Weather: Melbourne 16°C-22°C. A few showers.
Cookies must be enabledEnabling Cookies in Internet Explorer 7, 8 & 9
Open the Internet Browser Click Tools> Internet Options>Privacy>Advanced Check Override automatic cookie handling For First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies click Accept Click OK and OKEnabling Cookies in Firefox
Open the Firefox browser Click Tools>Options>PrivacyPort Augusta's ageing brown coal power stations should be replaced with base-load solar thermal power to improve the town's health and create jobs, a think tank says.
Renewable energy researchers, Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), has released its Repowering Port Augusta report which it says presents compelling economic, health and environmental case for replacing the old power plants in the South Australian town.
BZE's Mark Ogge says that replacing the power stations with renewable energy would create 1800 jobs, improve the health of the local community, provide lower and more stable energy prices and save 100-200 million tonnes of CO2 emissions over the lifetime of the project.
He said that power station owner Alinta Energy, Port Augusta City Council and Mayor Joy Baluch all backed the solar thermal power proposal as their preferred option for replacing the coal-fired power plants in Port Augusta.
Ms Baluch said gas and coal plants would damage the health of her community.
"The health of the people in Port Augusta has been affected by this coal-fired power station for the last 40 years and statistics prove this," she said.
"We need to see solar thermal energy developed in South Australia and for us to become world leaders in this renewable energy. Certainly gas is not the answer."
The report will be launched in Adelaide on Thursday and in Port Augusta on Saturday.
Sgt William Smith was 24 years old when he was shot down The body of an Australian World War II Spitfire pilot whose remains were found in a French field last year has finally been buried in northern France. Sgt William Smith was buried with full military honours at a service near Cassel attended by his 84-year-old brother Bert and other family members.
It was thought Sgt Smith, who was based in Surrey, was shot down over the Channel off Dover by an enemy pilot.
But his remains were discovered in a French field by a Sussex historian.
Sgt Smith's funeral took place at 10:30 BST at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission section of Cassel cemetery.
About 20 family members travelled from Australia to pay their respects.
'Disappeared over Channel'The 24-year-old sergeant's Royal Australian Air Force squadron was posted to Redhill and in May 1942 he had been escorting RAF bombers to France when he was shot down.
When his plane could not be found it was assumed he had crashed into the sea.
His aircraft was discovered by historian Andy Saunders and a film crew when they were looking for the wreckage of another Spitfire.
Sgt Smith's dogtags were found at the crash site "We were specifically looking for another Spitfire, the pilot of which had bailed out. There was obviously some confusion locally about which aeroplane had crashed where," Mr Saunders said.
"It was a complete surprise to find Sgt Smith. All the records showed that he had disappeared mid-way across the Channel between the French coast and Dover.
"He was last seen at 20,000ft heading back toward England."
'Fight for freedom'Sgt Smith's body was found with his dogtags in a field about 40 miles from the French coast.
"No-one knew he was there," said Mr Saunders.
When the remains were discovered, the local police, the Ministry of Defence in London and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission started work to trace Sgt Smith's family in Australia.
"What these men did was absolutely amazing," said Mr Saunders.
"He had come half way around the world to fight in the cause of freedom and lost his life."
Weather: Melbourne 17°C-30°C. Late cool change.
Cookies must be enabledEnabling Cookies in Internet Explorer 7, 8 & 9
Open the Internet Browser Click Tools> Internet Options>Privacy>Advanced Check Override automatic cookie handling For First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies click Accept Click OK and OKEnabling Cookies in Firefox
Open the Firefox browser Click Tools>Options>PrivacyA father and his teenage son have been charged over a break in at a house in Sydney's west.
Police say forensic examination lead them to the pair who they allege broke into a house at Blackett on February 26.
The 32-year-old man and his 13-year-old son were arrested today and charged with break, enter and steal.
Topics: crime, law-crime-and-justice, sydney-2000, blackett-2770, nsw Wright By:kevin,Tags:ed hardyed hardy clothingChristian AudigierWeather: Sydney 19°C-26°C. Mostly sunny.
Cookies must be enabled.Enabling Cookies in Internet Explorer 7, 8 & 9
Open the Internet Browser Click Tools> Internet Options>Privacy>Advanced Check Override automatic cookie handling For First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies click Accept Click OK and OKEnabling Cookies in Firefox
Open the Firefox browser Click Tools>Options>PrivacyWeather: Sydney 19°C-26°C. Mostly sunny.
Cookies must be enabled.Enabling Cookies in Internet Explorer 7, 8 & 9
Open the Internet Browser Click Tools> Internet Options>Privacy>Advanced Check Override automatic cookie handling For First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies click Accept Click OK and OKEnabling Cookies in Firefox
Open the Firefox browser Click Tools>Options>Privacy