Tas Power Democracy - An Update
- 11 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Update on Project Marinus Legal Challenges
We are still awaiting the Tribunal's decision in our TASCAT appeal against the proposed Marinus energy infrastructure at Heybridge. However, we unfortunately have some bad news regarding our legal challenge against the NWTD project (the transmission line component of 'Project Marinus'). The Tribunal has decided to affirm the permit granted to TasNetworks by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
Even though we did not win the case, we believe that the Tribunal made errors of law in its decision, and intend to appeal.
We're also still proud of our effort, especially considering that we were self-representing against skilled lawyers from both TasNetworks and the Tasmanian Planning Commission. TasNetworks was represented by White & Case – a prestigious international law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and overseas. Nevertheless, our appellant Carol-Ann Fletcher did an amazing job at the hearing of cross-examining expert witnesses and making them feel the heat. Months of very hard work and late nights went into preparation for the hearing, and during that difficult time, we managed to deal with masses of complex technical documents, obtain and instruct our own expert witnesses, respond to extensive legal submissions from the other side, and ultimately present closing submissions at the hearing... all while fending off attacks from aggressive lawyers.
We are now shifting focus to appealing TASCAT's decision. The direction that Tasmania's future takes will heavily depend on the outcome of these legal challenges against Project Marinus, so failure is not an option. Unfortunately, legal proceedings are very expensive, and therefore we are ramping up our fundraising efforts. If you are able to contribute, here is a link to our GoFundMe crowdfunding appeal:
Save Tasmania from Marinus Link and AI Data Centres
Join Our Group! Become a Member of Tas Power Democracy
We would love to have you join us as we work together to protect our beautiful state from Marinus Link, transmission lines, wind farms, and AI data centres. These projects are all connected and form part of the same larger story. Therefore, regardless of which particular project affects you personally, our best chance of succeeding against them all is if we unite and join forces in our common purpose.
To become a member of Tas Power Democracy, simply fill out the membership form and email it to: kim@levenrivercruises.com.au The cost of a Basic Membership is just $2.
'Slow Motion Trainwreck' – Wind Projects Frozen, Transmission Behind Schedule
After years of ambitious promises from the government, harsh reality is starting to hit plans for the rollout of wind power in Tasmania and nationwide. In the following short radio segment, Smart Energy Council CEO David McElrea discusses why the construction of wind farms has ground to a halt:
Why Tasmania hasn't had a new wind farm become operational since 2020
Despite "plenty of new wind farms in the pipeline", they are not being built in Tasmania for a number of reasons including public opposition, rising labour and capital costs, and new transmission infrastructure not being ready on time. The public opposition point was especially interesting. David McElrea spoke of places like Robbins Island, where community resistance to proposed energy projects over environmental concerns continues.
Although not specifically mentioned in the radio interview, our group has also played an important role. Two years ago, the Tasmanian government was racing to declare the Northwest Renewable Energy Zone over some of the best, most fertile agricultural land in our state as well as environmentally sensitive locations... until they encountered stiff resistance from local residents. All our hard work in collecting petition signatures, attending public meetings, distributing flyers, hanging protest signs, and more paid off! Two years later, and there is still no Renewable Energy Zone, nor even talk of one.
The battle is far from over, of course, but we are determined to keep going.
Topher Field goes into greater depth on the subject of transmission lines and the renewables rollout in a recent interview with energy analyst Aidan Morrison:
Trillion Dollar Transmission Failure? The 'energy transmission' is dead. Topher Project Ep 450
As Aidan Morrison explains, even though the government has been throwing taxpayer money at wind projects to get them off the ground, investment is all but frozen, with almost no new wind farms being built in Australia. One of the main reasons is that construction of transmission infrastructure has fallen significantly behind schedule. As more wind and solar are added, much more transmission and storage is required to move electricity from where and when it is generated to where and when it is needed. Construction of transmission projects has simply not been happening at the pace required, and wind farm investment has stalled as a result.
Another issue raised in the interview is that as coal-fired power stations close, there start to be energy reliability problems and rolling blackout risks. Aidan Morrison says that the government has played down these risks and not taken them seriously, ignoring important information in AEMO's MT PASA reports. As energy projects become more difficult and expensive to deliver, the government's 82% renewable energy target by 2030 is looking increasingly doubtful.
As we continue to watch this trainwreck unfold and do our part to help end it faster, let's not forget to have some fun and enjoy life in the process. Here's our Pimpin’ Tassie to the Cloud protest song to finish off this news update:
"Pimpin’ Tassie to the Cloud" – Marinus/AI Satirical Protest Song
For a bit of fun, our group has created a humorous protest rap song against Marinus Link and AI data centres. Have a listen! Here's the link:
Pimpin’ Tassie to the Cloud
Please share the song with your networks!
And just in case anyone is wondering, yes we used AI to generate the song and images in the video! ... Using AI to fight AI, and turning the AI data-centre kings’ own tools against them. Don't you just love the irony? Here are the lyrics:
Pimpin’ Tassie to the Cloud
They said it was just a cable.
Just one little cable.
Then the AI factories rocked up thirsty.
Uh-oh.
Marinus brings the cable, pollies bring the spin,
Foreign tech giants saying, “Let us in.”
Big cable, bill bigger, Tassie getting sold,
Marinus pimpin’ Tassie to the cloud.
Stop Marinus, shout it out,
We’re not your battery, we’re not your cloud.
Save Tassie, stand your ground,
We’re not your battery, we’re not your cloud.
Marinus Link, they sold it like a dream,
Transmission lines tearing through farms and trees.
Wind farms waving like, “How do you do?”
Power bills climbing while the pollies grin at you.
Farmers said, “Mate, what’s this plan?”
They said, “Don’t worry, it’s good for the land.”
Then a tower popped up where the cows used to chew,
And the brochure said, “Green!” so it must be true.
AI in the paddock, data centres on the scene,
Foreign corporations want our power for their machine.
They call it innovation, they call it clean,
But it walks like a hustle with a sticker saying “green.”
Marinus brings the cable, pollies bring the spin,
Foreign tech giants saying, “Let us in.”
Big cable, bill bigger, Tassie getting sold,
Marinus pimpin’ Tassie to the cloud.
Stop Marinus, shout it out,
We’re not your battery, we’re not your cloud.
Save Tassie, stand your ground,
We’re not your battery, we’re not your cloud.
Firmus in the doorway with a greedy little smile,
“Just a few more megawatts, we’ll only stay a while.”
But “just a while” means forever once the deal is done,
And the lights start flickering when the AI factories run.
They say, “Jobs! Jobs!” with a glossy ad,
But how many workers does an AI factory add?
One bloke, two techs, and a locked front gate,
While the island pays the bill and the profits emigrate.
Rockliff cuts the ribbon, Duigan sells the line,
Ogilvie says, “Digital future — looking fine!”
But Tassie gets the invoice, not the keys,
And the AI factories hum, “More power, please.”
Who gets the power?
Not us!
Who gets the bill?
That’s us!
Who gets the water?
They do!
Who gets the spin?
We do!
Who loves this island?
We do!
Who sees the swindle?
We do!
Who’s gonna say it?
Real loud!
We’re not your battery, we’re not your cloud!
Marinus brings the cable, pollies bring the spin,
Foreign tech giants saying, “Let us in.”
Big cable, bill bigger, Tassie getting sold,
Marinus pimpin’ Tassie to the cloud.
Stop Marinus, shout it out,
We’re not your battery, we’re not your cloud.
Save Tassie, stand your ground,
We’re not your battery, we’re not your cloud.
Not your battery, not your cloud,
Save Tassie, say it loud.
Stop Marinus, stop the cloud,
Save Tassie, say it loud.
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