Media Release: Sustainable Canterbury
Date: 5 August 2011
Subject: Renewable transport fuels and energy independence
A meeting next week will receive a progress report from the
waste-to-energy trial done at the Christchurch City Council's wastewater
treatment plant at Bromley. Chris Bathurst, Engineer of the
algal-biofuel feedstock project, will speak on the prospects for
sustainable fuel self-sufficiency in Canterbury and New Zealand.
Damaged in the recent earthquakes, the Bromley trial pond will be
repaired under insurance cover once only, though the date of
recommission is unknown. However, the Super Critical Water Reactor
system has been proven ready to go into increased production through an
expanded site and plant.
The algae project received much media attention as a sustainable
positive for the council, before earthquake damage to all the Bromley
ponds shut it down.
“We need to know what will happen next with the City's wastewater
system, as a range of more sustainable outcomes are possible in the
rebuild,” says Sustainable Canterbury spokesman Rik Tindall. “Chris is a
top local expert in the renewable energy field, so we are keen to hear
an update from him in light of Christchurch's recent natural disaster.
The public – especially those in Christchurch East – have a huge stake
in the infrastructure renewal we now must go though.”
The meeting will be held on Tuesday 9 August, at 7.30 pm at the WEA, 59
Gloucester Street, with hot drinks provided. It follows on from the
Water Forum series that began in the winter of 2009 in New Brighton,
that was run by the Save Our Water campaign group. The Sustainable
Canterbury monthly meeting is the following Saturday, 14 August at 3pm,
also at WEA.
Tindall, a former regional councillor who had Civil Defence and
Communities for Climate Protection responsibility, sees sustainable fuel
as much more than a Christchurch City issue.
“We need to factor in the global need for change, towards carbon capture
and innovation for new jobs that will be funded by the international
carbon market,” Tindall says. “Sustainable use of natural resources is
both possible and very desirable, bringing new industry and opportunity
for unemployed youth in particular.”
“This means, primarily, doing an accurate balance sheet on all of
society's waste,” Tindall concludes. “Organic waste and woody weeds can
all be integrated into a renewable energy plan.”
Tindall believes the meeting will provide a focus and a start for a lot
of neglected work in Canterbury. “Sustainable Canterbury invites the
public to come along and hear more about what is possible, with a
greener and rosier local employment future for all.”
[Ends]
Contact: Rik Tindall - 332-1069 or 027-406-0077
More information: Sustainable Canterbury -
http://mauriroawaitaha.wordpress.com/meetings/
Chris Bathurst - Solvent Rescue Limited - http://www.solventrescue.co.nz
- 366-5018
Date: 5 August 2011
Subject: Renewable transport fuels and energy independence
A meeting next week will receive a progress report from the
waste-to-energy trial done at the Christchurch City Council's wastewater
treatment plant at Bromley. Chris Bathurst, Engineer of the
algal-biofuel feedstock project, will speak on the prospects for
sustainable fuel self-sufficiency in Canterbury and New Zealand.
Damaged in the recent earthquakes, the Bromley trial pond will be
repaired under insurance cover once only, though the date of
recommission is unknown. However, the Super Critical Water Reactor
system has been proven ready to go into increased production through an
expanded site and plant.
The algae project received much media attention as a sustainable
positive for the council, before earthquake damage to all the Bromley
ponds shut it down.
“We need to know what will happen next with the City's wastewater
system, as a range of more sustainable outcomes are possible in the
rebuild,” says Sustainable Canterbury spokesman Rik Tindall. “Chris is a
top local expert in the renewable energy field, so we are keen to hear
an update from him in light of Christchurch's recent natural disaster.
The public – especially those in Christchurch East – have a huge stake
in the infrastructure renewal we now must go though.”
The meeting will be held on Tuesday 9 August, at 7.30 pm at the WEA, 59
Gloucester Street, with hot drinks provided. It follows on from the
Water Forum series that began in the winter of 2009 in New Brighton,
that was run by the Save Our Water campaign group. The Sustainable
Canterbury monthly meeting is the following Saturday, 14 August at 3pm,
also at WEA.
Tindall, a former regional councillor who had Civil Defence and
Communities for Climate Protection responsibility, sees sustainable fuel
as much more than a Christchurch City issue.
“We need to factor in the global need for change, towards carbon capture
and innovation for new jobs that will be funded by the international
carbon market,” Tindall says. “Sustainable use of natural resources is
both possible and very desirable, bringing new industry and opportunity
for unemployed youth in particular.”
“This means, primarily, doing an accurate balance sheet on all of
society's waste,” Tindall concludes. “Organic waste and woody weeds can
all be integrated into a renewable energy plan.”
Tindall believes the meeting will provide a focus and a start for a lot
of neglected work in Canterbury. “Sustainable Canterbury invites the
public to come along and hear more about what is possible, with a
greener and rosier local employment future for all.”
[Ends]
Contact: Rik Tindall - 332-1069 or 027-406-0077
More information: Sustainable Canterbury -
http://mauriroawaitaha.wordpress.com/meetings/
Chris Bathurst - Solvent Rescue Limited - http://www.solventrescue.co.nz
- 366-5018
