NUCLEAR QUESTIONS
Dear editor,
After reading two letters to the editor on nuclear. I needed to write this letter to educate some people on this subject.
To start with, a nuclear station takes 10 years to build at an enormous price. So what would the price be in 10 years’ time? I can’t see them before 10 years’ time when you take into consideration objections, unions etc.
Also, a nuclear station takes a lot of water to cool it down and store fuel.
When you look at Canada, which has a number of nuclear stations, their last nuclear power station built back in 1993 ballooned out to a cost of $1.4 billion. No one in the world is building nuclear storage pools anymore – too expensive.
So my question is, Mr Dutton wants to build seven of these nuclear power stations at what cost and who will be paying for them in the future?
To me,10 years’ time is too late. We need to do something now. We have already wasted ten years doing nothing.
I have solar panels and an electric EV. I don’t pay for power, and I don’t pay for petrol.
And I do look at my power bill.
Mr Dutton has said he’s going to abolish all other energy resources and only use nuclear energy. My concern is what do all of us who have solar panels do if he brings nuclear power in? A waste of consumers’ money!
When you look at Australia as a whole the only states that don’t have 100% renewable energy are the eastern states. South Australia and Tasmania have 100% renewable energy, and W.A will have it by the end of the year.
Come on, we’re nearly there. Don’t we want our grandchildren and our children to breathe clean air, and have an earth to live on?
Sun and wind are free, this to me makes common sense.
J Markwell,
Coolum.
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REPAIRING APPLIANCES
Dear editor,
While all our home appliances are going well, we’re going well. However, when they break down, often just out of the brief warranty period, we struggle to find a repairer at reasonable cost and call out fee. Then we find there are no spare parts for our ‘obsolete’ model.
Many appliances are designed in a way that makes repairs impossible – the manufacturers call it ‘planned obsolescence’ to increase their sales of new products.
With cars, we would find it unacceptable and a whole industry has been built up around the servicing of vehicles at workshops and complemented by wrecking yards and the spare parts industry.
With home appliances, it is almost virgin territory and invariably we are pointed towards buying a new appliance by retailers.
In the days of rising living costs and waste dumps piling up this is no longer acceptable.
While repair cafes manned by small groups of volunteers can handle a minuscule volume of work, the problem has blown out like our family budget.
Under Australia’s consumer laws, we technically have a right to a repair, a refund or a replacement for defective goods. However, manufacturers are not required to provide spare parts or repair services.
In contrast, the UK and EU have passed laws to ensure manufacturers must support their products for more than one or two years. They must make spare parts available to consumers and third-party companies. Effectively, the life cycles of appliances are extended by up to ten years.
In those countries, labels on appliances and packaging at the point of sale reflect the ability to have an appliance repaired, and the spare parts with service support available.
This was brought home to me when my washing machine broke down. I discovered it was designed in the UK and built in Turkey, making the supply of spare parts problematic.
However, it was my lucky day when I found a local young repairman making a go of his business with reasonable call-out charges and a nose for sniffing out rare spare parts. Thankfully, my appliance blues were soon washed away.
Unfortunately, the exception will prove the rule until Australia’s consumer laws are updated.
If not, we could see Australia becoming a dumping ground for an endless stream of poorly designed, low-quality, cheap imports without regulatory consumer support for repairs.
Garry Reynolds,
Peregian Springs.
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FINES
Dear editor,
Royal Commissions exposed rorts, rackets and rotten doings in Banking, Aged Care, Robodebt at a huge cost to taxpayers in more ways than money. Was anyone responsible/jailed for all these crimes against people? Just asking.
Margaret Wilkie,
Peregian Beach.
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NUCLEAR COSTINGS
Dear editor,
Your correspondent Mr Bennion believes that we could build seven nuclear power stations for $70 billion (Yes to nuclear, Advertiser July 17-30). That would be truly impressive, as it is less than the one being built in the UK will end up costing.
Even if it were legal to build nuclear power stations in Australia, I don’t know anyone with any relevant experience who thinks we could build seven by 2037. Even if they could be built, they would only replace about a quarter of the coal-fired power that will be retired by then. They would produce high-level waste, which would cost a small fortune to store; the SA Royal Commission in 2016 estimated it would cost more than $40 billion to build a secure long-term storage facility.
Nuclear power is just too expensive, too slow, too hazardous and makes too little difference. The LNP proposal is a cynical smokescreen for their intention to keep burning coal. The only cost-effective strategy for our power needs is renewables with storage.
Ian Lowe,
Marcoola.
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DOG DOS & DONTS
Dear editor,
In the fading evening light of the June 21st winter solstice, I rose from the warmth of my lounge chair to check if my absentee neighbour’s bin was still on the street.
Once outside I was met not only with the chill of night air but also a distinct whiff of fresh dog dropping. It was then the gentle “flump” of a well-filled ‘dog poo bag’ coming to rest at the bottom of an empty bin carried to my ears from my neighbour’s direction.
Next, out of the gloom appeared a long-legged Terrier looking well pleased with itself. At the other end of its lead was an impeccably groomed and attired woman of a style shouting “entitled.”
When I asked (possibly, in a tone of disbelief) had she dropped her dog’s poo bag into my neighbour’s bin she replied. “Yes, and what are you going to do about it?” I said I will report it, let this be my report!
Since that incident, I have asked several friends from across the coast if in today’s world was this behaviour acceptable. Their unanimous responses were – into a full bin about to be collected is okay. Into an empty bin is rude, unacceptable and certainly not neighbourly!
On the positive side, in recent times dog owners appear to be much more responsible in bagging their dogs’ droppings. As a member of a volunteer bush care group, it is noticeable that we encounter far less tossed ‘dog poo bags’ when weeding along beach access paths than we did in the past.
However, with the increased dog population, even owners doing the right thing cannot avoid adding to the sickening stench that permeates the air space surrounding public bins in popular dog walking areas.
Perhaps it is time for councils to seek initiatives/solutions such as dog wet areas with connection to the sewer system for what is an increasing issue of concern on multiple levels.
Ron Gooch,
Peregian Beach.
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BRUCE HIGHWAY REPAIRS
Dear editor,
On a recent trip to Townsville, I could not believe the poor state of repair our national highway is now in due to lack of maintenance by this Qld Labor Government over the last 11 years. Some of the sections of the highway are no better than regional highways in third-world countries.
Some parts of the Bruce Highway between the Sunshine Coast to Townsville have been well looked after, especially emanating or travelling through Labor electorates such as Maryborough, North Mackay and North Rockhampton. The rest is deplorable.
The lack of maintenance, the responsibility of the previous Transport Minister was good for the budget, but future governments will face a huge maintenance backlog.
Between Proserpine and Bowen the highway is not good and in 70 km there are only two passing lanes.
South of Proserpine is not much better with the first 30 km of no passing lanes. The road is deplorable.
I have first-hand experience of the road between Rockhampton to Marlborough, in particular the 100 km Yaamba to Marlborough, no maintenance has been undertaken in the last 13 years since I worked on that section of the highway.
The road is a black mark on those in power in our state in which money is wasted on other projects and very little being spent on basic infrastructure such as road maintenance.
At some time someone needs to get serious about this road and the past State Minister for Transport needs to be condemned for his obvious lack of care and pork barrelling in Labor held electorates on the highway.
Colin Caudell,
Coolum Beach.
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SALVOS HOMELESSNESS WEEK
Dear editor,
Next week (August 5 – 11) is National Homelessness Week. A week where the homelessness crisis that affects our country gets put into the spotlight, and where we get to advocate for those who are the most vulnerable in our community.
As the largest provider of homelessness services in Australia, The Salvation Army wants others to be aware of the key issues facing those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
We are seeing across the country that social housing waiting lists are growing, the demand for homeless services is skyrocketing and rental prices are increasing by 10% every year.
There are also increasing levels of mortgage stress and ‘tent cities’ popping up around the country while there is very cold winter weather.
The Salvation Army is trying to meet the needs of thousands of people experiencing homelessness each month, made more difficult due to a winter of unaffordable housing and a cost-of-living crisis.
We can’t do this alone. Our hope during Homelessness Week this year is to inform and educate the public about the issues surrounding homelessness and to advocate for the most vulnerable in our community as we lobby for more accommodation and support services.
As a major provider of accommodation and financial assistance in Australia, we put clients at the centre of our work. The Salvation Army’s desire is to treat everyone who reaches out to our services with dignity, compassion, and respect.
We are passionate about seeing transformation in people’s lives. It is our privilege to meet people where they are at, whether that is rough sleeping, couch surfing, emergency accommodation or in other circumstances, and we will continue to do all we can to support people in their journey.
Dr. Jed Donoghue,
National Homelessness General Manager
The Salvation Army
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