STRATEGY SUMMARY ~ NEW ENERGY

A vision is emerging for the New England to become a net

PURPOSE ~ CLEAN, RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE exporter of renewable energy. Some $10-20Bn of investment into
commercial renewable energy projects is anticipated in coming
ENERGY & FUEL decades.

Creating a new energy future is arguably the most challenging of

The New Energy Strategy has three core dimensions: the shift to
the technical shifts required for the New England to become a
clean, renewable & sustainable energies & fuels; greatly increasing
sustainable region: transport & energy (stationary electricity, liquid
the efficiency with which energy is used; & reduced energy
& solid fuels) were priority challenges identified in almost every
dependence by reconsidering decisions which have energy
plan, workshop & strategy.
footprints, determining whether or not they are required in the first
instance.
Peak oil, peak minerals, affordability, air quality, water security, soil
health, climate change & competing land use are just some of the
Measurement of the Region's energy footprint, and its transition to
challenges driving the shift to new energy from the back.
sustainability, is a strategic initiative in itself since to date so much
of our energy use is not measured, or at least not measured
Energy was ranked as the electorate's second highest priority, with
meaningfully or strategically.
concerns over increasing electricity prices being the single issue
receiving the most number of written responses within the
electorate survey. The linked issue of roads & transport was ranked
the 3rd highest priority ~ 2010 Northern Tablelands Electorate S TRATEGIC Q UESTIONS
Survey – ‘The shape of the future’. • What other current initiatives aren't represented?
• How do we better integrate, collaborate & support across
It's not all challenges though, as the New England also has various initiatives & strategies?
significant natural potential in this regard ~ solar, wind, bio-fuel, • What else do we need to do now?
waste to energy & hydrothermal.

www.ness.wikidot.com NESS is an initiative of

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STRATEGY SUMMARY ~ NEW ENERGY
CURRENT INITIATIVES
Foster Sustainable & Renewable
Energy, self-sufficiency in energy &
water to remain an appealing &
competitive place, create a solar
identity by initiating solar panels on
roofs along main street (Bundarra),
Farming the Sun, capture methane gas
from landfill to reduce carbon based
electricity, Aged care energy
efficiency initiatives (Uralla & Guyra),
Uralla Roof Top spaces power initiative,
aged care upgrade with solar energy
(Guyra), renewable energy education
& information campaign, Sustainability
Advantage Program (Armidale), work
on wind industry strategy with SNEVA &
NEWGA, businesses own solar energy,
generate own electricity, use bio-
diesel, bio-diesel production, generate
power for Council, solar & wind
generation, using carbon markets,
promote & support genuine ‘Green
Power’ & expand its availability,
combined heat & power tri-gen for
Hospital, community owned renewable
power company, diversify sources -
solar, wind, geothermal, gas, biomass,
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Public & community transport, regional
public transport systems, solar cars,
invest in walk ways, low to zero
emission transport corridors,
commercial fleets to low/zero emission,
cycleways to rail & intercity buses,
public transport using existing
infrastructure more efficiently walking
paths, bike-trains, intercity buses, air
travel competition, better regional
transport & importance of access to
Sydney/Brisbane, more regional air
services (eg Armidale-Brisbane) &
more competition, better coordinate
access to transport services, support
inland Melbourne - Brisbane rail, cycle
& pedestrian trails (under highway, eg.
Queen Street), improve reliability of
regional air transport services, better
bus transport & taxi service to train
(Walcha), consider cost & benefits of
longer runway, reopen & develop rail
lines for both passenger & freight, fuel
efficient aircraft, coordinate off-track
transport between accommodation &
major access points (eg. Bush Limo),
car pooling, walkways, bike paths &
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Council support bulk purchase of
renewable systems for homes,
alternative fuels for vehicle fleets,
renewable stand-alone power, reduce
reliance on fossil fuels,
substitute renewable energy &
conserve, bulk purchase of solar hot
water & power by Councils, pilot
community wind & solar power
generators by & for ADC
Energy Stakeholder Network,
Community Citizens Climate Change
Committees, Establish New England
Renewable Energy Precinct Advisory
Committee, Rural Greenhouse Gas
Abatement Research Centre, establish
an Energy Task Group, establish long-
term commitment to local energy,
carbon & biodiversity trading
Efficiency, community education round
energy efficiency, water & energy
building efficiency - low carbon place,
community education program on
efficiency & climate change,
investigate innovative community
water & energy, demonstrate simple
easy sustainable practices to save on
electricity, simple things like putting
more clothes on rather than extra
NESS is an initiative of
racks at bus stops, bus service Guyra-
Armidale, reintroduce rail services,
sustainable transport (eg. bikes,
electric), community bike system with
racks, plug-in points for electric bikes
(work, mall), green car spaces for
hybrids, transport infrastructure (rail,
road, air) to major markets, public
transport with regenerative braking,
comprehensive bicycle pathway
system for solar powered & light weight
transport systems & vehicles, increase
use of non carbon fuels in transport,
adequate regional transport systems
to reduce fossil fuel use, sustainable
regional transport – bike, rail, bus,
walkways, better coordinate &
promote buses, establish cycle ways
within & between communities
Going Beyond BASIX, building smart
sustainable housing (water tanks,
skylights, solar panels, awareness of
colours for heat), retrofit houses &
council buildings, improve sustainability
requirements for local buildings,
upgrade BASIX energy efficient
standards in new developments &
existing houses, solar hot water & water
tanks in all homes, passive heating &
STRATEGY SUMMARY ~ NEW ENERGY
heating, turn off fans & computers,
retrofitting, Walking School Bus, Council
create a highly visible demonstration
building, home & school education on
power saving, retrofit buildings,
education program to encourage
energy efficiency & increased ESD
features in building design to reduce
reliance on power supply
Feasibility Study to establish viable
renewable energy sources, feasibility
study of algae for bio-fuel, ensure wind
farms are balanced & assess vs other
energy forms, test site for technology,
holistic system design all elements
having multi-functions, Interactive Grid,
support R&D, investigate options for
alternative energy generation to
essential Council & community
infrastructure, explore feasibility &
interest of community energy
cooperatives, audit & create a region-
wide transport strategy & guide,
develop transport strategy – including
promoting walking & bike riding,
explore & promote opportunities for
emerging renewable energy &
recycling sectors, investigate possible
natural gas pipeline (Armidale),
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cooling for homes, target replacing investigate feasibility of Grid quota & cost levels to energy use,
electric hot water systems, address connected Solar Panels at incentives for low/zero emission cars,
trend of building large unaffordable Puddledock, Dangarsleigh & Hillgrove advocate to electricity supply
houses too costly to run & maintain, Halls companies to develop emergency
new homes to be constructed using response plans, NSW Government
Measure carbon footprint per capita,
sustainable energy efficient practices invest more dividends into upgrading &
transport audit, energy audits, energy
with ‘solar passive’ design being maintaining power infrastructure rather
meters, audit the carbon footprint of
mandatory than ‘slugging’ households
Council & the Shire, quarterly Planet
Footprint reports on water & electricity
Lobby NSW government to expand usage
solar schools program, Government
eServices
rebates & incentives for renewable
energy, power saving light bulbs, less
electricity use, simplify rebate system
for domestic renewable energy
products, lobby for fair returns for feed
in tariff, higher low income household
rebates for electricity in cold climate
areas, lobby to remove fossil fuel
subsidies, lobby to maintain & improve
rail infrastructure, review Council
vehicle fleet, policy for fuel efficient 4
cylinder vehicles or diesel for utilities &
larger wagons (Walcha), do not build
any more coal-fired power stations,
phase out existing ones over the long-
term, no new coal mines, interest free
loans for purchase & installation,
remove GST on approved items, apply
NESS is an initiative of
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STRATEGY SUMMARY ~ NEW ENERGY
Climate Change Consensus ~ Waterfall Way Eco-Tourism Initiative

KEY PERFORMANCE & PROGRESS INDICATORS Uralla, Guyra & Armidale Councils

2010 Northern Tablelands Climate Change Adaptation

Energy Consumption - changes in regional, place communities’ Electorate Survey ~ ‘The shape of Action Plan ~ Uralla, Guyra, Walcha
residential & industry sector energy consumption levels (Country the future’ & Armidale Councils

Energy) University of New England Strategic Uralla Creative Village

Energy efficiency measures - uptake Plan (2007 - 2010)

Renewables uptake – solar & wind, biofuels capabilities vs Northern Inland Regional Healthy People ~ Living and
Development Plan (2010‐2015) Learning in a Health Environment
transmission capabilities & line losses
Stationary & transport – use of fossil fuels to bio-fuels, estimates kms Local Government Plans – Walcha Southern New England State of the
Social Plan, Armidale Strategic Environment Report (2008-2009)
travelled, survey changes in travel, nos. registered vehicles
Community Plan, Guyra
Carbon footprint & greenhouse gas emission – changes NSW State Government North West
Management Plan & Uralla
Regional Cluster
Note gaps identified included ‘embodied energy’ Community Management Plan

Catchment Management Action Rural and Regional Taskforce

Other measures identified but not defined included development Plans ~ Namoi, Border-Rivers Report (2008)
& adoption of new technologies (innovation), resource use & Gwydir
footprints – draw-downs on future generations. Hunter New England Health Service NSW Aboriginal Land Council
Strategic Plan & New England Northern Region Regional
Divisions of General Practice Economic Development Strategy &
Implementation Plan
EXISTING PLANS, PRIORITIES, STRATEGIES
In addition to the 2½ years of work on NESS, the following existing
plans, priorities and strategies have been integrated:

www.ness.wikidot.com NESS is an initiative of

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