members are pensioners who do not travel frequently and would not get any benefit from the one free trip in 10. Many are renters and in spite of the fact that they wouldn't be impacted they felt there was a gross inequity. There wasn't any support for the proposed arrangement. “

Gail Garner of Macleay Island Arts Complex echoed his concern stating “The consensus was they didn't like the levy and thought it was unfair because pensioners were the hardest hit. “ She also noted that some people saw some benefit, including that islanders' families might be able to visit more often and children could travel to the swimming pool on Russell for free.

Susan Denne of Blue Care Community Care also raised concerns about the levy, saying: “Most of our clients are frail aged people and are not frequent users of the ferries. The $88 levy is a burden to them and they felt it is unfair and discriminatory that islanders should be asked to pay for it and not mainlanders.”

Gail Parsons of Karragarra Island Progress Association said members of the group quite liked the idea of Translink for no other reason that it was much easier to use your Go card than to find the money or a ticket, but the levy was considered unfair and discriminatory. She noted that people remembered in the past Redland Shire Council had tried to levy all the islanders $140 every rate notice for 25 years but that proposal failed due to approaches to the Ombudsman.

Dianne Little of the Russell Island Mosaic Group reported that the people she had spoken to agreed that to levy just the islanders is unfair, pointing out that “islanders probably use public transport proportionately less than mainlanders in the Redlands and for us to pay for it all is blatantly unfair”.

Father Jim Brown of the RC Holy Spirit Church said in a written submission that Redland City does not presently contribute to Translink system and therefore SMBI ratepayers would be subsidising mainland Translink users. All Redland City residents have access to Translink and all should contribute, not just SMBI residents. “If the levy was imposed on all rateable properties in the Redland area, all properties would only need to contribute $17 per year”. “SMBI being placed in Zone 13 is discriminatory against the residents as well” he stated.

Sam De la Warr, President of the Moreton Bay Combined Islands Association, indicated that over 60% of ratepayers were owners of vacant land and not ferry users.

Concerns were raised by people in the audience about whether in future dogs and fuel would be allowed on the ferries if they become part of Translink.

Mike Verry of Russell Island pointed out that the levy may be illegal under the Local Government Act.

A commuter speaking from the audience pointed out that the service may not deliver benefits even to those travelling to work. For example, she said, “Many commuters to the city will not get the benefit of any saving as they break their journey on the mainland and travel by car partway because it takes too long to go direct from Redland Bay.”

Another member of the audience pointed out that is cheaper to go by public transport from Bribie Island to the City than it will be under Translink to do the shorter distance from the SMBI.

Another audience member stated that most pensioners would not make enough trips in a year to offset the $88 levy.

During the meeting, Member of the Forum Secretariat, Nancy Olsson read out the results of a survey of a cross-section of Forum membership and the public. It found that 97% of respondents rejected the $88 levy as an inequitable way of funding the new Translink services. Half thought that the proposal would make things worse for the islands rather than better, especially due to the unfair burden it imposed on those who will benefit the least.

Councillor for Division 5 Mark Edwards said he believed that this could be “the thin edge of the wedge” for future levies for any new initiative by the Council.

Taking a keen interest in the meeting was Darryl Briskey, ALP candidate for the Federal seat of Bowman. He stated in a press release Wednesday: “A levy of this sort is just a tax on the elderly who don’t use the ferry services very often. It is just a tax on all land owners and some owners, both residents and absentee land owners may be forced to pay it three times or more. And it is a tax which all other residents of Redland City don’t have to pay so it should be withdrawn.”

Both Peter Dowling, MP for Redlands and Mayor Karen Williams had said in December that the Translink deal would bring many benefits to the islands. Forum members do not agree. On Friday, a deputation from the SMBI Forum and a quick reaction group formed by three island progress associations is meeting with the Mayor and Council officers to discuss the proposed levy and how this Council sees a sustainable transport infrastructure being developed for the islands.

Police reveal more evidence in Macleay Island investigation

Claw hammer found in search

Queensland Police have made a further appeal for help in sudden death case on Macleay Island.
As part of the ongoing investigation into the death of 85-year-old Macleay Island resident, Lisalotte Watson, detectives are seeking further assistance from members of the public.
During the course of the investigation a search was conducted of the Thompson Point area. This search unveiled a number of items owned by Mrs Watson.
A claw hammer (pictured) was located in the vicinity of these items owned.
Police are seeking assistance from anyone who may either own the hammer or have information regarding how it came to be located in this area.
Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.