Hills protesters called for the State Government to take action on the Hazlewood Power Plant. 50450 Picture: Greg Carrick
By Tania Martin
More than 20 residents staged a silent protest outside Monbulk MP James Merlino’s Belgrave office on Saturday morning.
Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association’s Peter Cook first got the idea for the event from a photograph in a metropolitan newspaper.
He said the idea was to sit in a line in folding chairs outside Mr Merlino’s office.
The message was simple, Victorians are taking action on climate change and the State Government needed to sit up and take action.
“We are not going to sit around much longer waiting for something to happen,” Mr Cook said.
Mr Cook said two recent studies had shown how the LaTrobe Valley power plant could be replaced with cleaner energy by 2012 or 2016.
Mr Cook said the two studies showed the government how replacing the power station with clean energy could be done.
The first commissioned by Environment Victoria was released in May and proposed that Hazelwood be replaced by a mixture of gas fired power plants, wind farms and energy efficient measures.
A Beyond Zero Emissions report released last Wednesday (14 July) also outlined a plan to transition to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2020 by using wind and solar thermal power.
“There is no excuse to do nothing, they now have these studies showing them how to do it… all the work has been done for them, there are no excuses,” Mr Cook said.
“It’s time for action. Hazelwood was scheduled to close in 2005.”
The silent protest was held shortly after 10.30am on Saturday with Yarra Ranges councillor and Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria Samantha Dunn and Greens candidate for Monbulk Jo Tenner rallying behind the calls for action.
Mr Merlino has questioned why a protest was needed when he would have been more than happy to meet with the residents.
“I recently organised a successful roundtable with Environment Minister Gavin Jennings and I’m always available to meet with the community,” he said.
“We (State Government) are determined to drive down emissions and support new investment in the energy sector.”
Mr Merlino said the government’s proposal for Hazelwood would be outlined in its Climate Change White Paper which is set to be released later this month.
Down to Earth with Peter Cook page 6.
