Herald Sun: Experts predict only half of east-west tunnel will be built

ONLY half the east-west road tunnel proposed by the Eddington report will be built, a leading transport expert predicts.

Prof Nick Low, of Melbourne University's urban planning program, said the economic crisis would force the Government to drop the eastern half, which would have tunnelled under Carlton and Royal Park. But he said a tunnel from the Tullamarine Freeway to the Western Ring Rd at Sunshine would still ease traffic problems.

ABC: Clean Energy Council push for Govt encouragement

The head of an industry lobby group says the Federal Government should do more to encourage energy efficiency. The Clean Energy Council is holding its annual conference on the Gold Coast.

Chief executive Matthew Warren says Australia needs to make the most of its natural energy resources to reach its full potential. "We have some of the world's best hot rock assets and some of our wind turbines are three times more efficient than wind turbines operating on the same scale in Europe," he said. "We have terrific bioenergy resources, we are the world's sunniest continent.

SMH: Rich pickings on the horizon

Cashed-up companies are casting their eyes far and wide, writes Clancy Yeates. AT FIRST glance, New Zealand's oil and gas hub looks like it would be more at home in a glossy tourism brochure. The snowcapped Mount Taranaki towers over lush farmland. It has a likeness to Mount Fuji that convinced Warner Brothers to shoot the 2003 film The Last Samurai there, and the area has since become a hit with Japanese visitors.

ABC: O'Farrell playing 'me too' on transport: Govt

The New South Wales Government says an Opposition promise to set up a super transport body if it wins the next state election is a rip-off of Labor policy.

State Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell yesterday said the body would ensure a Coalition government would follow through on major public transport projects.

The Australian: Arrow Energy strikes development deal with China

ARROW Energy has signed an agreement with China's Bin Chang Mining to develop a coal bed methane project in Shaanxi Province.
Under the terms of the deal, if commercial volumes of gas are produced from the pilot program, the parties will enter into a formal joint venture to develop the area, the Australian coal seam gas producer said.

Stuff.co.nz: Fuel-saving car rally kicks off in Auckland

Fifty-nine vehicles will take part in the AA Energywise Rally starting in Auckland today, a race in which efficient fuel use is more important than crossing the finishing line first.

The Driver Award goes to the team that beats the rated fuel use of their vehicle by the highest percentage, and the Supreme Winner Award to the cheapest vehicle over the whole rally, including fuel and road user charges.