THERE seems to be confusion as to using QR phone scan identity code. Many people who line up outside venues, appear confused as to how this QR recognition system works.
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I see many taking photos of the symbol displayed outside shops, then scratch their heads and walk in. Unless you have an iPhone or a smartphone, nothing actually registers and there are no prompted questions to be answered.
Therefore there would be no record of that person being at that premises, and nearly all the venues that you attend do not have manual sign in books so could health officials please clarify how the devil they are to track patrons who attend these premises if most are not utilising the QR correctly, nor have sign in books.
Please illuminate this confusion, or supply everyone with an iPhone. Not only that, Newcastle venues are very complacent on enforcing this method of location identification system. Three out of the four shops I visited today did not police this check in procedure and two even said it's not compulsory. Should we be concerned?
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
Renewables aren't reliable enough
IN my opinion the Kurri Gas Power Station must proceed. It is our insurance policy.
Like any insurance policy you hope it is not required and becomes a white elephant.
Again, in my opinion, renewables have not proven they are at the stage of their development to be totally reliable. There are many claims that they are ready but, in my view, this has not been proven.
Recently Liddell lost one transformer and generator and the system was almost forced to shut industries (Tomago Aluminium) or have blackouts.
Industries cannot survive without a reliable supply. Liddell is due to close shortly, which will be the loss of four generators, the supplier claims they have the capacity to replace this loss of generation.
The recent Liddell failure has shown they are a long way from proving this. Renewables in Australia will require a vast back-up.
MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Hydro is limited, most rivers and dams have limited capacity as shown by the recent drought.
Wind again is not reliable, you can travel around the country and observe many wind farms. It is not unusual to see the blades all still, no wind.
Solar, the sun, we have plenty of this but it is not available 24/7. Plus solar panels produce electricity at low voltage DC, this must be converted to three-phase 50 cycle AC to service our existing transmission network and this conversion must be stable.
The country cannot afford blackouts; I am at an age that can remember forced blackouts due to insufficient available power. Since those times electricity has replaced many other forms of power so blackouts now would be devastating.
I will be 80 this year, when my lights go out, I hope they are still shining for our children.
John Martin, Thornton
Versatility of pumped hydro
CARL Stevenson (Letters 4/1) seems to misunderstand how used mines can be utilised for pump hydro systems.
Although Fassifern mine was not an open pit like the Kidston gold mine, the underground workings can act as the lower reservoir.
In all other respects, it would resemble the Kidston example, both taking advantage of the depth and volume of workings.
Early works started in December 2020 to convert the disused Kidston gold mine in Queensland to a pumped hydro system.
An existing water reservoir at the surface will have its capacity increased, and become the upper reservoir.
The base of the open cut pit will form the lower reservoir. The power station will contain pump-turbines connected by pipework to both reservoirs, and will be located underground at about pit bottom level.
Pump-turbines are versatile units that can pump water from the low level reservoir to the high level one when there is an excess of renewable energy at very low prices; then generate electricity, driven by the transfer of the stored water in the high level reservoir back to the low level one, when renewables cannot meet demand and power prices are higher.
Richard Mallaby, Wangi Wangi
Base load power non-negotiable
IF a proposed gas-powered power station is to be built at Kurri Kurri, what are the pros and cons? Considering whatever method of power supply is announced, there will always be objections.
I am no expert, but from my understanding, coal-fired requires time to reach maximum heat, while gas fired gives instant heat, meaning gas fired power stations can be brought into production at a much short notice.
If I am correct, what's wrong with starting up a gas-fired operation when periods of high demand can be expected, when weather conditions are not expected to favour renewable industry, but also able to shut down, or back off, when renewable energy is meeting demand.
Even the staunchest believer in renewable energy should realise, we must have base load power all the time, and regardless of advancements in renewable technology, time, or the absence of time to operate, is the one flaw that cannot be improved.
Recently I suggested sticking with the original model until something better came along, but I also said it must work all of the time, maybe a gas fired power station will bridge the renewable gap, until something better arrives, surely this is a move in the right direction.
Carl Stevenson, Dora Creek
Working days appear numbered
SINCE COVID 19 rearranged lives throughout the world, many changes that were coming have been accelerated to become fact.
Many jobs that were considered essential have become redundant and a few new jobs have appeared.
However the trend that began in the 1970s when time and motion engineers and accountants sought more ways to save employers money by replacing labour with automation and robots has now reached its ultimate goal in basically cancelling most need for human labour.
No driver, ticket collector or guard needed on buses, trains or trams. No employee to drive the lift. So transport becomes almost totally recreational. Nobody needs to go anywhere anymore to work. All work can be done at home. So the tall office buildings will also be obsolete. Factories and ships that once employed hundreds of people now to be operated by robots and a couple of humans (from home?).
Even soldiers can win and lose wars, obliterating the oppositions' drones from their home office. What a wonderful future we can look forward to. There will be no need for any humans to work. Or is it a wonderful future? When does the income sharing begin, or is there none, as we now experience? Do all the profits of industry and commerce continue to go to the top 5 per cent of the population?
What income do the formerly employed enjoy in the future?
George Paris, Rathmines
SHORT TAKES
SEEING as the lyrics of the national anthem are causing so much angst, maybe it's time to ditch it completely. Surely the words to "I am Australian" would cause less offence and in my opinion the melody is more rousing.
Greg Hunt, Newcastle West
I HAVE to agree with Leigh Marr (Short Takes 4/1). It is a huge relief to not have to watch Steve Smith spitting on his hands and rubbing it in. However, I believe it is not because of COVID but because he is no longer captain. From my observations, such spitting and rubbing has been a required trait of Australian captains, at least since Ponting. Clarke continued it, as did Smith. Maybe Cricket Australia felt our irritation and accordingly got rid of it by appointing a wicketkeeper as captain.
Bruce Brown, Marks Point
SINCE restrictions have come in, in the CBD, pubs in Beaumont Street have become the centre of disturbances, particularly after 3am. Surely a police presence, in those hot spots, is not too much to ask for the residents in Beaumont Street and nearby.
Joy Cavanagh, Hamilton
I READ where low life vandals targeted baby's graves at Kurri cemetery and even stole toys left by their parents and families. When the police catch them, don't take them to court, just put them straight in prison with the most hardened criminals and leave them there.
John Keen, Gateshead
MR Morrison couldn't co-ordinate the states over COVID-19 without alienating Victoria and Queensland. Why do punters think he can coordinate border closures? The arrival of a strain of highly infectious COVID needs immediate action. The damage already done to federal-state relations leaves Morrison helpless as usual.
John Butler, Windella Downs
AS a regular shopper and walker in Warners Bay, it disgusts me to see weeds growing in footpaths and garden beds choked. For what should be a show-place, it certainly creates an ugly picture.
Eric Roach, Croudace Bay
AFTER Donald Trump's deliberate incitement of his redneck supporters to storm the Capitol and foment insurrection, it is obvious to even his most sycophantic followers that he is unfit for office. If there was ever a reason to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove this dangerous imbecile from the White House, this is it. Perhaps now his supporters and enablers, including those people in Australia, might finally acknowledge that the US President is not fit for office.
Peter C Jones, Rathmines
IF there's superior COVID-19 tech why aren't they allowed to use it? Lets go forwards, not backwards! How can we learn more about this tech and why haven't we heard about it?