Australian Politics Forum - Build more dams

Bobby.

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #15 - Aug 17^th, 2018 at 4:47pm

Super Nova wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 4:39pm:

Think of how a set of major infrastructure projects could transform the Australian economy and with a vision transform Australia. It is ideal for this sort of Terraforming projects.

More dams means we are in control of the water flow. The most important substance on the planet (beyond air) and wars will be fought over it soon.

Also they could be used to provide clean power.

As to the money, that is what governments are there for. Instead of borrowing to just pay debt and poor past decisions. Borrow to invest in the future with a long term plan to pay it back. Hell ask us all for 5% extra tax for such projects or bonds we can invest in. If you have a bond you don't pay for the benefit when delivered.

Hell, Dubai, in the middle of the desert can engineer the future... why cann't we. We are smart enough but lack the will to do big things. Diggging up the place to sell to China is not going to cut it.

Our standard of living, once the envy of the world is dropping relatively every year.

Time to think long term and build. Time for australia to return to the smart and lucky country.... Time to not be victims of our environment. With the climate changing, we need to take control of our future and that needs a vission and leadership, the 2 things we lack right now.

More dams, more redirection of water flow... bloody good idea.

Edit: NB and the greenies can go to hell when they cry.. the wetlands need to be preserved. They will adapt... as we tranform the landscape.

That's why light weights like Turnbull don't cut it.

We need a PM with vision.

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UnSubRocky

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #16 - Aug 18^th, 2018 at 3:36pm

Super Nova wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 4:39pm:

Think of how a set of major infrastructure projects could transform the Australian economy and with a vision transform Australia. It is ideal for this sort of Terraforming projects.

More dams means we are in control of the water flow. The most important substance on the planet (beyond air) and wars will be fought over it soon.

Also they could be used to provide clean power.

Super Nova, awesome... But you are not going to see successful dams until it rains heavily. We could have another 100 dams all over the centre of the country. But unless the local governments can divert flowing rivers into them, or the rain comes down plentiful, you will just have the same problems. Unless you have the ability to make rain to soak the interior of the country (as well as enhancing east coast interior rainfall), we will see dry dams. If the rainfall was more consistent, we would have seen more dams built in the interior. However, the engineers don't bother with areas where it does not rain.

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At this stage...

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Unforgiven

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #17 - Aug 18^th, 2018 at 3:38pm

UnSubRocky wrote on Aug 18^th, 2018 at 3:36pm:

Super Nova wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 4:39pm:

Think of how a set of major infrastructure projects could transform the Australian economy and with a vision transform Australia. It is ideal for this sort of Terraforming projects.

More dams means we are in control of the water flow. The most important substance on the planet (beyond air) and wars will be fought over it soon.

Also they could be used to provide clean power.

Super Nova, awesome... But you are not going to see successful dams until it rains heavily. We could have another 100 dams all over the centre of the country. But unless the local governments can divert flowing rivers into them, or the rain comes down plentiful, you will just have the same problems. Unless you have the ability to make rain to soak the interior of the country (as well as enhancing east coast interior rainfall), we will see dry dams. If the rainfall was more consistent, we would have seen more dams built in the interior. However, the engineers don't bother with areas where it does not rain.

Never mind the quality, feel the width.

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freediver

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #18 - Aug 19^th, 2018 at 10:56am

lee wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 1:34pm:

Quote:

The biggest water-wasters are those towns and cities which supply unlimited free or
subsidised water to large and growing populations. Everything supplied “free” is wasted. Then when drought comes and water is most needed, it must be rationed.
Under-priced or free water will be wasted watering lawns and golf courses so they can
be mowed again, sprinkling decorative gardens, supplying fish ponds and water
features, washing cars and footpaths, filling swimming pools, indulging long showers,
and ignoring dripping taps and leaking pipes. If every user in every town and city were
metered, and had to pay the full cost of water, it would be used much more carefully.

For example, back in the 1980’s, the Central Queensland coal town of Moranbah, water was un-metered and water was supplied “free” by the coal company. But in droughts Moranbah water had to be rationed – gardens one side of the street could
use water today, the other side tomorrow. Another town, Dalby, in the same climatic
district was metered and self-regulated. No watering restrictions were imposed. The
water consumption per resident in Dalby was half that of Moranbah (and gardens were
just as good).

How should we charge for water? “Charge what it costs” sends the right signals to users. Maybe each user should pay a fixed base charge for water to cover essential
needs. This should be related to the capital costs of the water infrastructure. Usage
above this should be charged at a variable rate which would increase as the water levels in dams dropped. This would remove the need for water restrictions and
generate public support for building more dams.

Lucky Australia has a “Great Artesian Basin” and many grazing properties and inland
towns have relied heavily on artesian water that flows to the surface from deep bores.
Again this “free” water has been badly wasted by allowing the bores to flow unchecked
into open bore drains subject to heavy losses by evaporation and soakage. There is a
program to case and cap these bores to reduce wastage. Some of the government
funding frittered on global warming “research” and green energy gambles would be
better devoted to conserving artesian waters.

The price should reflect the marginal cost of supply.

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Ajax

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #19 - Aug 19^th, 2018 at 11:13am

Bobby. wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 3:07pm:

Unforgiven wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 2:55pm:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 2:11pm:

I am surprised that we don't have a North-South pipeline to bring
the tropical monsoon rains from the North of Australia to the dry South.

Most of that rain water just washes out to sea & is wasted.
It bet it equals dozens of Sydney harbor's full.

Every time it rains in the dry regions politicians say 'problem solved'.

Not one Prime Minister in our entire history
has promised us a North/South pipeline.

Make it from stainless steel pipe &
our water problems could be ended forever.

Good idea fantastic project would love to work on it...

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1. There has never been a more serious assault on our standard of living than Anthropogenic Global Warming..Ajax
2. "One hour of freedom is worth more than 40 years of slavery & prison" Regas Feraeos

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Bobby.

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #20 - Aug 19^th, 2018 at 12:32pm

Ajax wrote on Aug 19^th, 2018 at 11:13am:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 3:07pm:

Unforgiven wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 2:55pm:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 2:11pm:

I am surprised that we don't have a North-South pipeline to bring
the tropical monsoon rains from the North of Australia to the dry South.

Most of that rain water just washes out to sea & is wasted.
It bet it equals dozens of Sydney harbor's full.

Every time it rains in the dry regions politicians say 'problem solved'.

Not one Prime Minister in our entire history
has promised us a North/South pipeline.

Make it from stainless steel pipe &
our water problems could be ended forever.

Good idea fantastic project would love to work on it...

Good - it's been talked about for over a century - I think -
but no one has ever done it.

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Prime Minister for Canyons

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #21 - Aug 19^th, 2018 at 4:16pm

lee wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 3:08pm:

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Aug 17^th, 2018 at 3:01pm:

That was the issue with the Needles Gap dam, it was going to be in a limestone karst. There was no guarantee as to where the water would end up. Plus flooding a cave system and fossil site.

As I said. Consequences. Does Australia want more people than the available water allows? Or does it want to limit population to what is currently sustainable?

So you're happy destroying things then. Why cant we instead more efficiently use the water we have?

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lee

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #22 - Aug 19^th, 2018 at 4:34pm

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Aug 19^th, 2018 at 4:16pm:

So you're happy destroying things then. Why cant we instead more efficiently use the water we have?

So you think using water efficiently will overcome population growth? Grin

No new dams since 1988. Population rise 3.6 million. More efficient water use or not?

Projected population 2050 - ~33.5 million. Even more efficient water use?

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Bias_2012 Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 10766 Gender:	Re: Build more dams Reply #23 - Aug 19^th, 2018 at 4:46pm Enough rain falls in the Tully/Bellenden Kerr/Babinda area each year to supply all of Australia. Just pipe it to where ever it's needed
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miketrees Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 6492 Gender:	Re: Build more dams Reply #24 - Aug 19^th, 2018 at 7:00pm The problem with the pipe dreams is. In the case of WA anyway with talk of pumping water from the Ord. Its cheaper and easier to desalinate.
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Prime Minister for Canyons

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #25 - Aug 20^th, 2018 at 11:06am

lee wrote on Aug 19^th, 2018 at 4:34pm:

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Aug 19^th, 2018 at 4:16pm:

So you're happy destroying things then. Why cant we instead more efficiently use the water we have?

So you think using water efficiently will overcome population growth? Grin

No new dams since 1988. Population rise 3.6 million. More efficient water use or not?

Projected population 2050 - ~33.5 million. Even more efficient water use?

What I'm trying to say is that currently the water we have at the moment is used so poorly its a waste. Saying lets just build new dams doesnt change that.

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In a time of universal deceit — telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

No evidence whatsoever it can be attributed to George Orwell or Eric Arthur Blair (in fact the same guy)

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lee Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 21541 Gender:	Re: Build more dams Reply #26 - Aug 20^th, 2018 at 11:28am Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Aug 20^th, 2018 at 11:06am: What I'm trying to say is that currently the water we have at the moment is used so poorly its a waste. Saying lets just build new dams doesnt change that. So you have researched this, written a paper and had it published?
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Prime Minister for Canyons

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #27 - Aug 20^th, 2018 at 11:35am

lee wrote on Aug 20^th, 2018 at 11:28am:

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Aug 20^th, 2018 at 11:06am:

What I'm trying to say is that currently the water we have at the moment is used so poorly its a waste. Saying lets just build new dams doesnt change that.

So you have researched this, written a paper and had it published?

Have you done the same for your hypothesis?

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In a time of universal deceit — telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

No evidence whatsoever it can be attributed to George Orwell or Eric Arthur Blair (in fact the same guy)

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lee

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #28 - Aug 20^th, 2018 at 2:31pm

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Aug 20^th, 2018 at 11:35am:

Have you done the same for your hypothesis?

Nope. But let's look at the facts.

Australia is a dry continent. Many peer-reviewed papers say so.

Australia's population is increasing faster than what was projected. Peer-reviewed papers support this also.

So no need for me to reinvent the wheel.

There is water waste - not denied.

People are lazy they always waste water. A 2 minute shower turns to 3-4 minute shower. A flush of the toilet after a tinkle.

More people will waste more water.

But you believe that that waste can be totally constrained by people using less. I guess that's why we have desalination plants.

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Prime Minister for Canyons

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Re: Build more dams
Reply #29 - Aug 20^th, 2018 at 2:55pm

lee wrote on Aug 20^th, 2018 at 2:31pm:

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Aug 20^th, 2018 at 11:35am:

Have you done the same for your hypothesis?

Nope. But let's look at the facts.

Australia is a dry continent. Many peer-reviewed papers say so.

Australia's population is increasing faster than what was projected. Peer-reviewed papers support this also.

So no need for me to reinvent the wheel.

There is water waste - not denied.

People are lazy they always waste water. A 2 minute shower turns to 3-4 minute shower. A flush of the toilet after a tinkle.

More people will waste more water.

But you believe that that waste can be totally constrained by people using less. I guess that's why we have desalination plants.

I'm not saying using less. Using more efficiently. E.g. we don't do enough water recycling in this country.

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In a time of universal deceit — telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

No evidence whatsoever it can be attributed to George Orwell or Eric Arthur Blair (in fact the same guy)

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