Columns - Canberra City News

Comment by Emma, 18 April 2008 about the article Loss of a ‘friend’.

Hi Sonya,
Just wanted to thank you for your 16th April column, ‘loss of a friend’’. I couldn’t agree more with the final statement- I worked at Manuka Starbucks and it’s great to get such lovely feedback, even after the doors have closed. Manuka was not just a great cafe to hang out in, it was a fantastic place to work. I miss it too.

Comment by E, 24 April 2008 about the article No fears, say torch runners.

GO SUSAN!!!!!

Comment by Warwick Hughes, 26 April 2008 about the article Water joins the grind.

Very good article thanks Michael.
I am puzzled Canberra people are not more stirred up by the high and increasing cost of water. Which as Michael says, “...is yet another increase in tax imposed on ACT citizens”.

For decades now State Govts have not augmented water infrastructure to keep pace with population growth and demand for water. You only have to look at when the last significant dams were built in the capital cities to see that.
When the current cyclic dry period started to bite in 2001/2002, Govt water supply authorities were eager to blame Greenhouse, the green media assisted with a variety of “worst drought ever” articles, mostly not based on facts, the media also faithfully repeated Govt propaganda such as the “our drying climate” slogan in Perth. All the while water professionals constantly talk up the cost of water and the international seawater desalination factory providers can hardly believe their luck.

Govts in most capitals ignore available natural renewable water supplies in favour of vastly more expensive options.

Examples include Perth, where I have an article available at; “There never was a rain shortage to justify seawater desalination for Perth’s water supply
December 4th, 2007”
http://www.warwickhughes.com/blog/?p=145

In the case of Melbourne, the IPA has a new report “Water Supply Options for Melbourne”. You can download the pdf free.
http://www.ipa.org.au/publications/publisting_detail.asp?pubid=787
Same unnecessary Govt rush to hyper-expensive water.

Recently I have researched into ACT long term rainfall history, see my weblog article, “Canberra water supply, sensible options sidelined by Govt in thrall of IPCC climate models”
http://www.warwickhughes.com/blog/?p=156
The Uriarra rain data suggests the post 2001 dry period is simply cyclic and is no worse than pre 1950 dry periods, contrary to the welter of Govt and green inspired misinformation in the media for years. Incidentally, the peak rain years coincide with post WWII cloud seeding experiments.

Canberra water users have a just under six months until the next ACT elections to express their views on the ACT Govt using water prices as just another way to increase taxes. Voting for more rational water policies at the ballot box is the only way to influence Govt on these issues.