Darren E’s Page
To an optimist, the glass is half full.
To a pessimist, the glass is half empty.
To a pragmatist, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
To an idiot, another couple of glasses are required.
Why I’m here
When my family first moved to the Mary Valley a few years ago, it was because we were struck by the serene beauty of the area. Very quickly we also became aware of the strong community spirit, and are now proud to be a part of it.
Although safely tucked away in the hills behind Dagun, I am committed to the fight against this dam. This began just as a general wish to help and support the locals directly threatened by the dam. But it seems like almost every day I learn a little more about the technical flaws, or environmental costs, or further disregard for ethical treatment of residents, or another viable and cheaper alternative. The whole concept becomes even more ridiculous with each revelation.
Entries in Technical Comments (5)
Peer review
In view of mounting expert technical opinion contradicting the State Government’s statements on the Traveston Dam, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh should be able to restore some credibility by releasing the internal reports which, she says, support her position. As an engineer with almost 30 years’ experience in the field of flood-plain management, I would find the reports interesting reading.
Worst drought in 100 years?
Darren E
in Environmental, Rainfall , Technical Comments
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2 Comments
Updated on Monday, October 9, 2006 at 12:22AM by
Darren E
In terms of a 3 year moving-average of three key sites in the SEQ catchment, the current drought is no worse than 1993-94, 1977-80, 1918-19, or 1901-02. It’s only marginally worse than 1986-87
Can The Queensland Lungfish Use Fish Ladders?
Darren E
in Environmental, Technical Comments
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Updated on Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 12:09PM by
stevem
Updated on Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 07:03AM by
stevem
Updated on Monday, January 15, 2007 at 12:12AM by
stevem
Updated on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 01:17PM by
stevem
Updated on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 08:13AM by
stevem
Updated on Friday, January 4, 2008 at 09:57AM by
stevem
This article is the result of an attempt to research currently available data on the performance of fishways and fish ladders on the Burnett River with respect to the Queensland Lungfish, and the implications for the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam on the Mary River. “Attempt”, because various departments of the Queensland Government have gone to remarkable lengths to restrict public access to any such information. It is thus a story as much about the suppression of data as it is a story about the transport of fish accross man-made barriers.
Letter - National Water Initiative
The following letter, purtaining to the Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative, was sent by a Mary Valley local to a number of senior Queensland and Federal politicians in July 2006. It has now been submitted to the Traveston Swamp News as an open letter.
April 2006 edition of Civil Engineers Australia magazine.
Darren E
in Technical Comments
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Updated on Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 10:49AM by
stevem
There was a really good article in the April 2006 edition of Civil Engineers Australia magazine. The highlights of the article are: * Western Australia’s Water Corporation are building a 45 GL/year (65% the yield of Traveston Dam) desalination plant to convert seawater into pure drinking water. * The construction cost is $387 million (22% of Beattie’s optimistic $1.7 billion for the dam). * The production cost for the water will be $0.95 per kL “at the fence” (less than half of the cost per kL of water from the Dam).
