Recycling solar panels
W. L. Weakley is right that solar panels and wind turbines need to be part of the circular economy ("Planet of the Humans", 7 Aug). But the same argument can be applied to everything we buy and consume. Renewables are no different. In many respects they are better. While many Australians will purchase 5-10 cars in 20 years, they will only purchase one set of solar panels in that time. Recycling streams already exist for glass and aluminium, the main components of solar panels.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Vic
Flooded roads
For those not knowing people water is not compressible including flood water. When your bimer or whatever you drive, through flood water and the car stops. In a modern car is not the wet ignition but very possible water that has entered the engine, of course it is the filter with a snorkel this doesn't happen. But if it does stop just say goodbye to at least five thousand dollar (just read the top line) plus all the other damage to the transmissions brakes wheels and anything that has an oil seal whilst keeps the oil in not water out.
Colin Macpherson, Tamworth
Secure water quality
I am interested in what monitoring will take place with the Santos CSG mining operations, to prevent cancer causing chemicals from re entering the underground water aquafa for Narrabri residents.
Benzene , Toluene, Ethlbenzene, Xylene, pumped under ground in this type of mining.
All known to be very dangerous to children in particular causing cancer when accumulated in bones and body tissue.
There would need to be strict monitoring to make sure these chemicals as a solution did not re enter the aquifer.
John Roche, Northmead
Deaths in custody
There is a lot of media discussion these days about lowering Aboriginal incarceration rates and all sorts of token solutions offered which amount, in my view, to a kind of reverse apartheid - different rules for different people.
But I don't hear anyone saying the way to reduce Aboriginal incarceration rates is to lower Aboriginal crime rates.
I feel like I'm wearing the Emperor's New Clothes in saying this. It's something that seems obvious to me but no-one else in saying openly.
In my opinion, people go to jail because they commit crimes, regardless of their race.
So it seems sensible to me that if people are taught to respect and understand the law, they will be less likely to go to jail. This may sound overly simplistic, but it worries me that no-one ever says this.
Daniel Peckham, Tamworth
Managing water resources
The Department of Planning head David Kitto's performance at the Narrabri Gas Planning hearings was simply woeful and wouldn't put any landholder's mind at ease over major mining projects in our regions.
When questioned from commissioners over water loss or depletion potentially at the hands of the Santos project Mr Kitto simply replied "the key mitigation measure would be to deepen the bore" this is the NSW Governments simplistic understanding and response to aquifer water loss should it occur.
Mr Kitto went on to say in regards to proving water loss "no one is expecting landowners to have to prove their water has been adversely affected by the project" and "it will not be up to the landowners to have to fight the case on their own. It really will be the responsibility of government to oversee that".
The words of the states Chief Planning honcho who has overseen the calamity of Werris Creek coal mine debacle with potential interference in the Quipolly aquifer zone alongside, with similar issues at Maules Creek, rings hollow and to my horror, that these are the words placed to satisfy the commissioners into the Narrabri Gas project.
I have zero faith in State's ability to understand, mitigate and rectify problems with real solutions after the fact with these large scale developments.
We need a better and thorough understanding of managing our greatest and scarcest resource water, in our hunger for secondary resources such as coal and gas that are currently in oversupply and glut.
Peter Wills, Breeza
Who's talking but not listening?
It appears Whitehouse Coronavirus press briefings will return but why did they disappear as the virus certainly didn't?
Given what we see of many recent Whitehouse briefings what will actually return? Some facts haven't been mentioned lately, including the number of cases, the deaths, the lack of serious attempts to stop it and the fact that a real vaccine is needed.
Will Dr Fauci be there, will he be allowed to speak and even more importantly will he be listened to?
This is not a virus that we can hide from nor run away from.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill