Cyclone Debbie, the eyes of the nation watch North Queensland.

 Cyclone Debbie is bearing down on the North Queensland coast around Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands.  Forecast to cross the coast just before 11:00am today Tuesday, 28th March.   Wind gusts forecast to be 250klm an hour.

 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-28/cyclone-debbie-makes-landfall-in-north-queensland-live-blog/8391312

The main concern for the Mackay area is the storm surge with the high tide occurring simultaneously!  Will Debbie make the list of worst cyclones ever to hit the coast of Queensland.



 Live streaming to ABC North Queensland here : https://radio.abc.net.au/stations/itinerant_one/live

 A bit of History on Australian cyclones since white settlement.

 1899 - Category five Tropical Cyclone Mahina  March 4th
Over 400 people killed and the storm surge left porpoises on the tops of cliffs and the destruction was made worse by another cyclone Monsoonal Disturbance Nachon coming at them from the west over the Arafura Sea at the same time.

1918 - Category four Tropical Cyclone Mackay.  January 21st
30 lives were lost in Mackay when this cyclone crossed the coast.  Reports of wave coming into the main street up to 9ft high which is about 3 meters. 

1918 - Category five Cyclone Innisfail.  March 10th
Just after Mackay in January it was Innisfail's turn in March and only 12 houses in the town left standing and 100 people dead in the area.

2006 - Category four Cyclone Larry Innisfail.  March 20th
Worst in three generations the BOM said and that is correct .. since 1918.  10,000 homes were damaged and crops were lost and the economic loss was around $1.5 Billion  and no lives were lost.

2011 - Category five Cyclone Yasi at Far North Queensland at Mission Beach.  February 3rd
Wind gusts estimated at 285 kilometres per hour. Yasi tracked 1000 kilometers inland to Mt Isa with the intensity of a tropical low over the next 20 hours.


Image of Innisfail March 10th 1918  Photo State Library of Queensland

The Cyclone is a large one and the weather reports show it tracking inland when it finally makes land fall and heading in sweeping southerly direction above or around Emerald. 

Brisbane and the Gold Coast and Northern NSW will need to brace themselves as the rain sweeps down pushed by arctic winds from the south.  

I have organized sandbags for the side of our shed from the local SES.  My friend has already received an SMS warning from her insurance company to expect up to 400m of rain in this area where we are on the mountain.  This is why I organized sandbags.  One side of the shed is vulnerable and my furniture is in there.  Better to do it now that when its too late.

UpDate 31st March 2017: Earlier this morning ... The omens were in the sky. The big birds ... lots of gigantic wings and then a heart. This is a personal omen and in past times it has always been death.







UpDate 3rd April 2017:  5 people dead and 3 still missing.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/queensland-cyclone-debbie-five-people-killed-in-horror-weather/news-story/1d2d9148a0f3e4500f4da13540d17628

Update from New Zealand 3rd April 2017 :  The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Debbie are threatening to develop into a serious situation in the next 72 hours
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11830617

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

AGL will relinquish its Petroleum Exploration Licence for the Gloucester region (PEL 285) to the NSW Government.

MEDIA RELEASE
AGL WEBSITE

Thursday, 4 February 2016

AGL Energy Limited (AGL) today announced that following a review, it has taken a strategic decision that exploration and production of natural gas assets will no longer be a core business for the company due to the volatility of commodity prices and long development lead times.

There is no change to AGL’s commercial or retail gas activities. AGL is confident that it has sufficient gas for its residential and small business customers following the recent contract with the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture and the planned expansion of the Eastern Gas Pipeline. Incremental future gas requirements are likely to be sourced from the southern markets.

AGL expects to recognise an impairment charge of $640 million after tax ($795 million pre-tax) against the carrying value of its gas exploration and production assets including an increase in rehabilitation provisions. This charge will be recognised as a significant item in the financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2015. The impairment has minimal impact on FY16 Underlying profit.

The FY16 cash impact of this strategic decision, excluding potential sale of assets, is expected to be less than $10 million and relates to rehabilitation, redundancy and other associated costs.
The two major drivers of the impairment charge have been the fall in global oil prices with consequent effect on long-term Queensland gas prices and Waukivory Pilot well data indicating lower than expected production volumes for the Gloucester Gas Project.

Managing Director and CEO, Andy Vesey, said AGL would focus on its core competencies, transforming the business to capitalise on the evolution occurring in the energy sector and to meet its customers’ rapidly changing needs and expectations.
Queensland

Primarily due to the fall in long-term Queensland price forecasts, AGL has impaired its Queensland natural gas assets at Moranbah, Silver Springs and Spring Gully. Apart from gas storage and related plant at Silver Springs, AGL expects to sell these assets. Due to difficult market conditions this may take some time. It is likely that the sale of Moranbah will require a cash payment in relation to onerous contract provisions previously booked.
New South Wales

In New South Wales, AGL will not proceed with the Gloucester Gas Project and will cease production at the Camden Gas Project in South West Sydney in 2023, twelve years earlier than previously proposed. Resulting impairments for both projects have included additional provisions ensuring rehabilitation costs have been appropriately provided for.

AGL has completed the business case for the Gloucester Gas Project which incorporated disappointing gas flow data from the Waukivory Pilot wells and economic modelling of the gas resource. Unfortunately, the economic returns to support the investment of approximately $1 billion were not adequate. Consequently, in the interest of our shareholders and customers, this is the most responsible course of action.

AGL will relinquish its Petroleum Exploration Licence for the Gloucester region (PEL 285) to the NSW Government and will now commence a comprehensive decommissioning and rehabilitation program for its well sites and other infrastructure in the Gloucester region.

“Exiting our gas assets in New South Wales has been a difficult decision for the company. AGL has invested significantly in these projects and communities over the past seven years for the Gloucester Gas Project, and ten years in the case of the Camden Gas Project.

“We are proud of the dedication and professionalism of our employees and contractors in their efforts to get to this point and our work to bring benefits to the communities in which we operate. We remain committed to leaving a positive legacy in these regions,” said Mr Vesey.

AGL will establish a $2 million Independent Trust Fund and will work with the Gloucester community to identify investment options to deliver ongoing economic benefit to the region and its communities.

Without the Gloucester Gas Project, there are limited opportunities for scale and efficiency across projects, so at Camden, AGL will extract gas from its existing wells enabling closure in 2023. The Camden site and wells will be progressively decommissioned and the sites rehabilitated.
Impairment summary

The carrying value assessment of the Group’s assets will be finalised in conjunction with the interim financial results to be released on 10 February 2016, and is subject to final audit review.
The expected impairment by project and remaining book values are shown in the tables below.
160204_ASXTable2

Conference call

AGL will host a conference call later this morning. Dial-in details for this call are shown below. Questions will be taken at the conclusion of the call.
Time: 9.30am (AEDT)
Dial-in details: Toll Free (Australia): 1800 558 698 (quote “AGL”) International: +61 2 9007 3187 (quote “AGL”)

About AGL

AGL is one of Australia’s leading integrated energy companies. It is taking action to responsibly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while providing secure and affordable energy to its customers. Drawing on over 175 years of experience, AGL serves its customers throughout eastern Australia with meeting their energy requirements, including gas, electricity, solar PV and related products and services. AGL has a diverse power generation portfolio including base, peaking and intermediate generation plants, spread across traditional thermal generation as well as renewable sources including hydro, wind, solar, landfill gas and biomass.
Further Enquiries

Nicole Rizgalla
Investor Relations Manager
Direct +61 2 9921 2691
Mobile +61 (0) 400 488 836
Email nrizgalla@agl.com.au

Kathryn Lamond
Media Manager
Direct +61 2 9921 2170
Mobile +61 (0) 424 465 464
Email klamond@agl.com.au

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

Meet the Fokkers

The Gas Commissioners...

MEET THE FOKKERS: THE ALL-POWERFUL GASFIELD COMMISSIONERS WHO LIKE TO FO*KK UP FAMERS LIVES Meet the special “...
Posted by Dr David Pascoe BVSc PhD OVH Repro on Thursday, 29 October 2015

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

Liquidification / Sink Hole at Rainbow Beach Queensland.

I awoke to the news that a sink hole has again opened up at Rainbow Beach in Queensland Australia. This is not the first time this has happened.  Another liquidification event occurred in  2011.

READ MORE HERE:

SUNSHINE COAST DAILY
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/campsite-terror-inskip-sinkhole-swallows-caravan/2787981/#/0
ABC
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-27/major-sinkhole-swallows-vehicles-on-qld-coast/6807536

A major sinkhole has swallowed vehicles at a popular camping spot near Queensland's Rainbow Beach overnight.

2011 Event captured on Video

Queensland has 80% in drought.

But there is no drought to the mining companies draining the life blood from the country via all of the underground water supplies.  This is now at Tipping point and must be halted immediately.  But do the politicians listen. No they bury their head in their wallets and smell money instead.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-13/qld-drought-spreads-to-record-80-per-cent/6467438

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Bill Byrne said the summer wet season had been too patchy to benefit the hardest hit areas.

Out the back of Tara Queensland.. the mining has sucked the life from the country and polluted her water and smashed sacred ceremony sights all because of greed.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

Lazaruz calls for Royal Commission into the Mining impacts on humans!

Tara on the road out of Dalby and Chinchilla

This weekend I travelled to Dalby and Chinchilla to visit farmers and landowners affected by CSG mining. Queenslander's are on their knees. Property owners are suffering. Many people across the region rely on tank and bore water to live, irrigate, feed their stock and operate their properties.

CSG mining has devastated water sources. Bores and wells have dried up, water is being contaminated, animals are dying and people are becoming very ill.

I am calling for a Royal Commission into the Human Impact of mining, in particular CSG mining and the establishment of a Resources Ombudsman. The people of Queensland need a voice and they need help. Governments and corporations can no longer be allowed to turn a blind eye to what is happening.

While I support the resources sector and understand the important role the sector plays in Australia, the health and welfare of our people must come first and this must NEVER be compromised.

Post by Glenn Lazarus.

my email from Glenn Lazarus

Post by Dr David Pascoe BVSc PhD OVH Repro.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography