The Bullroarer - Tuesday 19th February 2008

Here we go again - Predictions of NZ Power Shortages

It is almost as predictable as changing seasons that at about this time of year there will be warnings of coming power shortages, the Nelson Mail said in an editorial on Tuesday. In wetter years they are more muted, in dry years like this one, they are louder.

Chevron gets going after Oz cyclone

Chevron has resumed full operations at Barrow and Thevenard Islands today as Tropical Cyclone Nicholas passed to the west of Barrow Island yesterday, but over 200,000 barrels per day of output from other producers remained shut in.

Report reveals climate shame

Ku-ring-gai residents are among the worst culprits in greenhouse gas emissions, according to a council report which seeks to slow the march of global warming.

Last week the Courier revealed Ku-ring-gai Council had increased its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent of 1996 levels, despite its 2002 commitment to reduce emissions by 20 per cent of 1996 levels. A council spokesperson said their emissions had risen twenty per cent since 1996 but only one per cent since 2002.

2005 plan to fix Cook Strait cable warned of risk

National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee says Labour was warned in 2005 that there was an 'unacceptable' risk posed to the security of New Zealand's electricity supply due to the condition of the Cook Strait cable.

"In 2005, Labour's Electricity Commission was considering a significant plan to repair the Cook Strait cable by 2010. In the conclusion the documents say the medium term 'risk profile is unacceptable'. "Yet, last week David Parker said the partial shutdown of the cable was a 'surprise' and Helen Clark said yesterday 'eyebrows have certainly been raised'.

Oil Search profits plummet

Australian-listed Oil Search reported its first decline in profits in five years due to higher exploration costs and tax rates that resulted in 32% fall last year.

Mayors call for Transit rethink on North road funding

NORTHLAND'S mayors have called for a review of Transit New Zealand's national road funding formula, which they claim fails to consider the cost of roading projects in different areas.

One more item :

SMH - Dumb card: relic bus ticket system for Sydney

IT HAS come to this: the State Government will buy the relics of Brisbane's obsolete ticketing system after ending an eight-year dream of a transport smartcard.

As Brisbane joins Perth and moves to its own Tcard, Translink, Brisbane's transport authority, has confirmed the NSW Government is trying to obtain 300 of Brisbane's 15-year-old magnetic stripe machines to bolster Sydney's ageing system.

The purchase - a month after the Transport Minister, John Watkins, terminated the Government's contract with the Tcard developer, ERG Limited - shows the Government is trying to patch together a ticketing system that is in tatters.

THAT is just ridiculous.

To quote Mark Twain, on the platform of Albury station at 6;45 am...

Think of the paralysis of intellect that gave that idea birth; imagine the boulder it emerged from, on some petrified legislators shoulders.

I have always wondered whether its really worth the trouble to have these complicated ticketing systems so that the "cost" can be apportioned in a manner that bean counters prefer.

But apparently it can be done... viz nearly any city in Japan or Singapore.

But if the objective is to get people on the system why not something realllly reallly simple. $2 = 2 hours, just put the coin in the slot.. you get a ticket with a time stamp... if you go over, a machine at the exit to make up the difference. I don't know, but all these permutations of zones and times...

OR in a world where nearly everyone and there pet has a mobile phone... you just send an sms to the transport office and get a confirmation sms! Gosh... I'm a genius. Might have the added "bonus" of being able to track customers via the network signals... especially if stations have micro cells. Transport authorities could get in on the mobile phone business by issuing there own prepaid plans maybe.

At what point does the increase in complexity lead to an increase in the cost of maintaining that complexity rather that providing the intended service?

At what point does it become more of a temptation to just not pay the fare?

Setting the system boundaries a bit wider... isn't the ultimate objective of the transport system to see that passengers get to work... and that this should be balanced against the energy and pollution cost of doing that?

And the Kanucks signed Kyoto day one.

Some say oil from tar sands will never get to 3 million barrels per day. Others say the present 85 mbpd all liquids should drop to 55 mbpd by 2030. Thus fossil fuel propelled transport is doomed regardless.