Page 4196 - Week 13 - Thursday, 27 November 2014
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The 200-megawatt wind auction process has recently closed. We have seen a very strong field—18 submissions received. The government is currently finalising its consideration of those bidders with an aim to select as soon as possible two or more winning bids so we can determine the best way forward for these projects into the future.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Berry.
MS BERRY: Minister, what other measures is the government undertaking to encourage the use of renewable energy and work towards a more environmentally sustainable city?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Berry for the supplementary. We are also continuing to support investment and opportunity in community-owned renewable energy generation. In particular, the allocation by the government of one megawatt’s worth of feed-in tariff entitlement for community-owned solar energy generation projects is currently underway. This has been very well received by the community. There are many people, whether because they live in a rental property or because their property is simply unsuited for solar, or indeed because they do not have the full financial capacity to meet the up-front cost of installing solar on their own property, who can potentially buy into a community-owned solar energy generator.
That project is now well underway. We are looking forward to receiving proposals from the community sector on how everyday Canberrans, Canberrans on low incomes, Canberrans who rent, Canberrans who otherwise face challenges in making that shift to renewable energy, can become part of renewable energy generation in our city.
Transport—light rail
MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Capital Metro. Minister, last year you said in relation to a cost-benefit analysis:
Anything over two is considered a beneficial project in terms of return to the economy.
The business study for the light rail project says that the cost-benefit ratio for the tram is 1.2, which means that it fails to meet the benchmark for a beneficial project. Minister, at what cost-benefit ratio will you no longer support this project?
MR CORBELL: We know that, whether it is over two or whether it is over one, it is a beneficial ratio. That is the accepted economic analysis for these projects. We see that in relation to other light rail projects that have been funded and which are under development now by state Liberal administrations. The Dulwich Hill light rail line extension has a cost-benefit ratio of one, funded and developed by the Liberal state government in New South Wales. Equally, the north-west rail link in Sydney has a benefit-cost ratio of less than 1.2, which is of course the capital metro BCR. That project is under development.
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