Qld Opposition's 27 year old Shadow Water spokesman ...

Andrew Cripps, at 27 years-old, Bachelor of Economic and Bachelor of Arts, enters Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Water.

See - Andrew Cripps - Member for Hinchinbrook.

Toowoomba Regional Council admits Toowoomba has bore water supplies ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

Emergency bores to ease dam demand

30 September 2008

Toowoomba Regional Council is drilling emergency bores to take the pressure off the city's rapidly diminishing dams.

The combined level of the three dams that supply the Darling Downs city have fallen below 10 per cent, which is a new record low.

Deputy Mayor Paul Antonio says the bores will be capable of meeting half the city's water needs.

"We've drilled two, there's another three to be drilled in the not too distant future, the two that have been drilled are being tested," he said

"They're fine, the water's fine, everything's okay, and they'll begin to supply water into the system into Cooby Dam in the not too distant future."

See - Toowoomba does have bore water supplies.

Orange NSW - a leader in stormwater harvesting ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

When it rains it stores for Orange

29 September 2008

The New South Wales regional city of Orange is about to become the first centre in Australia to harvest stormwater.

The city in the central west of the state will trap water from around the city, then treat and supply it to local households.

The council hopes that in an average year stormwater will supply 90 per cent of Orange's water.

Orange residents are on level five water restrictions and the main dam is at 38 per cent capacity.

The plan to harvest stormwater, treat it and supply to households, may make life a little easier for its 40,000 residents.

Those who have lived through the last seven years of drought have welcomed the move.

"I would be happy to drink it. It wouldn't worry me as long as it was cleaned properly. Not a problem," one person said. "I drink out of my rainwater tank and it is not filtered so."

A second resident believes tanks should be installed in as many places as possible.

"It would be the best thing we could ever do because of how much rain goes down the drain and it doesn't get used," they said.

"We could put tanks in the street or anywhere like that. The excess out of the tank will still end up in the creeks or rivers."

On average Orange uses 5,000 megalitres of water a year. Stormwater harvesting will create an extra 4,000 megalitres.

The council looked at a number of options to try to increase the town's water supply and found this the most sustainable and affordable - costing about $10 million to set up.

Gary Styles is the general manager of Orange City Council.

"There is about three or four main sub-catchments in Orange and if you just pick one of them, will go to where that runs down towards the water courses," he said.

"What we'll set up is some gross pollutant traps to try and pull out any litter and sediment-type pollutants.

"The idea is that you let the first intense flush go that tends to have the vast majority of contaminants and then you trap the cleaner water that is beyond that and we transfer it into some storages, allow some detention time and some testing and then we put it into our main dams."

Downstream implications

But not all residents are happy. Harvesting the stormwater will affect 71 landholders downstream.

That stormwater feeds into creeks which farmers and graziers use for irrigation and stock purposes.

Ian Pearce is an apple grower downstream of Orange.

"We are not philosophically opposed to stormwater harvesting - I think it is a great concept," he said.

"What we think might be able to happen and we would like to be able to negotiate with council about, is to use the stormwater harvesting and other measures to keep the levels of their main water supply dams at a much higher level.

"And then in the drier periods of the year, we would like to see a base flow regime provided back to the creek. Just in those dry periods when that environmental flow really is essential to the whole health of this little ecosystem."

The move by Orange City Council has attracted wide interest.

It is now in talks with other regional councils but has not been approached by councils from major capital cities.

See - Orange's stormwater harvesting initiative.

Anna Bligh to court Greens for next election ...

... but the Greens want to stop the Traveston Dam.

See - ABC News - Bligh to court the Greens ahead of election.

What will Anna do to try to shore up an election win ...

Toowoomba - millions of litres of water lost as vandals hit school ...

See - The Chronicle - Millions of litres lost as vandals hit school.

VP candidate Sarah Palin free of witchcraft ...

What a relief ...

Toowoomba's dam levels hit 10% ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Dam levels hit 10%

27 September 2008

Toowoomba dams have hit a new low with levels now at 10%.

The recently released figure which monitors the combined dam storage levels for Toowoomba Regional Council (Cooby, Perseverance and Lake Cressbrook) is the lowest on record.

Water Services portfolio spokesperson Cr Paul Antonio said it was now more important than ever for consumers to carefully monitor their water usage.

"A large proportion of residents are doing the right thing, that's indicated in our usage figures at 122 litres per person per day, but there are still those out there who are not toeing the line," he said.

"We have to keep reminding high water users and hope the penny drops for them."

See - Dam levels at 10%.

Cr Antonio is following in the footsteps of the Toowoomba City Council by referring only to dam levels and not referring to Toowoomba's use of bore water and the ability to draw on GAB supplies ...

Taking On the System: Rules for Radical Change in a Digital Era ...

If activists harness new technology such as blogs, podcasting and YouTube, they can bypass the old-world gatekeepers to communicate to the masses in order to bring about political change.

See - Amazon - Taking On the System: Rules for Radical Change in a Digital Era.

Is this person really ready for high office ...

It's rare that you see a candidate for such high office have no clue whatsoever about what's going on around her ...

QGC - new CSG pipeline deal ...

Excerpt from WIN News:

Queensland Gas Deal

24 September 2008

Queensland Gas is proposing a new pipeline to run northeast through the Dalby region to Gladstone.

The three hundred and eighty kilometre natural gas pipeline would stretch from Queensland's gasfields to Gladstone's Curtis Island.

And would initially supply three to four million tonnes of liquified natural gas each year to export markets in Asia and India.

If all going to plan, the first shipment of LNG is scheduled to be out by late two thousand and thirteen.

Queensland Gas is currently consulting with local landholders in the pipeline's path.

See - Queensland Gas Deal.

K Rudd doesn't get to meet Sarah Palin ...

But Elle MacPherson did.

Was K Rudd avoiding her ...

World's First Wave Power Plant Opens In Europe ...

A Babcock and Brown project.

Does Elisabeth Nosworthy even know it exists ...

Excerpt from DailyTech.com:

World's First Wave Power Plant Opens In Europe

24 September 2008

New "sea snake" wave plant will carry a price tag of around $13.1M USD and will generate 2.25 MW

With the rush of alternative energy interest, initial enthusiasm has been directed largely towards wind and solar power, while other more exotic forms were left unnoticed. All of that is starting to change though, with alternative alternative energy finally being looked at in depth. Google has taken the lead in exploring non-conventional energy sources, championing geothermal power and tidal power.

And now another piece of major good news for non-mainstream alternative energy. The world's first wave power plant opened this week, off the coast of Portugal. The new plant cost only $13.1M USD to deploy, but will offer a capacity of around 2.25 MW. This already beats current solar offerings, for example its over twice as efficient as the Oregon Road project which is creating 104 kW for $1.3M USD.

The most promising part about the new plant is that its potential is largely untapped. While solar has seen years of refinement, interest in wave power is just picking up. This should help it be a competitive alternative to nuclear power in the near future, allowing for a variety of options.

The heart of the new plant is Pelamis Wave Energy Converters (PWEC). Designed by Pelamis Wave Power Limited, a Scottish engineering firm, these converters sit three milles off the coast of Agucadoura in north Portugal and provide power 24-7. Each converter has a modest output of 750 kW, and together three compose the 2.25 MW plant.

A second phase of the plant, contingent upon its success, is planned, which will expand the plant with 25 additional reactors, bringing the capacity to 21 MW. This would be enough energy to power 15,000 homes. The project is a joint venture between a Babcock and Brown Ltd., a global specialist asset manager, Energias de Portugal (EDP), Portuguese energy group EFACEC, and Pelamis Wave Power Limited.

The new generators were named after the sea snake Pelamis. They measure 3.5 m in diameter and are 140 m long. They float partiall submerged on the ocean's surface. Babcock and Brown's Anthony Kennaway explains the operation of the PWEC stating, "Effectively what you have is four long sections making up one machine. Between those sections are three small generating motors. The four sections are all joined by hydraulic rams. As the waves run through the machine it pushes the rams in and out. The action of the rams going to-and-fro pushes hydraulic fluid into a high pressure reservoir. That high pressure reservoir then releases the fluid at a steady rate through a generating motor."

Much of the project's costs are not in the generators themselves, but in the undersea cable, which links the generators' output to a substation on shore, which then converts it into usable electricity and puts it on Portugal's grid.

Like solar cells, wave power is reliant on the weather. However, it should be a steadier power source, producing power even at night. Over a year, its expected to average around 20-40 percent of its peak capacity. According to the plant owners, once the 25 additional generators are in place, a savings of 60,000 tons of CO2 yearly will be gained. British scientists say that wide adoption of wave power could save 1-2 billion tons of CO2 yearly.
...

See - World's First Wave Power Plant Opens In Europe.

New Jersey Governor urged to repeal Global Warming Response Act ...

See - Doherty: New Scientific Data justifies repealing Global Warming Response Act.

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers parade 2008 ...

MP Horan's retirement refusal leaves Copeland nowhere to go ...

See - Courier Mail - LNP's Stuart Copeland to quit.

Anna Bligh's election unlikely without Greens support ...

Excerpt from Courier Mail:

24 September 2008

Labor's vote has slumped in its bastions of Queensland and South Australia, further eroding the party's once-iron grip on power in the states.

The latest Newspoll, conducted exclusively for The Australian, reveals that Premier Anna Bligh has blown the strong position she inherited in Queensland 12 months ago and would struggle to be re-elected without support from the Greens.

See - Courier Mail - Voters turn back on Bligh.

Now we'll see how committed Anna Bligh is to the Traveston Dam ...

NSW - how your loo will work for industry ...

Excerpt from Fairfield City Champion:

How your loo will work for industry

17 September 2008

A scheme to reclaim 4.3 billion litres of effluent for industry in western Sydney may not be sexy, says new Premier Nathan Rees, but it's probably unique.

Contracts for the $100 million Rosehill-Camellia Recycled Water Scheme were signed with AquaNet Sydney and Veolia Water Australia last month when Mr Rees was the water minister.

The companies will build and operate a treatment plant at Fairfield to recycle sewage from plants at Fairfield and Liverpool.

A network of disused gas pipes will transport the effluent to the treatment plant and then on to companies including Basell Australia, James Hardie, Rosehill Gardens, Visy Paper and Marubeni Australia Power Services.

At the Visy Paper recycling plant at Smithfield to mark the signing of the contracts, Mr Rees said the project would take Sydney a step closer to recycling 70 billion litres of water a year by 2015.

"Provision of both potable water and recycled effluent into the same property is easy in greenfields sites where's it's just a matter of putting pipes in and connecting up to the sources," he said.

"But where there's already development, whether commercial residential or industrial, it's a very different story."

"If you want to retro-fit homes to get recycled water into each home, it's about $9000 per property."

"The cost is just exorbitant you can't afford it. This is the first time in the world, as far as we can determine, that we've been able to get recycled water systemically into an already established urban area."

"At 1.8 megalitres a day you're looking at about $10,000 a week on potable water expenditure that's $500,000 a year."

"It's fundamentally re-engineering the way we deliver water and water services."

See - Fairfield City Champion - How your loo will work for industry.

Latest movie release - Kevv-e - coming soon ...

See - News.com.au - Kevv-e - Kevin 747 becomes butt of travel jokes.

Liberal Party's Andrew Robb puts foot in mouth over Singapore ...

Excerpt from The Australian:

23 September 2008

Victorian Andrew Robb has been given the elevated portfolio of infrastructure, federal-state relations and emissions trading.
...

He said that after visiting Singapore, which relies heavily on recycled water, he was convinced it was a system that should be put to greater use in Australia.

"I think one of the reasons we will bring a more objective and effective view to a lot of these issues ... is because we are not part of the wall-to-wall Labor," he said. "I do think we come to the table with a lot less prejudice to certain approaches, and I think we have a far more open mind.

"If 30 per cent of Singapore relies on recycled water, something is wrong in Australia."

He said desalination - embraced by Labor governments in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia - was more expensive, and it was illogical to be moving in that direction exclusively.
...

See - Liberals look to fight on green agenda.

Andrew Robb is completely wrong when he says 30% of Singapore's water comes from recycled water.

Here's what the Singaporean government says:

PUB has introduced 3 mgd of NEWater (about 1% of total daily water consumption) into our raw water reservoirs. The amount will be increased progressively to about 2.5% of total daily water consumption by 2011.

Add to that the amount piped to industry and it equates to only 15% of current water use.

Singapore also has the largest desalination plant in South East Asia.

Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide are building desalination plants. Perth's initial plant is already online. The desal plant on the Gold Coast will soon be completed and Anna Bligh will probably be forced to build another near Brisbane.

Does Andrew Robb want to cease construction of these plants?

Newly crowned Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull would be well aware of what happens when you try to force people to drink recycled water.

If not, the Liberals need only look at their efforts in NSW at the last State election as a refresher.

There are a growing number of examples in the southern States where recycled water is being used for non-potable purposes, including purple pipe schemes to specific industrial areas.

There is no reason why these efforts cannot continue.

While it is impractical to attempt to retrofit existing housing subdivisions with dual 'purple pipe' systems, the use of recycled water for industrial uses can be greatly increased.

It's time to require industry to use recycled water and pay for the infrastructure costs. At a time when mining profits are booming, it's illogical to allow these companies to use potable water for mining applications.

It's also not too late to reduce our reliance on potable water for outdoor and toilet uses through the greater use of rainwater tanks.

Use some of these ideas and the Liberals are on a winner ...

Aussie PM K Rudd spends every Friday overseas ....

Figures show that until September 12, Mr Rudd had been in office for 294 days, of which 50 - or almost one in five - were abroad.

He has spent more time overseas than Foreign Minister Smith.

Perhaps K Rudd thinks he's the Foreign Minister ...

Excerpt from Sydney Morning Herald:

No place like home, Libs tell Rudd

20 September 2008

Kevin Rudd has spent more time overseas than his Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, and is about to add to his total when he leaves for New York on Monday.

Figures show that until September 12, Mr Rudd had been in office for 294 days, of which 50 - or almost one in five - were abroad.

In comparison Mr Smith, who will accompany Mr Rudd to New York, has spent 44 nights abroad.

The former prime minister, John Howard, spent 18 nights overseas in his first year of office.

Mr Rudd is coming under fire from the Opposition for choosing to miss Parliament next week to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly.
...

See - K Rudd - I've got Friday on my mind.

Toowoomba MP Macfarlane becomes Opposition Energy spokesman ...

See - Sydney Morning Herald - Turnbull unveils opposition frontbench.

Qld Treasurer Fraser already trying to charge taxpayers for his bottled water ...

Seems the young Treasurer is getting in before Anna pumps the recycled water into Wivenhoe Dam - tapping into a bottled water supply and trying to charge the taxpayers for it.

See - Courier Mail - Politicians try to hit taxpayers for personal expenses.

Recycled water for non-potable use - things Qld can't seem to achieve ...

... are easy for the southern States.

Excerpt from ABC News:

Work begins on water pipeline

11 September 2008

Construction has begun on the main pipeline to send water from the Glenelg sewage treatment plant to water Adelaide's parklands.

About 40 kilometres of pipeline is being laid for the $75 million project.

The pipe will eventually circle Adelaide and North Adelaide and will save the City Council from using drinking water to water the parklands.

Federal Water Minister Penny Wong says the state and federally funded project is expected to save more than five billion litres of fresh water a year.

"So what this will enable us to do is to have less of a call on our drinking water, use recycled water for watering of parklands and other irrigation," she said.

The project should be complete in about two years.

See - Adelaide achieves what Anna Bligh can't.

Recent 4350water blog search terms ...

A couple of the more interesting ones:

Country: United States
State: Washington
City: Seattle
Search Engine: google.com
Search Words: anna bligh sewage


ISP: California Department of Water Resources
Country: United States
State: California
City: Sacramento
Search Engine: google.com
Search Words: the media and recycled water

Toowoomba Regional Council CEO saga - CEO demands councillors sign statutory declarations ...

News reports indicate the Toowoomba Regional Council CEO summoned Councillors to a meeting and asked each Councillor to sign a statutory declaration confirming that they had not discussed the prospect of sacking him.

Why would they sign statutory declarations about the events of a Councillor meeting just because the CEO has demanded it?

Who really has the ultimate say in events affecting Toowoomba and the surrounding region? The Councillors elected by the region's residents or the CEO ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Chronicle article sparks inquiry

20 September 2008

Toowoomba Regional Council chief executive officer Philip Spencer yesterday launched an investigation after The Chronicle reported a split in the council ranks.

Sources within the council said Mr Spencer was angry about the story.

Mr Spencer summoned councillors to a meeting, initially asking them if his job was in jeopardy.

When told it wasn't, he asked councillors if they had discussed his sacking at a Greenmount workshop. Councillors told him the matter was not discussed and he then asked if they would sign statutory declarations to that effect.

Most councillors signed yesterday. The Chronicle could not confirm if all councillors had signed.

Mr Spencer and deputy mayor Paul Antonio have been at loggerheads over resignations in Cr Antonio's home service centre at Millmerran. Cr Antonio was formerly mayor at Millmerran.

There were claims councillors discussed Mr Spencer's dismissal after claims bureaucratic blocks were creating staff unrest, leading to resignations.

Eleven senior staffers have left since the new council came to power in April.

The latest are Millmerran service manager Greg Quinn and Peter McCashney, Millmerran's environmental health/building services manager.

Mr Spencer did not return The Chronicle's call yesterday.

In Millmerran, support for the former mayor was mounting.

Chamber of Commerce and Progress Association Millmerran president and Downs Chamber of Commerce president Geoff Hannaford said he had heard Cr Antonio was under siege for standing by his town.

Mr Hannaford, the former councillor and deputy mayor of the Inglewood Shire Council, said he knew local government and it shouldn't work like it was with the TRC.

"We're right at the butt end of the shire and we feel Paul is supporting us and we feel he's being kicked at the moment.

"So he has our support.

"There's a real feel of lost local knowledge and services."

Mayor Peter Taylor late yesterday issued a lengthy email to media and staff supporting Mr Spencer.

See - Chronicle article sparks inquiry.

Toowoomba Regional Council - 'beleaguered' CEO threatens lawsuits ...

Excerpt from WIN News:

TRC Split

19 September 2008

Toowoomba Regional Council CEO Phil Spencer is considering legal action over media reports councillors have discussed his sacking.

Mayor Peter Taylor denies any meeting took place to consider dumping council's most senior manager, today affirming support for his beleaguered chief executive.

See - Beleaguered CEO threatens lawsuits.

Toowoomba Regional Council - are councillors plotting to sack CEO ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Deputy, CEO split over city bias

19 September 2008

A rift has developed within Toowoomba Regional Council over the perceived concentration of power in Toowoomba.

Some councillors, particularly those elected from country centres, fear that the smaller regional centres are being robbed of staff who are being forced out.

Several staff have resigned in recent weeks, denuding council centres at areas such as Millmerran.

Deputy mayor Paul Antonio and council chief executive officer Philip Spencer are believed to be at loggerheads over the centralisation of services to the detriment of country areas.

Councillors are so concerned about bureaucratic control of council operations they held an in-camera session at Greenmount recently in which they canvassed, among other things, the sacking of the CEO if their wishes were not implemented.

See - Deputy, CEO split over city bias.

Update:

Excerpt from ABC News:

Deputy Mayor rejects council rift claims

19 September 2008

Toowoomba Regional Council's deputy Mayor says he is disappointed by the resignation of staff in the former Millmerran shire, but denies there is a rift developing at the council.

A local newspaper is this morning reporting a rift between Paul Antonio and chief executive Philip Spencer over a perceived concentration of power in Toowoomba to the detriment of smaller centres.

Councillor Antonio, who was previously the mayor of Millmerran shire council, says he has a good working relationship with Mr Spencer.

"I get on well with the senior staff. We have a common goal to do the very best we can for the region and we are delivering that," he said.

"It's just that this particular issue was about the loss of key staff that are going to be very hard to replace ... and in terms of that naturally my disappointment has probably been blown right out of proportion."

See - Deputy Mayor rejects council rift claims.

Toowoomba Regional Council - Cr Marks centre of CMC conflict of interest investigation ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Marks sits tight on conflict claims

18 September 2008

Peter Marks is non-committal about claims the Crime and Misconduct Commission has been asked to investigate a conflict of interest.

And he is resisting calls to stand down as head of the council's Central Business District committee.

Cr Marks is passionate about the CBD and his committee has been applauded for moves to call tenders for the Toowoomba City Master Plan.

But now it's been realised Cr Marks owns a building in the CBD.

"I didn't give myself the job of chairmanship of the CBD Committee," he said.

The Chronicle asked Cr Marks if he would stand down.

"At this point of time, I haven't seen anything to say I should or shouldn't stand down.

"I'm waiting for confirmation if there is a concern and I'll make my decision based on the letter I get," he said.

See - Marks sits tight on conflict claims.

Santos abandons Fairview CSG development at Injune ...

See - ABC News - Santos abandons clean coal development.

Hanson Formapave Aquaflow - in action ...

The Aquaflow Water Harvesting system collects water from all impermeable surfaces, roofs, paths and especially the driveway. All water falling onto the paved surface is cleaned by the Inbitex geotextile layer before storage.

Former Toowoomba Mayor's house can't find a buyer ...

... 15 months on - still no sale.

See - LJ Hooker - Thorley house is friendless.

Melbourne rainwater tanks - the need to catch it when you can ...

See - SMH - Catch it when you can.

QWC's Gerald Tooth thinks Virginia is a good recycled water example ...

On Ch 9's Extra program, Gerald Tooth recited the official QWC line - Virginia is a good example of recycled water use.

Has he not been following the latest news coming out of Virginia?

Does he not know that Virginia is moving to prohibit the use of recycled water for potable use, even prohibiting its use in household toilets?

Why use Virginia as an example when it promotes the No case ...

QWC's recycled water barrier which won't work ...

On Ch 9's Extra program last evening it was explained that Barrier 1 - no industrial or hospital waste - is the first part of treating sewage for reuse through household taps.

What they don't say is that there is NO way that the government can guarantee that hospitals, mortuaries and all kinds of factories will dispose of waste other than through the sewers.

Now the Bligh government can issue glossy Q2 type brochures which state that the government will issue guidelines for not pouring waste down sewers and threaten fines in case of misuse, but ultimately the government will have no control whatsoever over what is poured down the sewers.

So that's Barrier 1 anyway ...

Carbon Energy Limited - Surat Basin investment grows ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

Surat Basin investment grows

15 September 2008

The massive resources investment in the Surat Basin, in southern Queensland, is continuing, with another two companies proposing billion dollar projects.

Carbon Energy Limited has announced a joint study with a Netherlands-based company for a UCG methanol plant in the region.

Metallica managing director Andrew Gillies says one of its subsidiaries has started drilling for coal and is also looking for sites for underground coal gasification.

"It gets around 80 to 85 per cent of the energy from the coal seam at depths at 200 metres below surface coal gas or syngas and it's brought to the surface and of course that's the building blocks for fuels or fertilisers," he said.

See - Surat Basin investment grows.

NSW Liberals flip flop history on recycled water ...

Look for the 8 sets of kidneys myth to come up ...

Sunday reading - Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes ...

The New York Times reviews Palin's record:

See - Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes.

Spot the similarities ...

Labor disassociates itself in NSW ...

Excerpt from Sunday Telegraph:

13 September 2008

Voters who turned up in Sydney, Marrickville and Leichhardt were confronted by Labor candidates campaigning under a new banner: Local Labor.

At Kiama, members of disgraced ex-police minister Matt Brown's party contested the election as Community First candidates and dropped any affiliation with the Labor Party.

At Orange, Country Labor candidates not only ran as unaffiliated but allegedly used masking tape to hide the word "Labor"' on campaign posters.

See - Labor punished in council vote.

Coal seam gas - what is it and what happens to the water ...

Excerpt from Sunshine Gas Bidder's Statement:

Set out below are answers to some key questions that you may have about CSG and QGC.

What is coal seam gas (CSG)?

CSG is composed mostly of methane gas and typically forms during the coalification process within coal seams (QGC’s CSG generally consists of 96-98 per cent methane). The coal seams are usually saturated with water, and the methane is held within the coal by water pressure.

How is CSG extracted?

The CSG is extracted via wells which are drilled through the coal seams. The water is pumped out, and the CSG is desorbed or released from the coal. If the pressure within the seam is high the gas may flow to the surface unaided.

What happens to the CSG and surplus water once it has reached the wellhead?

The CSG and water are separated at the wellhead and the gas is piped to a compression plant where it is dried and compressed before it is transported via a pipeline to customers. The water is conveyed to an evaporation pond. QGC has recently entered into an agreement to supply half a billion litres of drinking water annually to the town of Miles and has offered its water for sale for both coal mining and town water purposes.
...

See - QGC - Sunshine Gas Bidder's Statement.

Global warming - no smoking hot spot ...

Excerpt from the Australian:

No smoking hot spot
David Evans July 18, 2008

I devoted six years to carbon accounting, building models for the Australian Greenhouse Office. I am the rocket scientist who wrote the carbon accounting model (FullCAM) that measures Australia's compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, in the land use change and forestry sector.

FullCAM models carbon flows in plants, mulch, debris, soils and agricultural products, using inputs such as climate data, plant physiology and satellite data. I've been following the global warming debate closely for years.

When I started that job in 1999 the evidence that carbon emissions caused global warming seemed pretty good: CO2 is a greenhouse gas, the old ice core data, no other suspects.

The evidence was not conclusive, but why wait until we were certain when it appeared we needed to act quickly? Soon government and the scientific community were working together and lots of science research jobs were created. We scientists had political support, the ear of government, big budgets, and we felt fairly important and useful (well, I did anyway). It was great. We were working to save the planet.

But since 1999 new evidence has seriously weakened the case that carbon emissions are the main cause of global warming, and by 2007 the evidence was pretty conclusive that carbon played only a minor role and was not the main cause of the recent global warming. As Lord Keynes famously said, "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"

There has not been a public debate about the causes of global warming and most of the public and our decision makers are not aware of the most basic salient facts:

1. The greenhouse signature is missing. We have been looking and measuring for years, and cannot find it.

Each possible cause of global warming has a different pattern of where in the planet the warming occurs first and the most. The signature of an increased greenhouse effect is a hot spot about 10km up in the atmosphere over the tropics. We have been measuring the atmosphere for decades using radiosondes: weather balloons with thermometers that radio back the temperature as the balloon ascends through the atmosphere. They show no hot spot. Whatsoever.

If there is no hot spot then an increased greenhouse effect is not the cause of global warming. So we know for sure that carbon emissions are not a significant cause of the global warming. If we had found the greenhouse signature then I would be an alarmist again.

When the signature was found to be missing in 2007 (after the latest IPCC report), alarmists objected that maybe the readings of the radiosonde thermometers might not be accurate and maybe the hot spot was there but had gone undetected. Yet hundreds of radiosondes have given the same answer, so statistically it is not possible that they missed the hot spot.

Recently the alarmists have suggested we ignore the radiosonde thermometers, but instead take the radiosonde wind measurements, apply a theory about wind shear, and run the results through their computers to estimate the temperatures. They then say that the results show that we cannot rule out the presence of a hot spot. If you believe that you'd believe anything.

2. There is no evidence to support the idea that carbon emissions cause significant global warming. None. There is plenty of evidence that global warming has occurred, and theory suggests that carbon emissions should raise temperatures (though by how much is hotly disputed) but there are no observations by anyone that implicate carbon emissions as a significant cause of the recent global warming.

3. The satellites that measure the world's temperature all say that the warming trend ended in 2001, and that the temperature has dropped about 0.6C in the past year (to the temperature of 1980). Land-based temperature readings are corrupted by the "urban heat island" effect: urban areas encroaching on thermometer stations warm the micro-climate around the thermometer, due to vegetation changes, concrete, cars, houses. Satellite data is the only temperature data we can trust, but it only goes back to 1979. NASA reports only land-based data, and reports a modest warming trend and recent cooling. The other three global temperature records use a mix of satellite and land measurements, or satellite only, and they all show no warming since 2001 and a recent cooling.

4. The new ice cores show that in the past six global warmings over the past half a million years, the temperature rises occurred on average 800 years before the accompanying rise in atmospheric carbon. Which says something important about which was cause and which was effect.

None of these points are controversial. The alarmist scientists agree with them, though they would dispute their relevance.

The last point was known and past dispute by 2003, yet Al Gore made his movie in 2005 and presented the ice cores as the sole reason for believing that carbon emissions cause global warming. In any other political context our cynical and experienced press corps would surely have called this dishonest and widely questioned the politician's assertion.

Until now the global warming debate has merely been an academic matter of little interest. Now that it matters, we should debate the causes of global warming.

So far that debate has just consisted of a simple sleight of hand: show evidence of global warming, and while the audience is stunned at the implications, simply assert that it is due to carbon emissions.

In the minds of the audience, the evidence that global warming has occurred becomes conflated with the alleged cause, and the audience hasn't noticed that the cause was merely asserted, not proved.

If there really was any evidence that carbon emissions caused global warming, don't you think we would have heard all about it ad nauseam by now?

The world has spent $50 billion on global warming since 1990, and we have not found any actual evidence that carbon emissions cause global warming. Evidence consists of observations made by someone at some time that supports the idea that carbon emissions cause global warming. Computer models and theoretical calculations are not evidence, they are just theory.

What is going to happen over the next decade as global temperatures continue not to rise? The Labor Government is about to deliberately wreck the economy in order to reduce carbon emissions. If the reasons later turn out to be bogus, the electorate is not going to re-elect a Labor government for a long time. When it comes to light that the carbon scare was known to be bogus in 2008, the ALP is going to be regarded as criminally negligent or ideologically stupid for not having seen through it. And if the Liberals support the general thrust of their actions, they will be seen likewise.

The onus should be on those who want to change things to provide evidence for why the changes are necessary. The Australian public is eventually going to have to be told the evidence anyway, so it might as well be told before wrecking the economy.

Dr David Evans was a consultant to the Australian Greenhouse Office from 1999 to 2005.

See - The Australian - No smoking hot spot.

Flanagan wins New Inventors award - 10 Sept 2008 ...

Brisbane's Mark Flanagan wins Episode 32 of the New Inventors for the Rainmax invention.

Excerpt from Rainmax website:

COLLECTING RAINWATER JUST GOT SMARTER

There are two problems facing everyone wanting to use rainwater from their roof. It's difficult to catch all the water and you have to install new and sometimes very expensive plumbing to get the water into the house. Most rain water tanks only have one down pipe from the roof supplying rain water to the tank (only 20-25% of the roof area). Rain water quality is also a major issue for most tank owners.

The Rainmax is a two-part solution firstly consisting of a system called the RAINIQ, a system that allows you to catch the whole of your roof area via an innovative control system which allows you to select the amount of time to dispose of the initial contaminated rainwater from your roof and guttering (first flush) and then collect all of the roof water using the existing guttering.

The second part of the Rainmax system, called H2DUO, is an automated system which uses the existing plumbing, allowing you to pump the water through to your bathrooms, toilets and laundry (whole of house). The system switches to mains water if the tank water runs out and a series of valves prevents town water and tank water from mixing. H2DUO also enables you to install an additional line to your kitchen, to maintain drinking and cooking water from the mains system. It also enables you to install an external tap for garden and external purposes which will only work if there is water in your tank. H2DUO- tank water without the extensive plumbing.

See - Rainmax website.

Also see - New Inventors - Episode 32. Or watch the program.

Details of Rainmax Pty Ltd:

Extracted from ASIC's database

Name RAINMAX PTY LTD

ACN 122 859 929

ABN 22 122 859 929

01/02/2008 Change to Company Details

- 484O Changes to Share Structure

- 484N Changes to (Members) Share Holdings

03/01/2008 - 484B Change to Company Details Change of Registered Address

05/03/2007 - 484B Change to Company Details Change of Registered Address

13/12/2006 - A104 Supplementary Pages to Imaged Document

04/12/2006 - 484 Change to Company Details

- 484G Notification of Share Issue

- 484O Changes to Share Structure

- 484N Changes to (Members) Share Holdings

27/11/2006 - 201C Application For Registration as a Proprietary Company.

The Company is calling for investor interest.

Would this be the Toowoomba Flanagan conflict of interest recently disclosed ...

Coal seam gas - black gold bonanza for Toowoomba region ...

Excerpt from the Chronicle:

Black gold bonanza for region

10 September 2008

Gas processing plants similar to this are expected to emerge all over the Darling Downs.

The Surat Basin coal seam gas mining rush is here and will forever change the face of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.

The figures are astounding.

Dalby Regional Council mayor Ray Brown has seen projections that up to 16,000 workers will be solely employed in the mining industry by 2016.

Cr Brown said the flow-on effect would be up to 100,000 new residents coming to live across the Surat Basin, including Miles, Chinchilla, Dalby and Toowoomba.

On Monday, Origin Energy announced that US oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips had pledged $9.6 billion for a half share in their coal seam gas (CSG) and liquefied natural gas (CGS) projects.

By 2011, the Surat Basin will be Australia's largest energy province and the 40 billion tonnes of untapped resources will be exported around the world.

Surat Basin Developments directors Greg West and Warren Daniells, who are both fourth generation Chinchilla residents, said they predicted Chinchilla's population to increase threefold from the present 6200 over the next 20 years.

Over the past six weeks, they have seen massive changes to the market as investors roll into town and companies snap up housing accommodation for their workers.

Mr West said the town's weekly average of 100 available rental properties had now all disappeared and been replaced by a growing waiting list.

"Unit rental prices have also increased from $250 weekly to $500 in town just in the last month.

"We're very passionate from a developer's point of view to ensure the growth is sustainable."

Ausco Building Systems is currently putting a development application through Dalby council for a 660-person camp in Zeller Street, Chinchilla. Ausco account manager Myke Cavanagh said they had their eye on Origin Energy to hopefully become their main tenants.

Ausco has also turned the old Kogan Creek manager's site at Windmill Road into a 170-person site for Origin Energy.

See - Black gold bonanza for region.

Empty promises ...

The [Victorian] State Government has placed its faith in large engineering projects to secure Melbourne's water future.

But has good policy been trumped by politics?

See - The Age - Empty Promises.

Anna Bligh's secret Q2 strategy - create CMC 'star chamber' ...

Amendment quietly slipped into Criminal Code.

Wants government whistleblowers unmasked.

9 September 2008

NEW laws to force journalists to breach their code of ethics and reveal their sources are set to be debated in State Parliament this week.

The Bligh Government has quietly slipped a clause into amendments to the Criminal Code that will effectively mean journalists must answer question in Crime and Misconduct “star chamber” hearings.

According to the legislation’s explanatory notes, the amendment “provides that witnesses in misconduct investigation hearings must answer questions put to them by the presiding officer’’.

“The witness is not entitled to remain silent or refuse to answer a question on a ground of privilege, other than legal professional privilege, public interest immunity or parliamentary privilege.’’

If passed, the new laws will force journalists to answer questions and expose government whistleblowers.
...

See - Courier Mail - Bligh's 'star chamber' attack on journalists.

Part of Anna Bligh's desperate attempt to stay in power.

This measure wasn't part of Anna's glossy Q2 PR release ...

Coal seam gas - 'Cinderella' gas a new gold rush ...

Excerpt from Courier Mail:

'Cinderella' gas a new gold rush

9 September 2008

As the world desperately searches for new energy sources to replace oil, Queensland has suddenly found itself the subject of a global tug of war over its massive reserves of coal seam gas.

Bob Bryan and Stephen Bizzell are a generation apart but they have both made millions from a new energy source transforming Queensland into a national leader -- coal seam gas.

Mr Bryan, aged 74 and Mr Bizzell, 40, have watched the share price of their respective companies, Queensland Gas and Arrow Energy, skyrocket as investors and major international resource companies realised the potential of CSG to power the developing world as oil reserves dwindle.

News yesterday that Origin Energy had done a $9.6 billion deal with US energy giant ConocoPhillips in the coal seam sector only reinforces their beliefs.

It also propels Queensland to the forefront in the new energy source, making the state potentially more significant than the North-West Shelf in terms of gas production and the CSG boom as transformational as the Bowen Basin coal rush.

Long known as the poor cousin to coal and conventional oil and gas, CSG is just as it sounds: natural gas extracted from coal seams, rather than from conventional rock formations.

Naturally odourless, it is the same gas that is a hazard for coalminers and which once doomed canaries to act as an unwary warning system underground.

It is formed as a by-product during the creation of coal and when the seam is perforated it allows the gas to flow to the surface, where it is gathered and processed.

The gas is later cooled and converted into liquid via a liquid natural gas plant, which usually costs about $2 billion per "train'', a line of the plant which gives an indication of its total size (ie a three-train or four-train plant).

It is used just like any other form of conventional gas to power water heaters, stoves and space heaters in both domestic and business settings and as a direct source of power for industry and a fuel for electricity generation.

The massive Origin deal with Conoco, a company with a market capitalisation of $US125 billion ($153 billion) had an immediate impact on the sector yesterday with the share prices of all Queensland CSG explorers rising strongly by between 8 and 30 per cent.

It also put a major floor under an industry not long ago battling for credibility and acceptance as a legitimate and viable alternative energy source.

Mr Bryan, who is conservatively worth about $360 million although some suggest his wealth is at least double that, got into CSG via a float of his Queensland Gas group in 2000.

After a long career in the resources sector, it was going to be his swan song. He first became aware of CSG in 1968 when he was drilling for other resources because "we had to drill through the stuff to get other things out''.

"We scratched around in 2000 and just managed to raise enough money to get going -- $12 million -- which was enough to get us over the line,'' he reflected yesterday. Today the company has a market capitalisation of over $3 billion.

Mr Bizzell entered the market around the same time, his Arrow Energy group having its fair share of sceptics but the company growing well and making him a multi-millionaire many times over as a result.

His total wealth is estimated at anywhere between $30 million and $50 million depending on his other investments.

Mr Bizzell, an accountant originally who co-founded Arrow with old school mate Nick Mather, has always maintained the CSG sector is "an exciting part of the market which has great potential''.

As he watched the Arrow share price rise he attributed the surge to renewed international interest.

"We certainly stick out for any player looking at possibly getting a seat at the (CSG) table,'' he said.

The beginning of this decade was a bad time for Mr Bizzell and Mr Bryan to raise cash for coal seam gas because, ironically, Conoco, Origin's partner in the latest deal, had spent more than $100 million looking for CSG in Queensland. It lost all its money and another US group, Amoco, did exactly the same thing.

"Here we were coming along claiming to be able to extract this gas profitably and two of the world's largest oil companies had failed dismally in the exercise so it was very tough indeed and the world was full of sceptics,'' Mr Bryan said.

He described the latest Origin-ConocoPhillips deal as a wonderful endorsement of the sector and tremendously important for Queensland.

The CSG industry has also been boosted by three other major recent deals:

* British Gas in June made a $13 billion takeover bid for Origin. Given yesterday's news it will now likely not proceed but BG has also entered into an $8 billion agreement to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Gladstone with Queensland Gas.

* The Malaysian Petronas group has signed a $7 billion deal with Santos to build an LNG plant at Gladstone.

* The giant Shell group has signed a deal with Arrow Energy which also envisages building a third, smaller, LNG plant at Gladstone.

"In reality we are going to have in all probability as much LNG production and export out of Gladstone as they have managed to have on the North-West Shelf in the past 20 years,'' Mr Bryan said.

The North-West Shelf has five trains of capacity, each producing 3.5 million tonnes of LNG but with the proposed four new LNG plants for Gladstone, Queensland will have developments of greater size.

Arrow managing director Nick Davies has said that over the medium to long term there was so much CSG in Queensland it could satisfy the state's gas production for the next 300 or 400 years.

Fellow explorer and Sunshine Gas managing director Tony Gilby shares his enthusiasm, pointing out that increased pipeline infrastructure over the past 10 years along with increased demand for gas in general and better technology had put a rocket under the sector.

WHAT IS CSG?

CSG is predominantly methane gas which is created and stored naturally within coals. The gas forms and collects in coal seams buried deep underground.

These coal seams are also naturally filled with water, and it is the pressure of the water that keeps the gas as a thin film on the surface of the coal. In this way large amounts of gas may be stored in coals.

The initial phase of CSG production usually involves the extraction of the water from within the coal seams in order to reduce the water pressure and release the CSG from the surface of the coal.

The amount of gas that can be produced economically from a coal seam is dependent on a number of factors including the thickness of the coal, gas content, permeability and the depth of the seam.

What is LNG?

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas, either from conventional or Coal Seam Gas (CSG), that has been cooled into a liquid form usually for export by special purpose ships to overseas markets.

What is an LNG Train?

It is the name given to the equipment in the processing facility that liquefies the gas supplied to the CSG to LNG project. A train is sized to a certain volume of gas supply and LNG output.

See - 'Cinderella' gas a new gold rush.

Recycling for non-potable use holds key ...

See - Herald Sun - Recycling holds key.

California's rain tank movement takes the nation by storm ...

See - AP - Rainwater collectors work to ease shortages.

Felton - farmers take on Ambre Energy coal project ...

Excerpt from Green Left online:

Farmers take on coal project

7 September 2008

Ambre Energy’s proposed coal-to-oil project at Felton, a farming community 30 kilometres from Toowoomba, would be a disaster for the local community and environment, according to the newly formed Friends of Felton group.

The first stage of the project will mine 750,000 tonnes per year of coal and convert it into Di-methyl ether — an alternative fuel — with a goal of mining 24 million tonnes per year after three years. It will be larger than any existing Queensland mine.

Friends of Felton argue the project is the wrong response to dwindling fuel supplies, and instead we must start looking at sustainable options. The proposed mine at Felton is simply being built to support Queensland’s booming coal industry, the group says.

State Premier Anna Bligh said on July 15 “[the] government is determined that this state should be in a position to take advantage of our abundance of natural resources. That is why our work with industry, searching for clean coal solutions, is so important”. There is still no evidence of workable “clean coal” technology, making it a deadly gamble for the sake of mining profits.

Friends of Felton spokesperson Rob McCreath said on August 24: “This project would devastate one of the country’s most beautiful and fertile valleys, contaminate underground aquifers, pollute the Murray Darling river system, destroy nationally significant populations of rare and endangered species and produce huge quantities of Greenhouse gases.”

See - Farmers take on coal project.

For information on the campaign, visit Friends of Felton.

Waste not, want not ...

Even the strongest advocates of recycling for drinking purposes concede that risks cannot be entirely removed. The most dangerous elements within sewage are viruses, hormones and some pharmaceuticals.

See - The Age - Waste not, want not.

K Rudd and Labor smashed in WA ...

State of the Parties:

72.1% counted.

Last updated 7 September - 12.23 am

Labor 35.9% (-6.0%) - likely total seats - 27 - change - 9 seats
Liberal 38.6% (+2.9%) - likely total seats - 22 - change + 7 seats
National 4.9% (+1.2%) - likely total seats - 4 - change + 1 seat
Greens 11.5% (+4.0%) - likely total seats - change + 0 seats
Others 9.1% (-2.1%) - likely total seats - 3 - change + 1 seat

See - ABC - WA election coverage.

Final result still to come.

With a close result recently in NT, Labor decimated in WA, Labor leadership in tatters in NSW, K Rudd must be wondering what's gone wrong in the 10 months since the Federal election ...

4350water blog - recent search term ...

• mayor di thorley independent liberal

Sill laughing ...

Bligh government - SEQ fluoridation rollout on target ...

See - Anna declares SEQ fluoridation rollout on target.

Gold Coast desal water starts in November ...

See - ABC News - Tugun desal plant awaits inlet cage.

If you thought double standards were confined to Australian politics ...

NSW Labor - Iemma and Costa - gone ...

See - NSW Premier resigns, Costa sacked.

Anna Bligh's Chief of Staff got out when the going was good ...

Denver's dodgy recycled water sources ...

Excerpt from YouTube:

Denver's recycled water has a small component coming from the Lowry Landfill Superfund Site at the rate of 13 million gallons per year. A permit allows them to put 158 pollutants and 10 radionuclides into the sewer which is the intake for recycling.

Minister Garrett - don't listen to my songs ...

Campaigners are furious with Mr Garrett, particularly since he helped write the Midnight Oil hit Dreamworld, which lamented the 1982 overnight demolition by stealth of Brisbane's Cloudland Ballroom.

See - Peter Garrett's refusal to save club rocks Cairns.

Recycled water safety threatened by concentrated waste ...

Excerpt from The Age:

4 September 2008

While water recycling continues to increase, the ... safety of recycled water was being threatened by more concentrated waste.

Utilities reported 40% reductions in waste-water flows, meaning that less water was available to dilute the chemicals and dangers in waste.

See - The Age - Drier 'new reality' to cost nation $30 billion to hydrate.

4350water blog - recent search terms ...

• reasons why water can't always be recycled
• "no recycled water"
• australian government support for $67 million toowoomba water project will let the community decide
• wetalla pipeline gowrie creek irrigators
• "john bradley" and "qwc"
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Carbon Energy Limited - trial project close to synthetic gas production ...

Excerpt from ABC News:

Trial project close to synthetic gas production

2 September 2008

A company experimenting with underground coal gasification, west of Dalby in southern Queensland, says its $20 million trial project should be producing synthetic gas within a month.

Carbon Energy Limited says it expects to gradually ramp up production and is hopeful of establishing a billion dollar project producing ammonia and explosives in three to four years.
...

See - Trial project close to synthetic gas production.

TXT2PIC.com

Update: 4350water blog: QWC standoff - QWC complains to newspaper - journalist volunteers to cover other stories ...

Update: The thought police at the QWC apparently burst a blood vessel when they read the comments linked to this blog post. Seems the QWC complained to the newspaper editor (again!) - correct the blog comment - the journalist volunteered not to cover any recycled water stories.

See - Comments - journalist volunteers not to report on water issues.

Now if the QWC wasn't complaining about coverage in the newspaper in the first place, there would be no need to contact the newspaper on multiple occasions and no need for the journalist to volunteer not to cover recycled water stories.

Whichever way you look at it, the QWC is trying to interfere in the publication of stories which it does not like and which do not sell its message.

Maybe Media Watch would like to take a look. Here's their email - Media Watch contact.

By making further complaints to the newspaper, it turns a single day story into a much bigger thing.

Didn't the QWC learn anything at PR school ...

Original post (edited):

Is the Bligh government so desperate to try to control the message that they would pressure newspaper editors and prevent the public being informed of both sides of the debate?

See - Comments - journalist volunteers not to report on water issues.

Sounds like the Toowoomba City Council and the pressure it applied from time to time to the Chronicle ...

Minister misleads the public on recycled water ...

Letter to the Editor, the Chronicle:

1 September 2008

Minister Misleads the Public

Mr Shine's response (TC 15/8) serves only to confirm that the Minister and the QWC are not interested in presenting all the facts to the people of South-East Queensland.

The State government's proposal to make people drink recycled sewage water is a world first. There is no other planned potable reuse example of the scale to be implemented by this government. Mr Shine used several examples which are easy to refute:

Los Angeles - recycled sewage water is not used for drinking. Toowoomba City Council thought people drank it at Disneyland!

Washington DC - Mr Shine is referring to neighbouring Virginia. This State is enacting regulations to ban the use of recycled sewage water in homes - even for flushing toilets.

Singapore - a maximum one percent is used for potable reuse. Most recycled sewage water is used for industry. The QWC is not advertising what percentage recycled sewage water it plans to pump into people's homes. Singapore operates South East Asia's largest seawater desalination plant. Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide are all planning or building desalination plants. Perth's plant is already operating.

Orange County - the primary purpose of the newly commissioned plant is aquifer recharge to prevent seawater entering the aquifer. The old plant served a similar purpose.

Mr Shine also claims that Toowoomba's water supply will be empty by March 2010. He neglects to mention Toowoomba's bore supplies (which the Toowoomba Regional Council is so keen to regulate) and GAB water reserves.

The only way to try to force us to accept recycled sewage water in our homes, shops and restaurants is to use the 'drink it or die of thirst' approach. It's the same approach used by the Toowoomba City Council for their ill-fated campaign rejected by 62% of voters. Wasn't Toowoomba's water supposed to run out by December 2005?

If the State government really believes people support drinking recycled sewage water, why do they persist with their campaign of misleading half truths?

RM
Toowoomba

Qld prison sewage - overflowing in the cells today ...

... flowing through your taps tomorrow ...

Excerpt from Courier Mail:

Blocked toilets force prisoners out of Brisbane women's jail

2 September 2008

A plumbing failure at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre has forced all 289 inmates out of their cells which were flooded by overflowing toilets.

Sources said the entire jail at Wacol, in Brisbane's west, was affected and prisoners, sickened by the smell in their cells, were sleeping in common areas.
...

Another woman who visited a friend in prison on Saturday said women had been urinating in bags and scooping faeces from the toilet in cups.

See - Courier Mail - Blocked toilets force prisoners out of Brisbane women's jail.

4350water blog is 3 ...

Brisbane in global warming paradox - coldest August for 8 years ...

See - Courier Mail - Brisbane records coldest August in eight years.

Also see - News.com.au - Coldest August in Sydney for 64 years.

Qld LNP's fight against itself - maybe then it can take on Anna Bligh ...

See - The Australian - Borg charged with merger most horrid.