Page 8 The Moorabool News – 29 March, 2022
News
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Promises, promises of powerline reform By Lachlan Ellis The Federal Opposition has promised to reform the approval process for transmission projects, if it wins the next election, has been met with both approval and scepticism. On Friday 18 March, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, announced that, should the Labor Party win the upcoming federal election, it would “work with the states, market bodies, networks, and most importantly communities, to improve the RIT-T (Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission) process”. Mr Bowen expressed particular concern with how the RIT-T process had been conducted in Western Victoria, where the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project (WVTNP) has been rallied against by affected communities for two years. “To me, the situation in Western Victoria has confirmed my inclination that the RIT-T process is no longer fit for purpose, especially when you consider the massive scale of transmission upgrades we have to complete over the next decade,” Mr Bowen said in an address to the Energy Networks Australia Conference. “The RIT-T process was designed for network augmentations, not major new builds or rebuilds. It’s vital that we learn that lesson, because without social licence, we will struggle to deliver the ISP (Integrated System Plan), or the renewable economy it is designed to unlock.” Federal MP for Ballarat, Catherine King, said the process for the WVTNP had been “atrocious”, and similar projects should require more thorough community consultation in the future.
Photo – goat.com.au
“I’ve been working with community groups and speaking out against this project for two years. Like everyone, I am incredibly frustrated by the failure of AusNet to listen to our concerns,” she told the Moorabool News. “Labor’s reforms will give local communities a say from the very beginning of these projects. These are sensible changes that should have been made by the current government years ago. This will mean that locals can have more impact on project routes, the use of existing easements and the location of transfer and terminal stations.
Like windfarm projects, the reforms would also “open the door to ongoing payments to landholders, and benefitsharing with communities”, Ms King added. Chair of community alliance Stop AusNet’s Towers, Emma Muir, said the proposed changes were promising, but reiterated the call for the Victorian Labor Government to scrap current plans. “We acknowledge the proposed policy from the Federal Labor Party, they are listening to our concerns and realise that this process and the project is flawed. Their solution would give the communities a voice in future projects, however, we cannot allow the devastating and generational effects of the proposed WVTNP to progress,” Ms Muir said. “The State Labor Government must step in now and halt the current process driving the WVTNP and send it back to the drawing board, so that it may be managed and progressed with the suitable rigour the Federal Labor party are suggesting.” Moorabool’s Central Ward Councillor Paul Tatchell expressed a more cynical reaction to the announcement. “Is her Labor Party different to the State Labor Party? They are in Government in the State, and they can stop it. Typical King, all care, but won’t take responsibility,” Cr Tatchell said. “Catherine King has this amazing ability to sound sympathetic to an issue, promise the world, and deliver nothing more than populist statements; She is the Joh BjelkePetersen of Ballarat, simply feeding the chooks.” Unfortunately ,even if these reforms do go ahead, as a preexisting project, the WVTNP will likely have to continue under current rules.
News Deja brew – Barista Blue is back Page 4 The Moorabool News – 11 May, 2021
By Lachlan Ellis After a successful first year in 2021, the Barista Blue program is back, offering young Mooraboolites free barista training and work experience. The program was launched by the Bacchus Marsh Blue Light committee last February, and this year will offer 27 spots for youth aged 15–17. Participants will take part in a free barista course at TMG College in West Melbourne, before doing a four-hour volunteer shift at Lola’s Café on Main Street, Bacchus Marsh. Moorabool Youth Officer, Leading Senior Constable James Ross, said the program offered a foot in the door for both unemployed youth, and those who wanted to go from a current job to working as a barista. “It seemed to us that there were limited opportunities for some young people in our community, in relation to gaining some work experience. When a lot of young people were knocking on doors looking for jobs, they were asked if they had any experience…of course, if you can’t get a job, you can’t get experience,” LSC Ross told the Moorabool News. “We thought, what can we do that could
provide them with a bit of experience? It’s a way to help young people gain casual part-time employment, or better improve themselves. “We’re very fortunate we have Lola’s supporting Barista Blue, and the Bacchus Marsh Community Bank and Arbee providing the essential funds needed. Without that local business support, we wouldn’t be able to do it.” In last year’s Barista Blue, out of 14 unemployed participants, six were able to gain employment following completion of the program. This year, applications close on April 4, with successful applicants to be notified before training and work experience, which also start in April. To apply, simply answer two questions: ‘Why do you wish to participate in the project?’, and ‘What do you do for your community?’ You can send your answers along with your name, date of birth, address, and phone number to bacchusmarshbluelight@gmail.com, or leave it at the Bacchus Marsh Police Station marked for attention to “L/S/C Jim Ross”. With spots limited and the deadline coming up soon, aspiring young baristas are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.
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Barista Blue students learning how to make all sorts of coffee at TMG College in Melbourne. Photos - submitted
Youth get the taste for coffee
By Bianca Roberts (Intern 3rd Yr Melb. Uni) The Barista Blue youth program has successfully delivered ‘hands on’ work experience to young Moorabool residents. The program, created and funded by Bacchus Marsh Branch Blue Light, provided 32 working-age teenagers a four-day barista course at TMG Melbourne. They then applied their skills during a four-hour shift at Lola’s Café in Bacchus Marsh. Leading Senior Constable Jim Ross, who oversaw the program said, “it has been fantastic the energy and enthusiasm each of the participants came with to do their time at Lola’s”. Sophie Bill, 15, appreciated learning about the history and production of coffee, as well as meeting like-minded friends within Moorabool. “The staff at Lola’s took the time to help me settle in and were appreciative of the effort I put in during some of their busiest hours. “I went into this program with a casual job already and have since applied for more,” she said.
So far one teen has found a new job after completing the program, with many others feeling ready to start applying. ‘I went very good in the program. I am a lot more confident applying for jobs and I plan to try and get a part time job in a café now,” 17-year-old Max Rovere said. LSC Ross said they look forward to running another similar program next year. “The benefit of the program is that its flexible and we can certainly add further aspects to it to improve what is already a great opportunity for young people…watch this space,” he said. Barista Blue was run in collaboration with local businesses that included Moorabool Shire Council, Arbee Real Estate, Community Bank Bacchus Marsh, No Boundaries Safari, and Lola’s Café. This program aims to reduce the disparity between rural and metropolitan employment statistics. Youth disengagement in the workforce is proportionately high in Bacchus Marsh, with data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggesting a disengagement rate of 13.2 per cent amongst 15 to 24-year-olds, almost 6 per cent higher than in Greater Melbourne.
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